>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": CELTICS FORWARD GRANT WILLIAMS JOINS ME ON THE TEAM'S PUSH FOR VACCINE EQUITY AND EDUCATION, CELTICS UNITED.

AND LATER, YOU ALL KNOW OF KING BOSTON'S "THE EMBRACE," SCHEDULED TO BE UNVEILED ON BOSTON COMMON IN 2022.

BUT NOW, THEY'VE CREATED A FIRST-EVER CLASS OF ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE, TOO.

ONE MEMBER, WILLIE SANCHEZ, BETTER KNOWN AS DJ CHUBBY CHUB AND KING BOSTON'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, IMARI PARIS JEFFRIES, WILL LAY OUT HOW THE NEW PROGRAM IS HELPING FURTHER THE KINGS' LEGACY IN BOSTON.

THEN, FINALLY, ERIN FRENCH, THE OWNER OF MAYBE THE HARDEST-TO-BOOK RESTAURANT IN THE COUNTRY, MAINE'S LOST KITCHEN.

ON HER NEW MEMOIR: "FINDING FREEDOM: A COOK'S STORY; REMAKING A LIFE FROM SCRATCH."

IT WAS A LONG, AND OFTEN PAINFUL ROAD FROM FREEDOM, MAINE-- THEN BACK TO FREEDOM, MAINE.

>> Braude: A MILLION MORE PEOPLE IN MASSACHUSETTS BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINES TODAY-- RESIDENTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 55 AND 65, AND THOSE WITH ONE SPECIFIC MEDICAL CONDITION-- AND TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, EVERYONE 16 AND OLDER IN THE STATE WILL BE ABLE TO START SIGNING UP FOR APPOINTMENTS.

AT THE SAME TIME, VACCINE HESITANCY IS RECEDING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WITH JUST 20% SAYING IN A NEW POLL THAT THEY EITHER WON'T GET A VACCINE OR WILL ONLY GET THE SHOT IF THEY'RE REQUIRED.

SKEPTICISM HAS BEEN FALLING FOR MOST DEMOGRAPHICS AND RECENT DATA HAS SHOWN RACIAL GAPS CLOSING, TOO.

BUT THERE IS STILL SOME FEAR ACROSS THE BOARD, PARTICULARLY AMONG REPUBLICANS-- ONE IN FOUR OF WHOM SAY THEY DEFINITELY WON'T GET THE VACCINE-- THE HIGHEST OF ANY OTHER DEMOGRAPHIC, WITH G.O.P.

MEN FAR HIGHER.

AND IN RECENT MONTHS, HESITANCY HAS DECLINED AMONG BLACK AMERICANS, BUT LOCAL LEADERS, AND PUBLIC FIGURES HAVE BEEN SPEAKING OUT TO ADDRESS LINGERING CONCERNS-- INCLUDING THE BOSTON CELTICS SHAMROCK FOUNDATION-- WHICH RECENTLY HELD A DISCUSSION WITH MEDICAL EXPERTS CALLED "SPREAD THE HEALTH, A FORUM ON THE COVID-19 VACCINE AND HEALTHCARE MISTRUST IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY," WHICH INCLUDED MY NEXT GUEST, CELTICS FORWARD, GRANT WILLIAMS.

GRANT, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> Braude: SO I KNOW YOU ARE ABOUT TO DO A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT, FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

YOU HAVE BEEN OUTSPOKEN ABOUT THE VACCINE, WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO SPEAK OUT?

>> HONESTLY, THE BIGGEST REASON WAS BECAUSE I FELT IT WAS THE SAFEST ROUT POSSIBLE FOR US TO GET BACK NOT ONLY TO NORMAL BUT ALSO TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE WE CARE ABOUT MY GRANDPARENTS GOT THE VACCINE, MY MOTHER, FATHER, MY BROTHER.

SO WE ARE JUST TRYING TO NOT ONLY TAKE THE NEXT STEP SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IN THE FUTURE TO NOT ONLY HELP THE ECONOMY BUT ALSO HELP EVERYONE AROUND, BUT ALSO PROTECT AND BE SAFE.

BECAUSE COVID, I SEEN IT AFFECT MANY OTHER, MANY PEOPLE CLOSE TO MY HEART, WHETHER IT WAS WITH ILLNESS, WITH DEATH OR EVEN WITH SYMPTOMS THAT JUST DIDN'T SEEM LIKE THEY WERE NECESSARY OR WANTED BY ANYONE.

>> WAS IN A PERIOD AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS VACCINE DISCUSSION, WERE YOU YOURSELF EXPERIENCING SOME HESITANCY OR WERE YOU ALL IN ALL ALONG?

>> I WAS DEFINITELY HESITANT AT A POINT BECAUSE FOR ME IT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT I JUST WANTED TO BE INFORMED ABOUT.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT I NEEDED TO EDUCATE MYSELF ON AND THE NEXT AS YOU KNOW, AS I EDUCATED MYSELF I LEARNED I AM MORE AND MORE PEOPLE GOT VACCINATED, IT WAS BECOMING MORE AND MORE LIKELY THAT I WOULD TOO.

BECAUSE IT WAS JUST A NECESSARY THING THAT I FELT LIKE WOULD HELP NOT ONLY MY COMMUNITY, THAT I AM PART OF, BUT ALSO THIS WORLD THAT WE'RE IN.

>> Braude: WHO DO YOU THINK PEOPLE WHO ARE HESITANT MOST WANT TO HEAR FROM?

DO THEY WANT TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE LIKE THEM, THEIR PIERCE, DO THEY WANT TO HEAR FROM DR. FAUCI, LEADERS, WHO WERE THE MOST CONVINCING MESSENGERS.

>> I BELIEVE THE MOST CONVINCING MESSENGERS ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CLOSEST TO, PEOPLE THAT ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY IT.

BECAUSE YOU HAD A GRANDPARENT OR MOTHER OR BROTHER WHO GOT STRUCK BY COVID AND GOD FORBID PASSED AWAY OR HAD A AFFECT AFTER, THAT IS WHEN YOU BECOME MORE LIKELY TO GET THE VACCINE.

SO I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIMILAR NOT ONLY BACKGROUNDS BUT ALSO EITHER ETHNICITIES OR CLASS, SOCIAL CLASS, ECONOMIC CLASS, THEY HEAR FROM ONE ANOTHER AND THEY ENCOURAGE TO GET THE VACCINE, I BELIEVE THAT AS TIME GOES ON, WE WILL ALL GET VACCINATED.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, DANNY ANGE FOR THE PEOPLE AT HOME WHO MAY NOT KNOW IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOSTON CELTICS ACKNOWLEDGED THE OTHER DAY THAT THERE WERE A FEW OF YOUR TEAMMATES, HE DIDN'T IDENTIFY THEM, OBVIOUSLY, WHO WEREN'T CONVINCED THEY SHOULD GET VACCINATED.

I'M NOT GOING TO ASK YOU NAME, DON'T GET NERVOUS.

BUT WHAT LID YOU SAY TO A TEAMMATE, SOMEBODY WHO IS A PEER, PROBABLY IN THEIR 20S, LIKE YOU ARE.

A LOT OF 20 YEAR OLDS FEEL INVINCIBLE.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO ONE OF YOUR TEAMMATES OR SOMEBODY IN THE LEETIONZ YOU ARE FRIENDLY WITH, WHEN YOU HEAR THAT THEY ARE EITHER HESITANCY OR JUST SAY NO CATEGORY.

>> THE FIRST THING I ASK IS WHY.

WHAT SIDE EFFECTS.

AND FROM THERE I WOULD EDUCATE OR EVEN INFORM THEM ON THE VACCINE AND I WOULD TELL THEM LIKE THIS.

FOR ME, I HAD MY FIRST SHOT, I HAVEN'T HAD SYMPTOMS NOR HAVE I BEEN AFFECTED BY IT.

WE WILL SEE AFTER THE SECOND SHOT, HOW I FEEL.

BUT I FEEL LIKE THE REAL HESITANCY IS THEY ARE LOOKING AROUND FOR OTHERS.

THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS OF THE VACCINE IS THEY ARE AFRAID THAT AFTER THEY BECOME ILL OR SICK, OR EVEN-- I THINK THAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE, AND THAT WE HAVE TO EDUCATE THOSE AROUND US AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO TAKES FIRST STEP AND TAKE A LEAP BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT PUT US INTO A CRISIS.

WE ARE TRYING TO BALANCE OURSELVES OUT.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF SHOWS ABOUT VACCINE HESITANCY HERE.

AND EARLY ON AS I SAID THE NUMBERS ARE RECEDING WHICH IS GOOD.

I'M SURE YOU KNOW AS WELL IF NOT BETTER THAN I THAT THE DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP THAT WERE MOST RELUCTANT, MOST HESITANT WERE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

PARTICULARLY BLACK AMERICANS WHO KNEW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN TUSKEGEE, HENRIETTEA LAX AND ALL THASM I KNOW THAT THE CELTICS HAVE A PRETTY DEEP COMMITMENT TO RAISE EQUITY IN THE LEAGUE ADOPTED THIS RACIAL EQUITY PROGRAM, THE WHOLE LEAGUE AFTER GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED.

NOT ONLY DID CELTICS PARTICIPATE BUT THEY UPPED THE ANTE BIG TIME, FAR MORE THAN THE MINIMUM CONTRIBUTION.

I THINK SOMEWHERE IN THE 25 MILLION DOLLAR RANGE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO PLAYERS WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU AND YOUR TEAMMATES AS THE ORGANIZATION IS PUTTING THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS ON SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT IN THIS COUNTRY?

>> THE BEST PART ABOUT IT IS NOT ONLY THE MONEY BUT THEY ARE TRULY COMMITTED.

THE SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM AND BEING FULLY AWARE OF EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND IT REASSURES US, IT MAKES US FEAL KFT DENT IN NOT ONLY THE ORGANIZATION BUT THE FACT THAT THE TEAM HAS OUR BACK AND HAS OUR BEST INTEREST AT HEART.

SO IN ALL HONESTY, WHEN I FIGURED OUT THAT THERE THEY WERE COMMITTING THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT AND CREATING A SOCIAL JUSTICE PLAN FOR THE BOSTON COMMUNITY, I DECIDED TO BECOME FULLY INVOLVED.

AND WHATEVER WORK IS NEEDED OF ME, I TRIED MY BEST TO COMMIT THAT OR EVEN BE THERE FOR ANY TYPE OF EVENT THEY HAVE.

SO IN ALL HONESTY, IT MAKES THE CELTICS FRANCHISE EVEN MORE AMAZING THAN IT ALREADY IS, THE CULTURE THEY HAVE ON THE COURT BUT ALSO OFF.

NOT ONLY BILL RUSTLE-- BUT THE HISTORY OF THE PAST.

>> RUSSELL IS ALSO DONE A PSA.

YOU WILL BE JOINING A PRETTY IMPORTANT GROUP OF PEOPLE, KAREEM ABDUL JABAR, BILL RUSSELL, THE GREATEST PLAY THARY EVER LIVED IN MY ESTIMATION.

BEFORE YOU GO, UNRELATED QUESTION.

YOU MENTIONED YOUR MOTHER GETTING THE VACCINE.

SHE WORKS AT NASA.

SHE IS AN ENGINEER AT NASA S THAT CORRECT.

>> ELECTRICAL ENGINEER, CORRECT.

>> HOW EXCITED WAS SHE BY THE MARS LANDING.

>> OH, SHE IS HAS BEEN SENDING ME EMAILS ABOUT EVERYTHING.

SHE TRIES TO KEEP ME INFORMED, WHETHER IT IS NOT ONLY WITH NASA BUT SPACEX IN TERMS OF ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.

I KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR COMMERCIAL-- IN SPACE, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS TO COME AND A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD.

>> Braude: WELL, TELL HER CONGRATULATIONS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, GRANT.

GREAT YOU ARE DOING THIS, AND GOOD LUCK ON THE COURT AND OFF THE COURT AS WELL.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME ON.

TO WATCH THE FULL "SPREAD THE HEALTH" ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH WILLIAMS, TACKO FALL AND MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH-CARE COMMUNITY, VISIT: celticsunited.com/ vaccine HE'S BEST KNOWN, OF COURSE, FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS MARCHES AND DEMONSTRATIONS HE ORGANIZED IN D.C. AND ACROSS THE SOUTH BUT MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR AND CORETTA SCOTT BECAME IMPORTANT LEADERS RIGHT HERE IN BOSTON.

WHICH IS ONE OF MANY REASONS WHY BOSTON'S FORTHCOMING KING MEMORIAL SO CLEARLY FITS HERE.

THE NON-PROFIT BEHIND THE STATUE, KING BOSTON, IS ALSO LAUNCHING OTHER PROGRAMS TO IN THEIR WORDS, "INSPIRE VISITORS TO REFLECT ON THE VALUES OF RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE THEY BOTH ESPOUSED."

INCLUDING AN ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCY PROGRAM TO HELP RAISE UP, AND AMPLIFY LOCAL ARTISTS OF COLOR.

I'M JOINED NOW BY A MEMBER OF THE PROGRAM'S NEW 2021 CLASS: WILLIE SANCHEZ, BETTER KNOWN AS DJ CHUBBY CHUB, FROM JAM'N 94.5; AND KING BOSTON'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, IMARI PARIS JEFFRIES.

WILLIE, IMARI, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

>> THANK YOU, JIM.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Braude: IMARI, REALLY GLAD TO YOU HAVE.

MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE KING'S CONNECTION TO BOSTON.

CAN YOU BRIEFLY DESCRIBE WHAT THEY DID HERE?

>> WELL, THEIR LOVE STORY STARTED IN BOSTON.

SO BOSTON IS THE FOURTH LARGEST COLLEGE TOWN IN THE COUNTRY.

AND SO THE KINGS WERE LIKE MANY COLLEGE STUDENTS, QULEJ STUDENTS IN THE 50S.

SO THEY MET HERE, WENT TO CHURCH HERE AND REALLY BUILT A MOVEMENT IN BOSTON.

>> THEY DID.

SO EXPLAIN TO US, EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT C EMBRACE AND KOWNGT THE MINUTES UNTIL IT HAPPENS, THIS ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM, WHAT IS IT?

>> WE'RE IN AN INTERESTING MOMENT IN TIME.

WE ARE IN A TIME WHERE VACCINE INEQUITY IS AN ISSUE.

WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF THE TRIAL TO CONVICT THE PERSON WHO KILLED GEORGE FLOYD.

AND SO THERE IS A RACIAL RECKONING HAPPENING IN THE COUNTRY.

NOT ONLY ARE MEMORIALS AND MONUMENTS VALUABLE, BUT MUSIC, ARTS AND SPACE IS IMPORTANT.

SO IN THIS MOMENT WHERE THERE IS A RACIAL RECKONING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE IS ALSO A CONVERSATION, A RECKONING IF YOU WILL IN BOSTON.

SO HAVING OUR FIRST WOMAN BLACK MAYOR, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ARTS AND SPACES FOR THE ARTS, PARTICULARLY FOR BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE ARE IMPORTANT, SO THERE WAS NO BETTER WAY FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF RACIAL EQUITY AND THE ARTS THAN TO HAVE AN ARTIST IN RESIDENT PROGRAM.

>> SO WILLIE, WHAT DID IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE ACCEPTED INTO THIS THING.

>> I MEAN IT'S BEEN A MAJOR HONOR.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I WAS ASKED TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IN WHAT IS GOING ON THIS DAY AND AGE.

I'M TRULY HONORED.

IT MEANS A LOT.

BECAUSE IT ALSO OPENS A LOT FOR THE YOUTH.

>> WHAT DOES THIS ALLOW YOU TO DO, THAT YOU COULDN'T DO WITHOUT THIS ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM.

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK IT GIVES ME MORE, MORE TO BRING OUT MY PRESENCE AND WHAT I BELIEVE AND WHAT I DO AS FAR AS MUSIC GOES.

AND GIVES PEOPLE, THE YOUNGER YOUTH A REASON TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES AND EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THE WORLD.

>> HEY WILLIE, I WANT TO BE CLEAR, YOU ARE IN A CAR, YOU ARE NOT DRIVING A CAR; IS THAT CORRECT?

>> NO, I'M IN A CAR.

>> OKAY, I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR.

>> SO IMARI, WHY WAS WILLIE CHOSEN IN THIS SELECT GROUP TO BEGIN WITH.

WHY HIM?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ONE BECAUSE DJ CHUBBY CHUB IS A NATIONAL TREASURE AND I THINK YOU KNOW, THE OTHER NIGHT ON SATURDAY NIGHTLIFE LIVE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS-- IN THE MONOLOGUE IT WAS MENTIONED THAT BOSTON IS STILL ONE OF THE RACIST PLACES IN THE WORLD, RIGHT, AND THAT WAS PART OF THIS MONOLOGUE.

THIS T HAPPENED THIS SATURDAY, WHAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS BOSTON IS 25% BLACK, IT IS 51% OF COLOR AND THAT WE HAVE NATIONAL TREASURES, NATIONAL ARTISTS THAT ORIGINATE FROM OUR CITY.

AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHO REPRESENTS BOSTON, SOMEONE LIKE DJ CHUBBY CHUB IS AN EXEMPLAR.

AND ST IMPORTANT IN THIS MOMENT OF EQUITY TO RAISE UP OUR ARTISTS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE SPACES AND PLACES AND FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN STE ARDS OF THE ARTS, ARE HERE AND ALIVE AND WHEN MRS. KING CAME HERE, APRIL 27th IS HER BIRTHDAY, MRS. KING IS AN ARTIST.

IT WAS IMPORTANT TO US ON THE BIRTH MONTH OF MRS. KING TO ANNOUNCE OUR ARTIST IN RESIDENCE J BY ITS WAY, THAT WAS DANIEL KALULIA WHO MADE THAT COMMENT IN HIS MONOLOGUE.

COULD YOU DESCRIBE THE OTHER PROGRAMS, AGAIN THIS ARTIST IN RESIDENCE THING IS NEW BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY HEAR KING BOSTON THINK THAT KING BOSTONS-- BOSTON IS PURELY THE EMBRACING THIS.

IMARI, EXPLAIN, AN EDUCATION PROGRAM, A CENTER, WHAT IS IN THE FUTURE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE THINK THAT BOSTON IS PROBABLY THE ONLY CITY IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS A CHANCE TO EMERGE POST PANDEMIC ON THE CITY ON THE HILL FOR RACIAL EQUITY SOCKS KING BOSTON IS MADE OF UP A HOLY TRINITY OF CAMPAIGNS.

THE MEMORIAL I THINK PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE EMBRACE MEMORIAL, IT WILL BE UNLEASHED IN OCTOBER OF 2022.

THE KING CENTER FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE WHICH IS A GALLERY RESEARCH CENTER WHERE WE WILL CONTINUE TO INTERGATE RACISM THROUGH RESEARCH AND LASTLY EMBRACE IDEAS.

SO IT IS AN ACTIVATION OF THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES INTO ANTIRACIST DISCOURSE.

SO THOSE THREE THINGS I THINK ARE PART OF THIS LARGER MOVEMENT OF BOSTON ORGANIZATION, THAT WILL HELP BOSTON EMERGE AS THE TOP CITY IN THE COUNTRY DESPITE WHAT DANIEL KALUUYA SAYS.

>> Braude: WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT THESE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE PART OF KING BOSTON, NOT JUST THE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PRASM THAT YOU ARE PART OF, DOES THIS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?

WHAT DOES IT SAY TO ABOUT WHAT IT CAN DO FOR THIS COMMUNITY?

>> WE ALL HAVE A CHANCE.

WE ALL HAVE A CHANCE TO BELIEVE WHAT WE DO.

>> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STARTING WITH YOU IMARI THAT I HAVE TO SAY HAS BEEN, YOU MENTIONED THIS RACIAL RECKONING.

I AM EMBARRASSED TO ADMIT HOW LITTLE I ACTUALLY KNOW.

AND I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS AT THE BEGINNING OF ALL OF THIS LAST YEAR.

ABOUT AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY AND HOW LITTLE IS TAUGHT.

WE LEARNED WHEN DONALD TRUMP WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE A HALEY-- RALLY IN TULSA AND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON JUNE TEENLT TEENT, WE LEARNED ABOUT THE GREENWOOD MASSACRE ONE OF THE WORST IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY.

THE OTHER ON OUR RADIO SHOW WE HAD DON LEMON FROM CNN WHO WROTE A BOOK ABOUT RACISM IN THIS COUNTRY AND TALKED ABOUT THE GERMAN COAST SLAVE UPRISING IN THE 1800ST IN LOUISIANA WHICH I HADN'T HEARD ABOUT.

SO HOW CENTRAL IS EDUCATION-- EDUCATION ABOUT OUR WHOLE HISTORY, NOT JUST THE SANITIZED HISTORY IN THIS COUNTRY?

HOW CENTRAL IS THAT TO KING BOSTON'S PROGRAM?

>> I THINK IT IS ENTIRELY CENTRAL.

THE IDEA OF PUTTING A MONUMENT TO MEMORIALIZE DR. AND MRS. KING AS WELL AS 35 OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS IN BOSTON COMMON, IS HUGE.

THIS IS AMERICA'S OLDEST PARK.

AND IT BELONGS TO NOT ONLY THE FOLKS WHO LIVE AROUND THE PARK BUT ALL OF US.

AND THAT IT IS SITUATED ON ANCESTRAL LAND OF MASSACHUSETTS AND WAMPANOAG PEOPLES, SO IN THIS MOMENT OF RACIAL RECKONING, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND OUR INDIGENOUS BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO ARE PART OF OUR HISTORY.

THEY HAVE LARGELY BEEN ERASED.

SO IT IS AN IMPORTANT TO INTEGRATE INDIGENOUS FOLKSK BLACK FOLK, LATINO, LATINX FOLKS AND ALL OF US INTO BOSTON'S RICH HISTORY.

>> Braude: A MINUTE AGO IMAR AYE PAID YOU A GREAT COMPLIMENT.

EVERYTHING I READ ABOUT YOU REFLECTS WHAT HE SAID ABOUT YOUR NATIONAL STANDING, DO YOU SEE THIS ARTIST IN RESIDENCE AS SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE EVEN BETTER AT WHAT IT IS THAT YOU HAVE MASTERED WHEN THAT IS OVER THAN HOW YOU ENTERED?

>> I DEFINITELY SEE THAT HAPPENING.

I DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO BIG EVENTS AND ALSO BRANDING OF THE STATE OF THE ART.

I DEFINITELY GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAY THIS WAS A BLESSING FOR ME.

AND TO BE ABLE TO COMPLEMENT WITH EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON.

BEING ABLE TO STAND FIRM ON WHAT I BELIEVE N AND ALL THE MUSIC AND HELP OTHERS.

BECAUSE I'M ALREADY AT A POINT WHERE I HAVE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH THAT I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP OTHERS.

>> Braude: I LOVE THAT ATTITUDE.

WE NEED A LOT MORE OF THAT.

WILLIE, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, GOOD TO MEET YOU, IMARI, GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN, GOOD LUCK WITH ALL THINGS KING BOSTON TO BOTH OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU MUCH.

NEXT, SHE GREW UP WORKING IN HER FATHER'S DINER, BY THE VERY SMALL, RURAL TOWN OF FREEDOM, MAINE.

NOW, ERIN FRENCH OWNS ONE OF THE HARDEST-TO-BOOK RESTAURANTS IN THE COUNTRY.

TRUST ME, I'VE TRIED.

IT'S CALLED THE LOST KITCHEN, LOCATED IN THE TOWN'S OLD GRIST MILL, LESS THAN TWO MILES DOWN THE ROAD.

BUT HER PATH FROM ONE TO THE OTHER WASN'T QUITE SO DIRECT, AS SHE EXPLAINS IN A SIX-PART SERIES ABOUT HER RESTAURANT ON MAGNOLIA NETWORK, WHICH WAS NAMED ONE OF THE BEST PLACES IN THE WORLD, BY "TIME" MAGAZINE.

>> AFTER SPENDING YEARS TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM MY SMALL HOMETOWN OF FREEDOM, MAINE, I NOT ONLY CAME BACK TO LIVE, I OPENED A RESTAURANT.

>> MY KITCHEN FAMILY AND I HAD NO FORMAL TRAINING, NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT WE TRUSTED THAT EVERYTHING WE NEEDED WAS RIGHT HERE.

>> Braude: AND IT WAS.

IN A NEW MEMOIR - THE RESTAURATEUR, COOK-- DON'T CALL HER CHEF-- AND JAMES BEARD AWARD-NOMINEE DIVES DEEPER INTO THE OBSTACLE LADEN PATH SHE TRAVELED, ONE MANY READERS WILL LIKELY RELATE TO.

IT'S CALLED: "FINDING FREEDOM: A COOK'S STORY; REMAKING A LIFE FROM SCRATCH."

ERIN FRENCH JOINS ME NOW.

ERIN, GOOD TO MEET YOU, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOOK.

>> HI JIM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW MOST PEOPLE WHO WATCH THIS SHOW KNOW I DON'T LIKE TO REREL ANYTHING ABOUT MYSELF INCLUDING WHAT I HAD FOR LUNCH.

YOU IN YOUR BOOK REVEAL EVERYTHING.

FROM A TOUGH FATHER, A SAD STRKS FIRST HUSBAND, A DRUG HABIT, THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE.

THE LOSS OF ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.

I DON'T KNOW IF I LEFT ANYTHING OUT.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO SHARE SUCH INTIMATE DETAILS OF YOUR LIFE WITH PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW?

>> PART OF IT FOR ME WAS CATH ARTIC, AND PUTTING IT DOWN AND BEING ABLE TO FORGIVE MYSELF IN THAT WAY.

BUT PART OF IT WAS THAT I RECOGNIZED IN SOME OF THOSE MOMENTS THAT WERE SO DARK AND SO DEEP, THEY WERE SO LONELY, AND WHEN I WAS FEELING THAT LONELY IT FELT HOPELESS.

SO MY HOPE WAS THAT IF I COULD SHARE MY STORY, IF YOU LOOK NOW AND YOU THOUGHT LOOK AT THIS GIRL WHO IS RUNNING ONE OF THE HARDEST RESTAURANTS TO GET IN, IN THE COUNTRY.

HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT'S POSSIBLE.

I WROTE THAT FOR THAT PERSON THAT NEEDED THAT STRENGTH TO GET THROUGH A HARD MOMENT.

>> Braude: WELL, YOU KNOW, I HOPE PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK YET, AND I HOPE THEY WILL, DON'T THINK WHEN I USE THE ADJECTIVE SADISTIC TO DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST HUSBAND, I WAS BEING HYPERBOLIC.

THIS IS A GUY WHO URGED YOU TO GO TO REHAB FOR YOUR DRUG PROBLEM, NOT BECAUSE IT TURNS OUT HE WANT YOU TO GET BETTER, BUT SO THAT YOU WOULD BE OUT OF THE WAY SO HE COULD TAKE EVERYTHING FROM YOU INCLUDING YOUR SON, CORRECT?

>> YEAH, THAT'S MY FEELING, YEAH.

IT CAME AS A SURPRISE.

AND IT WAS A VERY CHALLENGING TIME.

>> Braude: YOU WRITE THAT LOGIC IS THE DEATH OF DREAMS.

I LOVE THAT LINE.

WHERE DO YOU CONJURE UP WHATEVER TO BE ABLE TO PUT LOGIC ASIDE AND CHASE DREAMS?

HOW DOES ONE DO THAT?

>> SOMETIMES IT'S ADRENALINE AND DREAMS DO GIVE ME A DREN LINL-- ADRENALINE THAT PUSHES ME SOMETIMES TO DO THINGS THAT SEEM IMPOSSIBLE OR CRAZY.

AND IF I WOULD STOP LONG ENOUGH TO THINK ABOUT THE ACTUAL REALITY, MAYBE I WOULD HAVE PUT A PAUSE ON DREAMS THAT I HAD ACTUALLY HAD.

BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT JUST DIGGING DEEP AND DRIVING FORWARD AND JUST BELIEVING IN YOURSELF AND THOSE DREAMS TO MAKE THEM HATCH.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, I SHOULD BE CLARY THERE IS A LOT OF JOY IN THIS BOOK TOO, ESPECIALLY WHEN ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT YOUR SON OR WHEN YOU ARE CONSTANTLY TALKING ABOUT FOOD.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH US A MEMORY OR TWO, FROM WHEN YOU WERE A LITTLE KID WORKING AT YOUR O FATHER'S DINER WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE MOST EMBLAZONED ON YOUR BRAIN THERE.

>> PROBABLY THE SMELL OF THE GRIDDLE AND THE SMELL OF THE HOME FRIES AND ONIONS AND THE SOUND OF THE PANCAKES AS THEY WOULD FLAP WAS ONE OF MY BIGGEST MEMORIES.

AND THE VISION OF MY GRANDFATHER FLID ELLING AROUND WITH THE FRYOLATOR.

I HAVE A LOT OF VERYLICIOUS DINER MEMORIES AND IT IS STILL STRANGELY THE FOOD THAT I LOVE TO EAT TODAY.

>> Braude: HOW GREAT WAS THE MEATLOAF?

WAS THE MEATLOAF ANYWHERE CLOSE AS GREAT AS YOU SCRAIBED IT.

>> THE MEATLOAF IS BEYOND WHATEVER YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE IT, SUGGESTARY AND SWEET AND MEATY AND COMFORTING IN ALL THE RIGHT WAYS.

>> Braude: AND ALL OF THAT IS DESCRIBED IN GREAT DETAIL, IT HAS BEEN 13 MONTH IN THIS PANDEMIC.

HOW DID YOU SURVIVE?

>> WE'RE DOING OKAY HERE.

SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, IT WAS LIKE HERE YOU GO AGAIN, THE RUG HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT FROM NOT JUST ME, FROM ALL OF US, SO IT WAS COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT I WASN'T ALONE.

I FELT LIKE I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF PRACTICE IN THIS.

THAT I HAD FALLEN DOWN A FEW TIMES BEFORE.

AND THAT IS KIND OF LIKE LIFE, WE WILL TUMBLE AND HAVE THESE ROADBLOCKS.

AND SOMETIMES IT IS ABOUT WHAT YOU DO WITH IT AND HOW YOU KEEP PULLING YOURSELF UP.

SO THIS WAS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT.

AND I REALLY FOWRCHED IT Z KRATS-- CRAZY.

YOU HEAR THESE STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO BUILT SOMETHING BIGGER AND BETTER OUT OF THESE WILD PANDEMIC MOMENTS.

AND THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR THOSE HARD MOMENTS THAT REALLY GIVE YOU THAT FRICTION AND ADRENALINE TO DO SOMETHING GREAT.

>> Braude: DO YOU HAVE AN EXPECTED DATE WHEN YOUR RESTAURANT REOPENS LIKE IT ONCE WAS?

>> WELL, WE'RE NOT PUTTING ANY PRESSURE ON THE DINING ROOM PER SE AT THIS POINT.

I THINK WE WILL KNOW WHEN IT FEELS RIGHT AND SAFE.

BUT ONE THING THAT I DID REALLY REALIZE IS THAT THE WALLS DON'T MATTER.

THAT WE CAN HAVE BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR DINNERS AND STILL REINVENT OUR IS OFS IN OTHER WAYS SO WE ARE JUST WAITING UNTIL THE GRASS GETS GREEN HERE WHICH IS PROBABLY STILL FOUR MONTHS AWAY IN MAINE.

BUT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME OUTDOOR DINNERS SO WE CAN SAFELY GET BACK INTO THE DINING ROOM AND FEEL WE CAN WELCOME PEOPLE.

>> Braude: ERIN, FOR THE FEW PEOPLE WATCHING WHO DON'T KNOW HOW YOU, I WAS GOING TO SAY MAKE A RESERVATION, THAT IS A MISNOMER, ATTEMPT TO MAKE A RESERVATION.

EXPLAIN HOW THE WHOLE POSTCARD THING WORKS.

>> SO WE DO RESERVATIONS BY POSTCARD AND I KNOW THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE WILD BUT IT REALLY STARTED AS A WAY TO SLOW THINGS DOWN HERE BECAUSE WHEN WE STARTED TO BECOME POPULAR AND THE PHONES STARTED RINGING OFF THE HOOK, WE COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH IT, WE COULDN'T LISTEN TO THE GASH ELED MESSAGES AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PHONE NUMBER SAID AND WHAT PERSON WAS CALLING.

WE WERE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEAT EVERYONE THAT WANTED TO COME TO DINNER HERE.

WE REALIZED THAT, SO WE TURNED IT INTO A LOTTERY, SOMETHING WHERE PEOPLE COULD HAVE FUN, MAKE THEIR OWN POSTCARD, SEND THEIR OWN CONTACT INFORMATION SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO LISTEN THOSE GASH ELED MESSAGES AND PEOPLE COULD GET INVOLVED AND ALSO HELP OUT WITH OUR SLEEPY POST OFFICE.

AND IT HAS REALLY MADE FOR CONNECTION.

WE GET TO CONNECT WITH OR GUESTS BEFORE THEY HAVE EVEN ARRIVED.

WE GET SNIPPETS OF THEM AND A FEELING BEFORE THEY EVEN STEP THROUGH THE DOOR.

>> Braude: HOW MANY DAYS DOES IT TAKE YOU TO FILL EVERY SEAT FOR EVERY SINGLE OPEN DAY FOR THE WHOLE YEAR?

>> OH GOSH, WELL, LET'S SEE, WE PULL ABOUT, JUST OVER A THOUSAND POSTCARDS A YEAR, THAT IS HOW MANY TABLES WE HAVE.

SO ABOUT 1,000 POSTCARDS AND OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE RECEIVED ABOUT 20,000 POSTCARDS A YEAR, SO THAT IS THE MATH ON THAT.

>> Braude: ARE YOU ABLE TO STEP BACK FROM WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND WHAT YOU HAVE ACHIEVED TO UNDERSTAND OR TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE TO THE REST OF US WHY THIS THING HAS BEEN SUCH A HUGE SUCCESS?

DO YOU KNOW WHY?

>> PART OF IT MYSTIFIES ME BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY PROFESSIONAL TRAINING.

I GREW UP COOKING AT MY DAD'S DINER.

I TAUGHT MYSELF A LOT THROUGH CATERING AND SOME OTHER CULINARY JUST PLACES WHERE I PUSHED MYSELF INTO.

AND SO FOR AWHILE I KEPT THINKING WHY ARE PEOPLE COMING HERE?

HOW DID THIS BECOME A DESTINATION RESTAURANT.

THAT IS NOT WHAT I PLANNED.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A QUIET CAFE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND HOPE THAT PEOPLE MIGHT SHOW UP FOR A GOOD CUP OF COFFEE.

BUT I REALLY THINK WHAT IT IS, THE POWER OF FOOD AND LOVE.

BECAUSE WE PUT A LOT OF ENERGY INTO REALLY GOOD INGREDIENTS AND IT IS OUR TEAM.

WE HAVE RUN BY ALL WOMEN.

AND NONE OF VUS ANY NORMAL TRAIN-- FORMAL TRAINING AND WHAT IS WHAT WE SHOW UP WITH EVERY DAY AND WHAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE.

AND MAKING THAT EXPERIENCE STVMENT MORE THAN JUST ABOUT FOOD, IT IS A FEELING.

AND EVERY LITTLE DETAIL THAT GOES INTO IT, MORE THAN JUST A DISH.

IT SAY COMPLETE EVENING.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, IN YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AT THE END OF THE BOOK YOU MENTIONED OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY WHO HELPED GET YOU THERE, MOST PEOPLE HELP GET YOU THERE, YOUR MOTHER WHO HAS BEEN THERE AT EVERY SINGLE TURN OF YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU NEEDED HER.

AND YOUR FATHER, YOUR LAST ACKNOWLEDGMENT, A GUY WHO WAS TOUGH, NOT BIG ON THE HUGS OR THE EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE OR SHOWING OF PRIDE.

AND YOU SAY THERE, SOMETHING LIKE WELL, HE TOLD ME EVERYTHING ABOUT COOKING AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE I WOULD BE WITHOUT HIM.

YOU ALSO SAY HE MAY NEVER READ THIS BOOK.

DOES IT MATTER TO YOU IF HE READS THE BOOK?

>> IT WOULDN'T HURT MY FEELINGS.

AND THAT IS PART OF THE ACCEPTANCE IS THAT MAYBE YOU CAN SEE, I DON'T WANT TO SPOIL ANYTHING BUT THE LAST PAGE.

BOOK IS THAT SORT OF UNDERSTANDING THAT I'M OKAY, JUST WHO I AM.

AND YOU CAN'T CHANGE OTHER PEOPLE.

YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE WAY THEY WE HAVE OR THE WAY THEY MAKE YOU FEEL.

AND THERE COMES A POINT WHEN YOU JUST SAY OKAY, THIS IS WHO THIS PERSON IS, I AM CONNECTED TO THEM FOR LIFE AND HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND HE WAS TOUGH ON ME.

BUT HE ALSO MADE ME TOUGH ON MYSELF.

I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT THOSE IMPERFECT MOMENTS THAT I HAD WITH MY DAD AND IN MY CHILDHOOD.

>> LET ME JUST TELL YOU, IF THE FOOD IS ONE HALF AS GOOD AS THE BOOK, YOU ARE REALLY ON TO SOMETHING.

ST GREAT TO MEET YOU, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOOK AND GOOD LUCK.

>> THANKS SO MUCH >> Braude: ERIN FRENCH, THANKS.

THE BOOK AGAIN IS "FINDING FREEDOM: A COOK'S STORY; REMAKING A LIFE FROM SCRATCH."

AND TO HEAR MORE FROM ERIN FRENCH, TUNE INTO HER VIRTUAL CONVERSATION WITH CHEFS INA GARTEN AND LIDEY HEUCK TOMORROW NIGHT.

YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AT findthelostkitchen.com/ events.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND STAY SAFE.