PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Christian Center wants community feedback to fuel a potential name change and expanded programming. 

The nonprofit, whose origins date back to the early 1890s, has held community listening sessions at 193 Robbins Ave. and released a survey to help bring the center into 2026 and beyond.  The survey can be found online here:

English: Community Input Survey
Spanish: Encuesta de Escucha Comunitaria

Executive Director Jessica Jones reported that youth services were the theme of input received so far, community members saying, "Our kids need something to do. They need something to be connected to." 

"And we would love to be that," Jones said. 

The center dates back to the early 1890s, when it was the Epworth Mission, started by the Methodist Church to serve newly arrived immigrants and help them assimilate. The Christian Center was incorporated in 1974. 

"We know we want to make changes moving forward, and we really want to tell the community what we're thinking and why, specifically, because one of the changes we want to make is the name," Jones explained. 

"There are a lot of reasons for wanting to change the name. The biggest one is just that we feel, because the Christian Center has not provided any religious services or activities in many years, two decades, that it is excluding people unnecessarily. There are people that have this idea that the Christian Center is a church-related organization." 

The name is also a barrier to funding opportunities that exclude religious organizations. 

The survey asks what the biggest challenges facing the community are right now, what services are missing, limited, or hard to access, any barriers when trying to get help or services, and what programs The Christian Center could offer that benefit the community. 

To address gaps in services for children who are not actively involved in after-school programs, the idea at the moment is to offer low-barrier drop-in times where students can get help with homework, have a snack, and play a game.

"And eventually grow it into something a little more substantial, where we're doing some thinking about your future, exploring trades," Jones said. 

Another theme of feedback was disconnection among community members and neighbors, which they feel could be addressed with additional events and dinners that bring people together. 

The survey also lists a few name options, including the Westside Giving Center and the Pittsfield Community Center, and a blank space to write another name.  Just "The Center" has been a popular suggestion from Westside residents, who say the name should be reflective of its outreach beyond the neighborhood. 

Jones reported that they plan to do another feedback session in March with some intended action steps.  She recognized that changing the name is a big deal, having been The Christian Center since 1940, and people need to be a part of that. 

The center always appreciates donations in cash or food.