♪ ♪ >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING AN ARTIST WHO BLENDS INCLUDING AN ARTIST WHO BLENDS MUSIC AND PUPPET TRITO DELIGHT MUSIC AND PUPPET TRITO DELIGHT HIS AUDIENCES.

HIS AUDIENCES.

>> I'VE HEARD PARENTS SAY THAT >> I'VE HEARD PARENTS SAY THAT THEY LISTEN TO MY SONGS IN THE THEY LISTEN TO MY SONGS IN THE CAR EVEN WHEN THE KIDS AREN'T CAR EVEN WHEN THE KIDS AREN'T AROUND.

AROUND.

>> WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO A >> WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO A PROGRAM THAT OFFERS CULTURALLY PROGRAM THAT OFFERS CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TRAINING FOR RESPONSIVE TRAINING FOR RESPONDERS.

RESPONDERS.

>> LISTENING TO PEOPLE, HEARING >> LISTENING TO PEOPLE, HEARING THEIR STORY, EVEN WHEN THEY THEIR STORY, EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T BY THINGS, IT'S PART OF MY DON'T BY THINGS, IT'S PART OF MY JOB -- BUY THINGS, IT'S PART OF JOB -- BUY THINGS, IT'S PART OF MY JOB AND I THINK IF I WASN'T MY JOB AND I THINK IF I WASN'T HERE, I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD DO HERE, I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD DO IT.

IT.

>> THE FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY >> THE FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION GIVES A DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION GIVES A HELPING HAND TO LOCAL FOOD HELPING HAND TO LOCAL FOOD PRODUCERS.

PRODUCERS.

>> MONDAY WE MIGHT BE MAKING A >> MONDAY WE MIGHT BE MAKING A HOT FUDGE, TUESDAY, A PICKED HOT FUDGE, TUESDAY, A PICKED ONION PRODUCT.

ONION PRODUCT.

IT'S DIFFERENT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IT'S DIFFERENT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND >> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS EXPLORE THE CREATIVEE, MORE AS EXPLORE THE CREATIVEE, THAT MAKE -- CREATIVEE -- THAT MAKE -- CREATIVEE -- CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY, THAT MAKE US WESTERN COMMUNITY, THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

NEW ENGLAND.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVEE -- CREATIVITY, CREATIVEE -- CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY, AND CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY, AND COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

WE EXPLORE ALL THAT THE REGION WE EXPLORE ALL THAT THE REGION HAS TO OFFER AND TODAY WE'RE HAS TO OFFER AND TODAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM DOWNTOWN COMING TO YOU FROM DOWNTOWN NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS, NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS, RIGHT BEHIND THE ICONIC THORNES RIGHT BEHIND THE ICONIC THORNES MARKETPLACE.

MARKETPLACE.

NORTHAMPTON AND THE TOWNS ARE NORTHAMPTON AND THE TOWNS ARE AHAVEN -- A HAVEN FOR ALL KINDS AHAVEN -- A HAVEN FOR ALL KINDS OF CREATIVES AND ARTISTS, OF CREATIVES AND ARTISTS, INCLUDING THE ONE IN OUR NEXT INCLUDING THE ONE IN OUR NEXT STORY.

STORY.

WITH OVER A THOUSAND SONGS TO WITH OVER A THOUSAND SONGS TO HIS CREDIT, TOM KNIGHT HAS BEEN HIS CREDIT, TOM KNIGHT HAS BEEN PERFORMING HIS ORIGINAL PERFORMING HIS ORIGINAL INTERACTIVE MUSICAL PUPPET SHOWS INTERACTIVE MUSICAL PUPPET SHOWS SINCE 1988.

SINCE 1988.

HE HAS PERFORMED AT FESTIVALS, HE HAS PERFORMED AT FESTIVALS, MUSEUMS, AND LIBRARY LIBRARIES MUSEUMS, AND LIBRARY LIBRARIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER CAUGHT ONE PRODUCER DAVE FRASER CAUGHT ONE OF HIS SHOWS AND SHARES THIS OF HIS SHOWS AND SHARES THIS STORY.

STORY.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >> FOR A LOT OF FOLKS SINGERS >> FOR A LOT OF FOLKS SINGERS WITH GUITARS.

WITH GUITARS.

A LOT OF -- WHITE OLD GUYS WITH A LOT OF -- WHITE OLD GUYS WITH GUITARS GOING AROUND SINGING GUITARS GOING AROUND SINGING THEIR SONGS.

THEIR SONGS.

I THINK MY SONGS ARE GREAT.

I THINK MY SONGS ARE GREAT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE AREN'T AS MANY PEOPLE GOING AREN'T AS MANY PEOPLE GOING AROUND DOING MUSICAL PUPPET AROUND DOING MUSICAL PUPPET SHOWS FOR KIDS.

SHOWS FOR KIDS.

AND I THINK DOING MUSIC FOR KIDS AND I THINK DOING MUSIC FOR KIDS AND PUPPETS IS THE BEST USE OF AND PUPPETS IS THE BEST USE OF MY SKILLS IN THE WORLD.

MY SKILLS IN THE WORLD.

>> WITH THE CART LOAD OF BINS >> WITH THE CART LOAD OF BINS FILLED WITH INSTRUMENTS AND FILLED WITH INSTRUMENTS AND PROPS, TOM MAKES HIS WAY INTO PROPS, TOM MAKES HIS WAY INTO THE WEST SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC THE WEST SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY.

LIBRARY.

KNIGHT HAS BEEN ENTERTAINING KNIGHT HAS BEEN ENTERTAINING CHILDREN AND THEIR GROWN-UPS FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR GROWN-UPS FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.

MORE THAN 30 YEARS.

USING HANDMADE PUPPETS, CATCHY USING HANDMADE PUPPETS, CATCHY SONGS, AND LOTS OF YAWBDZ SONGS, AND LOTS OF YAWBDZ PARTICIPATING.

PARTICIPATING.

HIS UNIQUE BLEND OF MUSICIANSHIP HIS UNIQUE BLEND OF MUSICIANSHIP CELEBRATES READING, SCIENCE, THE CELEBRATES READING, SCIENCE, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND BRINGING PEOPLE ENVIRONMENT, AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

TOGETHER.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SOMEBODY SAID ABOUT ME WAS THAT SOMEBODY SAID ABOUT ME WAS THAT I WASN'T PREACHY, WHICH I REALLY I WASN'T PREACHY, WHICH I REALLY LIKE.

LIKE.

AND THE MESSAGES I LIKE TO SAY AND THE MESSAGES I LIKE TO SAY ARE KIND OF EMBEDDED IN STORIES.

ARE KIND OF EMBEDDED IN STORIES.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TALK SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TALK ABOUT, FOR INSTANCE, IS ABOUT, FOR INSTANCE, IS RECYCLING.

RECYCLING.

AND SO THERE'S LIKE A LITTLE BIT AND SO THERE'S LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE.

OF ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE.

BUT IT'S IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS BUT IT'S IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS SONG ABOUT A KID AND THE GARBAGE SONG ABOUT A KID AND THE GARBAGE MONSTER.

MONSTER.

AND THE GARBAGE MONSTER TURNS AND THE GARBAGE MONSTER TURNS OUT TO BE MADE OF RECYCLABLE OUT TO BE MADE OF RECYCLABLE THINGS AND THE KIDS RECYCLES THE THINGS AND THE KIDS RECYCLES THE GARBAGE MONSTER.

GARBAGE MONSTER.

SO I LIKE BEING ABLE TO KIND OF SO I LIKE BEING ABLE TO KIND OF MAKE MY POINT THROUGH THE STORY MAKE MY POINT THROUGH THE STORY RATHER THAN, OKAY, KIDS, YOU RATHER THAN, OKAY, KIDS, YOU NEED TO RECYCLE NOW, YOU KNOW, NEED TO RECYCLE NOW, YOU KNOW, WHICH I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WHICH I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT ACTUALLY WORKS.

ACTUALLY WORKS.

HA-HA.

HA-HA.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ MY SHOWS ARE BUILT AROUND MY MY SHOWS ARE BUILT AROUND MY SONGS WHICH ARE SHORT LITTLE SONGS WHICH ARE SHORT LITTLE STORIES.

STORIES.

AND SO THERE AREN'T A LOT OF AND SO THERE AREN'T A LOT OF VOICES AND CHARACTERS VOICES AND CHARACTERS NECESSARILY IN THE PIECE, NECESSARILY IN THE PIECE, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY -- IT'S MY BECAUSE IT'S REALLY -- IT'S MY VOICE SINGING TELLING THE STORY.

VOICE SINGING TELLING THE STORY.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ I FIND THAT DOING KIND OF THE I FIND THAT DOING KIND OF THE SHORTER PIECES REALLY WORKS WELL SHORTER PIECES REALLY WORKS WELL FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WITH SHORT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WITH SHORT ATTENTION SPANS.

ATTENTION SPANS.

AND I ALSO LIKE TO DO PIECES AND I ALSO LIKE TO DO PIECES WHERE I'M STANDING UP AND MOVING WHERE I'M STANDING UP AND MOVING AROUND AND GETTING THE WHOLE AROUND AND GETTING THE WHOLE AUDIENCE TO STAND UP AND MOVE AUDIENCE TO STAND UP AND MOVE AROUND, BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO SIT AROUND, BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO SIT ON THE GROUND FOR 45 MINUTES.

ON THE GROUND FOR 45 MINUTES.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND IT'S LIKE, OKAY, WE'RE ALL AND IT'S LIKE, OKAY, WE'RE ALL GOING TO GET UP AND MOVE AROUND GOING TO GET UP AND MOVE AROUND NOW AND THEN WE'LL SIT DOWN AND NOW AND THEN WE'LL SIT DOWN AND PAY ATTENTION SOME MORE.

PAY ATTENTION SOME MORE.

>> HERE IT IS.

>> HERE IT IS.

>> KNIGHT RELEASED HIS SIXTH >> KNIGHT RELEASED HIS SIXTH ALBUM ENTITLED, "LOOK BOTH ALBUM ENTITLED, "LOOK BOTH WAYS."

WAYS."

IT TAKES ITS THEME FROM THE IT TAKES ITS THEME FROM THE TITLE SONG WHICH EXTOLS A BASIC TITLE SONG WHICH EXTOLS A BASIC SAFETY RULES.

SAFETY RULES.

>> KIND OF THE FIRST SINGLE IS >> KIND OF THE FIRST SINGLE IS AN OLD SONG THAT I WROTE IN AN OLD SONG THAT I WROTE IN 1992, CALLED ALLIGATOR JUMP.

1992, CALLED ALLIGATOR JUMP.

AND I DECIDED TO REDO IT AND DO AND I DECIDED TO REDO IT AND DO IT AS A BILINGUAL SPANISH SONG, IT AS A BILINGUAL SPANISH SONG, ACTUALLY.

ACTUALLY.

THEN I HIRED MIKKA FRIAS GOMEZ THEN I HIRED MIKKA FRIAS GOMEZ TO SING THE SPANISH PART AND TO SING THE SPANISH PART AND SHE'S FROM ARGENTINA.

SHE'S FROM ARGENTINA.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >> I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS NEW >> I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS NEW ALBUM.

ALBUM.

AND IT'S FUN TO REVISIT SOME AND IT'S FUN TO REVISIT SOME SONGS THAT I RECORDED FROM 1992 SONGS THAT I RECORDED FROM 1992 AND A SONG FROM -- TWO SONGS AND A SONG FROM -- TWO SONGS FROM 1989.

FROM 1989.

IT'S JUST KIND OF NICE TO SEE IT'S JUST KIND OF NICE TO SEE HOW MUCH I'VE GROWN, REALLY, AS HOW MUCH I'VE GROWN, REALLY, AS A MUSICIAN AND A PRODUCER.

A MUSICIAN AND A PRODUCER.

♪ IT'S THE TOM KNIGHT SHOW ♪ ♪ IT'S THE TOM KNIGHT SHOW ♪ >> IF AN EFFORT TO PEP -- IN AN >> IF AN EFFORT TO PEP -- IN AN EFFORT TO HELP PARENTS AND KIDS, EFFORT TO HELP PARENTS AND KIDS, HE CAUGHTED THE TOM NIGHT SHOW HE CAUGHTED THE TOM NIGHT SHOW ON YOU TEEN WHERE THEY SING AND ON YOU TEEN WHERE THEY SING AND HAVE FUN.

HAVE FUN.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE ABOUT WHAT I DO IS THAT IT IS ABOUT WHAT I DO IS THAT IT IS ALL HOME MADE, YOU KNOW.

ALL HOME MADE, YOU KNOW.

I WRITE ALL THE SONGS AND I MAKE I WRITE ALL THE SONGS AND I MAKE ALL THE PUPPETS AND I MAKE THE ALL THE PUPPETS AND I MAKE THE PUPPET STAGE.

PUPPET STAGE.

IT HAS A CERTAIN HOMEMADE IT HAS A CERTAIN HOMEMADE QUALITY TO IT.

QUALITY TO IT.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT LIKE EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT LIKE COMPLETELY POLISHED AND IT'S NOT COMPLETELY POLISHED AND IT'S NOT WHAT YOU CAN BUY AT WALMART.

WHAT YOU CAN BUY AT WALMART.

[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] BUT I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING, BUT I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING, THAT IT'S UNIQUE.

THAT IT'S UNIQUE.

AND HAS A LOT OF CHARM, I FIND.

AND HAS A LOT OF CHARM, I FIND.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, IF I JUST >> YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, IF I JUST PLAYED GUITAR AND SANG JUST PLAYED GUITAR AND SANG JUST GUITAR AND VOCALS, MOST PEOPLE GUITAR AND VOCALS, MOST PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY BE FINE WITH WOULD PROBABLY BE FINE WITH THIS.

THIS.

BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT KIDS -- BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT KIDS -- ADULT ARE GOING TO BE LISTENING ADULT ARE GOING TO BE LISTENING TO THE MUSIC AS MUCH AS MAKE AND TO THE MUSIC AS MUCH AS MAKE AND THEY MIGHT NEED SOMETHING THAT THEY MIGHT NEED SOMETHING THAT HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE DEPTH AND HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE DEPTH AND MUSICAL VARIATION TO IT.

MUSICAL VARIATION TO IT.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLIMENTS ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLIMENTS I'VE GOTTEN IS THAT I'VE HEARD I'VE GOTTEN IS THAT I'VE HEARD PARENTS SAY THAT THEY LISTEN TO PARENTS SAY THAT THEY LISTEN TO MY SONG IN THE CAR EVEN WHEN THE MY SONG IN THE CAR EVEN WHEN THE KIDS AREN'T AROUND.

KIDS AREN'T AROUND.

HA-HA.

HA-HA.

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

IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT N. THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL CONTENT N. THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, IN AN EFFORT TO REACH EXCLUSIVE, IN AN EFFORT TO REACH A LARGER AUDIENCE, PUPPET YEAR A LARGER AUDIENCE, PUPPET YEAR TOM KNIGHT TAUGHT HIMSELF HOW TO TOM KNIGHT TAUGHT HIMSELF HOW TO ELD HIS OWN VIDEOS SO HE COULD ELD HIS OWN VIDEOS SO HE COULD POST THEM ON YOUTUBE.

POST THEM ON YOUTUBE.

AS HE EXPLAINS TO PRODUCER DAVE AS HE EXPLAINS TO PRODUCER DAVE FRASER.

FRASER.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I'M PERFORMING >> YOU KNOW, WHEN I'M PERFORMING A SHOW, I MIGHT HAVE A HUNDRED A SHOW, I MIGHT HAVE A HUNDRED PEOPLE OR 200 PEOPLE OR 20 PEOPLE OR 200 PEOPLE OR 20 PEOPLE, WHATEVER.

PEOPLE, WHATEVER.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LIMITED YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LIMITED NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAN SEE ME NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAN SEE ME LIFE.

LIFE.

BUT -- LIVE.

BUT -- LIVE.

BUT IF I CAN SOMETHING UP ON BUT IF I CAN SOMETHING UP ON YOUTUBE, THERE'S NO LIMITS.

YOUTUBE, THERE'S NO LIMITS.

IT CAN GO ALL ALL AROUND THE IT CAN GO ALL ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

WORLD.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL >> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> AFTER EXPERIENCING FIRSTHAND >>> AFTER EXPERIENCING FIRSTHAND SOME OF THE INEQUITIES THAT SOME OF THE INEQUITIES THAT EXIST WITHIN THE PSYCHIATRIC EXIST WITHIN THE PSYCHIATRIC SYSTEM, EVERYBODY ISABEL GARCIA SYSTEM, EVERYBODY ISABEL GARCIA FOUNDED A PROGRAM THAT ADDRESSES FOUNDED A PROGRAM THAT ADDRESSES SUICIDE AND MENTAL HEALTH THAT.

SUICIDE AND MENTAL HEALTH THAT.

AND THIS FALL SHE PARTNERED WITH AND THIS FALL SHE PARTNERED WITH MEDICAL STUDENTS FOR A RESPONDER MEDICAL STUDENTS FOR A RESPONDER PROGRAM ENTITLED, "THE CULTURE PROGRAM ENTITLED, "THE CULTURE CURES."

CURES."

I SPOKE WITH GARCIA AND SOME I SPOKE WITH GARCIA AND SOME STUDENTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STUDENTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

PROGRAM.

>> FIRST OF ALL, WISH -- WHICH >> FIRST OF ALL, WISH -- WHICH IS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING SERVICE.

TRAINING SERVICE.

I DO WORKSHOPS, TRAININGS, I DO WORKSHOPS, TRAININGS, PANELS, WEBINAR, SEMINARS.

PANELS, WEBINAR, SEMINARS.

ALL ABOUT CONNECTING THE DOTS ALL ABOUT CONNECTING THE DOTS BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH, SUICIDE, BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH, SUICIDE, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

AND SO PART OF IT IS -- CULTURE AND SO PART OF IT IS -- CULTURE CURES.

CURES.

AND THAT IS WHERE I OFFER PEER AND THAT IS WHERE I OFFER PEER SUPPORT TRAINING TO WHAT I SUPPORT TRAINING TO WHAT I RECALL CULTURAL RESPONDERS.

RECALL CULTURAL RESPONDERS.

AND CULTURAL RESPONDERS ARE AND CULTURAL RESPONDERS ARE SERVICE WORKERS LIKE BARBERS, SERVICE WORKERS LIKE BARBERS, HAIRDRESSERS, LIBRARIANS, PEOPLE HAIRDRESSERS, LIBRARIANS, PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE PROVIDING SOME FORM OF ARE PROVIDING SOME FORM OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT BUT THAT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT BUT THAT ARE NOT TRADITIONALLY SEEN THAT ARE NOT TRADITIONALLY SEEN THAT WAY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SOCIAL WAY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SOCIAL WORKERS OR PSYCHOLOGISTS OR WORKERS OR PSYCHOLOGISTS OR PSYCHIATRISTS.

PSYCHIATRISTS.

AND SO I GOT -- VERY FIRST AND SO I GOT -- VERY FIRST QUESTION IS, WHERE ARE THESE QUESTION IS, WHERE ARE THESE CULTURAL RESPONDERS.

CULTURAL RESPONDERS.

AND THAT IS WHERE SAR WRAY AND AND THAT IS WHERE SAR WRAY AND McKAYLA, WHO ARE PART OF THE McKAYLA, WHO ARE PART OF THE PERCH TRACK, THAT'S WHERE THEY PERCH TRACK, THAT'S WHERE THEY COME IN.

COME IN.

AND SO THEY WERE ABLE TO ANSWER AND SO THEY WERE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION BY CREATING AN THAT QUESTION BY CREATING AN ENTIRE DIRECTORY BASED ON ENTIRE DIRECTORY BASED ON WESTERN MASS, BUT SPECIFICALLY WESTERN MASS, BUT SPECIFICALLY ALSO SPRINGFIELD.

ALSO SPRINGFIELD.

>> AND SO PART OF THE DESIGN OF >> AND SO PART OF THE DESIGN OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDED HAVING THIS PROGRAM INCLUDED HAVING SOME POP-UPS AT KEY LOCATIONS SOME POP-UPS AT KEY LOCATIONS AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED SOME OF AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THE THOSE CULTURAL RESPONDERS THE THOSE CULTURAL RESPONDERS BEING AT SALONS, LAUNDROMATS, BEING AT SALONS, LAUNDROMATS, BODEGAS, SO DURING THE TWO WEEKS BODEGAS, SO DURING THE TWO WEEKS YOU AL VISITED THERE.

YOU AL VISITED THERE.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE CONNECTING WITH WHAT WAS IT LIKE CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND BEING HANDS THE COMMUNITY AND BEING HANDS ON?

ON?

WHAT WAS THEIR RESPONSE TO THE WHAT WAS THEIR RESPONSE TO THE STUDENTS AND YOU ALL?

STUDENTS AND YOU ALL?

>> I -- IT WAS AN AMAZING >> I -- IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

EXPERIENCE.

I HAVE GOOD BUMPS.

I HAVE GOOD BUMPS.

-- GOOSE BUMPS.

-- GOOSE BUMPS.

I REMEMBER A PARTICULAR I REMEMBER A PARTICULAR INTERACTION WAS WITH A MAN WHO INTERACTION WAS WITH A MAN WHO OWNS A SMALL CORNER STORE IN OWNS A SMALL CORNER STORE IN SPRINGFIELD.

SPRINGFIELD.

AND OUT OF THE BLUE, WE DECIDED AND OUT OF THE BLUE, WE DECIDED TO GO IN.

TO GO IN.

WE SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN WE SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT.

AND OUT.

AND WE REALIZED THAT NOT A LOT AND WE REALIZED THAT NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BUYING THINGS.

OF PEOPLE ARE BUYING THINGS.

IT WAS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WERE IT WAS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WERE TALKING IN SPANISH.

TALKING IN SPANISH.

IT WAS -- REALLY THE -- LIKE IT WAS -- REALLY THE -- LIKE ESSENCE OF WHAT THE PROGRAM ESSENCE OF WHAT THE PROGRAM MEANS.

MEANS.

REALLY THE ESSENCE OF CULTURAL REALLY THE ESSENCE OF CULTURAL RESPONDERS.

RESPONDERS.

SO WE STARTED TALKING TO THE SO WE STARTED TALKING TO THE STORE OWNER AND HE JUST SAID, STORE OWNER AND HE JUST SAID, IT'S PART OF MY JOB.

IT'S PART OF MY JOB.

LIKE LISTENING TO PEOPLE, LIKE LISTENING TO PEOPLE, HEARING THEIR STORIES, EVEN WHEN HEARING THEIR STORIES, EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T BUY THINGS, IT'S PART THEY DON'T BUY THINGS, IT'S PART OF MY JOB.

OF MY JOB.

AND I THINK THAT IF I WASN'T AND I THINK THAT IF I WASN'T HERE, I -- I DON'T KNOW WHO HERE, I -- I DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD DO IT.

WOULD DO IT.

AND OH, YEAH.

AND OH, YEAH.

IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE.

EXPERIENCE.

>> ANOTHER REALLY AMAZING >> ANOTHER REALLY AMAZING OPPORTUNITY THAT WE GOT WAS TO OPPORTUNITY THAT WE GOT WAS TO SIT IN ON A TRAINING THAT SIT IN ON A TRAINING THAT ISABELLE WAS HAVING WITH THE ISABELLE WAS HAVING WITH THE SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY.

SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY.

AND IT'S -- IT'S A PLACE WHERE AND IT'S -- IT'S A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE AND ANYONE, NO EVERYONE AND ANYONE, NO MATTER -- YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH MATTER -- YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE, YOU CAN GO MONEY YOU HAVE, YOU CAN GO THERE.

THERE.

THAT'S A FREE RESOURCE.

THAT'S A FREE RESOURCE.

AND SUCH A POWERFUL RESOURCE.

AND SUCH A POWERFUL RESOURCE.

AND I THINK AS WELL, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK AS WELL, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY -- THAT WAS SUCH AN BASICALLY -- THAT WAS SUCH AN AWESOME PLACE TO RECOGNIZE AS A AWESOME PLACE TO RECOGNIZE AS A CULTURE RESPONDER BECAUSE PEOPLE CULTURE RESPONDER BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T OFTEN THINK OF LIBRARIES DON'T OFTEN THINK OF LIBRARIES AS A PLACE TO GET CARE, MENTAL AS A PLACE TO GET CARE, MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

HEALTH CARE.

BUT ACTUALLY LIBRARIANS DO A LOT BUT ACTUALLY LIBRARIANS DO A LOT OF SUPPORTING AND HELPING THEM OF SUPPORTING AND HELPING THEM ON THEIR WAY, WHETHER IT'S ON THEIR WAY, WHETHER IT'S HELPING THEM WITH JOB HELPING THEM WITH JOB APPLICATIONS OR GIVING THEM APPLICATIONS OR GIVING THEM SPACE TO SIT OR GIVING THEM SPACE TO SIT OR GIVING THEM THESE FREE COMPUTERS THAT THEY THESE FREE COMPUTERS THAT THEY CAN USE TO DO WHATEVER THEY NEED CAN USE TO DO WHATEVER THEY NEED TO DO.

TO DO.

AND SO IT WAS REALLY GREET AND SO IT WAS REALLY GREET MEETING LIBRARIANS AND DOING THE MEETING LIBRARIANS AND DOING THE TOUGH WORK OF HOW DO YOU BALANCE TOUGH WORK OF HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE REALLY BUSY WORK YOU HAVE AS THE REALLY BUSY WORK YOU HAVE AS A LIE -- LIBRARIAN BUT ALSO A LIE -- LIBRARIAN BUT ALSO EXTENDING A HAND AND BEING THAT EXTENDING A HAND AND BEING THAT SUPPORT YOU CAN BE FOR PEOPLE SUPPORT YOU CAN BE FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY RELY ON THE LIBRARIES.

WHO MAY RELY ON THE LIBRARIES.

AND SO THAT WAS AN AMAZING AND SO THAT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

EXPERIENCE.

>> IT'S ALSO FASCINATING BECAUSE >> IT'S ALSO FASCINATING BECAUSE THESE ARE PEOPLE WE ENCOUNTER THESE ARE PEOPLE WE ENCOUNTER EVERY SINGLE DAY AND YOU TAKE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND YOU TAKE FOR GRANTED THE IMPACT THAT THEY FOR GRANTED THE IMPACT THAT THEY HAVE ON INDIVIDUALS.

HAVE ON INDIVIDUALS.

SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY COOL TO SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY COOL TO SEE THE STRATEGY OF GIVING THEM SEE THE STRATEGY OF GIVING THEM THAT TRAINING TO BE A CULTURAL THAT TRAINING TO BE A CULTURAL RESPONDER FOR MENTAL HEALTH IN RESPONDER FOR MENTAL HEALTH IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE COMMUNITY.

ISABEL, YOU FOUNDED THIS PROGRAM ISABEL, YOU FOUNDED THIS PROGRAM AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A SURVIVOR OF THE PSYCHIATRIC SURVIVOR OF THE PSYCHIATRIC HEALTH SYSTEM AND THAT'S PART OF HEALTH SYSTEM AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY YOU FOUNDED THIS THE REASON WHY YOU FOUNDED THIS PROGRAM.

PROGRAM.

YOU'RE ALSO A FIRST-GENERATION YOU'RE ALSO A FIRST-GENERATION DOMINICAN IMMIGRANT.

DOMINICAN IMMIGRANT.

SO YOU KNOW THE EXPERIENCE IN SO YOU KNOW THE EXPERIENCE IN THESE COMMUNITIES DEALING WITH THESE COMMUNITIES DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

MENTAL HEALTH.

WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH, WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE FOR OTHERS WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE FOR OTHERS TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND, TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE SPEAKING ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT BLACK AND BROWN ABOUT BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES?

COMMUNITIES?

>> 14 YEARS AGO, FINISH TEEN >> 14 YEARS AGO, FINISH TEEN YEARS AGO I -- 14 YEARS AGO I YEARS AGO I -- 14 YEARS AGO I MOVED TO SPRINGFIELD.

MOVED TO SPRINGFIELD.

DIRECTLY TO SPRINGFIELD.

DIRECTLY TO SPRINGFIELD.

SPRINGFIELD IS MY SECOND HOME, SPRINGFIELD IS MY SECOND HOME, BASICALLY.

BASICALLY.

TWO WEEKS OR THREE WEEKS AFTER TWO WEEKS OR THREE WEEKS AFTER MOVING TO SPRINGFIELD, MOVING TO SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, I ACTIVELY RUN MASSACHUSETTS, I ACTIVELY RUN AWAY TO MERCY HOSPITAL.

AWAY TO MERCY HOSPITAL.

AND THAT'S WHEN MY AND THAT'S WHEN MY HOSPITALIZATION IN THE HOSPITALIZATION IN THE PSYCHIATRIC SYSTEM STARTED.

PSYCHIATRIC SYSTEM STARTED.

IT BECAME A CYCLE OF IT BECAME A CYCLE OF HOSPITALIZATIONS.

HOSPITALIZATIONS.

AND DURING THOSE AND DURING THOSE HOSPITALIZATIONS, AND DURING MY HOSPITALIZATIONS, AND DURING MY INTERACTIONS WITH SOCIAL WORKERS INTERACTIONS WITH SOCIAL WORKERS AND THERAPISTS AND AND THERAPISTS AND PSYCHIATRISTS, I RECEIVED A LOT PSYCHIATRISTS, I RECEIVED A LOT OF VIOLENT RESPONSES.

OF VIOLENT RESPONSES.

SUCH AS SOLITARY CONFINEMENTS, SUCH AS SOLITARY CONFINEMENTS, MICROAGGRESSIONS, PHYSICAL MICROAGGRESSIONS, PHYSICAL RESTRAINTS.

RESTRAINTS.

JUST BECAUSE I SAID THAT I JUST BECAUSE I SAID THAT I WANTED TO DIE.

WANTED TO DIE.

HOWEVER, ONE THING THAT I HOWEVER, ONE THING THAT I NOTICED THROUGHOUT MY TIME IN NOTICED THROUGHOUT MY TIME IN THE PSYCHIATRIST SYSTEM, MENTAL THE PSYCHIATRIST SYSTEM, MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM, IS ACCESS IS NOT HEALTH SYSTEM, IS ACCESS IS NOT ENOUGH.

ENOUGH.

AND WHEN I SAY THIS, PEOPLE ARE AND WHEN I SAY THIS, PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN, BECAUSE LIKE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN, BECAUSE IN PUBLIC HEALTH, ACCESS IS IN PUBLIC HEALTH, ACCESS IS EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING.

THEY LOVE TO TALK ABOUT, WE NEED THEY LOVE TO TALK ABOUT, WE NEED MORE ACCESS TO THERAPISTS.

MORE ACCESS TO THERAPISTS.

WE NEED MORE ACCESS TO WE NEED MORE ACCESS TO HOSPITALS.

HOSPITALS.

BUT MY THING IS, WHAT ABOUT BUT MY THING IS, WHAT ABOUT LOOKING BEYOND ACCESS?

LOOKING BEYOND ACCESS?

AND SO -- IT'S BASICALLY SAYING, AND SO -- IT'S BASICALLY SAYING, INSTEAD OF JUST FOCUSING ON INSTEAD OF JUST FOCUSING ON ACCESS AND ALSO ON WHAT'S WRONG ACCESS AND ALSO ON WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE COMMUNITY, THESE WITH THE COMMUNITY, THESE SO-CALLED GAPS, LET'S LOOK AT SO-CALLED GAPS, LET'S LOOK AT WHAT IS WORKING, BECAUSE WE DO WHAT IS WORKING, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF STRENGTHS.

HAVE A LOT OF STRENGTHS.

THAT'S WHERE THE CULTURAL THAT'S WHERE THE CULTURAL RESPONDERS COME IN.

RESPONDERS COME IN.

SO WE'RE NOT FEELING -- FILLING SO WE'RE NOT FEELING -- FILLING IN THE GAPS.

IN THE GAPS.

WE ARE INCREASING STRENGTHS.

WE ARE INCREASING STRENGTHS.

SOMETHING THAT IS ALSO PART OF SOMETHING THAT IS ALSO PART OF THE PROGRAM IS NOT JUST THE PEER THE PROGRAM IS NOT JUST THE PEER SUPPORT TRAINING, THE CULTURAL SUPPORT TRAINING, THE CULTURAL RESPONDER TRAINING, BUT ALSO RESPONDER TRAINING, BUT ALSO TABLING.

TABLING.

TABLING OR POP-UPS ARE CENTRAL, TABLING OR POP-UPS ARE CENTRAL, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE REALLY BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE REALLY MEET THE COMMUNITY WITH OUR APP.

MEET THE COMMUNITY WITH OUR APP.

AND WE START TO ASK QUESTIONS AND WE START TO ASK QUESTIONS AND BE CURIOUS.

AND BE CURIOUS.

HEY, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HEY, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH CARE?

MENTAL HEALTH CARE?

RIGHT, LIKE WHAT IS THAT LIKE.

RIGHT, LIKE WHAT IS THAT LIKE.

AND WE ACTUALLY GIVE OUT AND WE ACTUALLY GIVE OUT PAMPHLETS THAT HAS INFORMATION PAMPHLETS THAT HAS INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO TALK ABOUT SUICIDE, ABOUT HOW TO TALK ABOUT SUICIDE, FOR INSTANCE.

FOR INSTANCE.

AND I WOULD LOVE -- THEY TALKED AND I WOULD LOVE -- THEY TALKED ABOUT THEIR TABLING EXPERIENCE ABOUT THEIR TABLING EXPERIENCE DURING THE TWO WEEKS.

DURING THE TWO WEEKS.

>> WE TABLED IN FRONT OF A >> WE TABLED IN FRONT OF A SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION.

SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION.

AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR FIRST EXPERIENCES BEING IN THE FIRST EXPERIENCES BEING IN THE COMMUNITY AND IT WAS VERY COMMUNITY AND IT WAS VERY EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE.

EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE.

I LEARNED A LOT FROM.

I LEARNED A LOT FROM.

AND THE THEME THAT KEPT COMING AND THE THEME THAT KEPT COMING UP WHEN WE TALKED TO PEOPLE IS UP WHEN WE TALKED TO PEOPLE IS THAT THEY DON'T FEEL -- A LOT OF THAT THEY DON'T FEEL -- A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE TALKING PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE TALKING ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH ANYWHERE IN SPRINGFIELD.

ANYWHERE IN SPRINGFIELD.

AND THAT WAS REALLY -- THAT'S A AND THAT WAS REALLY -- THAT'S A BIG STATEMENT TO SAY LIKE, YOU BIG STATEMENT TO SAY LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE KNOW, THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE ANYWHERE IN THE CITY TO TALK ANYWHERE IN THE CITY TO TALK ABOUT.

ABOUT.

AND IT REALLY IS REFLECTIVE -- AND IT REALLY IS REFLECTIVE -- MADE US REFLECT ABOUT HOW GOSH MADE US REFLECT ABOUT HOW GOSH ISABEL'S MISSION IS TO ENHANCE ISABEL'S MISSION IS TO ENHANCE THE STRENGTHS SO PEOPLE CAN TALK THE STRENGTHS SO PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH TO ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH TO SOMEONE LIKE IF THEY'RE GETTING SOMEONE LIKE IF THEY'RE GETTING A HAIRCUT, IF THEY'RE GOING TO A HAIRCUT, IF THEY'RE GOING TO THE LIBRARY, THE GROCERY STORE, THE LIBRARY, THE GROCERY STORE, ANYWHERE THEY'RE GOING, LIKE WE ANYWHERE THEY'RE GOING, LIKE WE SHOULD ALL FEEL REALLY SHOULD ALL FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT OUR COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH AND SEEKING SUPPORT FROM EACH OTHER.

SUPPORT FROM EACH OTHER.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> AS ANY ENTREPRENEUR WILL >>> AS ANY ENTREPRENEUR WILL TELL YOU, A HELPING HAND IS TELL YOU, A HELPING HAND IS ALWAYS APPRECIATED WHEN STARTING ALWAYS APPRECIATED WHEN STARTING OUT.

OUT.

LOCATED IN THE WAREHOUSE OF THE LOCATED IN THE WAREHOUSE OF THE FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, IS THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, IS THE WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS FOOD WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS FOOD PROCESSING CENTER, WHERE THEY PROCESSING CENTER, WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO PROVIDE THAT HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO PROVIDE THAT HELPING HAND TO LOCAL FOOD HELPING HAND TO LOCAL FOOD PRODUCERS OVER THE PAST 20 PRODUCERS OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS.

YEARS.

"CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN SULLIVAN VISITED THE CENTER AND SULLIVAN VISITED THE CENTER AND BRINGS US THE STORY.

BRINGS US THE STORY.

>> AS THE SUN TRIES TO MAKE ITS >> AS THE SUN TRIES TO MAKE ITS UP OVER 324 WE HAD STREET IN UP OVER 324 WE HAD STREET IN GREENFIELD WITHIN THE CONFINES GREENFIELD WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THIS BUILDINGS, THERE'S OF THIS BUILDINGS, THERE'S ALREADY A CREW HARD AT WORK.

ALREADY A CREW HARD AT WORK.

THIS IS THE WESTERN THIS IS THE WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS FOOD PROCESSING MASSACHUSETTS FOOD PROCESSING CENTER.

CENTER.

AN OPERATION OF THE FRANKLIN AN OPERATION OF THE FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

CORPORATION.

AND WHILE ON THE SURFACE IT MAY AND WHILE ON THE SURFACE IT MAY APPEAR TO BE JUST A APPEAR TO BE JUST A MICROASSEMBLY LINE, THERE IS A MICROASSEMBLY LINE, THERE IS A MUCH BIGGER PURPOSE BEING MUCH BIGGER PURPOSE BEING ADDRESSED.

ADDRESSED.

IN PARTICULAR FOR LOCAL FARMERS IN PARTICULAR FOR LOCAL FARMERS AND PUDDING -- BUDDING AND PUDDING -- BUDDING ENTREPRENEURS LOOKING TO GET ENTREPRENEURS LOOKING TO GET THEIR PRODUCT OUT TO MARKET.

THEIR PRODUCT OUT TO MARKET.

BUT MEETING THE PRODUCTION BUT MEETING THE PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES TO DO SO.

CAPABILITIES TO DO SO.

>> FOOD ENTREPRENEURS OFTEN COME >> FOOD ENTREPRENEURS OFTEN COME TO US WITH AN IDEA AND THEY TO US WITH AN IDEA AND THEY DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

SO THE MANUFACTURING END OF SO THE MANUFACTURING END OF THINGS CAN BE CONFUSING.

THINGS CAN BE CONFUSING.

SO WE LIKE TO INVITE THEM TO SEE SO WE LIKE TO INVITE THEM TO SEE THE SPACE, TO UNDERSTAND THE THE SPACE, TO UNDERSTAND THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE'RE WORKING EQUIPMENT THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH, AND START TO THINK ABOUT WITH, AND START TO THINK ABOUT SCALABILITY OF THE PRODUCT.

SCALABILITY OF THE PRODUCT.

SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE MAKING SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE MAKING A PRODUCT IN A FIVE-GALLON A PRODUCT IN A FIVE-GALLON STOCKPOT ON OUR KITCHEN STOVE.

STOCKPOT ON OUR KITCHEN STOVE.

WE'LL WANT TO SCALE UP AND MAKE WE'LL WANT TO SCALE UP AND MAKE A FEW THOUSAND UNITS AT A TIME.

A FEW THOUSAND UNITS AT A TIME.

SO WE DEMYSTIFY.

SO WE DEMYSTIFY.

WHAT'S FOOD MANUFACTURING AND WHAT'S FOOD MANUFACTURING AND WHAT DOES SCALABILITY LOOK LIKE.

WHAT DOES SCALABILITY LOOK LIKE.

>> THERE WASN'T A DRY EYE IN THE >> THERE WASN'T A DRY EYE IN THE HOUSE AS THE ORDER FOR THE DAY HOUSE AS THE ORDER FOR THE DAY WAS ONIONS.

WAS ONIONS.

LOTS OF THEM.

LOTS OF THEM.

BUT EACH DAY OFTEN PRESENTS A BUT EACH DAY OFTEN PRESENTS A NEW PRODUCT.

NEW PRODUCT.

AND THANKS TO SOME IN-DEPTH AND THANKS TO SOME IN-DEPTH TRAINING AND PREPARATION, THE TRAINING AND PREPARATION, THE TEAM IS ALSO UP TO THE -- ALWAYS TEAM IS ALSO UP TO THE -- ALWAYS UP TO THE TASK.

UP TO THE TASK.

>> MONDAY MIGHT BE HOD FUDGE.

>> MONDAY MIGHT BE HOD FUDGE.

TUESDAY WE MIGHT BE MAKING A TUESDAY WE MIGHT BE MAKING A PICKED ONION PRODUCT, AND PICKED ONION PRODUCT, AND WEDNESDAY A PESTO.

WEDNESDAY A PESTO.

IT'S DIFFERENT EVERY SINGLE DAY IT'S DIFFERENT EVERY SINGLE DAY AND WE SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURS AND WE SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURS FROM CONNECTICUT TO NORTHERN FROM CONNECTICUT TO NORTHERN MAINE TO NEW YORK CITY AND WE MAINE TO NEW YORK CITY AND WE HAVE SOME FOLKS FROM GREENFIELD HAVE SOME FOLKS FROM GREENFIELD AS WELL.

AS WELL.

>> SO WHO EXACTLY IS THIS >> SO WHO EXACTLY IS THIS WELL-OILED MACHINE?

WELL-OILED MACHINE?

THEY HIRE THROUGH A TEMP AGENCY THEY HIRE THROUGH A TEMP AGENCY AND IN THE CASE OF THE KITCHEN AND IN THE CASE OF THE KITCHEN HERE, THROUGH THE LOCAL HERE, THROUGH THE LOCAL SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

UPON RELEASE FROM INCARCERATION, UPON RELEASE FROM INCARCERATION, THEY'RE BROUGHT ON AS TEMPS TO THEY'RE BROUGHT ON AS TEMPS TO GET A SECOND CHANCE.

GET A SECOND CHANCE.

AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING.

AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING.

>> WE FOUND A LOT OF TIME >> WE FOUND A LOT OF TIME CULTIVATING A REALLY GOOD TEAM.

CULTIVATING A REALLY GOOD TEAM.

SO WE'VE HAD SIX CREW MEMBERS SO WE'VE HAD SIX CREW MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR A WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO THEY'RE INVESTED.

SO THEY'RE INVESTED.

THEY'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE THEY'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE PRODUCTS THAT THEY'RE MAKING.

PRODUCTS THAT THEY'RE MAKING.

THEY'RE REALLY EXCITED TO THEY'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SUPPORT THE ENTREPRENEURS THAT SUPPORT THE ENTREPRENEURS THAT WE COME TO KNOW AND LOVE OVER WE COME TO KNOW AND LOVE OVER YEARS OF WORKING WITH THEM.

YEARS OF WORKING WITH THEM.

AND THEN WE JUST HAVE AN AWESOME AND THEN WE JUST HAVE AN AWESOME LEADERSHIP TEAM HERE.

LEADERSHIP TEAM HERE.

SO OUR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS SO OUR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS LIZ DOES A GREAT JOB CULTIVATING LIZ DOES A GREAT JOB CULTIVATING THAT, COMING TO US WITH ISSUES THAT, COMING TO US WITH ISSUES AND DOING SOMETHING BETTER AND AND DOING SOMETHING BETTER AND DIFFERENTLY.

DIFFERENTLY.

>> WHILE THE FOOD PROCESSING >> WHILE THE FOOD PROCESSING CENTER MAY GET THE LION'S SHARE CENTER MAY GET THE LION'S SHARE OF THE ATTENTION BECAUSE THEY'VE OF THE ATTENTION BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS, BUN BEEN HERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS, BUN DETAIL ABOUT THIS OPERATION IS DETAIL ABOUT THIS OPERATION IS THAT THIS PLACE HAS BEEN A HUB THAT THIS PLACE HAS BEEN A HUB FOR ENTREPRENEURS OF ALL FOR ENTREPRENEURS OF ALL STRIPES.

STRIPES.

THE FOLKS AT CATALYST CA BUCHA THE FOLKS AT CATALYST CA BUCHA ARE A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

ARE A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

>> WE ARE A LOT OF THINGS.

>> WE ARE A LOT OF THINGS.

WE ARE A SMALL BUSINESS WE ARE A SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATOR SPACE, SO WHAT YOU SEE INCUBATOR SPACE, SO WHAT YOU SEE FROM THE ROAD IS OUR VENTURE FROM THE ROAD IS OUR VENTURE CENTER AND OUR FOOD PROCESSING CENTER AND OUR FOOD PROCESSING CENTER.

CENTER.

SO WE HAVE BUSINESSES WHO GET SO WE HAVE BUSINESSES WHO GET STARTED WITH US BY RENTING SPACE STARTED WITH US BY RENTING SPACE AND THEY -- ARE ABLE TO RENT AT AND THEY -- ARE ABLE TO RENT AT A LOWER COST, SO THEN THEY'RE A LOWER COST, SO THEN THEY'RE ABLE TO GROW AND EVENTUALLY MOVE ABLE TO GROW AND EVENTUALLY MOVE OUT AND GET FACILITIES OF THEIR OUT AND GET FACILITIES OF THEIR OWN.

OWN.

>> CHANCES ARE IF THERE'S A >> CHANCES ARE IF THERE'S A LOCAL BUSINESS IN FRANKLIN LOCAL BUSINESS IN FRANKLIN COUNTY AND SOME OF THE COUNTY AND SOME OF THE SURROUNDING AREAS THAT STARTED SURROUNDING AREAS THAT STARTED SMALL AND NEEDED FINANCING ALONG SMALL AND NEEDED FINANCING ALONG THE WAY, THEY CAME THROUGH THE F THE WAY, THEY CAME THROUGH THE F CDC D. CDC D. THE ANNUAL BUDGET IS $2 THE ANNUAL BUDGET IS $2 PRESIDENT -- $2.7 MILLION.

PRESIDENT -- $2.7 MILLION.

THEY'LL HAVE DONATIONS THIS YEAR THEY'LL HAVE DONATIONS THIS YEAR IN ORDER TO KEEP IT UP AND IN ORDER TO KEEP IT UP AND RUNNING.

RUNNING.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF BALLS IN >> WE HAVE A LOT OF BALLS IN PLAY HERE WHEN IT COMES TO PLAY HERE WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCES.

FINANCES.

WE HAVE A FEW KEY FINANCING WE HAVE A FEW KEY FINANCING STREAMS, DONATIONS, YOU KNOW, STREAMS, DONATIONS, YOU KNOW, BEING ONE OF THEM.

BEING ONE OF THEM.

WE HAVE INCOME FROM OUR FOOD WE HAVE INCOME FROM OUR FOOD PROCESSING CENTER, OUR 10ANTS.

PROCESSING CENTER, OUR 10ANTS.

AND THEN -- TENANTS.

AND THEN -- TENANTS.

AND THEN WE RELY ON GRANTS, AND THEN WE RELY ON GRANTS, THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT.

STATE GOVERNMENT.

AND SO ALL THOSE PIECES PLAY AND SO ALL THOSE PIECES PLAY TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN COMFORTABLY KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, COMFORTABLY KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR OPERATIONS ARE STRONG AND OUR OPERATIONS ARE STRONG AND WE'LL BE HERE FOR MANY YEARS TO WE'LL BE HERE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

COME.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> AND IF YOU ENJOYED THAT >>> AND IF YOU ENJOYED THAT STORY, YOU CAN FIND MORE ONLINE STORY, YOU CAN FIND MORE ONLINE AS THE FOOD ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS THE FOOD ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM MANAGER DISCUSSES HOW PROGRAM MANAGER DISCUSSES HOW HER PASSION FOR LOCAL FARMING HER PASSION FOR LOCAL FARMING LED TO HER CAREER AT THE LED TO HER CAREER AT THE FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN A DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN A DIGITAL EXTRA.

DIGITAL EXTRA.

>> AND FOOD PROCESSING, FOOD >> AND FOOD PROCESSING, FOOD MANUFACTURING, IS THIS VIKE MANUFACTURING, IS THIS VIKE OFTEN FORGOTTEN -- LIKE OFTEN OFTEN FORGOTTEN -- LIKE OFTEN FORGOTTEN PART TO LOCAL FARMS.

FORGOTTEN PART TO LOCAL FARMS.

WE NEED TO ADD VALUE TO PRODUCE.

WE NEED TO ADD VALUE TO PRODUCE.

>> THAT DIGITAL EXTRA IS >> THAT DIGITAL EXTRA IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AVAILABLE ONLINE AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> AS A YOUNG GIRL IN INDIA, >>> AS A YOUNG GIRL IN INDIA, VINA WAS INSPIRED TO PLAY MUSIC VINA WAS INSPIRED TO PLAY MUSIC BY HER FATHER.

BY HER FATHER.

SINCE THEN SHE HAS GARNERED SINCE THEN SHE HAS GARNERED INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION IN THE INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION IN THE HINDU CLASSICAL MUSIC GENRE.

HINDU CLASSICAL MUSIC GENRE.

SHE HAS PASSED DOWN THE LOVE OF SHE HAS PASSED DOWN THE LOVE OF MUSIC TO HER SON WHO JOINS HER MUSIC TO HER SON WHO JOINS HER IN PERFORMANCES PLAYING THE IN PERFORMANCES PLAYING THE INDIAN HAND DRUM BABLA.

INDIAN HAND DRUM BABLA.

I SPOKE WITH THE DUO TO LEARN I SPOKE WITH THE DUO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AND HINDU MORE ABOUT THEM AND HINDU CLASSICAL MUSIC.

CLASSICAL MUSIC.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> IT'S COMING FROM INDIA.

>> IT'S COMING FROM INDIA.

AND IT'S COMING FROM -- AND IT'S COMING FROM -- >> NORTH INDIA.

>> NORTH INDIA.

>> NORTH INDIA.

>> NORTH INDIA.

SO WE HAVE TWO FORMS OF SO WE HAVE TWO FORMS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC.

CLASSICAL MUSIC.

ONE IS THE CORNADDIC FORM AND ONE IS THE CORNADDIC FORM AND THAT'S IN THE SOUTH, AND THEN WE THAT'S IN THE SOUTH, AND THEN WE HAVE HINDU SANI.

HAVE HINDU SANI.

>> WHICH IS NORTH INDIA.

>> WHICH IS NORTH INDIA.

>> SO FIRST OF ALL, IT'S FROM >> SO FIRST OF ALL, IT'S FROM THE NORTHERN PART OF INDIA.

THE NORTHERN PART OF INDIA.

AND THE INSTRUMENTS WE'LL BE AND THE INSTRUMENTS WE'LL BE PLAYING IN THE PERFORMANCE ARE PLAYING IN THE PERFORMANCE ARE SITAR.

SITAR.

YOU SEE HERE.

YOU SEE HERE.

AND TUBLA.

AND TUBLA.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS?

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS?

>> IT'S A PAIR OF INDIAN DRUMS.

>> IT'S A PAIR OF INDIAN DRUMS.

THERE'S A RIGHT ONE, WHICH IS A THERE'S A RIGHT ONE, WHICH IS A HIGHER ONE, AND A LOWER ONE HIGHER ONE, AND A LOWER ONE BASS.

BASS.

AND SO IT'S A VERY UNIQUE AND SO IT'S A VERY UNIQUE INSTRUMENT IN THAT EVERYTHING INSTRUMENT IN THAT EVERYTHING THAT -- THIS IS THE RIGHT ONE.

THAT -- THIS IS THE RIGHT ONE.

YEAH.

YEAH.

THIS IS THE RIGHT ONE.

THIS IS THE RIGHT ONE.

AND THEN THERE'S A LOWER ONE.

AND THEN THERE'S A LOWER ONE.

BUT IT'S A UNIQUE INSTRUMENT IN BUT IT'S A UNIQUE INSTRUMENT IN THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE PLAY, WE THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE PLAY, WE CAN SAY.

CAN SAY.

SO THE MUSIC THAT WE HAVE IS AN SO THE MUSIC THAT WE HAVE IS AN ORAL TRADITION.

ORAL TRADITION.

IT'S PASSED DOWN GENERATION TO IT'S PASSED DOWN GENERATION TO GENERATION AS A LANGUAGE.

GENERATION AS A LANGUAGE.

SO WHEN SHE'S SAYING, MY FIRST SO WHEN SHE'S SAYING, MY FIRST WORDS WERE -- [INAUDIBLE] WHICH WORDS WERE -- [INAUDIBLE] WHICH WERE THE SYLLABLES FROM THE WERE THE SYLLABLES FROM THE DRUMS.

DRUMS.

SO IT IS A LANGUAGE.

SO IT IS A LANGUAGE.

AND WE SPEAK IT AND REALLY WHEN AND WE SPEAK IT AND REALLY WHEN WE'RE PERFORMING, WE'RE REALLY WE'RE PERFORMING, WE'RE REALLY COMING TOGETHER AND HAVING A COMING TOGETHER AND HAVING A CONVERSATION.

CONVERSATION.

AND ONE OF THE REAL SPECIAL AND ONE OF THE REAL SPECIAL THINGS ABOUT IT IS THAT WE CAN'T THINGS ABOUT IT IS THAT WE CAN'T DO THAT EVER AGAIN.

DO THAT EVER AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, SO IT'S LIKE -- IT'S A YOU KNOW, SO IT'S LIKE -- IT'S A SPECIAL MOMENT IN TIME AND YOU SPECIAL MOMENT IN TIME AND YOU KNOW, WE HOPE PEOPLE CAN JOIN IT KNOW, WE HOPE PEOPLE CAN JOIN IT FOR US.

FOR US.

>> EVERY TIME IT'S UNIQUE, EVEN >> EVERY TIME IT'S UNIQUE, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE PLAYED THE SAME RAG THOUGH WE'VE PLAYED THE SAME RAG SUPPOSEDLY.

SUPPOSEDLY.

ACTUALLY, THIS HAPPENS AT THE ACTUALLY, THIS HAPPENS AT THE MOMENT WHEN WE GET ON THE STAGE, MOMENT WHEN WE GET ON THE STAGE, THAT WHAT WE -- WE LOOK AT THE THAT WHAT WE -- WE LOOK AT THE AUDIENCE AND SEE WHAT IS GOING AUDIENCE AND SEE WHAT IS GOING TO BE MORE SUITABLE FOR THEM TO TO BE MORE SUITABLE FOR THEM TO LISTEN TO AT THAT POINT.

LISTEN TO AT THAT POINT.

BUT EVERY TIME WHEN WE WOULD BUT EVERY TIME WHEN WE WOULD PERFORM, ANY PERFORMANCE, IT PERFORM, ANY PERFORMANCE, IT WOULD BE TOTALLY UNIQUE FOR THAT WOULD BE TOTALLY UNIQUE FOR THAT AUDIENCE.

AUDIENCE.

HOW THEY IR -- INSPIRE US OR NOT HOW THEY IR -- INSPIRE US OR NOT INSPIRE US, OR WHATEVER HAPPENS INSPIRE US, OR WHATEVER HAPPENS AT THE MOMENT, THAT'S WHERE IT AT THE MOMENT, THAT'S WHERE IT IS.

IS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHEN I WAS >> I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHEN I WAS WATCHING SOME OF YOUR PAST WATCHING SOME OF YOUR PAST PERFORMANCES, I WASN'T EXPECTING PERFORMANCES, I WASN'T EXPECTING FOR MYSELF TO KIND OF GET FOR MYSELF TO KIND OF GET EMOTIONAL WHEN I WAS LISTENING EMOTIONAL WHEN I WAS LISTENING TO IT.

TO IT.

I WAS LIKE, WOW, IT'S REALLY I WAS LIKE, WOW, IT'S REALLY TOUCHING ME.

TOUCHING ME.

AND SO I KNOW THAT YOU'VE AND SO I KNOW THAT YOU'VE DESCRIBED THAT THERE'S A DESCRIBED THAT THERE'S A TRIANGULAR RELATIONSHIP TRIANGULAR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN -- BETWEEN -- >> YES.

>> YES.

>> THE ARTIST, THE ART, AND THE >> THE ARTIST, THE ART, AND THE AUDIENCE.

AUDIENCE.

SO CAN YOU EXPAND ON WHAT THAT SO CAN YOU EXPAND ON WHAT THAT MEANS AND HOW YOU'RE ABLE TO MEANS AND HOW YOU'RE ABLE TO CONNECT THE AUDIENCE WITH THE CONNECT THE AUDIENCE WITH THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS MUSIC.

COMPLEXITY OF THIS MUSIC.

>> SO LIKE MUSIC IS LIKE -- IT'S >> SO LIKE MUSIC IS LIKE -- IT'S MY PART OF MY LIFE.

MY PART OF MY LIFE.

WITHOUT MUSIC, I THINK THE GREAT WITHOUT MUSIC, I THINK THE GREAT THING HAPPENED IN MY LIFE IS THING HAPPENED IN MY LIFE IS MUSIC.

MUSIC.

SO MY MUSIC AND MY LIFE WOULD -- SO MY MUSIC AND MY LIFE WOULD -- THEY ARE TOGETHER.

THEY ARE TOGETHER.

AND WHEN I PRESENT IT TO THE AND WHEN I PRESENT IT TO THE AUDIENCE AND IF THEY BECOME, YOU AUDIENCE AND IF THEY BECOME, YOU KNOW, ONE WITH THAT, THAT'S WHEN KNOW, ONE WITH THAT, THAT'S WHEN WE CALL WHAT IS IT, LIKE A -- WE CALL WHAT IS IT, LIKE A -- LIKE SITUATION OF GREAT FEELING LIKE SITUATION OF GREAT FEELING IN THEM AS WELL.

IN THEM AS WELL.

WHATEVER WE ARE FEELING, THEY WHATEVER WE ARE FEELING, THEY ARE ALSO FEELING.

ARE ALSO FEELING.

SO THAT'S THE SUCCESS OF OUR SO THAT'S THE SUCCESS OF OUR PERFORMANCE.

PERFORMANCE.

I WOULD SAY THEY SAY, WOW.

I WOULD SAY THEY SAY, WOW.

LIKE THE FEELING UP HERE.

LIKE THE FEELING UP HERE.

WE TRY TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE WE TRY TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO PRESERVE OUR MUSIC.

CAN DO TO PRESERVE OUR MUSIC.

SO WE ARE TRYING VERY HARD.

SO WE ARE TRYING VERY HARD.

AND TO PROMOTE AND ALSO CREATE AND TO PROMOTE AND ALSO CREATE INTEREST, BECAUSE A LOT OF INTEREST, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, YOU KNOW.

YOU KNOW.

AND THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN SITAR.

AND THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN SITAR.

THEY'VE NEVER HEARD THIS MUSIC.

THEY'VE NEVER HEARD THIS MUSIC.

SO OUR GOAL, YOU KNOW, WE TRY SO OUR GOAL, YOU KNOW, WE TRY VERY MUCH TO GET THEM INTERESTED VERY MUCH TO GET THEM INTERESTED IN DOING IT AND KICK OFF FROM IN DOING IT AND KICK OFF FROM THERE.

THERE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS >> AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND ALL OF THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW ALL OF THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW IN THIS EPISODE AS WELL AS IN THIS EPISODE AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

OUR THANKS TO THE CITY OF OUR THANKS TO THE CITY OF NORTHAMPTON FOR HOSTING US NORTHAMPTON FOR HOSTING US TODAY.

TODAY.

AND PLEASING SURE TO JOIN US AND PLEASING SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR AGAIN EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND TAKE CARE.

AND TAKE CARE.

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