RU2 >>> Coming up, stories we're RU2 connecting you with tonight.

RU2 We will pay a Detroit perhaps RU2 what is the Mort artistic RU2 community on the cape, RU2 Provincetown.

RU2 >> So you just get this RU2 abundance of sunlight hitting RU2 the area and then just spreading RU2 out and it's beautiful.

RU2 >> We will show you all that the RU2 city known as the Brooklyn of RU2 the Berkshires has to offer.

RU2 >> There are art galleries, RU2 museums, theaters, performing RU2 arts, world-renowned.

RU2 >> And we will take to you a RU2 bookstore that's as much about RU2 community has it is about RU2 literature.

RU2 >> We can build as a community.

RU2 We can turn a sore spot into RU2 something is like a rose.

RU2 >> We will bring you those RU2 stories and more as we RU2 exprocedure the community that RU2 make us western New England.

RU2 Up next on "Connecting Point."

RU2 >>> Support for "Connecting RU2 Point" is provided by our RU2 contributing viewers.

RU2 >> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR RU2 JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING RU2 POINT."

RU2 I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

RU2 THE LIGHT AND NATURAL COASTAL RU2 BEAUTY OF THE OUTER BEACH OF RU2 CAPE COD HAS INSPIRED ARTISTS RU2 FOR OVER A CENTURY.

RU2 IN THE FINAL INSTALLMENT OF OUR RU2 THREE-PART SERIES ON THE HISTORY RU2 AND BEAUTY OF THE CAPE COD RU2 NATIONAL SEA SHORE, PRODUCER RU2 DAVE FRASER VISITS PROVINCETOWN RU2 TO LEARN THE HISTORY OF THIS RU2 ARRESTS COLONY AND MEET UP WITH RU2 A WESTERN MASS ARTIST WHO HAS RU2 BEEN PAYMENTING ON THE OUTER RU2 CAPE FOR CLOSE TO 30 YEARS.

RU2 >> WHEN I LOOK BACK ON MY LIFE RU2 AND I THINK, THIS IS MY JOB.

RU2 I'M ALWAYS TELLING PEOPLE THAT.

RU2 I'M AT WORK RIGHT NOW.

RU2 I FEEL REALLY FORTUNATE THAT I RU2 GET TO GO OUT AND PHOTOGRAPH.

RU2 AND EVERY SO OFTEN I STEP BACK, RU2 AND THINK, MAN, PEOPLE ARE RU2 BUYING MY WORK.

RU2 THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

RU2 THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

RU2 >> WITH IT'S INCREDIBLE LIGHT RU2 AND COLORFUL SURROUNDINGS THE RU2 OUTER BEACHES OF CAPE COD HAVING RU2 ATTRACTING ARTISTS FOR OVER A RU2 HUNDRED YEARS.

RU2 AT THE TIP THE TOWN OF RU2 PROVINCETOWN, AN ECLECTIC RU2 COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN RU2 DESCRIBED AS A PLACE OF RU2 CONTRASTS, RUGGED AND RURAL WITH RU2 A VIBRANT TOWN CENTER.

RU2 IT'S SIMULTANEOUSLY SUPPLIES RU2 ARTISTS FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR RU2 SOLITUDE AND SOCIALIZE.

RU2 >> IF YOU ASK PEOPLE IF THEY RU2 KNOW ABOUT PROVINCETOWN, THAT'S RU2 THAT GAY PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COME RU2 FOR CANCEL AND THIS AND THAT.

RU2 WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW RU2 THIS IS THE OLDEST ART COLONY IN RU2 AMERICA.

RU2 NO ONE CAN SAY THAT EXCEPT RU2 PROVINCETOWN.

RU2 WHEN YOU ENCLOSES THAT LINE INTO RU2 PROVINCETOWN YOU HAVE ENTERED RU2 INTO AN ART MECCA.

RU2 >> THE TIP OF THE CAPE FACES RU2 NORTH.

RU2 AND THAT NORTH LIGHT IS WHAT RU2 ARTISTS ARE ALWAYS SEEKING.

RU2 IF YOU GO BACK WHEN THERE WERE RU2 NO ARTIFICIAL LIGHTS ARTISTS RU2 WOULD BUILD STUDIOS FACING NORTH RU2 TO GET THAT EVEN BEAUTIFUL RU2 LIGHT.

RU2 >> JULIE DIDN'T SET OUT TO BE A RU2 PHOTOGRAPHER.

RU2 BUT DURING HER UNDERGRADUATE RU2 STUDIES AT YOU MASS DARTMOUTH RU2 SHE TOOK AN ELECTIONIVE IN RU2 PHOTOGRAPHY.

RU2 AND RAMS THE FIRST TIREMENT SHE RU2 LOOKED LIEU THE VIEW FINDER OF A RU2 CAMERA AND FOUND IT WAS LIKE RU2 LIKING THROUGH INTO A DIFFERENT RU2 WORLD.

RU2 >> I DON'T LIKE A LOT OF RU2 COMPLICATION.

RU2 SO FOR ME IT'S ABOUT KNELLING RU2 SPACE.

RU2 IT'S ABOUT GETTING THE ESSENCE RU2 OF WHAT I'M SEEING AND TRYING TO RU2 GET THE VIEWER TO UNDERSTAND RU2 WHAT I'M SEEING.

RU2 AND IF IT'S QUIET, I WANT IT TO RU2 BE QUIET.

RU2 AND IT'S VIBRANT, IT SHOULD BE RU2 VIBRANT.

RU2 PEOPLE COME HERE FOR ART.

RU2 AND SO JUST BEING HERE, I GET TO RU2 BENEFIT FROM ALL THE PEOPLE THAT RU2 KWAME BEFORE ME.

RU2 THERE WERE BIG, BIG RU2 ACCOUNTABILITYISTS THAT CAME, RU2 PLAY RIGHTS AND ARTISTS THAT RU2 CAME BEFORE ME.

RU2 IT'S GREAT TO BE PART OF THAT RU2 ENVIRONMENT.

RU2 >> TO BE AN ARTIST IN RU2 PROVINCETOWN MEANS YOU ARE PART RU2 OF A COLONY.

RU2 CHARLES WEBSTER HAWTHORNE OPENED RU2 HIS CAPE COD SCHOOL OF ART IN RU2 THE SUMMER OF 1899, AND TAUGHT RU2 HIS PLEIN AIR METHOD RIGHT ON RU2 THE WATERFRONT.

RU2 >> HE HAD AN EXINFLUENCES OF RU2 STUDENTS, MAINLY WOMEN, AND THEY RU2 WOULD PAINT ON THE PEER PIANO.

RU2 THEY WOULD PAINT IN PLEIN AIR RU2 WHICH MEANS OUTDOORS.

RU2 >> PEOPLE WATCHED AS HE RU2 DRAMATICALLY DEMONSTRATED HIS RU2 THEORY OF COLOR AND AFFECTS OF RU2 LIGHT ON AN OBJECT.

RU2 SOMETHING ARTISTS TODAY STILL RU2 RECOGNIZE.

RU2 >> THE WAY THE LIGHT BOUNCES OFF RU2 THE SAND, THE SAND DUNES, AND RU2 THE SAND BARS ON THE BAY, SO YOU RU2 JUST GET THIS ABUNDANCE OF RU2 SUNLIGHT HITTING THE AREA AND RU2 THEN JUST SPREADING OUT.

RU2 AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

RU2 >> SUSAN TILTON GREW UP IN RU2 MARBLEHEAD A SEASIDE COMMUNITY RU2 ON THE NORTH SHORE OF RU2 MASSACHUSETTS.

RU2 SHE HAS A LOVE FOR THE OUTER RU2 CAPE AND SHOWS HER WORK RU2 REGULARLY IN GALLERIES ALONG RU2 COMMERCIAL STREET IN RU2 PROVINCETOWN.

RU2 >> I LIKE ARCHITECTURE AND RU2 NATURE TOGETHER.

RU2 NOT JUST PURE NATURE.

RU2 IF I PAINT A SEA SCAPE I TEND TO RU2 LOOK FOR SOME ARCHITECTURAL RU2 ELEMENT IN THAT.

RU2 AND I JUST LOVE THE COMBINATION.

RU2 >> THIS IS AN ATTRACTIVE SPOT.

RU2 BECAUSE YOU HAVE GOT THE SKY, RU2 MAN MADE STRUCTURES WHICH I RU2 LOVE, AND THE WATER, AND THE RU2 REFLECTIONS AND THE BEACH.

RU2 YOU HAVE ALL THE ELEMENTS TO RU2 MAKE A BEAUTIFUL PAINTING.

RU2 I PAINTED THIS SCENE AT SUN RU2 RISE, SUNSET.

RU2 I PAINTED THIS SCENE AND HAD RU2 PEOPLE COME AND BUY IT RIGHT OFF RU2 MY EASE SELL.

RU2 >> OH, YEAH!

RU2 GREETINGS FROM PROVINCETOWN, RU2 MASSACHUSETTS.

RU2 >> ART IS EVERYWHERE IN THIS RU2 SMALL THREE-SQUARE-MILE TOWN AT RU2 THE TIP OF THE CAPE.

RU2 AND ARTISTS WHO COME TO RU2 PROVINCETOWN TODAY ARE STILL RU2 LOOKING AT THE SAME THINGS THAT RU2 ARTISTS WERE LOOKING AT 100 OR RU2 SO YEARS AGO.

RU2 HOW THEY DEPICT IT DEPENDS ON RU2 THEIR STYLE AND INTERPRETATION RU2 BUT THE LANDSCAPE AND THE LIGHT RU2 REMAINS THE SAME.

RU2 >> ANY PLACE YOU WALK INTO RU2 PROVINCETOWN THERE'S ORIGINAL RU2 ARTWORK.

RU2 WHETHER IT'S A RESTAURANT THAT RU2 ONE OF THE 50 OR 60 GALLERIES IN RU2 THIS TOWN, AND IF YOU ARE HERE RU2 TO GO TO THE BEACHES OR GO OUT RU2 TO THE DUNES, THAT'S WHAT THE RU2 ART WAS INSPIRED FROM.

RU2 SO THE ART IS THE CONNECTOR RU2 BETWEEN EVERYTHING IN RU2 PROVINCETOWN.

RU2 >>> EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT RU2 "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE RU2 CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND RU2 COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN RU2 NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP RU2 THERE.

RU2 YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANY TIME RU2 FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND RU2 CONTENT.

RU2 WE CLOSE OUT OUR THREE-PART RU2 SERIES ON THE 60th ANNIVERSARY RU2 OF THE CAPE COD NATIONAL SEA RU2 SHORE WITH A DOUBLE EXCLUSIVE ON RU2 THE 3,000-ACRE PROVINCE LANDS RU2 RESERVATION IN PROVINCETOWN.

RU2 THIS AREA IS HAILED AS THE RU2 SECOND OLDEST COMMON LANDS IN RU2 THE COUNTRY SECOND ONLY TO RU2 BOSTON COMMON AND PRODUCER DAVE RU2 FRASER TAKES US ON A TOUR OF RU2 THIS UNIQUE AREA OF CAPE COD.

RU2 >> I THINK THIS IS A IMAGE CULL RU2 PLACE.

RU2 I HAVE CALL IT THE OF RU2 PROVINCETOWN BECAUSE IT'S VAST.

RU2 IT'S THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF RU2 DUNES, BEACHES, AND FORTH LAND RU2 THAT STRETCHES AS FAR AS THE EYE RU2 CAN SEE AND HAS A LOT OF WILD RU2 ANIMALS.

RU2 IT'S GOT THESE LITTLE DO YOU RU2 KNOW SHACKS.

RU2 THAT HAS SO MUCH HISTORY.

RU2 WE GOT HISTORY.

RU2 CULTURE.

RU2 WE HAVE FLORA.

RU2 WE HAVE FAUNA.

RU2 WE HAVE DUNE SURROUNDING US.

RU2 AND IT TAKES UP 75% OF OUR RU2 ENTIRE TOWN SIZE IS OUT HERE.

RU2 >> DON'T MISS THIS DIGITAL RU2 EXCLUSIVE AVAILABLE ONLINE RIGHT RU2 NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

RU2 >>> THE BERKSHIRES OF WESTERN RU2 MASSACHUSETTS ARE A MECCA FOR RU2 WORLD-RENOWNED ARTS AND CULTURE RU2 WITH DANCE, THEATER, AND MUSEUMS RU2 GALORE.

RU2 IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE RU2 THAT THE LARGEST CITY IN RU2 BERKSHIRE COUNTY BOASTS AN RU2 EXCITING AND ACTIVE CULTURAL RU2 SCENE.

RU2 I SAT DOWN WITH JENNIFER RU2 GLOCKNER, DIRECTOR OF RU2 PITTSFIELD'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL RU2 DEVELOPMENT TO DISCOVER ALL THAT RU2 THE CITY THAT'S KNOWN AS THE RU2 BROOK WRITTEN OF THE BERKSHIRES RU2 HAS TO OFFER.

RU2 >> WE ARE SMACK DAB IN THE RU2 MIDDLE.

RU2 AND WE TELL EVERYONE THAT WE ARE RU2 ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYTHING FROM RU2 PITTSFIELD.

RU2 BUT ALSO PITTSFIELD IS THE ONLY RU2 PLACE WHERE YOU CAN STAY RU2 DOWNTOWN IN A HOTEL AND WITHIN A RU2 HALF MILE OF WHERE YOU ARE RU2 STAYING, THERE ARE ART RU2 GALLERIES, THERE ARE MUSEUMS.

RU2 THERE ARE THEATERS.

RU2 THERE ARE PERFORMING ARTS.

RU2 WORLD RENOWNED PERFORMING ARTS RU2 SPACES, BERKSHIRE THEATER RU2 GROUPS.

RU2 COLONIAL THEATER AND BARRINGTON RU2 STAGE HAS SEVERAL FOOTPRINTS IN RU2 PITTSFIELD.

RU2 >> TELL ME WHERER AND WHAT THIS RU2 PLACE,.

RU2 >> THIS IS THE LICKEN STEIN RU2 CENTER FOR THE ARTS.

RU2 IT'S OWNED BY THE CITY OF RU2 PITTSFIELD.

RU2 THERE ARE NINE ARTIST STUDIOS RU2 HERE.

RU2 AND THEN THIS IS AN ART GALLERY.

RU2 WE REOAT -- ROW PATE ART SHOWS RU2 EVERY MONTH.

RU2 DURING FIRST FRIDAY ARTS WALK.

RU2 BUT WE HAVE ART IN OUR SCHOOL RU2 EVERY MAY, WHICH IS ON THE WALLS RU2 RIGHT NOW.

RU2 THESE ARE PITTSFIELD HIGH SCHOOL RU2 AP ART STUDENTS.

RU2 AND THEN WE HAVE CADA COMMUNITY RU2 ACCESS TO THE ARTS EVERY JULY.

RU2 WE HAVE SHOWS EVERY YEAR BUT RU2 THEN WE HAVE SHOWS ALSO.

RU2 >> THE CITY IS KNOWN FOR ITS RU2 MANY CULTURAL EVENTS SUCH AS RU2 THIRD THURSDAYS AND THE 10 BY 10 RU2 ARTS FESTIVAL.

RU2 CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THOSE RU2 EVENTS AND OTHERS THAT YOU OFFER RU2 THROUGHOUT THE YEAR?

RU2 >> WE LOVE THIRD THURSDAY.

RU2 IN A TYPICAL, QUOTE-UNQUOTE, RU2 IT'S A BIG STREET FESTIVAL.

RU2 A HALF MILE OF THE STREET SHUTS RU2 DOWN AND THERE'S PEDESTRIANS AND RU2 FOOD TRUCKS AND ENTERTAINERS.

RU2 THIS YEAR WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING RU2 SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON FRIDAY, RU2 SEPTEMBER 17th, SAVE THE DATE.

RU2 OVER AT THE COMMON.

RU2 WHICH IS ANOTHER GEM IN RU2 PITTSFIELD, THIS BEAUTIFUL PARK.

RU2 AND WE ARE DOING A BLOCK PARTY.

RU2 THE 10 BY 10 UP STREET PARKS RU2 FESTIVAL IS WITH JULIE BOYD, AT RU2 BARRINGTON CAME, I WANT TO DO A RU2 10 BY 10 E. EVERY 10 MINUTES A RU2 NEW PLAY BINS.

RU2 YOU'RE LAUGHING ONE MINUTE AND RU2 CRYING THE NEXT MINUTE AND YOU RU2 CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S FIVE RU2 OR SIX ACTORS DOING THIS WHOLE RU2 THING.

RU2 >> NOW, A VIBRANT CITY USUALRY RU2 HAS AN ACTIVE CULINARY SCENE AND RU2 IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS RU2 ABOUT THE CITY OF PITTSFIELD.

RU2 WHAT CAN FOODIES EXPECT TO FIND RU2 WHEN THEY VISIT?

RU2 >> EVERYTHING.

RU2 I 15, PITTSFIELD AGAIN IS JUST, RU2 IT BLOWS MY MIND.

RU2 ALL OF THE INTERNATIONAL RU2 CULINARY EXPERIENCES YOU CAN GET RU2 IN PITTSFIELD.

RU2 AND RIGHT HERE DOWNTOWN, THERE'S RU2 TAP AS, MEXICAN FOOD, ASIAN RU2 FUSION.

RU2 WE REALLY HAVE ANYTHING YOU RU2 WANT.

RU2 IT'S CRAZY TO SAY THAT IN SUCH A RU2 SMALL CITY BUT IT'S TRUE!

RU2 THE FOOD HERE, THE FOOD HERE RU2 BLOWS MY MIND.

RU2 >> THROUGH ART SCAPE THE CITY RU2 EMBRACES PUBLIC ART DISPLAY.

RU2 WHAT IS ARTSCAPE AND WHAT NEW RU2 PUBLIC ART PROJECTS ARE YOU RU2 UNVEILING THIS YEAR?

RU2 >> ARTSCAPE IS A GREAT RU2 ORGANIZATION AND IT'S A RU2 COMMITTEE THAT MEETS ONCE A RU2 MOMENT THE MISSION OF THE RU2 COMMITTEE IS TO BRING PUBLIC ART RU2 TO PITTSFIELD.

RU2 DOWNTOWN AND BEYOND.

RU2 AND ARTSCAPE HAS DONE SOME GREAT RU2 THINGS.

RU2 WE DID THE ELECTRICAL LOW BOXES RU2 GOT TRANSFORMED TO WORKS OF ART.

RU2 WE DID A CALL FOR ART.

RU2 THERE WAS A BEAUTIFUL MURAL ON RU2 TOP OF THE LANTERN BUILDING RU2 CALLED THE SUN WILL RISE.

RU2 AND IT'S GORGEOUS.

RU2 OVER THE NEXT SIX TO EIGHT RU2 MONTHS, THERE WILL BE MORE RU2 MURALS POPPING UP IN PITTSFIELD RU2 FOR SURE.

RU2 >> HOW IMPORTANT ARE THE ARTS RU2 AND THE CREATIVE ECONOMY FOR THE RU2 CITY?

RU2 >> IT IS THE CITY.

RU2 IT SPARKS THE ECONOMY TO THRIVE.

RU2 THE ARTS AND THE CREATIVE RU2 ECONOMY IS WHAT MAKES PITTSFIELD RU2 WHAT IT IS.

RU2 AND THEN IT'S THE RIPPLE EFFECT.

RU2 THEY GO OUT TO DINNER.

RU2 SOME STAY FOR THE WEEKEND.

RU2 THEY GO FOR COFFEE AT THE LOCAL RU2 COFFEE SHOP.

RU2 I WOULD SAY IT'S A KEY PART TO RU2 PITTSFIELD.

RU2 >> AND HOW IS PITTSFIELD RU2 LEVERAGING ARTS AND CULTURE TO RU2 CRATE A HEALTHIER, BETTER RU2 REPRESENTED AND MORE EQUITABLE RU2 CITY?

RU2 >> THE CREATIVE ECONOMY AND RU2 ARGUMENTS IN PITTSFIELD IS RU2 DIVERSE.

RU2 AND IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

RU2 AND WE STRIVE TO PAY ATTENTION RU2 TO THAT IN EVERYTHING THAT WE RU2 DO.

RU2 AND IT'S JUST AN AMAZING THING RU2 THAT PITTSFIELD HAS.

RU2 >> PITTSFIELD'S OFFICE RU2 OF CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IS THE RU2 OLDEST OF ITS KIND IN THE RU2 COUNTY.

RU2 TALK TO ME ABOUT THE HISTORY OF RU2 THIS OFFICE AND WHY IT'S RU2 IMPORTANT FOR A MUNICIPALITY TO RU2 HAVE A CULTURAL FACILITATOR ON RU2 STAFF.

RU2 >> IT IS UNUSUAL AROUND THE RU2 COUNTRY TO HAVE A MUNICIPAL RU2 OFFICE OF CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.

RU2 AND WE ARE VERY THANKFUL EVERY RU2 YEAR THAT THIS THE CITY RU2 COUNCILORS AND MAYOR STAY, YES, RU2 WE WANT THIS.

RU2 A CITY OF 44,000 IN WESTERN RU2 MASSACHUSETTS, WE HAVE IT AND RU2 WE'RE THANKFUL.

RU2 >>> IN 2004, ZEE JOHNSON RU2 CONVERTED THE FIRST FLOOR OF A RU2 DILAPIDATED FORMER DRUG HOUSE RU2 INTO A COMFORTABLE, SAFE PLACE RU2 FOR PEOPLE TO BROWSE THROUGH RU2 MORE THAN 500 BOOKS.

RU2 SINCE THEN, OLIVE TREE RU2 BOOKS-N-VOICES HAS BECOME A RU2 BELOVED COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE RU2 PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN RU2 NEIGHBORHOOD OF MASON SQUARE.

RU2 AND IS JUST ONE OF A HANDFUL OF RU2 BLACK-OWNED BOOKSTORES IN RU2 MASSACHUSETTS.

RU2 PRODUCER DAVE FRASER VISITED RU2 OLIVE TREE AND BRINGS US THE RU2 STORY.

RU2 >> I PROMISE TO WORK HARD AND DO RU2 WHAT'S RIGHT.

RU2 A BOOK CAN DO A NUMBER OF RU2 THINGS.

RU2 KIT PROVIDE COMFORT.

RU2 IT CAN PROVIDE GROWTH, RU2 CERTAINLY.

RU2 IT CAN CHANGE ATTITUDES.

RU2 IT CAN CREATE SELF AWARENESS.

RU2 IT CAN ALLOW YOU TO EXCHANGE RU2 IDEAS.

RU2 IT'S A CHANCE TO REALLY HAVE RU2 SOME INTROSPECTIVENESS, TOO.

RU2 REALLY THINK ABOUT WHO YOU ARE RU2 AS A PERSON AND WHAT IT IS THAT RU2 YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR OWN RU2 LIFE.

RU2 THIS WAS AN ABANDONED BUILDING.

RU2 I'M NOT ASHAMED TO SAY THAT IT RU2 WAS, YOU KNOW, A BUILDING OF RU2 LESS DESIRABLES.

RU2 IT WAS A FORMER CRACK HOUSE.

RU2 I REMEMBER DISTINCTIVELY ONE RU2 NEIGHBOR WATCHING ME AND SAID TO RU2 ME, ARE YOU GOING TO, YOU KNOW, RU2 BUY THAT PLACE?

RU2 ARE YOU GOING TO RENT THAT RU2 PLACE?

RU2 I'VE SEEN YOU OVER HERE A COUPLE RU2 OF TIMES.

RU2 AND I TURNED TO HER AND AND RU2 SAID, YEAH, YOU KNOW, I'M RU2 THINKING ABOUT IT.

RU2 AND SHE SAID, "PRAISE GOD!"

RU2 WE WANTED THE SORE SPOT TO BE RU2 OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

RU2 IT'S REALLY JUST A BOOKSTORE.

RU2 IT'S A COMMUNITY.

RU2 AND IT'S A FAMILY.

RU2 AND I THINK THAT'S WHY I TEND TO RU2 WANT TO HANG OUT HERE BECAUSE IT RU2 IS LIKE A FAMILY.

RU2 >> USUALLY WHEN YOU WALK INTO A RU2 BOOKSTORE, THERE'S ALWAYS LIKE RU2 THE SECTION OF BLACK BOOKS AND RU2 BLACK AUTHORS BUT HERE'S IT'S RU2 THE WHOLE STORE.

RU2 THE JOY ON THE WALLS, THE COLOR, RU2 IT'S, IT FEELS LIKE HOME AND NOT RU2 JUST SOMEWHERE WHERE YOU BUY A RU2 BOOK BUT YOU ALSO HEAR A STORY.

RU2 >> BECAUSE I HAVEN'T DONE RU2 EVERYTHING IN LIFE.

RU2 ONE OF THE THINGS THAT INSPIRES RU2 ME TO WANT TO READ AND WANT TO RU2 KNOW BECAUSE WHEN I COME IN HERE RU2 I LOOK AROUND AND I SEE SO MANY RU2 PEOPLE LOOK LIKE ME.

RU2 I BROUGHT MY DAUGHTER HERE WHEN RU2 SHE WAS YOUNG.

RU2 SO FOR THEM, KIDS SEEING PEOPLE RU2 WHO LOOK LIKE THEM, IT CAN BE RU2 INSPIRING.

RU2 >> I'M A WOMAN WHO HAS HURT, AS RU2 I HAVE LOVED.

RU2 >> I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN RU2 RICHED MONDAY, VIRGINIA.

RU2 SO I WAS ABLE TO READ BOOKS RU2 ABOUT AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND SET RU2 REMARKS BECAUSE THAT WAS MY RU2 ENVIRONMENT AND WORLD.

RU2 SO WHEN I LOOKED AT MAE RU2 JEMMERSON, WHEN I LOOK AT DEBBIE RU2 THOMAS THE DATER, WHEN I LOOKED RU2 AT A NUMBER OF THE HEROES, AND RU2 ET CETERA, I COULD ENVISION RU2 MYSELF.

RU2 OH, I COULD BE!

RU2 BECAUSE I HAD A FRAMEWORK.

RU2 IT WASN'T JUST MY IMAGINATION.

RU2 I WOULD CONCRETE EVIDENCE THAT RU2 THESE PEOPLE EXIST.

RU2 >> NO JUSTICE.

RU2 >> NO PEACE!

RU2 >> IT WOKE A LOT OF FOLKS UP IN RU2 TERMS OF, LET ME REALLY RU2 UNDERSTAND OTHER PEOPLE OTHER RU2 THAN MYSELF.

RU2 AND THEN LET ME UNDERSTAND IF RU2 I'M PART OF THIS PROBLEM OR IF RU2 I'M GOING TO BE PART OF THE RU2 SOLUTION.

RU2 >> GIVE AN ELBOW.

RU2 >> SO THAT TRIGGERED A LOT OF RU2 PEOPLE TO COME INTO THE STORE RU2 AND TO REALLY HAVE GOOD RU2 CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT SHOULD RU2 BE NEXT STEPS.

RU2 EVEN THOUGH MASON SQUARE CAN BE RU2 PORTRAYED OR VIEWED AS LESS THAN RU2 DESIRABLE, I WANTED TO BE ABLE RU2 TO SAY, NO, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

RU2 WE CAN BUILD AS A COMMUNITY.

RU2 WE CAN TURN A SORE SPOT INTO RU2 SOMETHING THAT IS LIKE A ROSE.

RU2 I WANTED TO BE IN A PLACE THAT RU2 PEOPLE COULD CONSIDER IT THEIR RU2 OWN.

RU2 >>> AFTER THE HATFIELD RU2 HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECOGNIZED RU2 THAT THEY ONLY HAD A HANDFUL OF RU2 RECORDS DURING THE 1918-1919 RU2 SPANISH FLU PANDEMIC, THEY RU2 DECIDED TO LAUNCH A WEBSITE TO RU2 COLLECT STORIES AND ARTIFACTS RU2 FROM RESIDENTS LIVING IN RU2 HATFIELD DURING THE COVID-19 RU2 PANDEMIC I SPOKE WITH MEGUEY RU2 BAKER, THE COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT RU2 FOR THE HATFIELD HISTORICAL RU2 MUSEUM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS RU2 COLLECTION AND TO ALSO HEAR HOW RU2 A GROUP OF ELEMENTARY STUDENTS RU2 CONTRIBUTED THEIR STORIES AS RU2 WELL.

RU2 >> WHEN EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN IN RU2 MARCH OF 2020, WE HAD TO STAY RU2 HOME.

RU2 AND SO IT WAS THROUGH BITS OF RU2 EMAIL AND TEXTING AND SO ON BUT RU2 REALLY CATHY'S INITIATIVE AS THE RU2 CURATOR OF THE MUSEUM TO REALIZE RU2 THAT WE WERE LIVING IN HISTORIC RU2 TIMES AND TO PUT UP THIS WEBSITE RU2 TO COLLECT THE STORIES OF HOW RU2 PEOPLE IN AND AROUND HATFIELD RU2 ARE DEALING WITH IT.

RU2 SO THERE'S THINGS UP THERE THAT RU2 ARE ARTWORK THAT PEOPLE DID.

RU2 OR HAIKU PEOPLE HAVE WRITTEN OR RU2 REFLECTIONS FROM VARIOUS PEOPLE RU2 LIVING IN HATFIELD ABOUT HOW RU2 THEY ARE GETTING THROUGH.

RU2 >> WHAT AREA THAT HAS BEEN RU2 GREATLY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC RU2 HAS BEEN EDUCATION.

RU2 AND A GROUP OF 36 STUDENTS FROM RU2 THE HATFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RU2 PARTICIPATED IN A YEAR-LONG RU2 PROJECT TITLED "MY HISTORY," RU2 THAT ADDED THEIR EXPERIENCE TO RU2 THIS COVID-19 PROJECT.

RU2 HOW DID THIS PROJECT COME ABOUT?

RU2 >> THIS STARTED WITH CATHY RU2 TALKING TO THE TEACHERS AT THE RU2 ELEMENT TERRY SCHOOL, WHICH IS RU2 CONVENIENTLY PRETTY MUCH ACROSS RU2 THE BIG LAWN FROM THE MUSEUM.

RU2 AND SO CATHY TALKED TO TWO OF RU2 THE TEACHERS THERE, JENNY AND RU2 MEGAN, WHO WERE SIXTH GREAT RU2 TEACHERS, WHO BE REALLY RU2 FORTHRIGHT.

RU2 THIS IS AMAZING TIMES.

RU2 THIS IS HISTORY PROJECT THAT RU2 THEY DO IN SIXTH GRADE.

RU2 USUALLY IT INVOLVES INTERVIEWING RU2 SOMEONE ABOUT THEIR CHILDHOOD OR RU2 RESEARCHING A TIME IN HISTORY RU2 THAT THE STUDENT IS INTERESTED RU2 IN.

RU2 BUT THE TEACHERS AND CATHY RU2 ACKNOWLEDGED THAT RIGHT NOW IS A RU2 TIME OF HISTORY AND IT'S REALLY RU2 IMPORTANT.

RU2 AND THAT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE RU2 A BUNCH OF SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS RU2 COLLECT THE IMAGES AND DATA AND RU2 STORIES OF THEIR VOICES AND RU2 THEIR EXPERIENCE IS JUST RU2 AMAZING.

RU2 >> WHAT WERE THE STUDENTS' RU2 REACTION WHEN IS APPROACHED WITH RU2 THIS PROJECT?

RU2 WERE THEY ABLE TO REALLY FULLY RU2 GRASP THIS HISTORICAL MOMENT AND RU2 REFLECT ON THIS MOMENT THAT THEY RU2 ARE LIVING IN?

RU2 >> THEY REALLY WERE AWARE OF IT.

RU2 AND I THINK THAT PART OF THAT RU2 SPEAKS TO THE TEACHERS BUT IT RU2 ALSO VERY STRONGLY SPEAKS TO THE RU2 STUDENTS' ABILITY TO STEP UP AND RU2 RECOGNIZE LIKE, OH, THIS IS BIG.

RU2 BECAUSE THE SORT OF BREADTH OF RU2 THE PROJECTS, RANGING FROM HOW RU2 DO I PUT MORE KINDNESS IN THE RU2 WORLD WHEN I AM UNABLE TO BE RU2 AROUND EVERYONE?

RU2 HOW DO I DOCUMENT WHAT MY FAMILY RU2 IS GOING THROUGH?

RU2 THERE WERE STUDENTS WHO WERE RU2 REALLY, REALLY AWARE OF RU2 POLITICAL MOVEMENTS GOING ON RU2 THROUGH 2020 AND THROUGH 2021.

RU2 LOOKING AT THE WIDER WORLD.

RU2 AND REALIZING THAT THIS IS A RU2 GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

RU2 AND REALLY CONNECTING THEIR OWN RU2 EXPERIENCE IN HATFIELD TO THE RU2 STATE AND THE COUNTRY AND THE RU2 WORLD.

RU2 >> YOU WERE JUST TOUCHING ON THE RU2 BREADTH OF THE WORK OF THESE RU2 STUDENTS AND THE RANGE, SOME ARE RU2 DIGITAL IMAGES, VIDEOS, POSTERS, RU2 THE ACTS OF KINDNESS.

RU2 WHICH SUBMISSION HAS REALLY RU2 STOOD OUT TO YOU THE MOST?

RU2 >> GOODNESS.

RU2 THAT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE SAYING, RU2 CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE KID.

RU2 [LAUGHTER] RU2 BUT OVER AND OVER, TWO THEMES RU2 THAT REALLY TOUCHED ME WERE THE RU2 THEME OF KINDNESS AND CARE, AND RU2 THE SENSE THAT THEY HAD THAT RU2 THEY WERE PART OF SOMETHING THAT RU2 THEY HAD A DESIRE FOR THIS TO RU2 SEND A MESSAGE FORWARD.

RU2 THE AWARENESS THAT THESE SIXTH RU2 GRADE STUDENTS HAD OF HOW MIGHT RU2 THIS HELP SOMEONE 100 YEARS FROM RU2 NOW, AND THEY WANT PEOPLE TO RU2 KNOW HOW HARD THIS WAS FOR THEM.

RU2 LIKE THE HONESTY IN THAT AND RU2 THAT REALLY COMES THROUGH IN RU2 THEIR WORK.

RU2 THOSE TWO THINGS THAT THEY'RE RU2 CONCERNED AND THEY WANT PEOPLE RU2 TO BE SAFE BECAUSE THIS WAS RU2 HARD.

RU2 >> ONE OF THE PHOTOS THAT REALLY RU2 STUCK OUT TO ME WHEN I WAS RU2 LOOKING AT THE WEBSITE WAS THE RU2 SIGN OF THE SMITH ACADEMY WITH RU2 THE RETURN TO SCHOOL DATE TIN RU2 WITH USUALLY PUSHED BACK.

RU2 WE HAD SO MUCH HOPE SCHOOL WOULD RU2 BE BACK IN SESSION.

RU2 WHICH PHOTO DO YOU THINK WILL BE RU2 ICONIC YEARS FROM NOW THAT RU2 REALLY ENCAPSULATES THE MOMENT RU2 WE ARE LIVING THROUGH?

RU2 >> WOW, THAT'S A REALLY GREAT RU2 QUESTION.

RU2 THE IMAGE OF A MASKED FACE AND RU2 THE LITTLE SIGNS WE SEE RU2 EVERYWHERE THAT SAYS, SIX FEET RU2 DISTANCE, KEEP SIX FEET RU2 DISTANCE, AND THE PHRASE "SOCIAL RU2 DISTANCING" IS SO -- OWE POTENT RU2 AND I DEFINITELY THINK THAT WILL RU2 BE HISTORICALLY RELEVANT.

RU2 PICTURE OF A ZOOM SCREEN IS RU2 GOING TO BE REALLY RELEVANT.

RU2 BUT I THINK IN TERMS OF LIKE AN RU2 IMAGE THAT CONVEYS THE EMOTIONAL RU2 IMPACT FOR ME IS SPACES OF RU2 EMPTINESS WHERE THERE'S NOBODY RU2 PLAYING ON THE PLAYGROUND.

RU2 ANY OF THE IMAGES THAT CONVEY RU2 THAT LONG GO FOR RECOGNITION AND RU2 RECOGNIZING THE LOGS OF IT.

RU2 >> I DIDN'T SAY IT SO IMPORTANT RU2 TO DOCUMENT -- I DIDN'T SAY IT RU2 SO IMPORTANT TO DOCUMENT THE RU2 PAST AND ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE AS RU2 WELL?

RU2 >> IT MATTERS BECAUSE -- WE ONLY RU2 SEE A KEY HOLE INTO HISTORY.

RU2 IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO ENCAPSULATE RU2 EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED.

RU2 EVEN WITH EVERYTHING WITH A WELL RU2 DOCUMENTED PUBLIC EVENT.

RU2 IN WAYS THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS RU2 BEEN AN EXTREMELY DOCUMENTED RU2 PUBLIC EVENT.

RU2 BUT THE PRIVATE LIVED EXPERIENCE RU2 IS SO -- PUTS A WHOLE ANOTHER RU2 NUANCE IT IN.

RU2 SO MUCH MORE INFORMATIVE IN A RU2 WAY OF WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR RU2 THESE PEOPLE TO LIVE THROUGH RU2 THIS TIME?

RU2 AND ESPECIALLY IN CONTEXT WITH RU2 WHAT YOU SAID AT THE BEGINNING RU2 OF RECOGNIZING THE ABSENCE OF RU2 THOSE PIECES IN THE 1918-1919 RU2 PANDEMIC, THE CHANCE NOW TO RU2 CAPTURE THOSE AND KEEP THEM SO RU2 THAT WE WOULD HAVE THOSE RECORDS RU2 GOING FORWARD, EVERY MUSEUM RU2 AROUND WAS AWARE OF THAT.

RU2 >> DO YOU GET THE SENSE THAT THE RU2 STUDENTS ARE PROUD OF THIS WORK RU2 THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING?

RU2 >> I DO, YEAH.

RU2 I DO.

RU2 THIS PROJECT GAVE THEM A WAY TO RU2 PROCESS WHAT THEY WERE GOING RU2 THROUGH WHILE THEY WERE GOING RU2 THROUGH IT.

RU2 THAT THEY HAD A FRAMEWORK, LIKE, RU2 OH, THIS IS A THING THAT'S RU2 HAPPENING.

RU2 I HAVE A SCHOOL ASSIGNMENT THAT RU2 ADDRESSES THIS.

RU2 SO I FEEL LIKE THESE SPECIFIC RU2 CHILDREN WILL HAVE, I HOPE, WILL RU2 HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE EASE RU2 COMING OUT THE OTHER SIDE AND A RU2 LITTLE MORE RESILIENCE BECAUSE RU2 THEY WILL ALREADY HAVE DONE A RU2 LITTLE BIT OF PROCESSING OF, RU2 THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED, THIS IS RU2 WHAT MY TOWN WENT THROUGH, THIS RU2 IS WHAT I WENT THROUGH, THIS IS RU2 HOW I DOCUMENTED IT.

RU2 AND TO ME ONE OF THE MOST RU2 TELLING PIECES OF THAT IS WHERE RU2 A CHILD WROTE, I MADE NINE RU2 PIECES FOR THIS BUT I KEPT FIVE.

RU2 BECAUSE IT MATTERS TO THEM THAT RU2 THEY KEEP IT FOR THEIR OWN RU2 HISTORY AS WELL.

RU2 >>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING RU2 POINT" FOR AUGUST 20th, 2021.

RU2 REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND RU2 THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW RU2 TONIGHT, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE RU2 FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, RU2 AND MORE ONLINE ANY TIME AT RU2 NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

RU2 AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US RU2 AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 RU2 RIGHT HERE ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC RU2 MEDIA FOR MORE STORIES OF THE RU2 CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND RU2 COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN RU2 NEW ENGLAND.

RU2 I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

RU2 THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A RU2 GREAT EVENING.

RU2 >> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING RU2 POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR RU2 CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

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