BRING ON THE BROOMS! DLE CREW PREPARES TO CLEAN UP PITTSFIELD

By Katie Kelly, DLE Social Media Intern, Communications and Culture major with a concentration in Media and a dual minor in Sports Journalism and Digital Technologies and Emerging Media at Fordham University, New York, NY

For the second consecutive year, the DLE is fielding a volunteer crew to spruce up downtown Pittsfield (MA)’s business district, where the DLE headquarters is located.

DLE community members from the Berkshires, Boston and New York City will sweep streets and pick up trash for three hours in the 24th annual Downtown Pittsfield Cleanup on May 21.

“The cleanup started as a good-natured competition to support Downtown Pittsfield Inc.’s Quality of Life Committee’s mission to keep downtown clean, safe and friendly,” explains Cheryl Mirer, the executive director of Downtown Pittsfield Inc., which organizes the event. Although the competition has been altered by the pandemic, the purpose of rallying community spirit to elevate the city’s sparkle remains firm.

With COVID-19 precautions, the DLE crew will join a dozen or more groups from Berkshire-based businesses and organizations. “We love having the DLE’s participation in the downtown cleanup. This is what our community is all about—stepping up to take part in a fun yet dirty initiative to make downtown cleaner, thus safer and more vibrant,” explains Cheryl.

DLE Founder Linda Dulye adds, “The cleanup event is a terrific opportunity for our organization to give back to the community that serves as our home base. And, for the first time in a year, we are gathering together in person—which adds another dynamic that makes the event truly special.”

Cheryl Mirer, who leads Downtown Pittsfield, Inc.

Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, the DLE Breakfast Club, Culture Chat and Ownership Workshop programs have converted from in-person settings to an all-virtual format. The lone exception was last year’s Downtown Pittsfield Cleanup event, which brought together a dozen community members, many of whom are repeating their volunteer roles this month.

Returning for a second year to the DLE Cleanup Crew are Advisory Board Members Marcus Coleman and Kalee Carmel and Community Members Michael Laureyns and Melanie Rowe plus Linda Dulye. New to the crew are Community Members Krystle Blake (a member of the Culture Chat Planning Committee), Jonathan Katz (a Breakfast Club Committee Member making the drive from Boston), DLE Social Media Intern Katie Kelly (who is driving north from New York City), Advisory Board Member Michelle Lopez and Community Member Allie Loring. Thank you, everyone!