[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE LATEST IN WHAT LOOKS LIKE AN ENCOURAGING DOWNTURN IN COVID CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS HOSPITALIZATIONS.

AND ON "CRONKITE NEWS," A NATION-WIDE CONFERENCE ADDRESSES GROWING CONCERNS OVER SCHOOL SAFETY, AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," SOME MYTHS AROUND DOMESTIC ABUSE AND WOMEN OF COLOR.

THAT'S ALL AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE STATE SENATE TODAY TOOK UP A NUMBER OF BILLS DESIGNED TO EXPAND THE STATE'S VOUCHER PROGRAM.

FOREMOST IS SENATE BILL 1657, WHICH WOULD USE MONEY EARMARKED FOR TEACHER SALARY AND CLASSROOM IMPROVEMENTS, AND IT WOULD MAKE AT LEAST 70% OF ARIZONA STUDENTING ELIGIBLE FOR VOUCHERS.

>>> SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION KATHY HOFFMAN DELIVERED HER ADDRESS TO THE SEN NATED.

SHE ADDRESSED THE NEED TO RAISE THE AGATE SPENDING GAP FOR DISTRICTS.

SHE SAID THAT IT WAS QUOTE, APPALLING THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAD YET TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, ADDING THAT, QUOTE, INACTION IS NOT AN OPTION.

AND DISTRICTS COULD BE UNABLE TO SPEND OVER A BILLION DOLLARS ALREADY APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

>>> CONGRESSMAN PAUL GOSAR TWEETED HIS SUPPORT FOR THE STATE BILL THAT CALLS FOR THE 2020 ELECTION RESULTS TO BE DECERTIFIED IN CERTAIN COUNTIES.

HE CLAIMS THAT 740,000 MARICOPA COUNTY BALLOTS, QUOTE, CANNOT BE AUTHENTICATED, AND THUS THE RESULTS CANNOT BE CERTIFIED.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT GO-GO GO-GO -- GO SAR'S CLAIM IS FALSE.

CONFUSION OVER COUNTY ATTORNEY ALLISTER ADEL STAY IN REHAB LAST YEAR FOR ALCOHOL ABUSE AND AN EATING DISORDER.

SHE INITIAL CLAIMED TO BE AT THE IN-PATIENT REHAB CENTER FOR 19 DAYS, BUT YESTERDAY IN AN INTERVIEW WITH KJZZ RADIO SHE SAID IT WAS 29 DAYS.

HER OFFICE LATER SAID SHE MISSPOKE AND SHE WAS INDEED THERE FOR 19 DAYS, ALL OF THAT ADDS TO CONTINUED CONCERNS FROM HER STAFF.

>>> MORE PEOPLE WILL DIE IF CHANGES AREN'T MADE IN SYNTHETIC OPIOID OPIOIDS.

THE REPORT ALSO FOUND THAT MEXICO IS INCREASINGLY A MAJOR SOURCE OF THE U.S. FENTANYL SUPPLY, ALL OF WHICH HAS BEEN CLEAR IN ARIZONA FOR SOMETIME.

INDEED JUST 4 DAYS AGO, $2 MILLION WORTH OF FENTANYL WAS SEIZED BY PINAL COUNTY DEPUTIES AFTER A TRAFFIC STOP.

>>> ARIZONA RECORDED JUST UNDER 3800 CASES OF COVID-19 TODAY.

THAT CONTINUES A DOWNWARD TREND.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE SHOWING AN ENCOURAGING DROP IN ER VISITEDS.

WE TALKED ABOUT THESE LATEST NUMBERS WITH WILL HUMBLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION.

WILL HUMBLE ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU IN STUDIO AGAIN, AS WE TACO INDIVIDUAL, AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ENCOURAGING NUMBERS HERE.

NEW CASES ARE GOING -- IS THAT AS EXPECTED?

>> YEAH, THIS IS THE SAME THING WE SAW IN THE EASTERN SEABOARD, AND THE U.K., AND SOUTH AFRICA.

THIS OMICRON VARIANT HAD A SUBSTANTIAL SPIKE, AND NOW WE'RE ON THE DOWN FALL.

IT HAS COME DOWN A LOT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE ARE MORE CASES OUT THERE THAN WE KNOW ABOUT, BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE SHIPPED THOSE FREE TESTS, AND SO IF THOSE TEST POSITIVE, THEY ARE NOT GETTING INTO THE CYST TOM AS A POSITIVE.

BUT WE KNOW NEW CASES ARE REALLY DROPPING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HOSPITALIZATIONS.

WHAT DO WE SEE -- IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS ARE EASING A BIT.

>> WELL, THERE'S TWO THINGS ABOUT IT, SO THERE'S FEWER PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID, ESPECIALLY IN THE ICU, SO THAT IS IMPROVING, BUT HOSPITALS ARE STILL JAM PACKED.

WHY?

BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT COULDN'T GET PROCEDURES IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, AND JANUARY ARE NOW BEING ABLE TO HAVE THOSE THINGS SCHEDULED.

SO YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEE CHANGES IN HOSPITAL -- YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IT CONTINUE TO BE IN THE MID-90S FOR A LONG TIME, EVEN AS WE SEE THE PERCENTAGE OF PATIENTS WITH COVID HAVE DROPPED.

AND FLU SEASON IS HERE -- LAST YEAR IT WAS ALMOST NON-EXISTENT.

THIS YEAR IT EXISTS, AND IT IS KIND OF TYPICAL.

>> DEATH RATE STILL SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE PAST THE PEAK IN OMICRON INFECTIONS AND PROBABLY THE PEAK IN COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS, WE'RE NOT TO THE PEAK OF DEATHS FROM OMICRON CASES YET.

THAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE MID-TO LATER PART OF THE MONTH.

BECAUSE YOU GET INFECTED.

YOU END UP IN THE HOSPITAL, AND IT TAKES YOU A WHILE TO EITHER GET BETTER OR NOT GET BETTER.

>> AND THAT'S WHY IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO LAG.

>> CORRECT.

>>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF BILLS MAKING THEIR WAY AT THE LEGISLATURE.

ONE IS SENATE BILL 1009, IT LIMITS FUTURE GOVERNOR'S PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AUTHORITY TO 120 DAYS.

IT IS KIND OF INTERESTING, BECAUSE DEMOCRATS WERE OPPOSED TO THIS AND REPUBLICANS WERE FOR IT, AND YET IT IS KIND OF CURIOUS, TO LIMIT THE GOVERNOR'S AUTHORITY HERE.

>> YEAH, SO IT WAS PASSED THROUGH THE SENATE ON PARTY LINES.

THE REPUBLICANS ALL VOTED TO LIMIT THE NEXT GOVERNOR'S AUTHORITY.

THE DEMOCRATS VOTED JUST TO KEEP IT THE WAY IT IS, AND THIS BILL WOULD LIMIT THE AUTHORITY TO 120 DAYS, AND THE LEGISLATURE WOULD HAVE TO RENEW THE AUTHORITY AFTER THAT.

I SIGNED IN NEUTRAL ON THE BILL.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE FOR IT, AND ALL KINDS AGAINST IT, SO I THOUGHT I'LL SIGN IN NEUTRAL.

BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN THE GOVERNOR USE THE AUTHORITY FOR GOOD PURPOSES AT THE BEGINNING OF 2020, AND IN THE SUMMER OF 2020, WITH THE BARS RESTAURANTS AND NIGHTCLUBS, AND WE HAVE SEEN A GOVERNOR MISUSE THAT AUTHORITY TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE RESPONSE -- MAKE THINGS WORSE.

SO I'M LIKE, YOU CAN'T -- UNLESS YOU ARE A FORTUNE TELLER AND YOU KNOW WHO THE NEXT GOVERNOR IS DURING THE NEXT TIME THERE IS GOING TO BE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE GOING TO NEED TO LIMIT IT OR KEEP IT THE WAY THINGS ARE.

>> 120 DAYS SEEM FAIR TO YOU THEN?

>> YEAH, AND MORE TO THE FACT THAT THE CHECKS AND BALANCES ARE ON ONE BILL.

>> YOU WERE NOT NEUTRAL ON HOUSE BILL 26.

>> YES, THE HEALTH DIRECTOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO START A RULE MAKING, A REGULATION TO ADD NEW VACCINES TO THE REQUIRED LIST, AND IT TAKES LIKE A YEAR TO 18 MONTHS TO DO THAT.

THERE IS PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU HAVE TO DO AN ECONOMIC REVIEW, AND GO TO THE GOVERNOR'S COUNSEL, SO IT'S A LONG PROCESS.

THE LAST ONES WE ADDED WERE CHICKENPOX.

AND I EXPLAINED THERE IS A LONG EXTENDED PROCESS FOR VACCINES, BUT THEY VOTED ON PARTY LINES IN COMMITTEE IN -- IN THE HOUSE HEALTH COMMITTEE TO SAY FUTURE DIRECTORS COULD NOT EVER ADD THE COVID VACCINE TO THE REQUIRED SCHOOL LIST.

>> DID THEY GIVE A REASON FOR THAT?

>> EACH ONE WHO VOTED HAD A DIFFERENT REASON, SO -- YOU CAN LOOK -- YOU CAN GO TO THEIR WEBSITE AND LOOK AT THE DEBATE THEY HAVE, BUT EVERYONE HAD A DIFFERENT REASON FOR VOTING.

SOME JUST SAID I VOTE AYE, OTHERS EXPLAINED.

AND MY ATTITUDE WAS, LOOK, THERE ARE A LOT OF CHECKS AND BALANCES IN THE CURRENT SYSTEM, AND IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ANY DIRECTOR IS EVER GOING TO DO WHIMSICALLY.

THE SYSTEM AS IT IS WORKS.

THE LEGISLATURE ALWAYS SAYS, WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO FIX?

SO WHAT WERE THEY TRYING TO FIX?

THE LAST THINGS THAT WERE ADDED, WE WENT THROUGH A PUBLIC PROCESS, AND EVERYBODY WAS HAPPY ABOUT IT IN THE END, SO WHY FIX A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

>> WILL HUMBLE ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> OKAY.

TAKE CARE.

>>> AND UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, RESEARCH INTO HOW EXERCISE COULD IMPACT BRAIN HEALTH.

>>> ALWAYS ASSOCIATION REPORTS THAT AN ESTIMATED 6.2 MILLION AMERICANS AGES 65 AND OLDER ARE LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S, AND WITHOUT MEDICAL BREAK THROUGHS THAT NUMBER WOULD MORE THAN DOUBLE IN THE NEXT 25 YEARS.

PROFESSOR FANG YU FROM ASU'S EDSON COLLEGE OF NURSING HAS RESEARCHED WAYS TO POTENTIAL DELAY THE ONSET OF DEMENTIA, WE SPOKE WITH PROPROFESSOR YU EARLIER TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

IT'S VERY INTERESTING.

I RUN EVERY DAY, AND I'M TRYING TO EXERCISE, AND I'M TRYING TO CONVINCE MYSELF IT IS GOOD FOR ME IN ALL WAYS INCLUDING MY BRAIN.

AM I RIGHT ON THAT?

>> YES, EXERCISE IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF.

I STARTED LOOKING AT EXERCISE FOR YOUR HEALTH SINCE 2004.

EXERCISE TARGETS A NUMBER OF RISK FACTORS FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, AND IT ALSO IMPROVES [ INAUDIBLE ] WHICH IS SUPER IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN LINKED TO BRAIN HEALTH.

AND THOSE ARE THE PREVENTIONS OF ALZHEIMER'S.

>> SO IT IS THE EXERCISE PREVENTS THINGS THAT CAN LEAD TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, OR DOES THE EXERCISE ITSELF HELP PREVENT DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER'S.

>> IT IS THE RISK FACTORS THAT LEADS TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE INDIRECTLY.

DIRECTLY, IT CHANGES THE BRAIN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION.

IMAGES HAVE BEEN SHOWN OF THE BRAIN.

AND THERE ARE BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF THINGS LIKE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

THOSE ARE CALLED BIOMARKERS, SO EXERCISE HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH ALZHEIMER'S MARKERS, IN THAT WAY, THE MORE EXERCISE YOU CAN DO, OR THE BETTER FITNESS YOU HAVE, THEN YOU WILL HAVE A MORE FAVORABLE PROFILE OF THOSE MARKERS.

>> ARE THERE CERTAIN KINDS OF EXERCISES, HOW LONG YOU EXERCISE, HOW STRENUOUS, THESE KINDS OF THINGS.

>> YES, LIKE YOU TALKED ABOUT RUNNING, WHICH IS AN AEROBIC EXERCISE.

AEROBIC EXERCISE DEFINITELY HAS EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT OF BRAIN HEALTH, BUT INCREASED EVIDENCE IS ALSO SHOWING IN RESISTANCE EXERCISE IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT INCREASES [ INAUDIBLE ] WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR METABOLIZING SOME OF THE THINGS WE DON'T WANT IN YOUR BODY.

>> INTERESTING.

WITH THAT IN MIND.

THAT'S PREVENTING.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO ALREADY HAVE MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT.

I MEAN, IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE STUDYING RIGHT NOW?

>> YES.

IT IS AT THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS.

ONE IS BEFORE ANY SYMPTOMS OF ONSET.

AND THE SECOND LEVEL OF PREVENTION IS PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE COGNITIVE SYMPTOMS.

AND ENGAGES IN EXERCISE AND THOSE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES HAVE ALSO BEEN SHOWN TO BE BENEFICIAL TO THE POPULATION.

AND RESEARCH DEALS WITH PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE DEMENTIA, AND THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE IS MUCH BETTER WITH EXERCISE.

IT ACTUALLY STABILIZES THE COGNITION, WHEN YOU LOOK AT MY STUDY, IT SHOWS THAT PEOPLE WHO DID AEROBIC EXERCISE, THEIR CON IN ADDITION REMAINS STABLE.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

YOU ARE DOING THE STUDY RIGHT NOW.

ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE FINDING FOLKS TO DO THE STUDY?

HOW DO YOU FIND FOLKS WHO AGREE TO DO THIS?

>> OH, WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STUDY, BECAUSE IT IS A COMMITMENT FROM THEM.

BASICALLY THE STUDY I'M RUNNING RIGHT NOW IS CALLED THE ACTIVE TRIAL.

AND IN THIS STUDY, WE'RE FOCUSING ON PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT, BUT THEY DON'T YET HAVE DEMENTIA, SO WE ARE HOPING MAYBE IT WILL HELP THEM TO MAINTAIN THEIR COGNITION TO THEY DON'T GO DOWN THE ROAD INTO ALZHEIMER'S.

>> I HAVE GOT TO ASK THIS.

AND I KNOW YOU HAVE LIKE OF SELF TESTS THAT YOU DO FOR FOLKS WHO ARE CONCERNED.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF FORGETFULNESS IS JUST FORGETFULNESS WITH AGING AGING, O SOMETHING SERIOUS?

>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

ONE OF THE KEY INDICATORS IS WHETHER YOUR MEMORY SLIPS, AND WHETHER OR NOT IT IS EFFECTING YOUR DAILY ACTIVITIES.

FOR EXAMPLE, WITH AGING, WE ALL BECOME A LITTLE BIT FORGETFUL, BUT TYPICALLY WE WILL REMEMBER THE THINGS WE WANT TO REMEMBER, IT TAKES LONGER TO DO THINGS, AND DISRUPTS OUR LIVES IN A CERTAIN WAY, BUT IT IS NOT A DYSFUNCTION.

WITH ALZHEIMER'S THE DECLINE DOESN'T GO AWAY.

THEY COME ON VERY INSIDIOUSLY, AND PROGRESS OVER TIME, AND EFFECTS OUR ABILITY TO FUNCTION IN OUR JOB, IN OUR SOCIALIZATION, AND ACTIVITIES, AND IN THE END THEY ACTUALLY EFFECT OUR BASIC ABILITY TO DO THE BASIC THINGS LIKE SHOWERING.

>> AND THESE SELF TESTS, EVERYTHING -- YOU HAVE GOT TO BE CAREFUL TO SELF DIAGNOSE, DON'T YOU?

BECAUSE YOU COULD BE WAY OFF BASE ON SOME OF THESE RESULTS.

>> EXACTLY.

SOME OF THE THINGS YOU CAN THINK OF, IF YOU HAVE MEMORY CHANGES THAT EFFECTING YOU, THE BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT IT IS TO GET A MEDICAL EVALUATION.

BECAUSE IF EVALUATED TIMELY, THEN IT CAN BE TREATED.

ONE EXAMPLE IS [ INAUDIBLE ] EFFICIENCY, WHICH ED LEADS TO [ INAUDIBLE ] ADULTS.

YOU CAN [ INAUDIBLE ] COGNITIVELY RECOVER.

>> WOW.

>> WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO SELF DYING DIAGNOSE, BUT WE WANT THEM TO BE AWARE.

SO IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO SEE IF IT TRULY EFFECTS YOU.

AND PEOPLE CAN DO IT -- TO TRY TO REMEMBER SOMETHING THAT -- WITH A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER LAST WEEK, AND TRY TO RECALL ALL OF THE DETAILS OF THE EVENT, AND COMPARE NOTES WITH YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY TO SEE IF THEY ARE THE SAME.

BUT DON'T DO THOSE FORMER TESTS ON YOUR OWN, BECAUSE WE NEED TO INTERPRET THEM, AND YOU MAY BECOME OVERLY WORRIED WHEN YOU DON'T NEED TO BE.

>> YEAH, WE DON'T WANT THAT.

PROFESSOR FANG YU THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TED.

>>> INTEL AND THE YWCA ARE TEAMING UP ON INITIATIVES TO PURSUE EDUCATION IN S.T.E.A.M.

ZEL AND JENNIFER THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

ZEL WE'LL START WITH YOU.

THE EQUITY IN S.T.E.A.M.

INITIATIVE, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH.

AND GIVING KIDS ACCESS TO THESE CAREERS AND ACCESS TO LEARNING AND KNOWING ABOUT S.T.E.M.

IN GENERAL.

S.T.E.A.M.

IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT IS NOT THE FUTURE.

IT'S THE PRESENT, BUT IT IS SOMETHING OUR STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AS THEY START PREPARING FOR THEIR FUTURES, SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EQUITY MEANS ALL STUDENTS AND ALL SCHOOLS AND ALL AREAS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ZIP CODE, AND THEY ALL KNOW ABOUT S.T.E.A.M.

>> AND JENNIFER, S.T.E.A.M.

IS OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT.

DIVERSIFYING THE FOLKS WHO ARE INVOLVED AND INTERESTED AND CAN EVEN BEEN SHOWN S.T.E.A.M.

WHAT IS INTEL INTERESTED IN THIS?

>> INTEL IS INTERESTED IN CREATING TECHNOLOGY FOR ALL PEOPLE, AND THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY.

IN ORDER TO CREATE THIS TECHNOLOGY, WE NEEDY VERSE TEAMS.

SO THE EQUITY IN S.T.E.A.M.

INITIATIVES WAS -- IS US GOING TO THE COMMUNITY, AND ASKING THE COMMUNITY, WE SEE THE GRAND CANYON GAPS IN PROFESSIONALS OF COLOR IN S.T.E.A.M., AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE -- THE UNITED STATES POPULATION BEING AT ABOUT HALF PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR BLACK, LATINO, AND NATIVE AMERICAN SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS, WE KNOW THAT THEY MAKE UP ROUGHLY 12%, SO WHERE WE WANT TO HELP CHANGE THAT, THAT STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS IN THEIR SCHOOLS, AND IN THEIR COMMUNITY TO DREAM OF BEING IN S.T.E.A.M.

>> AND -- AND ZEL HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT, AND HOW DO YOU GET THESE KIDS AND EVEN SOME ADULTS WHO ARE LOOKING TO CHANGE CAREERS, AND THEY ARE INTERESTED IN THIS, BUT THEY MAY NOT KNOW WHERE TO TURN.

>> YES, THAT IS THE EXACT PROBLEM, IS THAT YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF IT, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE AS EDUCATORS OR JUST IN EDUCATION, WE REALLY NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH MAKING SURE THAT S.T.E.A.M.

IS IN OUR SCHOOLS, BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR THEM TO PURSUE THESE TYPE OF CAREERS THAT ARE WELL NEEDED, THEY HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT IT, AND SO A LOT OF TIMES, ADULTS DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN EXPOSED EITHER, SO WE JUST HAVE TO BE -- TO DO BETTER WITH MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE REALLY SPEAKING ABOUT S.T.E.A.M.

IN ALL AREAS, BECAUSE IT EFFECTS US EVEN WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT S.T.E.A.M.

HERE IN THIS ROOM.

SO IF WE PUT IT IN THE SCHOOLS, THE PARENTS WILL KNOW ABOUT IT AS WELL, AND THE TEACHERS.

>> AND JENNIFER, SHOW HOW ACCESSIBLE AND REWARDING A S.T.E.A.M.

CAREER WOULD BE.

I WOULD IMAGINE THESE KINDS OF THINGS, ONCE YOU SHOW THESE, YOU WOULD PERK UP INTEREST, TRUE?

>> YES.

WE STRONGLY BELIEVE WE WANT TO BE INCLUSIVE AS A COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE LIVING IN.

SO IN THE EQUITY IN S.T.E.A.M.

INITIATIVE, WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO EDUCATORS AND NON-PROFITS, WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE WAYS OF INCLUDING EVERYONE, AND THAT STUDENTS AND ADULTS WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW WE WANT TO DIVERSIFY OUR WORKPLACES IN ARIZONA, THAT THEY BETTER REFLECT OUR COMMUNITY.

>> AND JENNIFER REAL QUICKLY HERE, I UNDERSTAND LAST MONTH, THERE WERE 20 GRANTEE WINNERS ANNOUNCED.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THESE FOLKS AND WHAT THEY WON AND HOW THEY MOVE FORWARD?

>> YES, WE HAD THE GRANT APPLICATION.

WE WERE SO -- IT WAS GREAT TO SEE ALL OF THE INNOVATIVE PROJECTS THAT TEACHERS AND NON-PROFIT ADMINISTRATORS ARE COMING TOGETHER.

WE IDENTIFIED ABOUT EIGHT EDUCATORS, SO TEACHERS IN SCHOOLS, WORKING ON CURRICULUM IN S.T.E.A.M., AND THEN WE IDENTIFIED 12 NON-PROFIT ADMINISTRATORS, SO EACH PROJECT GOT A $2,500 GRANT THAT THEY WILL WORK ON THEIR PROJECT THIS YEAR, AND THEN THE 20 SCHOOLS AND NON-PROFITS ARE COMING TOGETHER TO DO A COHORT, A LEADERSHIP SESSION, AND WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE ALL OF THIS WITHOUT OUR AWESOME COMMUNITY PARTNER, YWCA METROPOLITAN PHOENIX.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

AND ZEL, ARE THERE SYSTEMATIC BARRIERS IN S.T.E.A.M., OR IS IT JUST A QUESTION OF, AS YOU MENTIONED, EXPOSURE.

>> THERE ARE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS IN S.T.E.A.M., BECAUSE A LOT OF SCHOOLS, UNFORTUNATELY DO NOT HAVE THEM IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

SO THE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS, I THINK WAS JUST FROM THE PAST, SO IF IT WAS NOT THERE, HERE WE ARE TODAY, AND IT IS STILL NOT THERE.

SO THAT IS WHERE THE BARRIERS HAVE BEEN, BECAUSE IT HAS NEVER BEEN IMPLEMENTED.

>> AND I WOULD IMAGINE PARENTS MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED.

THEY DON'T KNOW TO SAY TO THEIR KIDS, THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER, AND THAT'S WHERE THE EDUCATORS COME IN, CORRECT?

>> EXACTLY.

SO OFTENTIMES -- ESPECIALLY IN THE URBAN OR RURAL AREAS, YOUR KIDS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THIS, AND THEIR PARENTS DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS, BECAUSE THEY TOO GREW UP IN THE SAME TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT, SO THAT'S WHERE THE BARRIERS ARE, AND IT JUST CONTINUES.

AND IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING NOW, IT WILL CONTINUE.

>> WELL, LET'S OPEN THAT CHANGES.

ZEL FOWLER, AND JENNIFER SANCHEZ, GOOD CONVERSATION, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, RESEARCH INTO SUSTAINABLE FUEL IN AIRPLANES TO HELP KEEP SKIES CLEAR, AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," SOME MYTHS AROUND DOMESTIC ABUSE AND WOMEN OF COLOR.