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Monday, April 30th, 2012ABOUT THAT…A Parent/Child Discussion About Youth Substance Use
Friday, March 16th, 2012ABOUT THAT…A Parent/Child Discussion About Youth Substance Use
For Community Members, Parents & Teens
March 26, 2012
7:00 to 8:30 PM
Berkshire South Regional Community Center
15 Crissey Road Great Barrington
A Youth-led event to trigger an open, communitywide discussion on substance use by going beyond “how many & what?” and beginning to answer the question “Why?”
-Youth crafted videos
-Mother/Daughter skits
-Speaker—Tina Tartaglia from the Brien Center
-Youth Panel answering your
-Entertainment with a message—Antonio McClellan
-Mt. Everett SADD—Fatal Vision
-Refreshments provided
-FREE CHILDCARE PROVIDED—call in advance
This program has been made possible by the hard work of our community youth, RSYP, BSRCC and SBCC members, a grant from SAMHSA, and the generous donation of space by Berkshire South Regional Community Center.
Join “411 in the 413 Youth Conference!”!
Friday, March 16th, 2012
Spend a day meeting high school students from all over Berkshire County while learning about and experiencing health and wellness for the mind body and soul!
Like us on Facebook “411 in the 413 youth conference” for information and updates!
The 6th Annual 411 in the 413 Youth Conference will take place this year at the Berkshire Outdoors Center, Becket Chimney Corners / YMCA, on Thursday, April 12, 2012 from approximately 9:30 am until 4:00 pm (optional dismissal for some schools at 2:30 pm).
The goal of this conference is to bring the young people of Berkshire County together for a day to explore, debate, and address topics of interest to youth. Participants will meet new friends from across Berkshire County, discuss current events, think about life after high school, and find ways to be involved in our community. The theme of this year’s conference is health and wellness for the mind, body, and soul. All Berkshire County schools are invited to bring up to 10 students at no cost. Bus transportation will be provided to and from each school.
The conference features workshops that will be facilitated by local professionals, artists, students, and youth groups from the area. There are a wide variety of workshops planned such as: healthy cooking, hot political topics, drum circle, yoga, money management, DIY projects…and more!
Attached are the registration form, a list of workshops, parent/guardian permission form, and a liability form. Please fill out and return these forms to your school guidance counselor by March 23, 2012.
When: 9am-2:30pm on April 12, 2012
(or 4pm option)
Where: Berkshire Outdoor Center in Becket, MA
What to do? Click the link Below and get started!
Apprenticship Week 4
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Red lion Inn: This week we worked on pasta. Focusing on a goat cheese ravioli. We made the pasta from scratch rolling each piece out and then filling it with the goat cheese filling. Simmering on the stove was a homemade pasta sauce featuring yellow tomatoes, mmmmm!! We got to watch Brian whip up a poached egg inside a ravioli! He created a little pool in the goat cheese filling and then delicately placed an egg yoke. He then covered it with a strip of hand-made pasta to create the ravioli. Then it was placed in the boiling water for about 4 minutes. So very cool!
Michele’s: This week we got to practice make-up skills. Learning about the products and what looked good on who and why and then applying it to one another. Practicing for the big fashion show!
At the john andrews apprenticeship this week all of the culinary students made a scrumptious chicken, mashed potatoe and green veggie gourmet meal. We made a baked whole chicken, and fried chicken breasts. With mashed red potatoes and creamy polenta, brussel sprouts, garlic carrots, spinach and kale. To make the chicken we actually had to butcher the dead chicken and cut the meat off. It was an interesting expierence and everyone had a wonderful time. And an even better time eating the meal afterwards.
mashed potatoe:
3lbs. of red potatoes
1/2 cup cream or milk
1/4 lb. unsalted butter, softened
2tps. kosher salt
fresh ground pepper
boil potatoes in salted water for 1 hour or until tender and drain well. Heat cream and add to potatoes along with butter salt and pepper. Mash until cream and fluffy.
creamy polenta:
8 cups water
2 cups finely ground cornmeal
1tbp. kosher salt
1/2 cup cream
Using a sauce pan bring water to a boil. slowly whip in cornmeal and add salt, lower heat to a simmer and cover. Cook for 2 hours stirring periodically and add cream.
Apprenticeship Week 3
Monday, March 12th, 2012Oh what a fun week we had! Unfortunately, Michele’s got snowed out but it didn’t stop the cooking from happening on Monday and Tuesday.
Red Lion Inn- They started to discuss and finalize the menu for the culinary brunch happening on April 22nd! It is going to be scrumptious so don’t miss out. You can reserve your seat by calling us at 528-2475. The kids and Brian, Samson and Matt came up with what is going to be a fantastic meal. Over the remaining weeks they will be practicing the dishes and skills to ensure your culinary experience will be out of this world on April 22nd!
JA- Pasta, pasta pasta!! What a fun class. We made pasta 4 different ways in our 2 short hours, Dan is a magician! We started out by making the basic pasta dough, then we rolled it out into long strips everyone taking turns cranking and handling the dough. We put the strips through the pasta maker to cut the linguini strips. For the ravioli we laid out the strips filled them with the chevre then with round cookie cutters cut out the ravioli. It is actually not that hard to make your own pasta, can just be a bit time consuming. If you don’t have a machine to roll out the pasta but you want to try this at home I would recommend making the gnocchi. Gnocchi is not only delicious but it is pretty quick and easy to make. You can certainly impress your friends when you whip up the homemade gnocchi!
Ricotta Gnocchi
2 lbs ricotta
3 cups parmesan
6 egg yolks
1 1/4 cups flour
parsley chives
Mix the egg yokes and the flour together. Knead in the ricotta, parmesan and chives. Take small balls and roll them out like snakes, then cut off 1/2 -1 inch long sections. Drop your gnocchi into boiling water. Enjoy!
Apprenticeships Week 2
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Monday- Red Lion Inn, This week, in addition to slicing and dicing veggies and such, the kids made a home-made chocolate pudding from scratch. I’ve never done more than open a box to make chocolate pudding so it was quite impressive to watch (and taste!) the difference in making pudding from scratch. (this recipe yields enough for a service at red lion inn so i would recommend cutting it in 1/2 or more)
30 each……egg yolks
3 cups…..sugar
1 3/4 cup…….corn starch
1 1/2 tbs…..salt
2 1/2 gallons…..milk
6 pds…..melted chocolate (over water bath)
-simmer milk in large sauce pan
-whip egg yolks, sugar, corn starch, salt until ribbon like
-temper milk mixture to egg mixture
-return to heat and cook until thick and pudding consistancy
-add melted chocolate stir until well mixed
At the JA apprenticeship on feb 21st the culinary students mixed cornbread batter and made delightful corn muffins and also a cheesy jalapeno cornbread. There was dough that we got to roll out and turn into naan flatbreads that we grilled and put toppings on! We put different toppings such as butter or olive oil, garlic, different cheeses and spices. We also made our own mini loafs of bread. All of the students participated in making food and had a great time eating their creations!
Thursday-Michele’s They were practicing there curling and braiding hair styles on one another. They are preparing for this years fashion show on April 20th where they will be doing the hair and make-up!
Weekly Recipes and Apprenticeship Update 1
Thursday, February 16th, 2012What a great start to the culinary and cosmo apprenticeships! We are full to the brim, topping out at 9 students for Red Lion Inn 8 for JA and 7 for Michele’s in addition we have two lovely interns helping to document and keep things running smoothly. (We will be starting an apprenticeship at Studio for skin care and make-up in a few weeks, contact RSYP if interested). The kids will be working hard to prepare for the culinary dinners and the fashion show. Red Lion Inn will be hosting a Sunday Jazz Brunch on April 22nd, JA will be hosting an elegant farm to table dinner on April 3rd. On April 20th the cosmo kids will team up with The Alchemy Initiative & Crispina French to do hair and make-up for their fashion show. Each week we will posting pics and recipes from the various apprenticeships. Keep checking in!
The kids at Michele’s got to practice their skills at washing, blow drying and intro styling on manequin heads! At JA the kids worked on three different soups. Yup, you heard me they not only worked on but finished 3 soups!! They are extremely productive in that kitchen. And this week at Red Lion Inn the kids were working on all sorts of projects from chopping vegetables for a home made chunky pasta sauce to a mouth watering lemon tart.
Lemon Tart
Crust:
1 cup (130 grams) all purposeflour
1/3 cup (35 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing)sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (113 grams) cold unsaltedbutter, cut into pieces
Lemon Filling:
5 ounces (140 grams) cream cheese,roomtemperature.
1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated whitesugar
1/2 cup (120 ml) freshlemon juice(approximately two large lemons)
2 largeeggs
1 tablespoon gratedlemon zest(outer lemon skin)
Topping:
1 cup (240 ml) cold heavywhipping cream(contains 35-40% butterfat)
2 tablespoons (20 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing)sugar
Shortbread Crust:Butter or lightly spray with a nonstick vegetable cooking spray, an8 – 9 inch (20 – 23 cm) tart pan with a removable bottom. In your food processor, place the flour, sugar, and salt and process to combine. Add the butter and pulse until the pastry starts to come together and form clumps. Place the pastry in the prepared tart pan and, using your fingertips, evenly press the pastry onto the bottom and up the sides of the pan. (Can use the back of a spoon to smooth the surface of the pastry.) Pierce the bottom of the crust with the tines of a fork. (This will prevent the pastry crust from puffing up while it bakes.) Cover and place the pastry crust in thefreezerfor 15 minutes to chill. (This will help prevent the crust from shrinking while it bakes.)
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven.
When the pastry is completely chilled, place the tart pan on a larger baking sheet and bake until the crust is golden brown, about 13 -15 minutes. Remove from oven and place on awirerackto cool while you make the filling.
Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees (177 degrees C).
Lemon Filling:In a food processor or electric mixer, place the cream cheese and process until smooth. Add sugar and process until incorporated. Add the eggs and process until thoroughly combined. Add the lemon juice and zest and process until well blended and smooth. Pour filling into pre baked tart shell and bake for approximately 25 – 30 minutes or until filling is set. Transfer tart to a wire rack to cool and then cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least an hour.
Topping: Put your mixing bowl and whisk in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Then beat thewhippingcreamand powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Can just spread the whipped cream over the filling or transfer the whipped cream to a pastry bag fitted with star tip (#1M), andpipestars over the entire surface of the tart. Refrigerate until serving time.
Serves 6 – 8 people.
Culinary & Cosmetology Apprenticships!
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We are getting ready for another round of apprenticeships! Come and get involved and learn from some of the best in Berkshire county. Folks ages 14-25 can get involved. It’s free and we offer transportation to the site, leaving from GB, Monument Mountain and Mt. Everett! We offer apprenticeships at:
Red Lion Inn: Mondays 2/6 – 4/9
John Andrews: Tuesday 2/7 – 4/3
Sim’s Barber: Wednesday 2/8 – 3/28
Michelle’s Salon: Thursday 2/9 – 3/29
Studio: Thursday dates TBD
Orientation for parents and students: January 30th (at the drop-in center, 60 Bridge St. GB)
Call or email to sign up today! 528-2475 ask for Jocelyn/ email hidden; JavaScript is required
RSYP to host High Oracle of Bhutan!
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Title: RSYP to host High Oracle of Bhutan!
Location: The RSYP Drop-In Center at 60 Bridge Street, Great Barrington, Mass
Description: Join Druk Chokyong Tsimar, The High Oracle of Bhutan and Lama Rangbar AKA Man, Son of Peace, at the Railroad Street Youth Project for a day of practice, explanation, and co-creation.
Drop-in to all or part of this event, free to all, all welcome!
Email Michael Johnson fo…r more information: email hidden; JavaScript is required
9:30 – 11am
The practice of “Sending and Receiving” taught by Lama Rangbar followed by the practice of The Mountain of Burnt Offerings (an incense offering to heal our world).
11 – 12pm
An explanation of the benefits of creating a “Heart Support Mandala” For the World at this time.A talk by the Oracle Druk Lama Chokyong, followed by a Q and A session.
12 – 2pm
Potluck lunch/intermission
2 – 4:30pm
(or as long as it has wind)
A Co-creation alliance session about Maha Bodhivastu, The American Mandala of World Peace. The vision, mission, its articulation, activities and Alliances.
“Maha Bodhivastu is more than just a monument in isolation of what is going on in our times… Each action we take with determination and fearlessness gives back to us immense confidence and treasures on the levels of form (physical reality), speech (vibratory reality) and Mind (all pervasive openness reality). This IS the way we can win in this transformation from slavery to actual collective liberation.”
- Lama Rangbar Nyimai Ozer
Start Time: 09:30
Date: 2012-01-08
End Time: 16:30
RSYP Mentoring Night at Route 7 Grill!
Thursday, December 29th, 2011Title: RSYP Mentoring Night at Route 7 Grill!
Location: Route 7 Grill, 999 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230
Description: The Railroad Street Youth Project is looking to recruit new mentors for our Mentoring Program- an innovative mentoring and sponsorship program for local youth who could use support outside of school, family, or peer group in order to identify and reach their personal, aca…demic, and even professional goals. Pairs meet weekly for an hour, or four hours a month, for a six to twelve month match. The aim of the program is to provide new friendships and role models to the next generation, empowering them to succeed in their every endeavor.
Green Drinks is a monthly social event hosted by the folks who create Orion magazine for people like you and I interested in everything from environmental education to local agriculture, the arts, green business & design, and the ways all of these intersect. We usually have 50 or so folks from around the area stop by.
Please come with your business card, posters to share for an upcoming event in the area, etc, to share with your peers.
As always there will be deliciously free snacks courtesy of our lovely/handsome Route 7 hosts, and gloriously free copies of the current issue of Orion magazine for your enjoyment.
So grab a friend or two and bring them down to share what you’re working on (green or not) and to meet others active in your community.
Please forward this on to your friends & share with your social media contacts…the more the merrier!
Start Time: 17:15
Date: 2012-01-05
End Time: 19:30






