>> Ted: ENCOURAGING NEWS REGARDING SICKLE CELL DISEASE.

>>> THE IMPACT THAT BLACK AND HISPANIC ARIZONANS WILL GET VACCINATED FOR COVID.

>> VALVALLEY OF THE SUN WHERE ARIZONA STANDS ON HOUSING AND PARTICULAR.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE ARE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> Ted: WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LATE THIS AFTERNOON OFFICIALLY APPROVED AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY INTO PRESIDENT BIDEN.

THIS DESPITE NO EVIDENCE AS YET THAT BIDEN ACTED CORRUPTLY OR ACCEPTED BRIBES IN HIS CURRENT ROLE OR VICE PRESIDENT.

EVERY REPUBLICAN VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS THAT CENTERS AROUND THE BUSINESS DEALINGS OF BIDEN'S FAMILY MEMBERS.

THE PRESIDENT HAS CALLED THE EFFORT A, QUOTE, BASELESS POLITICAL STUNT.

>>> THE SUPREME COURT AGREED TO HEAR A CASE WITH THE ABORTION PILL, MIFEPRISTONE.

THEY WILL REVIEW THIS THAT PUTS SIGNIFICANT RESTRICTIONS ON THE DRUG USED IN HALF OF PREPARINGS PREGNANCIES IN THE U.S.

THIS IS THE FIRST SINCE THEY OVERTURNED THIS MORE THAN A YEAR AGO.

YEAR AGO.

IT CALLS IN THE JUDGMENT TO APPROVE ANY MEDICATION FOR USE AND A DECISION WOULD NOT COME DOWN UNTIL NEXT JUNE.

THAT WILL BE IN THE HEART OF THE POLITICAL PRIMARY SEASON ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>>> THE HIGH COURT TODAY AGREED TO HEAR A CASE INVOLVING A DEFENDED ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE U.S. CAPITOL.

THEY WILL DECIDE IF THE DEFENDANT CAN BE CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTING AN OFFICIAL PROCEEDING.

A FEDERAL APPEAL'S COURT RULED HE CAN BE CHARGED AND ONLY AFTER THIS APPLIED TO ACTION INVOLVING A QUOTE, DOCUMENT, RECORD OR OTHER OBJECT.

IT COULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS TO OTHER DEFENDANTS CHARGED WITH THE JANUARY 6th CRIMES INCLUDING DONALD TRUMP.

>>> THREE KARI LAKE ELECTION ATTORNEYS ARE FACING DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS WHICH REGULATES ATTORNEYS IN THE STATE.

MANY FOUND THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE THAT THE ATTORNEY SHOULD FACE DISCIPLINE TO CHALLENGE LAST YEAR'S GOVERNOR'S RACE AND THIS WAS BY THE STATE BAR AND THE SAME THREE ATTORNEYS REPRESENTATIVING LAKE HAVE BEEN SANCTIONED BY JUDGES FOR FALSE CLAIMS MADE ABOUT LAST YEAR'S ELECTION COUNT.

>>> ECONOMIC NOTE, THE FED TODAY AGAIN LEFT INTEREST RATES ON CHANGED.

UNCHANGED.

>> THEY WILL MAINTAIN THE 5.25 AND .5.50%.

>> Ted: IT'S THE THIRD STRAIGHT TIME AND RATES ARE AT A 22-YEAR HIGH AND THIS WAS THE FINAL POLICY DECISION OF THE YEAR THAT OFFICIALS PROJECTED THEY WILL CUT INTEREST RATES NEXT YEAR AND THAT INFLATION WILL REACH THE ULTIMATE 2% GOAL IN 2026.

>>> GAZERS RERESEARCH THAT A METEOR SHOWER IS SET IN THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

THE ANNUAL SHOW IS ESPECIALLY ACTIVE THIS YEAR DUE TO LACK OF MOONLIGHT.

EXPERTS SAY THAT IF YOU GET FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM CITY LIVES AND THERE ARE NO CLOUDS, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SEE UP TO 100 FLASHES OF CELESTIAL LIGHTS AN HOUR.

>>> LAST WEEK, THE F.D.A.

ANNOUNCED THE FIRST CRISPER GENE THERAPY TO TREAT PATIENTED WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE IN THE SICKLE CELL DISORDERS.

JOINING US NOW IS BEN HURBUT AND I CALL THIS GENE THERAPY AND THERE'S A GENE THERAPY AND A CRISPER AND THERE ARE TWO AVENUES ATTACKING SICKLE CELL DISEASE.

TALK TO US ABOUT THIS.

>> SO WHAT'S INTERESTING AND EXCITING ABOUT THESE THERAPIES, FIRST OF ALL, THEY'RE THE FIRST THERAPIES THAT MOSTLY ALLEVIATE OR COMPLETELY ELIMINATE THE SYMPTOMS OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE WHICH CAN BE HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE PAIN, SYSTEMIC DAMAGE TO THE BODY AND SO FORTH.

ONE IS BASED ON A NEW TECHNOLOGY, A TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS DEVELOPED ONLY A DECADE AGO CALLED CRISPER CASS9 AND IT'S THE FIRST THERAPY APPROVED USING THIS TECHNOLOGY.

THAT'S A LIGHTNING FAST PROCESS FROM DISCOVERY TO DEVELOPMENT OF A THERAPY AND APPROVAL.

>> Ted: GIVE US A LAYMAN'S VIEW HERE OF WHAT CRISPER IS AND WHAT HOW THE PROCESS WORKS.

>> WHAT CRISPER IS A TOOL, A HACK OF A BACTERIAL IMMUNE SYSTEM THAT USES A VERY TARGETED GUIDE THAT CAN TAKE YOU TO A VERY SPECIFIC SPOT THAT YOU CHOOSE ACCORDING TO A D.N.A.

SEQUENCE.

AND THEN IT ATTACHES A PROTEIN AND MAKES A CUT AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU CAN MAKE VERY PRECISE MODIFICATIONS TO ANY D.N.A.

AND ESSENTIALLY ANY ORGANISM.

>> Ted: INCLUDING D.N.A.

ASSOCIATED WITH THE SICKLE CELL DISEASE.

>> THEY ESSENTIALLY REMOVE THE BLOOD-FORMING STEM CELLS FROM THE PATIENT AND GENETICALLY MODIFY THEM WITH THIS CRISPER THERAPY BY DESTROYING THE GENE THAT SUPPRESSES FETAL HEMOGLOBIN AND SHUT OFF AFTERWARDS.

BY TURNING IT BACK ON, NORMAL, HEALTHY BLOOD IS PRODUCED AND THE SYMPTOMS OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE ESSENTIALLY GOES AWAY.

>> Ted: ALSO SOUNDS LIKE IT MIGHT WORK WITH OTHER DISEASES AND DISORDERS?

>> YES.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF PROMISE WITH CRISPER-BASED THERAPIES.

IN A SENSE, ANY GENETIC DISEASE AND PRINCIPLE WHERE THE MODIFICATION, THE CRISPER TOOL CAN MAKE A MODIFICATION THAT CAN AFFECT THAT DISEASE IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO -- PEOPLE HESITATE TO USE THE WORD "CURE," BUT THAT'S WHAT IT'S AIMING AT.

>> Ted: IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S PRETTY CLOSE.

I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE IFFY STUFF WITH GENE EDITING.

BUT THE GENE THERAPY, THE OTHER MODEL IS NOT AS REVOLUTIONARY, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S WORKING, HUH?

>> IT'S REVOLUTIONARY IN THE SENSE IT HAS EXTRAORDINARY CURATIVE EFFECTS ON PEOPLE WITH THE DISEASE, BUT IT USES A DIFFERENT TECHNIQUE AND NOT THIS NEW CRISPER TECHNIQUE.

THERE IT'S A VIRAL GENE THERAPY THAT ESSENTIALLY INSERTS A FUNCTIONING ADULT HEMOGLOBIN GENE INTO THE GENO AND PRODUCES NON-SICKLING BLOOD CELLS.

>> Ted: ONE USES CRISPER TO EDIT AND MAKES THE DIFFERENCE AND THIS ONE GETS SOMETHING IN THE GENE SEQUENCE.

>> THE CRISPER ONE SNIPS OUT A SECTION THAT INSERTS A GENE.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT SICKLE CELL DISEASE, AN INHERITED BLOOD DISORDER, AS YOU MENTIONED.

MY ENTIRE LIFE, I'VE HEARD ABOUT SICKLE CELL ANEMIA AND SICKLE CELL DISEASE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A DIFFICULT DISEASE TO TREAT.

>> IT'S DIFFICULT TO TREAT AND LIVE WITH.

ESSENTIALLY, THIS IS A MUTATION IN THE HEMOGLOBIN GENE AND CAUSES THEM TO CLUMP TOGETHER AND THE RESULT IS THE RED BLOOD CELLS -- NORMAL ONES ARE A ROUND DISC AND IT CAUSES THEM TO TURN INTO HALF-MOON SHAPES, INTO SICKLE.

IT CLOGS UP OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM WITH SEVERE EPISODES OF PAIN.

>> Ted: BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTS HAVE BEEN USED AND THOSE ARE RISKY?

>> YES.

AND BOTH OF THESE THERAPIES INVOLVE A SIMILAR PROCESS IN THE SENSE THAT YOU HAVE TO ESSENTIALLY DESTROY THE PATIENT'S BLOOD SYSTEM AND REPLACE IT.

BUT WITH THE BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT, YOU'RE REPLAYING THIS WITH A DONOR THAT IS HOPEFULLY MATCHED AND NOT ALWAYS EASY TO FIND A MATCH.

IT'S QUITE HARD TO FIND A MATCH.

WITH THIS, YOU'RE REPLACING THE BLOOD SYSTEM WITH THEIR OWN AND JUST MODIFIED.

>> Ted: LET'S GET BACK TO CRISPER AND I REMEMBER THE TWO LITTLE GIRLS FIVE SOME ODD YEARS AGO AND THEY WERE KIND OF CREATED, WEREN'T THEY?

>> SO THESE GIRLS WERE GENETICALLY EDITED AS EMBRYOS AND CRISPER, LIKE I SAID, IS A POWERFUL TOOL APPLIED IN DIFFERENT CONTEXTS FOR ALL SORTS OF PURPOSES.

IT'S A VERSATILE TOOL AND CAN BE APPLIED TO HUMAN GAMEETSO EMBRYOS.

ISH MAKING A MODIFICATION YOU'RE MAKING A MODIFICATION TO THE BLOOD SYSTEM AND EVERY CELL IN THE RESULTING PERSON'S BODY WILL BE GENETICALLY MODIFIED, AND THAT MEANS THAT WILL BE PASSED ONTO THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN AND SO FORTH.

>> Ted: WOW!

>> IN PRINCIPLE, YOU CAN APPLY IT FOR ADDRESSING GENES AND ANY OF THE ENORMOUS RANGE OF OTHER THINGS, AS WELL.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS, PEOPLE LIKE YOU, ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THAT?

>> YES, YES, VERY CONCERNED.

IT'S A HAMMER WITH MANY POTENTIAL NAILS, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

>> Ted: ARE REGULATIONS IN PLACE NOW OR REGULATIONS BEING DISCUSSED?

IT'S ONE OF THESE THINGS WHERE WE'LL DEAL WITH IT WHEN WE GET TO IT?

>> IN A SENSE, THIS IS THE PROBLEM.

WE'VE SEEN THIS COMING FOR 50 YEARS AND DIDN'T DEAL WITH IT.

ERLY OR ATOR SOME COUNTRIES DID AND SOME DIDN'T.

OURS DEALT WITH IT RECENTLY AND NOT THOROUGHLY.

SO WHAT WE'RE CONFRONTED WITH NOW ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT, WITH THIS POWERFUL TOOL, WHAT ARE THE APPROPRIATE APPLICATIONS?

IN SICKLE CELL DISEASE IN A PATIENT SUFFERING FROM THIS, THAT SEEMS STRAIGHTFORWARD.

BUT THINK ABOUT THIS, THERE'S ENORMOUS RANGE OF OTHER HUMAN DIFFERENCES THAT YOU CAN CHARACTERIZE AS DISEASE OR YOU COULD JUST CHARACTERIZE AS UNDESIRABLE AND MAKE THOSE BECOME TARGETS OF MODIFICATION.

AND WHEN YOU GET INTO REPRODUCTION, IT'S IN A SENSE, YOU'RE MUCH MORE IN THE DOMAIN OF ACTING ON THE DESIRES, CUSTOMIZING PEOPLE AS OPPOSED TO -- YOU WOULD NOT ENTER INTO A THERAPY LIKE THIS LIGHTLY.

IT'S A HORRIBLE PROCESS TO GO THROUGH THE CHEMOTHERAPY TO ELIMINATE YOUR BLOOD SYSTEM TO RECEIVE THIS TREATMENT.

THERE ARE OTHER WAYS OF APPLYING THIS TECHNOLOGY THAT MAYBE ARE LESS DEMANDING AND WOULD HAVE PROFOUND EFFECTS ON RESULTING PERSON AND ARGUABLY ON THE SPECIES OR ON THE COMMUNITY OF WHICH THAT PERSON IS A MEMBER.

>> Ted: BRAVE NEW WORLD.

ASU SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES IS HERE AND IT ARRIVED.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: UP NETWORK ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WHY COVID INTEREST HAS DECLINED IN HISPANIC ARENA.

>> WE'LL SEE HOW THIS LEAD TO EXUBERANT ART AND DRAMATIC SECULAR ART AND HOW THEY AMPED UP THE EXCITEMENT.

AND FINALLY, WE'LL SEE HOW THE ERA OF DIVINE RIGHT KINGS TOOK THE CONTROLLED EQUITIES EXUBERANCE OF BAROKE.

THAT'S TONIGHT ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> ALICE, THEY AWAIT.

>> DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE.

WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE IT'S LIKE?

♪♪ >> WHERE ARE WE ME DODSON?

>> THIS ISN'T QUITE WHAT I HAD IN MIND.

>> FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:00.

>> Ted: NEW RESEARCH SHOWS BLACK AND HISPANIC PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LESS LIKELY TO BE VACCINATED FOR COVID.

WE HAVE DR. SAIRAM PARTHA-SARATHY.

HE'S BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA AND DOCTOR, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THIS IS VERY INTERESTING.

WHAT'S GOING ON.

BLACK AND HISPANIC RESIDENTS FROM THE START OF COVID OR HAS IT TRENDED UP?

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

>> THE GOOD NEWS THAT THE TRENDS ARE UP WITH REGARDS TO ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES.

BUT IT IS TRUE THAT THE PEOPLE OF COLOR NAMELY BLACKS, HISPANICS, AS WELL AS NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE BORNE A DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN OFF OF THE DISEASE AND DISPROPORTIONATELY OUT OF PROPORTION TO THE REPRESENTATION AND THE POPULATION ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITALS AND ALSO HAVE DIED FROM THE VACCINE.

SO THERE'S BEEN SOME HISTORICAL TRUST OR MISTRUST ISSUES BASED ON PRIOR HISTORY THAT HAS LEAD THEM TO BE HESITANT.

HOWEVER, OVER THE COURSE OF TIME, THERE HAS BEEN AN IMPROVEMENT IN ADOPTION AND WILLINGNESS TO GET THE VACCINE, BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENCES ACROSS THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT WHY THIS EXISTED IN THE FIRST PLACE AND HOW IT HAS IMPROVED AND WHY IT HAS IMPROVED.

>> YOU KNOW, INITIALLY, THERE WAS A GREATER AMOUNT OF HESITANCY IN PEOPLE OF COLOR FOR THE REASONS I MENTIONED.

AND THAT'S WHY WE KIND OF COME IN.

SO THERE'S AN INITIATIVE, WHICH IS ACROSS THE STATE AND AN ALLIANCE AGAINST COVID DISPARITIES OR SEAL FOR SHORT WHICH IS FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH.

THIS SPECIFICALLY MADE SURE THAT WE STARTED ADDRESSING SOME ISSUES SURROUNDING VACCINE HESITANCY BY CULTURALLY ADAPTING SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE A PERSONAL DECISION ABOUT, WHETHER THEY SHOULD TAKE THE VACCINE OR NOT AND WHETHER THAT'S THE RIGHT VACCINE OR THE RIGHT APPROACH FOR THEM.

AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GIVE TRUST WORTHY SCIENCE-BASED INFORMATION, REGARDING REGARDING MEDICINE AND HEALTH THROUGH TRUST-WORTHY SOURCES.

THAT IS GIVING ACCURATE INFORMATION IN THE ERA OF MISINFORMATION AND DIS-INFORMATION.

>> Ted: GIVE ME A TRUSTED SOURCE FOR CERTAIN COMMUNITIES AND WHY THAT SOURCE IS TRUSTED AND WHY MAYBE ANOTHER WOULDN'T BE.

>> IT'S DIFFERENT IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES AND EVEN AMONG THE HISPANICS AT LARGE, THERE ARE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITIES.

SO WE HAD TO BE CARE APPROXIMATELY HOW TO APPROACHFUL HOW TOAPPROACH IT.

THEY EARN THE TRUST OF THOSE COMMUNITIES AND HAVE BEEN IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM LONG-STANDING.

IT'S TRUST THEY HAVE DONE GOOD FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THE COMMUNITIES OBSERVED THAT AND WILLING TO TRUST THESE RELIABLE SERVICES RATHER THAN PLOPPING THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF A ONE AND A HALF YEARS AND SUDDENLY WE TRUST THEM.

AND THAT'S ONE.

TOO, THEYTHERE ARE SOURCES OF WORSHIP IN BARBERSHOPS AND THERE ARE MORE LIKELIHOOD OF MESSAGES SHARED AND FOR THERE TO BE AN UPTICK IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> Ted: THE J & J VACCINE HAD PROBLEMS EARLY ON WITH SIDE EFFECTED AND I WOULD THINK IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET OVER THAT HURDLE, DIDN'T IT?

>> WITH OBSERVED HOW THE NEWS CAME INTO BEING.

DURING AN IMPORTANT WORK OF COMMUNICATING TRUST WORTHY INFORMATION ON THE MANY YEARS AND YOU HAVE AN AUDIENCE THAT LISTENS TO YOU AND NOW THAT UPTICK IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES MAY NOT HAPPEN IN CERTAIN INSTANCES.

AND SO THE KEY IDEA HERE IS TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION TO THESE COMMUNITIES THROUGH SCIENCE-BASED INFORMATION.

>> Ted: I WOULD IMAGINE ANOTHER KEY WOULD BE TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT OR GET THAT TRUST BECAUSE IT AFFECTS OTHER VACCINATIONS, AS WELL.

>> SO IN THE SPECIFIC CASE OF THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE, PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, THEY HAD A LOOK UPTICK AND NOT AS WILLING TO GET THE VACCINE.

BUT THE MOMENT THE NEWS THAT THE VACCINE CAN CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING BLOODCLOTS CAME INTO AWARENESS, THE DISSEMINATION OF THE INFORMATION CAUSED A RAPID DECLINE TO GET THE VACCINE.

HOWEVER, PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO GET THE MRNA VACCINE.

WE IN THED THERE WAS A SIX-MONTH LAG BEFORE THE COMMUNITIES REACHED A NEW LINE OF WILLINGNESS.

IT CONTINUED TO DROP FOR FIVE TO SIX MONTHS AND THIS IS LIKE SAYING THERE'S A RECALL OF AN IMPORTANT PART OF A VEHICLE.

AND WE HAVE TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE.

JUST BEGIN PEOPLE ARE DRIVING THAT VEHICLE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR FIVE TO SIX MONTHS AFTER THE INFORMATION BECAME AVAILABLE.

I THINK ESPECIALLY IN THE SITUATION OF A PANDEMIC, WE NEED TO HAVE A RAPID, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION OF SCIENCE-BASED INFORMATION THAT THE PEOPLE CAN IMMEDIATELY LISTEN TO AND UPTAKE IT.

WE IN THED THERE WAS A EXHIBIT DECLINESIGNIFICANT DECLINE OF PEOPLE OF COLOR AND A FIGHT TO A SIX-MONTH PERIOD WHICH WE THOUGHT THE PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION, YOU'RE NOT GETTING TO THEM IN A TRUST-WORTHY MANNER AGAINST THE VACCINE.

SO IT'S UNCLEAR, BUT IT TALKS ABOUT OR TALKS TO WHY WE NEED A PRETTY ROBUST, STRONG INFORMATION SYSTEM, PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM IN THE STATE AND IN THE COUNTRY TO BE ABLE TO RECALLEDLY AND EFFECTIVELY GET THE MESSAGE OUT THERE AND INFLUENCES PEOPLE THIS DAY TO DAY INFORMATION.

>> Ted: DR. SAIRAM PARTHA-SARATHY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

♪♪ >> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, HOW DOMESTIC POLITICS IN ISRAEL IS AFFECTING THE WAR WITH HAMAS.

COMING UP AT 6:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> WHEN YOU WANT TO BE MORE CONNECTED, FRIEND US ON FACEBOOK, FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND WATCH US ONLINE.

>> Ted: THE VALLEY OF THE SUN UNITED WAYS RELEASED AN ANNUAL REPORT CARD SHOWING PROGRESS MADE TO IMPROVE HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE IN ARIZONA AND JOINING US NOW IS CARLA V ARC VARGUS JASON AND EMMA GARCIA.

CARLA, EMMA, GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH.

THE MIGHTY CHANGE INITIATIVE, WHAT IS THAT?

>> WELL, THE LAST TIME WE WERE TOGETHER, WE WERE LAUNCHING THE MIGHTY CHANGE INITIATIVE IN 2021 AND IT'S A FIVE-YEAR COMMUNITY CHANGE PLAN TO HELP MOVE THE NEEDLE ON ISSUES CONFRONTING OUR COMMUNITY.

AS YOU MENTIONED IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, HOMELESS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

>> Ted: AND FOCUSED ON INEQUITIES.

AND BRIDGING THE GAP AND CLOSES THE INEQUITIES.

>> WE HAVE THE SCORE CARD IN FOR 2023.

>> YES.

>> Ted: HOW DID WE DO?

>> THE SCORE CARD IS SHOWING PROGRESS IN SOME AREAS AND SPECIFICALLY IN HEALTH, WE SAW GREAT PROGRESS IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO HEALTH.

BUT KNOW THAT THAT MIGHT BE A TEMPORARY SITUATION AND THERE ARE SO MANY RELIEF EFFORTS THROUGH THE PANDEMIC WHERE PEOPLE WERE PROVIDED THAT ACCESS.

AND ALSO, IN THE AREA OF FOOD INSECURITY, WE DID SEE ALSO SOME PROGRESS THERE AND AGAIN, WE THINK THERE'S LIKELY BENEFITS THAT WERE ISSUED TO THE PANDEMIC THAT KIND OF SUSTAINED.

WE KNOW SOME OF THOSE ARE STARTING TO FADE AWAY AS A RESULT OF CHANGES THERE.

AND IS KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE, KNOW THERE'S BEEN SUCCESS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAINTAIN THAT.

IN THE AREA OF EDUCATION, WE KNOW READING LEVELS AT THIRD GRADE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED FOR THE MOST PART AND KNOW THERE'S POTENTIAL CHALLENGES THERE BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGES AROUND CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IN OUR AREA.

>> IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WE'VE SEEN GREAT PROGRESS IN PARTICULAR RELATING TO PEOPLE TO SECURE HIGHER EMPLOYMENT.

COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, THAT WAS A PLUS BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK TO BORK AND BACK TO WORK AND LOOKING BACK TO HIGHER-PAYING JOBS.

>> Ted: WORKER WAGES WERE RAISED, AS WELL.

>> EXACTLY.

>> Ted: YOU MENTIONED COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

DID THE GOAL POSTS MOVE AND HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE?

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND YOU'RE SETTING THE GOALS AND THE GOAL POSTS MOVE.

THE NUMBERS MOVE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND SO WE MOVED FORWARD ON THE BASELINES FROM THE PANDEMIC.

SO THE PROGRESS I WAS TALKING ABOUT ARE COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE'VE SEEN PROGRESS IN ALL OF THE AREAS.

THE AREAS WE HAVE NOT SEEN PROGRESS IS IN AN AREA OF HOUSING AND HOME WEATHER.

I'M SURE YOU CAN IMAGINE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN PHOENIX.

THAT'S AN AREA OF PARTICULAR CHALLENGE AND AN AREA WHERE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ATTENTION AND MOMENTUM AND INVESTMENTS FROM THE CITIES, FROM CORPORATIONS AND REALLY WANTING TO GET THE SHELTERS IN PLACE AND LOOKING AT GETTING PEOPLE HOUSED PERMANENTLY THROUGH SOLUTIONS THAT ARE NEEDED IN THE LONGER TERM.

>> Ted: THE OTHER AREA YOU SAW IMPROVEMENT IN, WHAT WAS DONE TO FACILITATE THAT IMPROVEMENT?

>> SO DEFINITELY THE BIGGER PICTURE, SYSTEMIC TYPE OF EFFORTS, RIGHT AND SPECIFIC TO HEALTH AND FOOD INSECURITY, WE SAW A LOT OF EFFECTIVE POLICYIES AROUND RENEWAL OF ACCESS, TO ACCESS, RIGHT, AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT HELPED ENSURE THAT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE BENEFITS.

AND SO, I THINK WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IS EFFECTIVE AND WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE DO TO CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT THE SERVICES ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE INFORMATION.

WE SAW A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO, YOU KNOW, ARE GRASS CHUTE'S BASED THAT ARE LEASE LIKELY TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND THEY KNOW THEY'RE ELIGIBLE AND KNOW HOW TO APPLY.

>> Ted: YOU HAVE ABOUT 30SENS 30 SECONDS HERE.

HOW BEST TO MAXIMIZE THIS?

>> TO GET THE WORD OUT FAR AND WIDE.

THERE ARE MANY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS DOING WORK IN THESE AREAS THAT IF THEY'RE NOT PARTNERING WITH UNITED WAY, WE WOULD LOVE TO SPREAD THIS FURTHER AND WIDER.

YOU CAN CONTACT US AND WE HAVE MANY WAYS TO VOLUNTEER AND GET CONNECTED THROUGH COALITIONS AND THROUGH TALE EVEN DIRECTLY BEING ACTUALLY BEING A MENTOR OR GET INTO A NEW JOB OR LEARN THOSE SKILLS.

>> Ted: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.