Join us for the August 2025 Berkshire Green Drinks event to learn about Breathe Easy Berkshires — an ongoing air quality monitoring project in Pittsfield — and find out what its research reveals about the air we breathe.

Attendees will learn about the scope of the Breathe Easy ambient air quality project, a local effort to monitor air pollution in Pittsfield, MA. The presentation will cover the motivation behind starting the project, the progress made in the research, and findings to date—including significant air quality events that have been recorded.

The team will also demonstrate their mobile monitoring equipment and explain how it functions in the field. Finally, they will discuss how individuals can stay informed about air quality conditions and take simple, effective steps to protect themselves during periods of poor air quality.

Whether you’re a concerned resident, environmental advocate, or simply a curious individual, this is a great opportunity to engage with local air quality research and take part in a conversation about healthier futures for Pittsfield and Berkshire County.

DATE: Wednesday, August 13

TIME: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM — In-person attendees can begin gathering around 5:15 PM if they wish. 

LOCATION: Wander Berkshires, 34 Depot St Suite 101 (Entrance in alley), Pittsfield, MA & Online via Zoom

Click here to register for ONLINE participation.

Click here to register for the IN-PERSON gathering

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Drake Reed and Andrew Ferrara are the Co-Managers of Breath Easy Berkshires, a BEAT project funded by the EPA. The project monitors ambient air quality in Pittsfield, MA, to identify sources of pollution, engage the community in discussion, and ultimately improve air quality and public health.

Drake focuses on health study development and community outreach. He is a social and environmental justice researcher who has managed climate science research for New York City. He holds a master’s degree in Design and Urban Ecology from The New School Parsons.

Andrew oversees the ambient air quality monitoring and stationary data collection. In addition, he manages BEAT’s Berkshire Zero Waste Initiative (BZWI) and recycling programs. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in sustainability from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA). 

What is Berkshire Green Drinks? Berkshire Green Drinks is an informal gathering on the second Wednesday of the month that is free and open to everyone with any environmental interest. A guest speaker talks about an environmentally-related topic for approximately 30 minutes beginning at 6 PM; the presentation is followed by a discussion and Q&A. The drinks aren’t green but the conversations are. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join and bring along questions!

What is Green Drinks? Green Drinks is an international forum where people who work in the environmental field and environmental enthusiasts meet for a drink and snacks at informal sessions. There will be a lively mix of people from non-profit organizations, academia, government, business, and the general public. Green Drinks is a great way of catching up with people you know and for making new contacts. These networking events are very simple and unstructured. Come along, and you’ll be made welcome.