Elizabeth Freeman Center

The Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office launched a new Domestic Violence High Risk Team Thursday. A warning to listeners – this story contains a disturbing description of domestic violence.

The Elizabeth Freeman Center is Berkshire County’s 24/7 resource for people experiencing domestic abuse and sexual assault. From September 8th to the 18th, its annual fundraiser is going virtual in light of the ongoing pandemic. The Walk A Mile event saw over 900 participants raise more than $90,000 last year. This year, Executive Director Janis Broderick tells WAMC the center faces a sharp increase in the number and intensity of assault and abuse cases around the county.

The Elizabeth Freeman Center is the 24/7 domestic violence program and rape crisis center for Berkshire County, with offices in North Adams, Pittsfield, and Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Executive Director Janis Broderick says the county is already experiencing a critical amount of domestic and sexual violence, and that the COVID-19 outbreak will only intensify the problem. She spoke with WAMC about why a bad situation in the Berkshires will only get worse in the era of social distancing and limited public services.

Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito was in Pittsfield on Friday, announcing over $900,000 in grant allocations for youth programming aimed at building healthy relationships.

The annual Walk A Mile fundraiser for the Elizabeth Freeman Center will take center stage tonight at the last Third Thursday of the season in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

WAMC's David Guistina speaks with Kim Rivers, a board member for the Elizabeth Freeman Center, which provides leadership and services to address domestic and sexual violence in Berkshire County. The pair also discuss tomorrow's Walk A Mile fundraiser.

An annual event in Pittsfield, Massachusetts has added significance this year.