>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON WANT WHAT AIR TRAVELERS CAN EXPECT THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

THAT'S NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED THE U.S. WILL CANCEL UP TO $20,000 IN INDIVIDUAL STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

THE PLAN TO CANCEL $10,000 IN LOANS FOR THOSE EARNS LESS THAN $125,000 A YEAR WITH ANOTHER $10,000 CANCELED FOR THOSE WHO RECEIVED PELL GRANTS FOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS.

THE DEBT FORGIVENESS WILL IMPACT TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS AND HAS LONG BEEN AN ISSUE PUSHED BY DEMOCRAT SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN WHO CALLED THIS ANNOUNCEMENT A GOOD FIRST STEP.

>> DO I WANT MORE?

YOU BET I DO AND WILL I FIGHT ALONGSIDE THE NCAACP AND OTHER GROUPS TO HAVE MORE STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS?

YES, BUT THE STEPS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN TODAY ARE POWERFUL AND THEY ARE IMPORTANT AND THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW WHO SHOULD BE CELEBRATING OVER WHAT THEY HAVE JUST HEARD BECAUSE THEIR FINANCIAL LIVES HAVE JUST GOTTEN BETTER.

>> Ted: BUT REPUBLICANS WERE QUICK TO CRITICIZE THE MOVE AS UNFAIR.

>> I THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA.

AN AWFUL LOT OF AMERICANS CHOOSE NOT TO GO TO COLLEGE AND THEN THERE ARE THOSE AMERICANS WHO BORROWED MONEY TO GO TO SCHOOL AND PAY IT BACK AND IN WHAT WAY IS IT FAIR TO THOSE TAXPAYERS?

SO I THINK FUNDAMENTALLY, WHEN WE BORROW MONEY, WE SHOULD PAY IT BACK AND I DON'T THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE FORGIVING THESE STUDENT LOANS.

>> Ted: THE DEBT FORGIVENESS PLAN IS EXPECTED TO FACE CHALLENGES.

OTHER NEWS, CALIFORNIA IS EXPECTED TO BAN ALL SALES OF NEW GAS POWERED CARS BY THE YEAR 2035 AND IT'S A STEP TOWARDS ZERO EMISSIONS AND IN THE WORKS FOR YEARS AND THE OUTRIGHT BAN ON DISASTER POWERED CARS WOULD HAVE MAJOR IMPLICATIONS FOR THE U.S.

CAR MARKET WHICH FOLLOWS CALIFORNIA TRENDS AND WILL ACCELERATE NATIONAL AND GLOBAL TRANSITIONS TOWARD ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

>>> A NEW STUDY OUT OF KOREA SHOWS INCREASED ALCOHOL USE CAN RAISE THE RISK OF CANCER.

THE STUDY INVOLVED OVER FIVE MILLION PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 40 AND FOUND THOSE WHO INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL THEY DRANK WERE MORE LIKELY TO GET CANCER THAN THOSE WHO MAINTAINED THEIR LEVEL OF DRINKING AND REDUCES HEAVY OR MILD MODEL MODERATE TO MILD SHOWED A DECREASE IN ALL CANCERS.

>>> LABOR DAY WEEKEND JUST ABOUT HERE AND AIRPORTS ARE EXPECTING BIG CROWDS AS POST COVID PENT-UP DEMAND AND TO FIND OUT WHAT THE FOLKS AT SKY HARBOR ARE EXPECTING, WE WELCOME A PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING?

>> WE ARE EXPECTING PROBABLY WHAT WE SEE ON MOST HOLIDAY WEEKENDS, WHICH IS AN INCREASE IN TRAVEL.

COULDN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH.

JUST DON'T HAVE PREDICTIONS OR FORECASTS, BUT YOU CAN EXPECT DURING A LONG WEEKEND THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A FEW MORE PASSENGERS ON THE PLANES, A FEW MORE FOLKS IN TERMINALS.

>> Ted: MORE THAN LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME?

>> I DO NOT KNOW BUT AN INCREASE IN PASSENGERS IN GENERAL AS WE RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC.

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.

2019 WAS A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR FOR US AND, OF COURSE, 2020, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING FELL OFF THE WHEELS.

WE HAVE BEEN COMING BACK AND WE ARE WITHIN SINGLE DIGITS PERCENTAGE RISE IN TRAFFIC.

>> Ted: IS IT RAMPING UP THIS WAY AND A SPIKE AND STAYING UP THERE?

>> IS IT TO MY EYES LOOKING AT THE STATISTICS.

IT'S A STEADY INCREASE AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY RHYME OR REASON TO WHY IT'S GOING UP MORE OR LESS IN THIS MONTH OR THAT MONTH AND I'M SURE A BIGGER MIND TO HAVE IT.

>> Ted: PENT-UP DEMAND WOULD PLAY A FACTOR, WOULD IT NOT?

>> I WOULD THINK SO.

WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO FLY AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WANTING TO GET OUT OF FROM UNDER THEIR RESTRICTIONS, THEY WANT TO GO TO THE PLACES THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GO TO FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> Ted: IT SOUNDS LIAR AIRFARES ARE GOING UP AS OF LATE AND THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AFFECTS TRAFFIC, DOES IT?

>> CONSIDERING HOW TRAFFIC HAS BEEN INCREASING, THAT'S TAKING THAT IN STRIDE.

>> Ted: THURSDAY, MONDAY, THE BUSY EVIDENT DAYS FORBUSIEST DAYS FOR LABOR DAY?

>> THE DAYS BEFORE THE WEEKEND AND THAT MONDAY AFTER OR THE DAY AFTER THE HOLIDAY IS OVER TO BE BUSIEST DAYS.

AND IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW, SINCE WE TYPICALLY HAVE ABOUT 120,000 PASSENGERS FLY THROUGH SKY HARBOR EVERYDAY AND IF THAT IS INCREASED A LITTLE BIT, WE CAN HANDLE THAT.

WE CAN HANDLE IS BIG INCREASE.

BUT YOU JUST MIGHT NOTICE A FEW MORE PEOPLE WAITING FOR THEIR BAGS OR WALKING TO THEIR GATES.

>> Ted: WHEN YOU NOTICE THOSE PEOPLE, ARE THEY WEARING MASKS?

WHAT COVID MITIGATION IS INVOLVED IN THE AIRPORT, ON THE SKY TRAIN, AT THE RESTAURANT?

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> WELL, SKY HARBOR IS NO LONGER REQUIRED -- NO LONGER UNDER THE FEDERAL MASK MANDATE.

THAT WAS LIFTED A FEW MONTHS EIGHT.

WE STILL FOLLOW GUIDELINES THAT ENCOURAGE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND WEARING A MASK, BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY UP TO EACH INDIVIDUAL PERSON.

YOU SEE FOLKS WEARING A MASK, STILL, AND I PERSONALLY MAKE SURE THERE'S A GOOD SOLID SIX FEET BETWEEN ME AND EVERYBODY ELSE.

IT'S MY PERSONAL COMFORT LEVEL.

ALL OF THE BUSES.

>> Ted: I KNOW EACH AIRLINE HAS ITS OWN POLICY.

>> I DO NOT KNOW BECAUSE I STAY OUT OF THEIR BUSINESS AND THEY DO THEIR ONLY THING AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE UNDER THE SAME RESTRICTIONS OR NOT, BUT LAST TIME I FLEW, WHICH WAS BEFORE THE RESTRICTIONS WERE LIFTED, EVERYBODY WAS MASKED.

SO IF THEY'RE NOT, IT WOULD BE BECAUSE OF THE MANDATE BEING LIFTED.

>> Ted: WOULD YOU RECOMMEND SOMEONE BRING A MASK?

I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU HAVE >> I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU HAVE THOSE HANDY, YOUR MASK, YOUR SANITIZER.

IF IT BRINGS YOU COMFORT, IT'S WORTH BRINGING ALONG.

WE HAVE PLACES TO BUY IT, VENDING MACHINES, AS WELL AS RETAIL SHOPS.

>> Ted: BEST WAY TO GET TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT?

GIVE ME YOUR BEST ADVICE HERE BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO GET CROWDED.

>> THE PHOENIX SKY TRAIN AND YOU CAN PICK UP AND DROP OFF YOUR LOVED ONES OR CATCH THE SKY TRAIN AT THE 44th STREET SKY TRAIN STATION AND IN A FEW MINUTES, IT TAKES YOU TO THE EAST ECONOMY LOT AND THEN TO TERMINAL FOUR AND TWO TO THREE MINUTES AFTER THAT, TERMINAL THREE AND WITHIN TEN MINUTES, YOU CAN BE TAKING YOUR BAGS OUT OF YOUR CAR AND DROPPED OFF AND TEN MINUTES LATER, ON YOUR WAY TO THE GATE.

LITERALLY, YOU GO RIGHT OVER THE TRAFFIC OVER YOU AND NO BETTER WAY.

>> Ted: HOW OFTEN DO THEY RUN?

>> THREE TO FIVE MINUTES?

>> Ted: AND THAT'S IT?

>> YEAH, THAT'S IT.

>> Ted: IF YOU PARK, WHERE DO YOU PARK?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF OPTIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE FOLKS WHO LIKE THAT BUDGET.

THEY LIKE TO PARK IN THE ECONOMY LOTS LIKE THESE ECONOMY LOTS OR THE WEST ECONOMY GARAGE.

AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A WALK TO THE SHUTTLE OR FROM THE EAST ECONOMY LOT, YOU TAKE YOUR PHOENIX SKY TRAIN.

IF YOU WANT CONVENIENCE, YOU CAN PARK IN THE GARAGE AND BE OUTSIDE OF YOUR CAR AND INSIDE THE TERMINALS IN MIDST.

MINUTES.

>> Ted: THE RESTAURANTS AT THE AIRPORT, ARE THEY ALL OPEN, MOSTLY OPEN?

>> BY AND LARGE, MOSTLY OPEN AND A FEW THAT ARE HAVING TROUBLE.

THE CONCESSIONEERS HAVE BEEN TRYING HARD TO GET STAFF BACK UP AND WITH THE JOB FAIRS, GO TO SKYHARBOR.COM, YOU CAN FIND OUT WHEN THEY'RE HELD AND WHO WILL BE THERE.

YEAH, THEY WANT TO GET FULLY STAFFED JUST LIKE WE DO AND THEY ARE, FOR THE MOST PART OPEN.

>> Ted: GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, A NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES SHOWERS, LAUNDRY AND HAIRCUTS TO THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

CLOUD COVERED STREETS IS A NONPROFIT MOBILE LAUNDRY AND SHOWER FACILITY THAT TAKES THESE AND OTHER SERVICES TO THE UNHOUSED.

ROBERT THORNTON IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CLOUD COVERED STREETS AND JOINS US NOW.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU AND WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: SHOWERS, LAUNDRY, HAIRCUTS AND NEW CLOTHES, SUPPLIES.

YOU GO TO THE FOLKS.

TALK TO US ABOUT THIS.

>> EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY, WE TECH OUT AND WE BOUGHT A 24-FOOT JUST EMPTY CARGO TRAILER AND DID THE WORK AND NOW IT HAS TWO FULL SIZED SHOWERS IN THE FRONT, TWO STACKABLE TRYERS AND A GATE THAT LEADS TO AN 88 WHEEL ACCESSIBLE SHOWER AND EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY ACROSS THE VALLEY.

>> Ted: HOW DO YOU SIDE WHERE TO GO?

>> THERE ARE SIX LOCATIONS AND PLACES WHERE THERE ARE A HIGHER NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED OR SERVICES.

>> Ted: AGAIN, A MOBILE LAUNDRY AND SHOWER TRAILER, HOW DID YOU GET THIS IDEA?

>> YOU HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE YOU SEE THAT NEED HELP AND NOW MORE THAN EVER, THE NUMBER IS SKYROCKETING AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS AND FINDING OUT THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THIS AND SO DECIDED TO DO IT OURSELVES.

>> Ted: WAS THERE A SPARK AND DID SOMETHING HAPPEN?

>> SEEING SOMEONE ONE TIME ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET THAT HAD BARELY THAT HAD A T-SHIRT ON AND I STARTED BRINGING SHIRTS AND SUPPLYING TO PEOPLE AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND ASKING THEM, WHAT'S SOMETHING YOU NEED AND SHOWERS WAS SOMETHING THAT SO MANY PEOPLE SAID.

SO WE DECIDED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> Ted: I READ UP ABOUT YOU AND A GUY NAMED DANIEL, YOU SAID.

>> A GENTLEMAN NAMED DANIEL AND THE SECOND PERSON I MET AND HE WAS SITTING THERE AND DIDN'T HAVE A SHIRT.

THE FIRST THING IS THE HANDSHAKE AND EYE CONTACT AND EXCHANGE OF NAMES.

NOBODY TAKES THE TIME TO LEARN SOMEBODY'S NAME ON THE STREET.

I GAVE HIM A SHIRT AND LETTER OF HOPE, A HANDWRITTEN LETTER FILLED WITH ENCOURAGEMENT AND HE SAID SOMEBODY STOLE MY BACKPACK AND WENT A WEEK WITHOUT A T SHIRT.

HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

WE LIVE IN THIS SUPPOSEDLY GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AND WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T EVEN HAVE ACCESS TO A SHOWER.

>> Ted: FROM THAT EXPERIENCE AND WANTING TO DO SOMETHING, HOW DID IT BECOME A 24-FOOT TRAILER WITH HAIRSTYLISTS?

>> ME BEING STUBBORN AND REFUSING TO GIVE UP.

IT WAS FIVE YEARS FROM WHEN I FIRST WENT ON THE STREETS TO GETTING THE TRAILER.

FROM EMPTY PROMISES AND PEOPLE SAYING THEY WOULD HELP AND THEN IT GOT TO THE POINT, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'LL DO IT OURSELVES.

WE JUST BOUGHT IT AND DID MOST OF THE WORK OURSELVES.

MY DAD, MYSELF AND A COUPLE OF FRIENDS WENT IN AND MADE THE CONVERSION.

>> Ted: SHOWERS AND LAUNDRIES AND FASCINATED BY HAIRCUTS.

DO YOU HAVE HAIRSTYLISTS?

>> WE'RE ALL VOLUNTEER-BASED AND WE'RE NOTHING WITHOUT OUR VOLUNTEERS.

I'M NOT WITHOUT OUR VOLUNTEERS.

I'M A CONDUIT THEY DO THEIR GOOD WORK THROUGH AND HAIR PROFESSIONALS AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR MORE PEOPLE AND ANY STYLISTS OR VOLUNTEERS, HIT US UP ON SOCIAL AND I'LL ANSWER BACK TO YOU AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THEM JOIN US.

>> Ted: HOW MANY YEARS YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT?

>> WE LAUNCHED OUR TRAILER IN AUGUST OF 2020 AND NOW WE HAVEN'T ANNOUNCED IT, BUT GOING TO TUCSON AND OUR SECOND TRAILER IN FORT WORTH SINCE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE BUILDING A TRAILER TO HELP THOSE EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS IN TUCSON.

>> Ted: I KNOW YOUR GOAL IS DELIVERING TOOLS TO LIVING THEIR BEST LIFE POSSIBLE AND IT'S AMAZING!

I WOULD IMAGINE IT'S AMAZING WHAT JUST A SIMPLE SHOWER CAN DO.

>> Ted: THE SHOWERS ARE SECONDARY AND OUR GOAL IS TO GET THEM THERE AND OUR TEAM CAN JUST SHOW THEM, HEY, MAN, WHAT'S YOUR NAME AND HAVE A CONVERSATION BECAUSE HOPE IS THE BIGGEST THING.

WE WANT TO LET THEM KNOW, NO MATTER HOW BAD PEOPLE TREAT YOU, YOU MATTER AND YOU'RE IMPORTANT.

WE'RE LOOKING TO HELP PEOPLE GET OFF THE STREETS AND IF THEY DON'T BELIEVE THEY DESERVE A LIFE BETTER THAN THEY'RE LIVING, IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

IT'S OUR GOAL TO LET THEM KNOW SOMEBODY CARES ABOUT THEM AND INSPIRE THEM TO WANT A BETTER LIFE.

>> Ted: HOPEFULLY INSPIRE THEM AND ARE YOU SEEING THAT INSPIRATION AND WHAT KIND OF REACTION?

>> 38 PEOPLE THAT HAVE USED THEIR SERVICES AND FOUND FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT.

>> Ted: MY GOODNESS!

SO WHY FORT WORTH?

>> A MUSICIAN FRIEND CAME OUT AND SOME FRIENDS SAID HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND FLEW DOWN AND MADE IT HAPPEN.

WE GAVE THEM THE BLUEPRINT AND EXECUTED AND WE CAN DEFINITELY REPRESENTREPLICATED.

I TELL PEOPLE, IF YOU'RE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT DOESN'T LIKE SEEING PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOME HOMELESSNESS, YOU SHOULD LOVE US.

YOU COULD BE SITTING NEXT TO THEM AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING.

>> Ted: YOU REFERRED TO EARLIER, JUST BEING SEEN, BEING HEARD.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

>> Ted: IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE, DOESN'T IT?

>> THE BIGGEST THING WE CAN DO AND FUN FOR ME TO SEE THESE PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARRIVE AND HAVE VOLUNTEERS MAKING GENUINE FRIENDSHIPS, AND RUN AND GIVE THEM A HUG.

WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS, NOWHERE YOU GO PEOPLE ARE EXCITED TO SEE YOU AND IF THEY SEE US, PEOPLE WILL BE NICE TO THEM AND GENUINELY EXCITED TO SEE THEM.

>> Ted: AND EXCITED TO SEE THEM AND MAYBE HELP THEM.

>> 100%.

THAT'S OUR GOAL.

>> Ted: SO NEXT FOR CLOUD COVERED STREETS IS TUCSON.

>> AND THEN AUSTIN AND LAS VEGAS AND PORTLAND AND SEATTLE AND RIGHT NOW, IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING ALL OF OUR ADVISORY BOARDS AND LAUNCHED.

>> Ted: WHEN YOU FIRST MET DANIEL, DID YOU IMAGINE IT BEING THIS?

>> NO CLUE AND I THINK THAT AFTER MEETING HIM AND DECIDING IT WOULD HAPPEN, I KNEW IT WOULD HAPPEN.

I'M A FIRM BELIEVER YOU CAN DO ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD IF YOU REFUSE TO GIVE UP.

>> Ted: CONGRATULATIONS AND ROBERT THORNTON.

>> CLOUD COVERED STREETS AND YOU SEND ME A MESSAGE AND I'LL RESPOND.

>> Ted: THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS SO MUCH!

♪♪ >> AFTER PEARL HARBOR SO MANY OF US FELT AN OBLIGATION TO HELP OUR COUNTRY AND I JOINED THE MARINE DIVISION, AND THEY HAD BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THE FIGHTING.

WE PREPARED FOR OKINAWA AND LANDED THERE APRIL 1st, 1945.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS A LINE OF PRIVILEGE TO SERVE YOUR COUNTRY.

AND TO CONTRIBUTE WHATEVER I DID FOR ITS CONTINUATION AND VICTORY IN WORLD WAR II.

AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING HIGHER THAN ONE PERSON CAN DO OTHER THAN SERVE YOUR COUNTRY IN THE TIME OF NEED.

>> TONIGHT THE NEWS HOUR, PRESIDENT BIDEN CANCELS SOME STUDENT DEBT FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS AND THAT'S AFTER YOUR HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON "ARIZONA PBS."

>> Ted: CREATED FOUR ARTISTS BY ARTISTS AND THE DRAW OF AN ART STUDIO CALLED BRIGHT SIDE STUDIOS WHEN THE STUDIO'S COFOUNDER WAS DIAGNOSED BY CANCER.

THEY WILL HOST A FUNDRAISER TO FIGHT CANCER IN OCTOBER AND JOINING US NOW IS STUDIO COFOUNDER, BRAD KENN.

WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION OF BRIGHT SIDE STUDIOS.

>> THE HANG-OUT SPOT FOR LOCAL CREATIVES AND A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN EXPLORE DIFFERENT MEDIUMS AND FIND YOURSELF THROUGH CREATIVITY.

>> Ted: SO IF YOU THINK YOU'RE A PAINTER, YOU MAY GO DOWN THERE AND FIND OUT YOU'RE A MUSICIAN?

>> I CALL THEM LATE BLOOMERS WHERE THEY DIDN'T MOW THEY HAD THIS PASSION FOR PAINTING AND ART AND STARTED FOR ME WHEN I WAS PAINTING A MURAL IN MY SON'S ROOM.

IT WAS JUST SOMETHING SIMPLE, AND I FOUND IT SO THERAPEUTIC THAT I WAS RUSHING HOME AFTER WORK TO JUST GO PAINT MORE.

AND SO THAT'S HOW THE IDEA STARTED WITH VANESSA AND I.

IF WE COULD SHELL OUT A WAREHOUSE OR GIVE SOMEONE A FACE THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SPILLING PAINT ON THE CARPET OR COOKING IN A HOT GARAGE, THEY MIGHT FIND THIS VALUABLE.

>> Ted: YOUR WIFE AND COFOUNDER AND A PLACE WHERE ARTISTS CAN BE MESSY.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S PART OF THE BIG DRAW, IS YOU'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT LOSING OUT ON A SECURITY DEPOSIT IN THE APARTMENT AND NOT RENTING OUT AN ADDITIONALADDITIONAL ROOM, WHERE YOU CAN HAVE PUN.

FUN.

WE HAVE A FRIENDLY STUDIO STAFF.

YEAH, WE ENCOURAGE IT.

>> Ted: SO I READ THAT YOU KICKED THINGS OFF IN 2016, OR AT LEAST THE SPARK WAS THERE IN 2016 AND THINGS WERE GOING WELL AND SOMETHING HAPPENED IN 2020 AND TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH, SO WE WERE FEELING LIKE WE WERE ROLLING WELL.

WE FOUND THE DREAM LOCATION AT SEVENTH STREET AND CAMELBACK.

WE MADE BLUEPRINTS AND READY TO ROCK AND ROLL WITH CONSTRUCTION AND THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.

SO FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS IN US, WE WERE LIKE A LOT OF OTHERS STRUGGLING OVER THE SUMMER TO FIGURE OUT IF WE WOULD SURVIVE THAT WAY.

AND SO WE WERE WAITING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND I WAS DOING A LOT OF WORK IN THE BUILDING MYSELF AND I NOTICED A SHARP PAIN IN MY BACK, WHICH WAS ODD.

IT JUST CAME OUT OF NOWHERE AND I WAS WALKING TO THE BACK OF THE BUILDING AND ENDED UP FAINTING FROM THE PAIN.

AND THAT NEXT DAY, MY WIFE AND I WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND WE WERE TOLD THAT I HAD CANCER.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.

>> Ted: WOW!

>> SO AFTER A MONTH OF TESTING, IT CAME OUT THAT I HAD MULTIPLE MYELOMA AND TREATMENTS ARE IMPROVING.

>> Ted: IT IS PROMISING AND WE'VE DONE STORIES ON CANCER AND THE FUTURE OF CANCER TREATMENT AND THAT'S ONE OF THE ONES THAT SEEMS TO BE A FOCUS.

THAT SAID, THAT STOPS THINGS DOWN, DOESN'T IT?

>> YEAH.

>> Ted: DID THE ART'S COMMUNITY COME TO YOUR AID?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SHE'S OFF CAMERA, BUT MY WIFE, YOU KNOW, BRIGHT SIDE AND I WOULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT HER AND I WILL SHARE AS MUCH AS I POSSIBLY CAN THAT DURING MY CHEMO TREATMENTS AND I WENT THROUGH A BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT WHERE I WAS IN RECOVERY FOR A YEAR WITH A GREAT FAMILY SUPPORT SYSTEM.

MY FATHER AND VANESSA CONTINUED BRIGHT SIDE.

BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS NEXT.

SO THAT COMMUNITY CAME TO US AND SAID, THIS IS AN IDEA THAT WE WANT TO SUPPORT AND YOU HEAL AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT FROM HERE.

SO WE HAD FOUR MURALISTS THAT CAME AND DESIGNED THE FOUR GREAT MURALS AT OPERATE SIDE BRIGHT SIDE EXPECT AND THE CONSTRUCTION TEAM AND VANESSA HIRED THE AMAZING TEAM.

I WAS ABLE TO HEAL AND BE WHERE I AM TODAY WITH THOSE PEOPLE.

>> Ted: JUST A FANTASTIC STORY AND IT'S UP, OPERATIONAL AND CREATED AGAIN BY ARTISTS, FOR ARTISTS.

HOW DOES IT WORK AND IT SOUNDS LIKE -- WAS IT DAILY, MONTHLY?

>> IT'S A 12,000 SQUARE FOOT VENUE OF CREATIVITY AND WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON THERE AND WE OFFER -- IT'S A FIVE THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT SECTION OF WORK STATIONS AND EASELS THAT YOU CAN PAY FOR A DAY, MONTH OR YEARLY PASS.

OUR CAFE AND LOUNGE IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND THAT'S WHERE WE HOST MUSIC ON THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY NIGHTS AND WE HAVE A PAINT CLASSROOM AND IF YOU EVER FELT LIKE DABBLING IN PAINT AND DRINKING WINE, WE HAVE PAINT AND SAME CLASSES.

>> Ted: WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE IS THAT?

>> IT'S FANTASTIC.

WE CELEBRATED SIX MONTH ANNIVERSARY AND MY CANCER STRUGGLE, THE COMMUNITY WAS THERE WAS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR US.

AND IT'S GROWING QUICKLY AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE IN OUR SPACE, BUT THEY'RE SEEING THIS IS A PLACE TO CELEBRATE ART AND A PLACE TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR IT TO CONTINUE.

>> Ted: WE HAVE AN OCTOBER 8th, A CREATIVES AGAINST CANCER FUNDRAISER.

>> BRIGHT SIDE IS GIVING BACK AND THAT'S SOMETHING THE KENN FAMILY IS PASSIONATE ABOUT AND WE'RE EXCITED TO GIVE BACK TO THE CREATIVES OF PHOENIX.

WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE QUARTERLY EVENTS AND ONE LARGE BIG EVENT AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

THIS IS THE CREATIVES AGAINST CANCER FUNDRAISER AND ALL OF THE MONEY IS GOING TO THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION.

IT'S A LARGE EVENT AT OUR VENUE WITH FOOD TRUCKS, LOCAL ARTISANS AND RAFFLES, SILENT AUCTIONS AND IT'S GOING TO BE A BLAST!

BUT THE GOAL IS TO RAISE AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE TOWARDS THIS CANCER RESEARCH.

>> Ted: IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT GOAL AND PROJECT AND LIKE THE KIND OF PLACE WHERE YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE AN ARTIST AND YOU WANT TO DABBLE AND GET MESSY AND SEE ABOUT THIS AND THAT AND GET A PASS AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO.

>> POST PANDEMIC, PEOPLE WANT TO HANG OUT AND CREATE AND WE'RE OFFERING A VENUE TO HANG OUT AND HAVE FUN OR FIND IT THERAPEUTIC OR MAKE A MESS.

>> Ted: BRAD KENN, BRIGHT SIDE STUDIOS, BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND THAT STUDIO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THAT IS IT FOR NOW AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!