¶ >> COMING UP, STORIES WE'RE CONNECTING WITH YOU TONIGHT.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE HOLYOKE SOLDIER'S HOME?

>> WE CAN'T NICKEL AND DIME THIS TYPE OF A PROJECT.

THIS NEEDS TO GET DONE.

IT NEEDS THE WORLD TO VETERANS BUT MEANS THE WORLD TO VETERANS THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE COMMONWEALTH AND NATION.

>> A LOCAL CRAFT BREWER GOES 100-MILE BIKE RIDE WITHOUT EVER LEAVING HIS BREWERY.

>> WHAT IF I DID IT TO ACTUALLY HELP SOME PEOPLE?

$1 DONATED CREATES FOUR HEALTHY MEALS WORTH $2,500.

THAT'S 10,000 MEALS?

>> AND DRESS FOR SUCCESS EMPOWERS WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE.

>> ACTUALLY HELPED BUILD MY CONFIDENCE AND GAVE ME THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO SHINE.

>> DETAILS ON THOSE STORIES AND MORE UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" POINT IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

¶ GOOD EVENING, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR CONNECTING POINT.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING ON THE PASSAGE OF A $400 MILLION BOND BILL FOR A NEW HOLYOKE SOLDIERS HOME.

PASSAGE OF THE BOND IS CRITICAL IN GETTING $260 MILLION IN FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT MONEY FOR THE PROJECT, AND A MASSACHUSETTS JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE IS HOLDING HEARINGS ON THE BILL.

THE CALL FOR A NEW SOLDIERS HOME COMES AFTER 76 VETERANS DIED FROM COVID-19 LAST YEAR AT THE FACILITY.

CONNECTING POINT'S RAY HERSHEL RECENTLY SPOKE WITH COMMITTEE MEMBER STATE SENATOR JOHN VELIS, TO GET AN UPDATE ON WHEN THE COMMITTEE WILL VOTE ON THE BILL AND WHAT THE LIKELIHOOD IS THAT A NEW SOLDIERS HOME WILL BE BUILT IN HOLYOKE.

>> I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT THESE DEADLINES IS THEY'RE NOT DEADLINES IN THE SENSE THAT YOU OR I WOULD KIND OF CONSIDER IT DEADLINE IN THAT IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN BY THIS DATE, THE PROJECT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

THE ONLY REAL DEADLINE FOR THAT IS AUGUST 1st WHEN THE FINAL APPLICATION IS DUE.

WHAT THESE DEADLINES PER SE IF YOU WILL HAVE TO DO WITH IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME.

THAT'S THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION SAYING THAT DECAM NEEDS THREE TO FOUR MONTHS TO DO THESE PROJECTS.

SO SAWING 1st.

WE'RE NOW IN APRIL.

THEY'RE NOT DEADLINES APRIL 1st OR APRIL 15TH IN THAT IF IT'S NOT DONE, THE PROJECT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE LIMITING THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT DECAM HAS TO DO THAT THOROUGH, REALLY ROBUST DESIGN PROJECT.

SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO MISS ANYTHING AS LONG AS WE GET IT DONE THIS MONTH, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE DECAM, WE NEED TO EQUIP DECAM TO HAVE THAT TIME PERIOD TO GET IT DONE.

>> SOME LEGISLATORS HAVE RAISED SOME QUESTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE $400 MILLION BOND BILL, RENEW HOLYOKE SOLDIERS HOMESITING WHAT THEY CALL REGIONAL EQUITY WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT REGIONAL EQUITY, WHAT ARE THEY REFERRING TO?

AND IS THIS GOING TO BE A STUMBLING BLOCK GOING FORWARD?

>> WHAT THEY'RE REFERENCING IS THERE'S ONLY TWO SOLDIERS HOMES IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS AND THEY WANT TO ENSURE THEIR VETERANS AND THEIR DISTRICTS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

I'VE ENSURED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM THAT AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE VETERANS AND FEDERAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE FOR THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS THAT I WILL SUPPORT ANY HOME, ANY VETERAN SERVICES THAT EXISTS OUT THERE FOR THE VERY SIMPLE REASON THAT A VETERAN IS A VETERAN IS A VETERAN NO MATTER WHERE YOU LAY YOUR HEAD AT NIGHT.

>> SENATOR, ASSUMING THIS BOND BILL PASSES THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, WHAT KIND OF TIME FRAME ARE WE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION FOR THE NEW SOLDIERS HOME?

WHEN WILL IT BE COMPLETED?

WHAT WOULD IT MEAN AND HOW IMPORTANT WOULD IT BE FOR THE VETERANS THAT IT SERVES IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS?

>> I MEAN, IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FOR THE VETERANS THAT SERVE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS, SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE TIME FRAME, RIGHT NOW, THE TENTATIVE DATE IS A YEAR FROM THIS COMING SUMMER WHEN THEY'LL BEGIN.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A STATE/FEDERAL COLLABORATION, V.A.

STATE HOME CONSTRUCTION GRANT PROGRAM THAT WILL ACTUALLY FUND 65% OF THIS.

THAT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER BECAUSE THE COST OF THE COMMONWEALTH WOULD BE $140 MILLION.

I WOULD JUST SAY WE LIVE IN A DAY AND AGE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE A DRAFT ANYMORE, SO, PEOPLE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE HARD-PRESSED TO FIND A SERVICEMEMBER OR VETERAN WHO HAS BEEN TO IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN JUST ONCE.

TYPICALLY IT'S TWO OR THREE TIMES AND THAT'S JUST THE NATURE OF THE FORCE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A DRAFT.

WE CAN'T NICKEL AND DIME THIS TYPE OF A PROJECT.

THIS NEEDS TO GET DONE.

IT MEANS THE WORLD TO WESTERN MASS VETERANS BUT IT ALSO MEANS THE WORLD TO VETERANS THROUGHOUT THIS COMMONWEALTH AND THIS ENTIRE NATION.

IF I WERE TO SHOW YOU MY E-MAIL INBOX IN MY PHONE THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED, THIS ISN'T JUST A WESTERN MASS THING, THIS IS A VETERAN THING AND RECOGNIZING THOSE WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY FOR THE REST OF US.

SHOULDN'T BE NICKEL AND DIMING THIS AT ALL.

>> SENATOR, YOU SERVE ON THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WHICH HAS BEEN LOOKING INTO WHAT HAPPENED IN THE HOLYOKE SOLDIERS HOME AND THE UNFORTUNATE COVID-RELATED DEATHS OF SOME 76 VETERANS IN HOLYOKE.

CAN YOU BRING US UP-TO-DATE IN TERMS OF WHERE THAT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE AND ITS HEARING STANDS NOW?

I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN SOMETHING LIKE EIGHT PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT YOU'VE HELD SO FAR.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

I ANTICIPATE PROBABLY ONE TO TWO MORE.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE REALLY DOING A DEEP DIVE INTO IS KIND OF THE STRUCTURAL SETUP OF THE HOLYOKE SOLDIERS HOME.

SPECIFICALLY, HOLYOKE SOLDIERS HOME REPORTING UP TO THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN SERVICES WHO THEN REPORTS UP TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

ONE OF THE REAL ISSUES THAT I FOUND TO BE SO ALARMING IS THAT THE HOLYOKE SOLDIERS HOME STAFF WAS ACTUALLY FOLLOWING THE GUIDANCE THAT THEY WERE GIVING TO REPORT CONFIRMED COVID CASES, DEATHS.

THE PROBLEM WAS THAT IF YOU JUST HAVE CONFIRMED AS OPPOSED TO SUSPECTED OR PENDING, PARTICULARLY AT TIME EARLY IN COVID IN MARCH WHEN THE TESTING -- THERE WAS SUCH A LAG IN TESTING, YOU WERE ONLY ABLE TO REPORT UP.

YOU KNOW ONE OR TWO VETERANS WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY.

WHEREAS IF YOU HAD INITIALLY PUT OUT GUIDANCE THAT SAID AND A STATE POLICY THAT HAD BEEN WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT REPORTED DEATHS OF COVID EVEN IN SUSPECTED CASES AS OPPOSED TO CONFIRMED CASES, AND WHY I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE IF IT WAS A SUSPECTED CASE, YOU WOULD HAVE HAD SEVEN OR EIGHT DEATHS AS OPPOSED TO THE ONE OR TWO AND THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE STATE TO SAY, "WAIT A SECOND, WE'VE GOT A BIGGER PROBLEM HERE THAN MEETS THE EYE."

THE HOLYOKE SOLDIERS HOME WAS FOLLOWING WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO IN TERMS OF THEIR REPORTING UP.

IT WAS THE STATE WHO WASN'T FOLLOWING, IT WASN'T ADHERING TO THEIR OWN GUIDANCE, AND THAT WAS A HUGE DISCONNECT.

I THINK THAT KIND OF GOES BACK TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE SAY WE NEED TO REALLY DO A DEEP DIVE IN COMMUNICATION, THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, HOW INFORMATION IS REPORTED UP.

AND I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE GONE A LONG WAY AND WILL GO A LONG WAY IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW -- IT'S IMPORTANT, LIKE SOMEONE SAID IN THE LAST OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WE NEED TO LOOK BACK AT WHAT HAPPENED BUT WE DON'T WANT TO STARE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO PUSH FORWARD TO ENSURE SOMETHING LIKE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

>> NOW, THE PEARLSTEIN REPORT WHICH LOOKED INTO WHAT WENT WRONG IN THE SOLDIERS HOME WAS CRITICAL OF THE ADMINISTRATION, PARTICULARLY ADMINISTRATOR BENNETT WALSH AT THE TIME, BUT IT DIDN'T DO A LOT OF GREAT DIGGING IN TERMS OF SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS AT THE HOME.

OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE LOOKING BEYOND THE ADMINISTRATOR AND LOOKING AT SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS THAT EXISTED AT THE HOME AND PERHAPS CULPABILITY BEYOND THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S AN ARGUMENT TO BE MADE THAT WHAT TRANSPIRED IN THE HOLYOKE SOLDIERS HOME IN MARCH 2020 AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER WAS 50 YEARS IN THE MAKING.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SYSTEMIC, STRUCTURAL CHANGES AND I THINK WE'VE SPOKEN ABOUT SOME OF THEM, AGAIN, THE BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATION, WHO REPORTS TO WHO... ALL OF THAT STUFF.

AND I -- I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE PEARLSTEIN REPORT, ALTHOUGH IT WAS A GOOD GUIDE, IT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS REALLY FOCUSED MORE ON, YOU KNOW, THAT TIME PERIOD WHEN IT HAPPENED.

ANYONE WHO HAS KIND OF BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS HOME KNOWS THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS BREWING FOR A LONG TIME AND THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME TYPE OF -- WE NEED TO REALLY CLEAN UP SOME OF THE STATUTES GOVERNING THE HOME, HOW SUPERINTENDENTS ARE SELECTED, WHAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AUTHORITIES, WHO REPORTS TO WHO.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE THE PEARLSTEIN REPORT GET INTO, BUT THAT'S OK, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT UP.

>>> EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT CONNECTING POINT EXPLORES THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND IDEAS THAT MATTER MOST TO WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT, INCLUDING A DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE THIS WEEK IN HONOR OF NATIONAL POETRY MONTH.

IT'S A LOOK AT PITTSFIELD'S WORD BY WORD, A PROGRAM THAT EMBRACES FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN ITS SERIES "POETS CREATING CONVERSATION" >> IT'S NOT CONSIDERED OUR OWN.

EVIDENTLY, PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE NOT CONSIDERED OUR OWN.

EVIDENTLY, THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY IS NOT CONSIDERED OUR OWN.

EVIDENTLY, WOMEN ARE NOT CONSIDERED OUR OWN.

FOR SOME, BEING YOURSELF HAS NO REWARDS.

BEING WHO YOU ARE IS PUNISHMENT.

>> DON'T MISS THIS DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, AVAILABLE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD WAS FOUNDED IN 1636, AND WHILE THE WASTEWATER PIPES THAT ARE STILL USED TODAY AREN'T THAT OLD, MANY OF THE CITY'S PIPES DATE BACK TO THE LATE 1800'S.

THE CITY'S CURRENT PUMPING STATION WAS BUILT IN 1938, BACK WHEN SPRINGFIELD AND THE SURROUNDING CITIES AND TOWNS HAD MUCH SMALLER POPULATIONS.

IN ORDER KEEP UP WITH THE GROWING POPULATION AS WELL AS ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS AND CONCERNS, THE SPRINGFIELD WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION IS TAKING ON THE REGION'S LARGEST WASTEWATER PROJECT IN DECADES.

CONNECTING POINT'S BRIAN SULLIVAN VISITED THE YORK STREET SITE FOR PHASE ONE OF THIS IMMENSE UNDERTAKING.

>> SOMEHOW, CONSTRUCTION TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF THE FEW INDUSTRIES THAT SURVIVED THE YEAR OF 2020.

SOMETIMES IT'S THE TYPE THAT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID WHILE DRIVING AND IN OTHERS, IT MAY BE AN ENORMOUS PROJECT THAT FOR THE MOST PART MANAGES TO AVOID BEING A PUBLIC SPECTACLE.

THE YORK STREET PUMP STATION IN SPRINGFIELD FALLS INTO THAT CATEGORY PARTLY DUE TO ITS SOMEWHAT OFF-THE-RADAR LOCATION.

THE OVERALL COST, THOUGH, MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SO EASILY TO OVERLOOK.

>> TAKING ON A PROJECT LIKE THIS, IT'S $120 MILLION, SO PROBABLY WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE BIGGEST PROJECT WE'VE UNDERTAKEN AS A WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION REALLY SINCE EVERYTHING HAS BEEN BUILT WITH FEDERAL MONEY.

THIS IS 100% FUNDED THROUGH OUR RATES.

>> THE NEW PUMP STATION PROJECT IS ONLY PHASE ONE IN THIS THREE-TIERED ENDEAVOR AND WHILE AN UNDERTAKING LIKE THIS WILL LIKELY KEEP CONTRACTORS AND THEIR CREWS EMPLOYED FOR A GOOD COUPLE OF YEARS, WORKERS AT THE SPRINGFIELD WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION COULD SPEND THEIR ENTIRE CAREERS JUST CLEANING THE MILES OF AGING PIPES THAT RUN THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

>> THERE IS 471 MILES OF SEWER COLLECTION SYSTEM PIPES WITHIN JUST THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD, BUT THE SPRINGFIELD WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION OWNS AND MAINTAINS IT.

IN ORDER TO BE REACTIVE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE STAYING ON TOP OF ANY REPAIRS OR MAINTENANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, WE GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND SO OUR TRUCKS ARE OUT THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY FOOT BY FOOT GOING THROUGH THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IT TAKES US ABOUT 8-10 YEARS TO GET THROUGH THE WHOLE THING AND THEN WE START ALL OVER AGAIN.

>> AND WHATEVER IT IS THAT FLOWS THROUGH THOSE PIPES WILL EVENTUALLY FIND ITS WAY HERE.

SINCE 1938, THIS SMALL BRICK BUILDING ON YORK STREET IN SPRINGFIELD HAS BEEN THE CENTRALIZED WASTE WATTER AND SEWER PUMPING STATION.

AND NOT ONLY FOR SPRINGFIELD BUT FOR SEVERAL OF THE SURROUNDING CITIES AND TOWNS.

THIS PROJECT TAKING PLACE IN THE ADJACENT LOT WILL BE A MUCH MORE ADVANCED VERSION WHEN IT'S COMPLETED.

WHILE WE WERE HERE IN NOVEMBER, THAT WORK WAS TAKING PLACE UNDERGROUND, TWO STORIES UNDERGROUND.

THIS WILL EVENTUALLY BE HOME TO THREE NEW OUTFLOW PIPES THAT WILL PROVIDE FLOOD CONTROL PROTECTION AS WELL AS SYSTEM REDUNDANCY TO THE TWO ALREADY-EXISTING PIPES AND, AGAIN, THIS IS JUST THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS PROJECT.

THE NEXT ENGINEERING TASK IS TO LAY PIPE BENEATH THE RAILROAD TRACKS HERE BEFORE EVENTUALLY TUNNELING UNDER THE ENTIRETY OF THE CONNECTICUT RIVER TO THE OTHER SIDE WHERE THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IS.

TO BE CLEAR, IT'S THE ENTIRETY OF THE WIDTH OF THE RIVER, NOT THE LENGTH, BUT STILL, 1,100 FEET FROM THERE TO HERE WILL BE CHALLENGING ENOUGH AND WHILE CREWS ON THIS SIDE OF THE CONNECTICUT ON BONDI'S ISLAND PREPARE FOR THAT EVENTUALITY, THE ACTUAL DREDGING OUT AND TUNNELING ACROSS THE RIVER IS THE THIRD PHASE AND IS STILL A WAYS DOWN THE ROAD.

FOR NOW, THE TASK AT HAND IS COMPLETING THE NEW PUMPING STATION AND IT'S A TASK THAT SEEMS EVEN MORE IMPERATIVE WHEN WORDS LIKE "AGING INFRASTRUCTURE" GET TOSS AROUND.

>> WHEN WE SAY "AGING INFRASTRUCTURE" THAT'S ONE PIECE OF IT THAT YOU SEE ABOVE GROUND, BUT BELOW GROUND, YOU CAN SEE THERE'S PIPES THAT GO INTO THAT PUMPING STATION THAT ARE FROM 1885 AND THAT ARE IN SERVICE RIGHT NOW.

>> BACK IN 1938 WHEN THIS STRUCTURE WAS BUILT, THE VOLUME OF WASTEWATER THAT PASSED UNDERNEATH IT WASN'T NEARLY WHAT IT IS IN THESE MODERN TIMES OF ROUGHLY 38 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY, AND SINCE REPLACING ALL THE PIPES THAT HAVE CROSSED THE CENTURY MARK ARE AMONG THE 400+ MILES WORTH OF THEM ISN'T ON THE DOCKET JUST YET, IT UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT ONLY THE 8-10-YEAR CYCLE OF KEEPING THEM CLEANED OUT BUT ALSO FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF WHAT THEY SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT PUT DOWN THEIR DRAINS.

>> WE ALSO FIND SOMETIMES, UM, BALLS OF FAT AND GREASE THAT ARE COMING FROM PEOPLE'S KITCHEN DRAINS.

WE DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE NOT TO POUR GREASE DOWN THE DRAIN FOR THAT REASON BECAUSE A LOT OF THINGS COULD STICK TO IT INCLUDING WIPES OR PAPER TOWELS OR THINGS YOU GENERALLY SHOULDN'T FLUSH DOWN THE TOILET, SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING THROUGH AND CLEANING OUT ALL OF THAT MUCK.

¶ >>> THE PANDEMIC HAS MANAGED TO AFFECT ALMOST EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, AND ONE DEMOGRAPHIC THAT HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED HAS BEEN WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE.

ACCORDING TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WOMEN CURRENTLY MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS AT 54%.

FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW, DRESS FOR SUCCESS WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS HAS BEEN EMPOWERING WOMEN TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE BY PROVIDING THEM WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO THRIVE IN THE WORKPLACE.

I SPOKE WITH MARGARET TANTILLO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT DRESS FOR SUCCESS WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND KASSANDRA CARRASQUILLO, A PARTICIPANT IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S GROUP, ABOUT WHY WOMEN SPECIFICALLY ARE BEING IMPACTED, AND WHAT THE ORGANIZATION IS DOING TO SUPPORT THEM DURING THIS TIME.

>> THE MISSION AND THE PURPOSE OF DRESS FOR SUCCESS WORLDWIDE IS TO HELP WOMEN GAIN ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE AND WE'VE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 20 YEARS BUILDING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT PROVIDE TOOLS FOR WOMEN TO BE ECONOMICALLY INDEPENDENT.

>> ACCORDING TO ROSE LINDA COSTA, SECRETARY OF EXECUTIVE OFFICE AND LABOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WOMEN HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY THIS PANDEMIC AND MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS AT 54%.

HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THE PANDEMIC AFFECT WOMEN SPECIFICALLY?

WHY ARE WOMEN BEING IMPACTED DRAMATICALLY COMPARED TO OTHER DEMOGRAPHICS?

>> IT ACTUALLY -- THE NUMBER IS 2.5 MILLION WHO HAVE LEFT THE WORKFORCE.

IT'S BEEN STAGGERING, UM, HOW THIS HAS IMPACTED WOMEN AND, YOU KNOW, THEIR CAREERS AND WHERE THEY WERE WORKING.

FOR US, IT'S -- WE -- OF COURSE WE'RE WORKING WITH WOMEN AND WE SEE THIS ALL THE TIME.

A LOT OF IT IS AROUND CHILD CARE WHERE WOMEN HAVE CHILDREN AT HOME.

WE RAN A PROGRAM DURING COVID AND, YOU KNOW, THE WOMEN -- IT'S INCREDIBLE HOW THE WOMEN JUST PERSEVERE, AND WE HAD WOMEN IN CLASS, ATTENDANCE 100%!

SHOWING UP ON TIME AND THEN THEY'RE IN FRONT OF THE ZOOM AND THEIR KIDS ARE RIGHT NEXT TO THEM AND THEY'RE HELPING THEIR CHILDREN ON ZOOM.

AND, UM, I KNOW KASSANDRA WAS AT HOME AND JUST BACK IN THE OFFICE BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION -- IF YOU WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT, KASSANDRA?

>> YEAH, I JUST CAME BACK FULL-TIME LIKE TWO WEEKS AGO, BUT I WAS WORKING FROM HOME FOR A WHOLE YEAR, UM, SO IT WAS TOUGH BEING BACK, BUT, UM, IT'S -- IT'S A LOT TO GET USED TO, BUT I COULD SAY, LIKE, WHAT SHE WAS SAYING, WHEN I WAS, UM, ON THE ZOOM IN THE MEETINGS, I DID HAVE MY KIDS, LIKE, AROUND ME BUT -- IT WAS JUST SUCH A GOOD SUPPORT SYSTEM TO HAVE, SO I'M REALLY THANKFUL TO BE ABLE TO, UM, HAVE THAT SUPPORT.

>> AND, KASSANDRA, YOU'RE A SPOKESPERSON FOR DRESS FOR SUCCESS AND ALSO A PARTICIPANT IN ITS PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S GROUP.

HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN?

HOW HAS DRESS FOR SUCCESS IMPACTED YOUR JOURNEY INTO THE WORKFORCE?

>> UM, THERE'S JUST SO MANY WORDS THAT I CAN, LIKE -- ACTUALLY, I CAN'T EVEN EXPRESS IT, BECAUSE IT'S JUST -- IT'S AN CREDIBLE FEELING AND IT'S LIKE BEFORE WHEN, UM, WHEN I WAS, YOU KNOW, UM, YOUNGER, I WAS VERY SHY.

EVEN THE SCHOOL, I WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN TALKED THAT MUCH.

PRESENTATIONS WERE NOT MY THING.

LIKE, I HAD A VERY HARD TIME OPENING UP AND, UM, BEING PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION OF IS DRESS FOR SUCCESS, IT ACTUALLY HELPED BRING MY CONFIDENCE -- BUILD MY CONFIDENCE AND GAVE ME THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO SHINE AND BRING THAT, UM, BRING, LIKE, ME MORE OF, UM, THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, UM, DO WHAT I'M -- WHAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT AND THAT'S TO EMPOWER OTHER WOMEN AND, UM, I'M JUST VERY THANKFUL THAT I ACTUALLY FOUND SOMETHING THAT I LOVE AND THAT I ENJOY.

>> ALL OF THOSE QUALITIES THAT YOU WERE JUST REFERRING TO, KASSANDRA, BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION AND, UM, THE DRESS FOR SUCCESS WEBSITE, I NOTICED THERE ARE PHOTOS OF BEFORE AND AFTER WOMEN BEING SUITED IN PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE.

AND PRESENTATION IS IMPORTANT, IS ONE IMPORTANT ASPECT, BUT WHAT OTHER WAYS ARE WOMEN NEEDING SUPPORT TO ENTER AND RE-ENTER THE WORKFORCE?

>> BEING ABLE TO KNOW LIKE HOW TO, YOU KNOW, WHERE TO LOOK PROFESSIONAL AND HOW TO SPEAK AND, UM, LIKE WHAT NOT TO DO AND WHAT TO DO IN THE INTERVIEW.

THESE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED BEING PART OF DRESS FOR SUCCESS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S GROUP.

THERE'S JUST CERTAIN THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN INSPIRED BY AND THAT I LEARNED THAT IT KIND OF MADE ME WHO I AM TODAY AND IT KIND OF GAVE ME THE ASPECT OF BEING ABLE TO, UM, TO -- TO HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT KIND OF WOMAN I WANT TO BE.

>> IN ADDITION TO SUITS, WE RUN, UM, FOUR OTHER PROGRAMS.

WE TOOK OUR PROGRAMS ONLINE IMMEDIATELY.

WE TOOK, UM -- YOU KNOW, WE WENT RIGHT ON ZOOM AND WE FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE THAT CAPACITY AND ACTUALLY ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE STARTED, UM, UM, FROM THE VERY START WAS A DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE OUR WOMEN HAD THE CONNECTIVITY AND KNEW HOW TO USE THE COMPUTER AND, UM, THEY HAD THE EQUIPMENT.

>> DRESS FOR SUCCESS RECENTLY CELEBRATED ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF HELPING WESTERN MASS WOMEN SUCCEED IN THE WORKFORCE AND NOW I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS MIGHT BE A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER, BUT WHAT IS AN INSPIRING AND IMPACTFUL STORY YOU BOTH HAVE COME ACROSS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS?

>> I COULD SAY WHEN WE HAVE, LIKE, THESE ZOOM MEETINGS AND WE HAVE, UM, PROFESSIONAL WOMEN WHO COME AND SPEAK ABOUT WHAT THEY DO, I THINK IT'S A BIT ABOUT EVERY WOMAN WHO, UM, WHO SHOWS UP AND SPEAKS OF WHAT THEY DO.

FOR ME, IT'S INSPIRING, BECAUSE ONE DAY, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHOW LIKE OTHER WOMEN WHAT I DO AND WHERE I STARTED AND WHERE I'VE BECOME.

AND HOPEFULLY I'LL BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO, UM, BE IN THAT PLACE.

>> I'M INSPIRED EVERY DAY BY OUR WOMEN.

YOU KNOW, WE -- I JUST SAW SOME -- A COUPLE OF OUR WOMEN, WE SOCIAL DISTANCED BUT, UM, A WOMAN THAT WAS HIRED THREE YEARS AGO AT BAY STATE, SHE'S STILL THERE AND BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT HERSELF, THAT EVERY DAY INSPIRES ME.

>> AS WE'RE BEGINNING TO SLOWLY START COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS PANDEMIC, WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE CAN YOU OFFER WOMEN THAT ARE BEGINNING TO RE-ENTER THE WORKFORCE?

>> I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY, YOU KNOW, WITH CHANGE COME OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S THE WAY I'VE LED OUR ORGANIZATION THROUGH THE PANDEMIC IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, NOT SETTLING DOWN BUT RATCHETING EVERYTHING UP TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING MORE AND SERVING THE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND JUST AS I LED THE ORGANIZATION LIKE THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU DIDN'T SEE BEFORE OPEN UP.

>> UM, I WOULD SAY DON'T LET THE CHALLENGES STOP YOU, UM, JUST KEEP GOING AND DO WHAT YOU LOVE.

¶ >>> YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT THERE IS A PASSIONATE CRAFT BEER COMMUNITY IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW IS HOW INTERMINGLED THAT GROUP IS WITH THE CYCLING COMMUNITY.

SO WHEN LOCAL CRAFT BEER BREWER CHRIS SELLERS WAS THINKING OF AN IDEA FOR A FUNDRAISER, HE COMBINED A LOVE FOR CYCLING AND BREWING BEER, AND CREATED A 100-MILE BIKE RIDE TO BENEFIT THE FOOD BANK OF WESTERN MASS.

BUT YOU'LL PROBABLY BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT HE DID IT WITHOUT EVER LEAVING HIS BREWERY IN NORTHFIELD.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US THE STORY.

>> THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE YOU CAN GET THIS CLOSE TO YOUR INGREDIENTS, SO PROFESSIONALLY AS A BREWER, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A GRAIN THAT WAS GROWN ON ONE END OF THE HOP YARD AND THEN TO HAVE THE HOPS AND THEN TO HAVE THE BREWERY ALL WITHIN MAYBE 15T A FASCINATING THING TO DO.

YOU KNOW, FOR EVERY ONE BREWER, THERE'S PROBABLY 25 PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE BREWERS AND, UM, I JUST REALLY -- I PUSHED AS HARD AS I COULD, AND I DID SALES, DELIVERIES, KEG WASHING, BOTTLING, LABELING, FLOORS, YOU KNOW, YOU NAME IT, I DID IT FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.

GRAB A FEW MORE BAGS.

THERE'S A REAL STRONG FEELING THAT PEOPLE WANT TO CONSUME THINGS THAT ARE PRODUCED HERE IN THIS AREA IN PARTICULAR, WHETHER IT'S THE PIONEER VALLEY OR THE WHOLE OF WESTERN MASS.

SO I THINK WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE BEER THAT'S SO CREATIVE, DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE, THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW, THEY WANT IT FROM AS CLOSE TO HOME AS POSSIBLE.

THE FARM'S 30 YEARS OLD.

IT ENCOMPASSES JUST OVER 200 ACRES OFF 163 AND NORTHFIELD IN 2017, MY WIFE AND I WERE LOOKING FOR A VENUE TO GET MARRIED.

WE HAD TALKED TO A NUMBER OF PLACES IN THE AREA.

EVERYONE WAS BOOKED UP.

SOME OF THE FOLKS HERE SAID, YOU KNOW, WHY DON'T YOU GET MARRIED HERE?

IT SEEMED LIKE A NEAT IDEA, AND AT THE TIME, WE WERE PLANNING ON EARLY AUGUST SO THE HOPS ARE ALL THE WAY UP.

IT'S A REALLY LUSH GREEN BACKYARD.

WE HAVE LIKE THESE INCREDIBLY DRAMATIC CLOUDS IN THE BACKGROUND.

THIS IS REALLY BIG SKY HERE.

AS WE STARTED TO GET CLOSER TO THE FAMILY THAT OWNS THE FARM HERE, WE STARTED TALKING THAT, YEAH, A BREWERY IS AN INTERESTING IDEA.

LET'S WORK ON THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE.

I THINK IT WAS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18TH, WE OPENED OUR DOORS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

WHAT WE'RE BREWING TODAY IS THE NORTHFIELD LAGER.

IT TAKES THREE WEEKS TO GO THROUGH IT'S PRIMARY FERMENTATION, COLD FERMENTATION.

A SETTLE PROFILE.

IT GETS COLD CONDITIONED FOR A MONTH OR MORE AFTER THAT.

WITH COVID BEING WHAT IT WAS, I STARTED STAYING IN SHAPE FOR CYCLING BY JUST DOING STATIONARY TRAINING WORK.

THIS BECAME A VERY POPULAR THING AS COVID WENT ON GLOBALLY.

I'M SITTING THERE DOING THIS ONE NIGHT AND I'M SITTING THERE SAYING TO MYSELF, "YOU KNOW, WHAT IF YOU DID 100 MILES ON THIS?

WHAT IF I DID IT TO ACTUALLY HELP SOME PEOPLE?"

LET'S SET IT UP IN THE BREWERY.

LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I SET A FUND-RAISING GOAL AND GOFUNDME FOR $1,000.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A WEIRD TIME.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE WILL GIVE ANYTHING.

LET'S JUST SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

BY THE TIME WE WERE DONE, WE WERE UP AROUND $2,500.

PEOPLE JUST GAVE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I HEAR THAT $1 DONATED CREATES FOUR HEALTHY MEALS FOR, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE.

YOU THINK $2,500, ALTHOUGH NOT A TON OF MONEY IN THE BROAD SCHEME OF THINGS, THAT'S 10,000 MEALS?

YEAH!

WE MADE A TANGIBLE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD AND ALL I HAD TO DO WAS SWEAT FOR FIVE HOURS IN A BREWERY.

I'M OK WITH THAT.

[CHUCKLES] TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT THE PRODUCTS THAT ARE BEING GROWN ON THE FARM WITH THE FINISHED BEER ITSELF AND THEN BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THAT CONNECTION IN THE COMMUNITY IS JUST, LIKE, ONE FULL CIRCUMSTANCE UNTIL A VERY SMALL AREA -- CIRCLE IN A VERY SMALL AREA AND THAT TO ME IS REALLY EXCITING.

¶ >>> THAT DOES IT FOR CONNECTING POINT FOR APRIL 9TH, 2021.

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