NAACP Berkshires | President
Dennis L. Powell (Retired) was born and raised in Pittsfield, MA.; graduate of the class of 1963 from Pittsfield High School. I am the proud father of five and grandfather of four! I am a community activist, the president of the Berkshire County Branch NAACP since 2015, and Chair of the Freedom Fund Committee, an Executive Committee member of the New England Area Conference (NEAC) NAACP, and I serve on its Education Committee. I am vice-chair of the Clinton Church Restoration Project. I serve on the Pittsfield Licensing Board, the Pittsfield School Committee, the Pittsfield 4 Freedom Coalition, the Greylock Community Development Advisory Board, the Railroad Street Youth Project Board (RSYP) in Great Barrington, the Steering Committee of the WEB. Du Bois Educational Series also in Great Barrington. I am a veteran of the United States Army, completing my tour of duty in 1966. I am a graduate of the class of 1968 from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). And from 1972 – 1986, I held positions of instructor and administrator at the CIA. 1987 – 1990 Chef-owner, Wendell House Bistro Pittsfield, MA; 1997 – 1999 Executive Director, Christian Center, Pittsfield, Ma.; 1990 – 2000 Chef-owner Catering By Design; 2000 – 2003 Food Service Manager BSO, Boston Ma.; 2003 – 2010 Director of Food Service/Culinary/Hospitality – Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth, Canaan, NY. The Berkshire Eagle feature me in their Executive Spotlight Series in 2020. Berkshire Magazine recognized me as one of “Berkshire 25” (Most Dedicated, Most Creative, Most Influential person of 2018. In the 1990s, I received Berkshire Center for Families and Children’s – Outstanding Volunteer Award; and was named by the South Advocate as Pittsfield’s M.V.P (Most Valuable Person). 1977 I was a Culinary Team member. We won five (5) Gold Medals at an International Culinary Competition in Basel Switzerland; and received the Diploma of Honor from the Societe Culinaire Philanthropique; in 1973, received the Culinary Teachers Association – Recognition Award. I am MAPP Certified – (Massachusetts Approach To Partnerships In Parenting)