18 Degrees- Pittsfield

The 18 Degrees mission is to champion access, opportunity, belonging, and well-being for all people on their journey, helping to build thriving communities. Our mission was updated with the launch of our 5-year strategic plan in July 2024. The story behind 18 Degrees is one of new days and new beginnings – that’s what our work has been about for over a century. Since 1887, we have been a critical resource for the young people & families in western Massachusetts, adapting & evolving through mergers with other human service organizations in the area. From the time its first rays are visible in the sky until it rises above the horizon, the sun travels eighteen degrees upwards. In that time, in those eighteen degrees of distance, a new day begins to reveal itself, full of possibility and opportunity. This is how we meet the people we serve, with hope and the promise of a new way forward. To help individuals and families achieve lasting change and a better life, we use evidence-based practices including the Strengthening Families framework, Positive Youth Development, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed Care, and a strengths-based lens as the foundation of all we do. Staff receive regular training in each approach and on how to build a welcoming and accessible environment that values each of our participants and our colleagues. 18 Degrees operates from 10 sites throughout the Berkshires and Pioneer Valley. We foster and maintain partnerships with area schools, mental health providers, housing, food, and other community providers, state and municipal agencies, and others. Our vision is that in our new day, opportunities outshine barriers, and all people feel a sense of community and belonging.