>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON ARIZONA HORIZON, THIS WEEK'S JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE INCLUDES THE STATE SENATE'S SUBPOENA FIGHT WITH MARICOPA COUNTY, AND THE LATEST ON A SCHOOL VOUCHER EXPANSION BILL.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, A LOOK AT COUNTERFEIT PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND FAKE DOSES OF COVID-19 MAKING THEIR WAY ACROSS THE BORDER.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE IMPACT OF DIVERSITY, EQUALITY AND INCLUSION TRAINING IN THE WORKPLACE.

ALL THIS AND MORE AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

THIS HOUR ARE LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE FRIENDS OF PBS.

THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

>> HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR COVID-19 CONTINUE TO DROP IN ARIZONA, IT'S BEEN OVER A MONTH NOW OF STEADILY DECLINING NUMBERS.

THE STATE RECORDED 19-HUNDRED NEW COVID "CASES" TODAY, THAT KEEPS ARIZONA'S 7-DAY "AVERAGE" OF NEW CASES RANKED 20TH-HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

THE STATE'S AVERAGE OF COVID-RELATED DEATHS IS 4TH-HIGHEST, WITH 145-FATALITIES ADDED TODAY.

>> A NEW STUDY FINDS THAT BOTH THE PFIZER AND MODERNA COVID-VACCINES SHOW WHAT THE CDC CALLS "REASSURING SAFETY PROFILES," THIS AFTER A MONTH OF VACCINATIONS AND CLOSE TO 14-MILLION SHOTS ADMINISTERED.

THE CDC SAYS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO DEATHS REPORTED AND MOST OF THE SIDE-EFFECTS SEEN ARE THINGS THAT WERE EXPECTED, INCLUDING HEADACHES AND FATIGUE.

>> NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY HAS A NEW PRESIDENT, HE IS JOSE LUIS CRUZ, HE COMES FROM THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SYSTEM, WHERE HE WAS EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT AND UNIVERSITY PROVOST.

CRUZ SUCCEEDS OUTGOING NAU PRESIDENT RITA CHANG, WHO ANNOUNCED SHE WOULD NOT SEEK A CONTRACT EXTENSION AFTER 6-YEARS ON THE JOB.

>> AND, THE U.S. IS OFFICIALLY BACK IN THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD.

THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED HOURS AFTER TAKING OFFICE FORMALLY TOOK EFFECT TODAY.

THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION PULLED THE U.S. OUT OF THE INTERNATIONAL TREATY LAST YEAR, BUT THE U.S. IS NOW BACK AND THE ADMINISTRATION'S CLIMATE ENVOY, JOHN KERRY, SAYS IT'S NONE TOO SOON.

>> THIS WEEK IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WE'VE SEEN UNPRECEDENTED EXTREME COLD RELATED TO CLIMATE BECAUSE THE POLAR VORTEX PENETRATES FURTHER SOUTH BECAUSE OF THE WEAKENING OF THE JETSTREAM RELATED TO WARMING.

LAST YEAR, THE U.S.

SAW RECORD 30 NAMED TROPICAL CYCLONES.

EUROPE IS WARM IN EVEN FASTER THAN THE GLOBAL AVERAGE AND THE MELTING ARCTIC ICE HAS CHANGED GEE JOE STRATEGIC AND MILITARY CALCULATIONS FOR EVERYBODY COUNTRY ON THE PLANET.

>> KERRY MENTIONED TEXAS, THE STATE IS FACING AN INCREASING WATER CRISIS AFTER THE WINTER STORM CRACKED PIPES AND DAMAGED WATER-TREATMENT PLANTS.

MORE THAN 14-MILLION TEXANS WERE STILL EXPERIENCING WATER-SERVICE DISRUPTIONS TODAY.

>> TIME NOW FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, AND TONIGHT WE LOOK AT THE STATE SENATE'S CONTINUED FIGHT WITH MARICOPA COUNTY OVER AN ELECTION AUDIT, WE'LL HAVE THAT ALONG WITH OTHER ACTIVITY AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

OUR GUESTS, MARIA POLLETTA FROM THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC AND JEREMY DUDA OF THE ARIZONA MIRROR.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

MARIA WITH THAT WE'LL START WITH YOU AND THE STATE SENATE AND MARICOPA COUNTY BORED OF SUPERVISORS.

WHERE DO WE STAND WITH THE SENATE WANTING TO AUDIT ELECTION EQUIPMENT.

>> OBVIOUSLY THIS SAGA HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS NOW, STARTING SEPTEMBER WITH THE SUBPOENAS FROM THE SENATE.

AT THIS POINT, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS TURNED OVER SOME ELECTION MATERIALS BUT ARE ARGUING THAT THEY WON'T GIVE SOME OTHER PIECES OF WHAT THE SENATE REQUESTED FOR DEMANDED, RATHER, LIKE IMAGES OF VOTER BALLOTS AND SO FORTH BECAUSE IT'S AGAINST THE LAW.

THEY WANT THE COURT TO STEP IN AND SAY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WHETHER THEY HAVE TO DO THAT.

WE HAD A VERY DRAMATIC VOTE REGARDING WHETHER TO HOLD THEM IN CONTEMPT AND POSSIBLY JAIL THE SUPERVISORS.

SENATOR PAUL BOYER CASTE THE DECIDING VOTE THERE, ONE OF THE IF NOT THE ONLY MORE MODERATE REPUBLICANS LEFT IN THE SENATE, SO THAT'S WHERE WE STAND CURRENTLY.

WE DID NOT HAVE OUR SUPERVISORS JAILED, BUT THIS IS FAR FROM OVER.

>> JEREMY, IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH BOYER PUT THE KIBOSH ON THAT FOR THE TIME BEING AND YET HE TURNS AROUND AND VOTES TO GIVE THE SENATE THE POWER THAT THEY WANTED IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> SURE, THE SENATE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HAVE BEEN ANIMATE THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS THAT THE SENATE DOES HAVE THE AUTHORITY, THE LEGAL POWER TO DEMAND THE BALLOTS AND ELECTION MACHINES AND ALL THAT THEY'RE DEMANDING BUT A JUDGE HAS TO DECIDE THAT THE COUNTY'S CHALLENGE BEING HEARD NEXT THURSDAY BEGRUDGINGLY, THE JUDGE DIDN'T WANT TO BE THE DECIDER ON THIS, HEDGING THEIR BITS IN CASE THE JUDGE DISAGREE WITH THE COUNTY SAYING THEY DON'T HAVE TO TURN IT OVER, PASSING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD GIVE THE LEGISLATURE THAT POWER SAYING THEY CAN INVESTIGATE ANYTHING THEY WANT AND SPECIFICALLY ASK FOR THOSE MATERIALS AND THAT DID PASS 16-14.

SENATOR BOYER DID NOT GO AGAINST HIS COLLEAGUES ON THIS 1:00 HE HAS SAID DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE VOTED AGAINST THE CONTEMPT RESOLUTION, I THINK WE HAVE THE POWER TO DO THIS AUDIT, I THINK IT SHOULD HAPPEN.

THAT ISSUE, HE WANTED TO LET THE PROCESS WORK ITS WAY OR ISSUE WORK THROUGH THE LEGAL PROCESS, THE DIFFERENT MATTER, THERE IS NOT A LOT OF COMMENT ON IT, BUT HE DID VOTE FOR THAT IN THE PAST 16-14.

>> MARIA, SPICED WHEN HE WENT FOR THE SECOND VOTE?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NECESSARILY SURPRISING BECAUSE AS JEREMY WAS SAYING, IT'S LESS IMMEDIATE.

IT'S NOT THAT FAR IN THE FUTURE POTENTIALLY DEPENDING WHAT THAT IS, BUT IN EXPLAINING HIS MORE CONTENTIOUS VOTE WHEN HE BROKE WITH THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS ON THE INITIAL VOTE ABOUT HOLDING THEM IN CONTEMPT, HE TALKED ABOUT THIS WAS A VOTE FOR PATIENCE.

THIS WAS A VOTE TO ALLOW FOR A LITTLE MORE TIME FOR THE PARTIES TO HOPEFULLY WORK THIS OUT AMICABLY.

I TOOK IT THAT THAT FOLLOWING VOTE AS SORT OF A BACKUP PLAN IF WHAT HE'S HOPING HAPPENS DOESN'T HAPPEN.

>> JEREMY, THIS IS PART OF A LINGERING SQUABBLE BETWEEN BOYER AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HERE.

HE WENT AHEAD AND BLOCKED A BILL, THAT PERMANENT EARLY VOTING LIST, THE IDEA OF MOVING OFF THAT LIST IF THEY DON'T VOTE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF TIMES, HE'S GOTTEN IN THE WAY OF THAT ONE, CORRECT?

>> HE'S GOTTEN IN THE WAY A FEW THIS SESSION.

THAT ONE STUCK IN SOME REPUBLICANS CRAW.

SHE'S BEEN TRYING TO PASS THIS FOR A FEW YEARS, PURGE INACTIVE VOTERS FROM THE EARLY VOTING LIST, IF YOU DON'T USE YOUR PRIMARY OR ELECTION, YOU GET DROPPED FROM THE LIST.

HEALTHIER CARTER AND MCGEE ARE BOTH GONE, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S ONE FEWER REPUBLICAN IN THE SENATE, A LOT THOUGHT THERE WAS ADDITION BY SUBTRACTION THERE, ONE FEWER VOTE BUT YOU GOT RID OF THE TWO MOST LIKELY TO VOTE AGAINST ONE BOYER ACTUALLY VOTED FOR THIS SAME BILL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I BELIEVE.

THIS TIME HE VOTED AGAINST IT AND SENATOR RITA WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT AND SOUGHT TO IMMEDIATELY RETALIATE BY TRYING TO PULL BACK A SCHOOL VOUCHER BILL THAT BOYER SPONSORED THAT HAD JUST BEEN PASSED EARLIER THAT SAME DAY.

>> LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.

THIS WAS A CLASS I CAN CUTTING OFF YOUR NOSE TO SPITE YOUR FACE, IS IT NOT, AS FAR AS REPUBLICANS ARE CONCERNED?

THEY LOVE THE IDEA OF EXPANDING THAT.

>> THEY ABSOLUTELY DO.

SHE DID NOT EXPLAIN HER VOTE AT THE TIME BUT GIVING THE TIMING AND SEQUENCE OF EVENTS IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR THAT MOST WERE INTERPRETING THIS AS RETALIATION, SENATOR MADE COMMENTS THAT SHE FELT THAT WHEN SHE WAS BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THE VOTE WAS MORE PROCEDURAL TO GET THE HOUSE TO ACCEPT IT BACK.

THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET.

WE'LL SEE IF IT DOES COME BACK BUT IT DID PUT REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN A BIT OF A BEARD SPOT IN TERMS THAT HAVE MOTION, WHETHER THEY WANTED TO LIKE YOU SAID, PUNISH BOYER BY POTENTIALLY PUNISHING THEMSELVES.

WHETHER THAT WAS WORTH IT TO THEM.

>> AND MORE ON THIS VOUCHER BILL, JEREMY BACK TO YOU.

DIDN'T THE STATE DECIDE THAT EXPANDING THE VOUCHER SYSTEM RIGHT NOW NOT WHAT WE'LL WANT AND YET WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> A FEW YEARS AGO, WE HAD THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL THAT'S CORRECT UP AND DOWNED THE SCHOLAR SIP ACCOUNT TO ALL STUDENTS IN THE STATE.

CURRENTLY IT'S LIMITED TO A RELATIVELY SMALL HANDFUL OF CATEGORIES, KIDS IN FAILING SCHOOLS, CHILDREN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, CHILDREN OF NATIVE AMERICAN RESERVE IS AS.

THIS LET'S YOU PULL YOUR CHILD OUT OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL AND GET THE STATE FUNDING THAT WOULD HAVE GONE TO THAT SCHOOL, $6,400, YOU CAN TAKE THAT AND USE IT FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION, TUTORS, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS.

THE VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY STRUCK THAT DOWN.

NOW SENATOR BOYER IS TRYING TO BRING THIS BACK NOT AS EXPANSIVE AS BEFORE BUT EXPAND IT TO THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF ARIZONA STUDENTS BY LETTING ANY STUDENT USE A SCHOOL GET FUNDING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROGRAM.

I THINK MORE THAN 800,000 STUDENTS WOULD BECOME ELIGIBLE.

>> MARIA, IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH WE HAD PAUL BOYER ON THIS WEEK, HE'S LOOKED AT IT AND UNDERSTAND THAT MAYBE IT'S NOT AS FOCUSED AS IT SHOULD BE TO LOW INCOME STUDENTS, TITLE ONE STUDENTS, DISTRICTS, SCHOOLS, YES, BUT THE IDEA, IT SOUNDS LIKE HE WANTS TO KEEP THIS TO LOW INCOME STUDENTS.

NOW THAT THE THING IS ALREADY -- I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW, IT'S BEEN BOUNCING AROUND SO MANY TIMES.

>> ASSUMING IT STALL IN THE HOUSE WHERE IT IS AND STARTS GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS IN THE OTHER CHAMBER, IF SOMEBODY OVER THERE WERE WILLING TO AMEND THE BILL AND PASS AN AMENDED VERSION OF IT THAT CHANGED OR PUT AN INCOME CAP ON IT, THAT WAS PART OF THE BIG FIGHT WHEN THIS WAS ON THE SENATE FLOWER, BOYER AND SOME OTHER REPUBLICANS WERE SAYING WE REALLY WANT, THIS IS ABOUT LOWER INCOME STUDENTS, FAMILY AND SCHOOLS YET THERE WAS NO INCOME CAP.

EVEN IF YOU WERE NOT A PART OF THE LOWER INCOME FAMILY BUT YOU JUST HAPPENED TO ATTEND EVEN PRETTY BRIEFLY A SCHOOL THAT WAS -- YOU COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS.

WE MAY SEE AN INCOME CAP.

WE MAY NOT, BUT IT'S OVER IN THE HOUSE NOW, SO HE MIGHT HAVE TO FIND A FRIEND OVER THERE IF HE'S SERIOUS ABOUT PURSUING THAT AMENDMENT.

>> IT SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE ABOUT THAT.

WE'LL WRAP IT UP, HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE DECLINES AN ETHICS INVESTIGATION ON REPRESENTATIVE HINCHON BY SUPPORTING THE RALLY IN WASHINGTON.

>> A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, SOMETHING LIKE 82 TOTAL COMPLAINTS, AND BASICALLY SURROUNDING REPRESENTATIVE FINCHEN'S ROLE AT THE RALLY.

HE WAS ORIGINALLY SLATED TO SPEAK AND HAD MARCHED DOWN TO THE CAPITOL WITH FOLKS BUT THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT HE WOULD ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN OR ENCOURAGED THE ACTUAL ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL, THE BREACH OF THE CAPITOL AND THAT WAS ULTIMATELY THE RATION INTERNATIONAL OF REPRESENTATIVE WHO CHAIRED THE COMMITTEE THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT HE HAD DONE THAT AND THAT IT WAS POLITICAL.

>> 12 GOING TO TRAIL HIM POLITICALLY?

>> IT IS POSSIBLE.

HE HAS COUNTERED WITH COMPLAINTS AGAINST DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS SAYING THAT THEY CONSPIRED MALICIOUSLY IN BAD FAITH AGAINST HIM.

CLEARLY HE'S USING THIS I'M BEING PERSECUTED FOR MY OWN UNPOPULAR OPINION THAT REPRESENTS I'M A MAN OF THE PEOPLE, KIND OF USING THAT TO HIS ADVANTAGE AND POSITIONING HIMSELF IN THE PUBLIC EYE SO WE CAN CERTAINLY SEE HIM USE THAT AS A JUMPING OFF POINT GOING FORWARD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GOOD STUFF, THANK YOU BOTH.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> COMING UP, A CANDID DISCUSSION WITH TWO LOCAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN ABOUT BEING BLACK IN ARIZONA.

>> ARIZONA HORIZON IS RECOGNIZING BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH A SERIES OF DISCUSSIONS WITH LOCAL LEADERS IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

TONIGHT, OUR GUESTS ARE FORMER STATE LAWMAKER LEAH LANDRUM TAYLOR AND CHANEL BRAGG, ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING, I CAN JUST TELL BECAUSE YOU'RE BOTH GREAT GUESTS, YOU'VE BEEN ON THE PROGRAM BEFORE, GOOD FRIENDS OF THE PROGRAM, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?

>> WELL, IT'S JUST THAT, IT'S HISTORY AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A WALK THROUGH THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE STATE, TO THIS COUNTRY, TO THE NATION IN GENERAL, AND SO TO LOOK AT WHAT THIS AS WE WALK THROUGH, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS CONTRIBUTE, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS ADDED VALUE TO, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS TRULY CELEBRATE.

THIS IS THAT TIME FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO COME AND TO EMBRACE THE CULTURE OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

>> CHANEL, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE.

PERSONALLY I FEEL IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GIVE TRIBUTE AND TO PAY HONOR TO THE UNSUNG HEROES OF OUR NATION'S HISTORY.

THERE'S A LOT OF ARTISTS AND IN VENTERS AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT HAVE LITERALLY BUILT THE NATION ON OUR BACKS AND I DO THINK TO HAVE A MONTH TO ACTUALLY RECOGNIZE THAT AND TO GIVE HOMAGE TO THAT IS VERY BEAUTIFUL.

>> FOR THIS MONTH, WE ARE TALKING TO AND SPEAKING WITH LEADERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY HERE IN ARIZONA.

JUST TO GET SOME PERSONAL ASPECTS OF STORIES, AND WE'LL START WITH YOU, HARVARD EDUCATED, TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

>> MY BACKGROUND, I'M A NATIVE HERE, THIRD GENERATION HERE IN ARIZONA.

AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO STARTING BACK FROM HIGH SCHOOL, I ATTENDED XAVIER COLLEGE PREP AND THEN WENT ON TO ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY AND RECEIVED MY BACHELORS AND MASTER'S DEGREE AND DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A HARVARD FELLOW, AS WELL, AS A RODAL FELLOW.

LOOKING AT ALL OF THAT, YOU TALK ABOUT BACKGROUND AND WHAT THAT ALL DID, ALL OF THAT IS AS A RESULT OF THE COMMUNITY THAT TRULY SUPPORTED ME AND ALWAYS MADE SURE THAT I HAD A PLACE HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY, SO THAT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

>> THAT GROUNDING DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE, DOESN'T IT?

>> OH, IT DOES.

>> CHANEL, TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, YOU'RE AN ARIZONA NATIVE, AS WELL, TRUE?

>> I AM.

IT'S FASCINATING TO LEARN ABOUT LEAH, AS WELL.

I'M A SECOND GENERATION NATIVE ARIZONAN.

I TAKE GREAT PRIDE THAT I GREW UP IN SOUTH PHOENIX AND WE WENT ON TO LIVE ON THE WEST SIDE OF PHOENIX.

I FEEL PRETTY WELL ROUNDED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE AREAS OF ARIZONA.

I GRADUATED FROM CORTEZ HIGH SCHOOL, DECIDED TO GO TO SCHOOL IN STATE, NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY AND OBTAINED BY MASTERS AT A LOCATION HERE IN PHOENIX, SO DEEPLY ROOTED, LOCAL GIRL.

AND AS AN ARTIST, TOO, I REALLY BUILT MY HOME HERE INSTEAD OF MOVING TO NEW YORK AND DOING THE GRIND THERE, I DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR ME TO INVEST IN HOME AND CREATE I CAN MORE ENDEAVORS HERE FOR OTHER ARTISTES OF COLOR, AS WELL.

>> CHANEL, WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN ART, WAS IT SOMETHING YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER, DID YOU GROW INTO IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I FOUND I WANTED TO SEE MYSELF RIGHT FIELD IN STORIES.

BLACK AND BROWN BODIES ARE NOT OFTEN IN THE CONVERSATION WHEN IT COMES TO STAGE PRODUCTS OR READINGS OR EVEN WORKS.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF REPRESENTATION THERE.

SO GROWING UP, DOING THEATER SINCE I WAS IN CHURCH AS A LITTLE GIRL.

THROUGH JUNIOR HIGH, HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE AND WHAT NOT, I WAS LIKE OK, WHAT IS MY MISSION GOING TO BE.

I WANT MY STORY ALSO TOLD, AS WELL.

I WANT TO INFLUENCE THOSE SPACES AND ONCE I WAS ABLE TO STEP INTO THOSE SPACES, A LOT OF TIME, I WAS THE ONLY PERSON THAT LOOKED LIKE ME WITHIN THOSE SPACES.

I WAS LIKE OK, NOW IT IS MY DUTY TO MAKE SURE I ALLOW OTHERS TO PASS THROUGH THOSE SPACE WITNESS ME.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, ART IS SOMETHING I THINK RESONATES WITH US ALL.

I'VE BEEN SINGING MY ENTIRE LIFE AND THEATER IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF WHO I AM.

>> LEAH, OBVIOUSLY POLITICS A MAJOR PART OF YOUR LIFE.

WAS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU FOUND YOURSELF GRAVITATING TO WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER OR SOMETHING AGAIN THAT YOU GREW INTO?

>> IT WAS SOMETHING I FEEL I GREW INTO AND HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY, AGAIN TO BE RAISED IN SO YOU PHOENIX, AS WELL, KNOWING THAT THERE WAS A NEED, AND WHEN I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, AT THE TIME, I WAS WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE STARTED SAYING YOU REALLY NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN POLITICS.

THAT'S HOW IT ALL HAPPENED, THE COMMUNITY TRULY ASKED ME TO STEP IN THERE, TO STEP UP AND SO THAT'S WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING, I STEPPED IN THERE, AND WE STARTED RUNNING FOR OFFICES AND IT WAS BRAND NEW TO ME, EVEN THOUGH I'M A POLITICAL SCIENTIST.

I THOUGHT AT THAT POINT I KNEW ENOUGH NOT TO EVER GET INVOLVED IN POLITICS AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, HERE I WAS INVOLVED, BUT I'M GLAD I DID, BECOMING A PUBLIC SERVANT IN THAT WAY WAS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL BECAUSE PEOPLE COULD GIVE YOU A PHONE CALL AND YOU COULD MAKE A PHONE CALL FOR SOMEONE THAT WOULD TAKE THEM SEVERAL PHONE CALLS AND HELP GET THEM THROUGH, CUT THROUGH THE VARIOUS RED TAPE THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO DEAL WITH JUST TO GET BASIC SERVICES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> LEAH, STICKING WITH YOU, YOU ROSE TO THE I THINK THE FIRST BLACK GOING TO THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS THERE AT STATE LEGISLATURE BUT YOU LOST THAT POSITION AND THERE WAS SOME UPSET ALL AROUND THERE.

DID YOU FIND THAT BEING A BLACK WOMAN -- CHECK THAT, HOW DID BEING A BLACK WOMAN AFFECT WHAT YOU COULD DO AND WHAT YOU COULDN'T DO AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE?

>> WELL, IN MY MIND AND HOW I WAS RAISED THAT NOTHING WAS IMPOSSIBLE, YOU'RE GOING TO COME ACROSS VARIOUS HURDLES, AND SO WHAT YOU DO IS YOU JUST SPRINT ACROSS AND KEEP MOVING.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID WAS WE ESTABLISHED OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMISSION, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING WHERE I WAS THE FOUNDER OF THAT VERY ENTITY THAT'S STILL RUNNING TO THIS DAY.

WE HAVE A GREAT DIRECTOR THAT'S TAKING PLACE WITH US AND MOVING IT FORWARD AND WORKING ON THE VARIOUS AREAS AND INTERESTS THAT HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE JUST RECENTLY LAST WEEK CELEBRATED OUR 19th ANNUAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE DAY AT THE CAPITOL, THOUGH IT WAS VIRTUAL THIS YEAR, BUT WE STILL WERE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT AND GOING OVER THE VARIOUS ISSUES, LIKE EDUCATION, THE EDUCATIONAL DISPARITIES, HEALTH DISPARITIES AND LOOKING EVEN AT THE PANDEMIC RIGHT NOW AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

NOTHING STOPPED US FROM TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS THAT ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

HAVING THAT COMMISSION IS SOMETHING IN STATUTE, IN LAW AND MOVING FORWARD.

>> AS FAR AS THE ARTS ARE CONCERNED, DO YOU SENSE, ARE THERE ROAD BLOCKS, SPEED BUMPS RIGHT NOW OR IS THIS AN OPEN FIELD THAT YOU ARE READY TO GO?

>>> I'M GLADLY THAT YOU ASKED AND TO PIGGYBACK OFF WHAT LEAH IS SAYING IT SOMETIMES TAKES A PERSON TO NOTICE THERE IS A NEED FOR SOMETHING, AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS SOCIALLY JUSTICE BASED IN THEATER, OUR ENTIRE POINT IS TO MAKE THE THEATER LANDSCAPE MORE EQUITABLE.

I WANTED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL BLACK ARTIST TO FEEL THEY COULD STEP INTO THESE THEATERS AND BE SEEN.

I THINK THAT WORK IS VITAL.

IN TERMS OF SOME THINGS OH TO OVERCOME, I THINK SINCE OUR INCEPTION OF 2016, WE'VE BEEN DOING JUST THAT, ALLOWING THEATERS TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE HERE, WE ARE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND SO LET'S INFLUENCE THOSE AUDITIONS, LET'S ALLOW MORE ARTISTS TO BE PRESENT.

YOU CAN EVEN SEE IT RIGHT FIELD IN THE SEASONS AT THE VARIOUS THEATERS FROM PROFESSIONAL TO COMMUNITY THAT ARE DOING SO MUCH MORE WORK WITH US IN IT BECAUSE NOW THEY CAN SEE THERE'S A WAY.

YOU HAVE TO CREATE A PLATFORM, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLES TO OH, OK, THEY'RE HERE, AND THEN CREATE THE OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LAST QUESTION HERE NOW FOR BOTH OF YOU, LEAH, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

WHAT DOES BEING A BLACK WOMAN IN ARIZONA MEAN TO YOU?

>> A BLOCK WOMAN IN ARIZONA, SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO ME?

TO ME, IT TRULY MEANS OPPORTUNITIES, IT MEANS CHANCES WHERE YOU CAN BE ABLE TO SET A PATH AND LAY GROUNDWORK FOR OTHERS TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW.

WHERE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO FOLLOW IN VARIOUS FOOT STEPS AND NOW CONTINUING TO LAY THAT PATH.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ARIZONA, A LOT OF TRAILBLAZERS HAVE HIT THIS SPACE AND WITH THAT WHOLE SPIRIT OF THAT TRAIL BLAZING SPIRIT, THERE ARE VAST OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND CERTAINLY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT BEING AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN IN THIS STATE, IT'S NOTHING THAT, AGAIN, THAT CAN STOP YOU.

IT'S NOT A BRICK WALL, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A TRAILBLAZERS PATH.

THAT'S HOW I LOOK AT IT.

>> CHANEL TO YOU, BEING A BLACK WOMAN IN ARIZONA, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?

>> I THINK STEPPING INTO THIS POSITION SPECIFICALLY WITH ARIZONA THEATER COMPANY AND THE HISTORY OF THE 54 YEARS THAT THAT INSTITUTION HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE THERE HASN'T BEEN A BLACK WOMAN IN SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND I THINK THAT THAT IS A PIVOTAL MOMENT OF WHERE WE ARE AT THIS TIME AS A NATION AND DEFINITELY IN ARIZONA, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE AFRICAN-AMERICAN REPRESENTATION AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT THEATERS AND BUSINESSES, BECAUSE THERE IS A HUGE LACK OF HAVING US IN THOSE POSITIONS AND I THINK THAT NOW IS THE TIME FOR THAT TO BE A SHIFT AND A CHANGE, AND I THINK ARIZONA IS A PERFECT PLACE, BEING THE FIFTH LARGEST CITY IN THE NATION, NOW THEY CAN BE HOPEFULLY WE CAN BE A LEADER IN OUR NATION, AS RECOGNIZING THAT IT'S A FIELD FOR US TO HAVE MORE REPRESENTATION, AND FOLLOWING SUIT.

>>> CHANEL, LEAH, THANK YOU BOTH SO VERY MUCH, GREAT CONVERSATION, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.