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by Jenny Wright
Small City, Big Stories celebrates the people and projects driving downtown North Adams forward. Hosted by Jenny Wright, Executive Director of the North Adams Partnership, and produced with Gateway Collaborative Media, each episode highlights the creativity, innovation, and community spirit that make North Adams so special.
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- 2 weeks ago34 min
Episode 10 - Diane Rousseau
Recorded as part of the Gateway Collaborative Media 30th Anniversary Celebration, this special episode celebrates not only 10 episodes of "Small Cities Big Stories," but everything and everyone that make our show possible. Our guest is Diane Rousseau is a conservator in private practice, based on the MASS MoCA campus. She most recently completed the treatment of the newly-acquired Tiffany window, the Hartwell Memorial, for the Art Institute of Chicago. Her work includes conservation on windows now at the Worcester Art Museum, the MFA Boston, the Isabella Stewart Gardiner Museum, the Corning Museum of Glass, and in many private collections.
- Sep 16, 202628 min
Episode 9 - Dr. Rebecca Caine
Dr. Rebecca Caine is the Medical Director of Primary Care Services at Berkshire Health Systems and a general internist with more than 20 years of experience caring for patients with complex medical conditions. In her role, she supports primary care practices across Berkshire County and is helping lead BHS’s efforts to expand access to primary care through team-based care, provider recruitment, and new training models. Dr. Caine is passionate about building strong, trusting relationships between patients and their care teams and strengthening primary care for communities across the Berkshires.
- Aug 19, 202629 min
Episode 8 - Sue Wells
Sue Wells has more than 35 years of experience as an educator in the Northern Berkshires with a deep commitment to creating learning environments where every child feels a sense of belonging. A champion of social-emotional learning, outdoor education, and hands-on experiences, Sue runs the Greenagers’ summer program at Many Forks Farm, where young people build teamwork, confidence, communication skills, and pride through hands-on projects.
- Jul 15, 202628 min
Episode 7 - Patrick Lang
Patrick Lang is the co-owner of Hexagon Bagels, a cafe & bagel shop in downtown North Adams. Patrick and his spouse and business partner, Nicholas Rigger, started Hexagon in 2023 as a farmers-market-based bakery. Their hand rolled, naturally leavened bagels remain their signature product at the brick-and-mortar shop, which opened in November. Patrick's varied professional and personal experience, including in education and farming, has translated into a strong interest in healthy workplaces, finding joy in good work, and supporting our community and local economy. A pedestrian commuter, Patrick loves living, working, and walking in North Adams, whether it's 4 AM or 4 PM.
- Jun 17, 202633 min
Episode 6 - Annie Pecor
Annie Pecor is Assistant Superintendent of North Adams Public Schools and a respected educational leader with more than 20 years of experience serving Berkshire County students and families. A graduate of Siena College, she earned both a master’s degree in education and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, as well as a doctorate in education from University of New England. Throughout her career, Pecor has championed student success, leadership development, restorative practices, adult education, and community partnerships. In 2026, she was honored with the Massachusetts State Universities Educator Alumni Award in recognition of her contributions to education. She currently serves on the board for the Berkshire Food Project, the Northern Berkshire United Way and is the Vice-Chair of the Berkshire Leadership Program.
- May 20, 202630 min
Episode 5 - Matt Alcombright
Matt was born and raised in North Adams and is proud of calling North Adams home! After graduating from Drury High School in 2001 Matt attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and Piano Performance. Following his music studies, he entered St. John’s Seminary in Brighton receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and a Master’s Degree in Divinity. Matt served as a parish priest in the greater Springfield area for seven years before coming back home to Berkshire County to care for family. For a little over five years, he served as Program Director for Residential Addiction Treatment Services with the Brien Center before accepting the role as Executive Director at the Berkshire Food Project. Author and food columnist, Laurie Colwin, once wrote “The table is a meeting place, a gathering ground, the source of sustenance and nourishment, festivity, safety, and satisfaction.” Matt looks forward to carrying his continued commitment to human services by promoting the mission of BFP being “the” meeting place and source of nourishment and safety where ALL are welcome, without distinction.
- Apr 15, 202631 min
Episode 4 - Hari Kumar
Hari Kumar is a storytelling coach and former engineer who helps people build confidence and authentic connection through public speaking and communication. He was born in India and grew up in Yemen but has lived here in Massachusetts through 29 consecutive winters. He moved to Williamstown three years ago when he met his wife Corinna, and last year he launched his small business, called Convivo. North Adams folks might recognize him as the guy in the cowboy hat who used to be at MassMoCA, where he worked part-time as a museum guide last summer and was especially well known for giving tours of the Vincent Valdez exhibit.
- Mar 17, 202629 min
Episode 3 - Chef Xavier Jones
Chef Xavier Jones is a culinary entrepreneur, educator, and private chef whose journey from the inner city of Philadelphia to the Berkshires’ vibrant food scene is a testament to the power of resilience, craft, and purpose. Xavier’s introduction to cooking didn’t come through family tradition or gourmet kitchens—it began with survival. Raised in a working-class household, food was often functional. That changed during his senior year of high school, when a teacher in a hospitality program saw promise in his hands and offered a path toward something more. Xavier took the leap, earning a culinary degree from the Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts in Pittsburgh and becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. What followed was a career forged in some of New England’s most respected kitchens, from the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge to executive chef positions across Massachusetts and New York. Along the way, Xavier developed a distinct culinary voice—one that blends classical technique with soulful inventiveness, rooted in seasonal ingredients and inspired by global traditions. Today, Chef Xavier operates several ventures, including BiggDaddy’s Philly Steakhouse and a highly sought-after private chef and catering business serving clients throughout the Berkshires and New York’s Capital Region. His work spans intimate dinners, immersive cooking classes, and large-scale events—each infused with thoughtfulness and precision. Beyond the plate, Xavier is also a mentor, youth advocate, and founder of the XCELL Mentorship Program, which empowers young people through culinary education and life skills training. His leadership style is adaptive and compassionate, shaped by both faith and lived experience and guided by a personal mission: to break generational cycles and build lasting legacies through food, service, and community.
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About Small City, Big Stories
Small City, Big Stories celebrates the people and projects driving downtown North Adams forward. Hosted by Jenny Wright, Executive Director of the North Adams Partnership, and produced with Gateway Collaborative Media, each episode highlights the creativity, innovation, and community spirit that make North Adams so special.
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