Who is Steve Bernstein?

Steve Bernstein has lived in New Hampshire and now The Pioneer Valley since 1976. He has owned and operated several small businesses. In 1978, Steve was invited to co-sponsor an at-risk youth group. He continued this work as a sponsor of a very large and long standing Alateen group in Manchester, NH. In 1989, he became the Coordinator for the Alateen program. In 1993, he worked with abused youth as a guardian ad litem and coordinator for the CASA program. Steve is a renowned humane educator and has worked with many schools in the region promoting an ethic of personal, local and global peace and sustainability.

1n 1993, after attending a conference at Harvard Divinity School, Steve founded Compassionate Connections, an organization dedicated to providing youth  with educational, vocational and personal growth opportunities through the practice of mentorship. In 1996, Steve was hired by the Institute of Emotional Disabilities at Keene State College as a Career and Education Specialist for at-risk youth with emotional issues for an experimental program called Project Renew. His community based philosophy demonstrated tremendous success at Project Renew.

With consistency, respect, connection and mentorship, Steve helped many young  people overcome their sense of helplessness and hopelessness and  offered them pathways to a successful life.

After two decades in the plumbing and construction trades, Steve pursued a post-secondary degree in Human Services from Springfield College and a Master of Science degree from Antioch Graduate School.

Compassionate Connections has evolved and given birth to many dynamic projects and new businesses. Aim High, Compassion In Action, Get Up And Dance and What's on Top? are all up and running and forging ahead, finding special places in the hearts and minds of all those that check in.