PITTSFIELD, Mass. - The 2nd Street nonprofit supports current and formerly incarcerated people in Berkshire County to increase the chances of improving their lives. Now, the nonprofit is announcing three arts initiatives which will create a platform for their clients to express their creativity.

Participants will workshop their artistic abilities with local organizations and have them presented to the public. A visual art exhibit for the “Insight Out” initiative will go on display at the Berkshire Museum. Berkshire Community College is partnering for the “Using Our Outside Voices” literary project, and the “Hear Me Out” initiative will develop a dramatic performance with local producer Chaos Theory.

2nd Street executive director Jason Cuyler said there's great cultural venues in the Berkshires and encouraging their clients to engage in the arts is part of their work of inspiring positive change.

“Most of our clients, we meet their initial meet needs," Cuyler said. "Their initial needs are mental health, substance abuse, helping them find employment and housing. With the three initiatives, I call it the what's next stage. We want to encourage them to think a little bit outside of the box.

"I think the most important thing is to really understand that a lot of the people that we deal with are great people and they just need that opportunity in order to be successful. It can change the trajectory of where their life is to go.”

Cuyler said they are grateful to the organizations who are involved with the project. Workshops for the three initiatives will start at the beginning of April and end with the public presentations in September.