
Employment Gap, Incarceration-Freedom, Politics, Catfishing
Season 45 Episode 49 | 28m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
Ed. Employment Gap, Incarceration to Freedom, Political Divide, Protect Yourself
Ed. Employment Gap, Incarceration to Freedom, Political Divide, Protect Yourself | 08/19/22 | SWI
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Louisiana: The State We're In is a local public television program presented by LPB
Thank you to our Sponsors: Entergy • Ziegler Foundation

Employment Gap, Incarceration-Freedom, Politics, Catfishing
Season 45 Episode 49 | 28m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
Ed. Employment Gap, Incarceration to Freedom, Political Divide, Protect Yourself | 08/19/22 | SWI
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship<sub>Support for Louisiana,</sub> <sub>the state we're in</sub> <sub>is provided by.</sub> <sub>Every day</sub> <sub>I go to work for Entergy.</sub> <sub>I know</sub> <sub>customers are counting on me.</sub> <sub>So Entergy is investing</sub> <sub>millions of dollars</sub> <sub>to keep the lights on</sub> <sub>and installing new technology</sub> <sub>to prevent outages</sub> <sub>before they happen.</sub> <sub>Together.
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Together.</sub> <sub>We power life.</sub> <sub>Additional support</sub> <sub>provided by the Fred B</sub> <sub>and Ruth B Zigler Foundation</sub> <sub>and the Zigler</sub> <sub>Art Museum located</sub> <sub>in Jennings City Hall.</sub> <sub>The museum focuses on emerging</sub> <sub>Louisiana artists</sub> <sub>and is an historical</sub> <sub>and cultural center</sub> <sub>for Southwest Louisiana</sub> <sub>and the Foundation for.</sub> <sub>Excellence.</sub> <sub>In Louisiana</sub> <sub>Public Broadcasting.</sub> <sub>With support from viewers</sub> <sub>like you.</sub> <sub>So if you're going to do</sub> <sub>something,</sub> <sub>you've got to work</sub> <sub>with other people.</sub> <sub>Reaching across the aisle</sub> <sub>to make things work.</sub> <sub>We are in a constant</sub> <sub>state of decarceration.</sub> <sub>How?
This thrift store in</sub> <sub>Chalmette</sub> <sub>is much more than it seems.</sub> <sub>The shortage of highly qualified</sub> <sub>teachers</sub> <sub>and classrooms,</sub> <sub>that hasn't changed.</sub> <sub>The strain</sub> <sub>that could make the school year</sub> <sub>so challenging.</sub> <sub>I couldn't personally understand</sub> <sub>how this guide got me</sub> <sub>so drawn in.
And.</sub> <sub>Part two of our.</sub> <sub>Special report on online</sub> <sub>scammers.</sub> <sub>Hi, everyone.</sub> <sub>I'm Andre Morrow crossing</sub> <sub>serious out today</sub> <sub>but as two major reports</sub> <sub>in this broadcast.</sub> <sub>The hottest, most humid</sub> <sub>part of the summer</sub> <sub>has jacked power bills</sub> <sub>even higher.</sub> <sub>And it appears that $150</sub> <sub>credit from energy</sub> <sub>isn't going to everybody</sub> <sub>who is eligible.</sub> <sub>Why, you ask?</sub> <sub>Well,</sub> <sub>the money set aside by energy</sub> <sub>and the United Way</sub> <sub>is expected to run out.</sub> <sub>Energy says 17,000</sub> <sub>customers</sub> <sub>applied in the first 8 hours</sub> <sub>on Wednesday,</sub> <sub>overwhelming things.</sub> <sub>So they shut down</sub> <sub>the application process.</sub> <sub>Now, keep in mind, energy</sub> <sub>serves</sub> <sub>many more customers than that</sub> <sub>in the southeast region,</sub> <sub>which includes</sub> <sub>Orleans, Jefferson</sub> <sub>and surrounding parishes.</sub> <sub>Energy says if you did apply,</sub> <sub>you are not guaranteed</sub> <sub>to get the credit.</sub> <sub>So keep that in mind.</sub> <sub>Also today, Mayor</sub> <sub>Adrian Perkins of Shreveport</sub> <sub>has learned</sub> <sub>that the Supreme Court</sub> <sub>of the state</sub> <sub>has ruled in his favor</sub> <sub>and so he can run for reelection</sub> <sub>in that race for mayor</sub> <sub>of Shreveport.</sub> <sub>Senator and Dr.</sub> <sub>Bill Cassidy joins us in studio</sub> <sub>and the aftermath</sub> <sub>of Hurricane Katrina.</sub> <sub>You may not remember</sub> <sub>he led a group of health</sub> <sub>care volunteers</sub> <sub>into an abandoned Kmart.</sub> <sub>They made it a makeshift</sub> <sub>emergency facility</sub> <sub>for people who needed care</sub> <sub>in the aftermath of Katrina.</sub> <sub>So, Bill Cassidy, I asked you</sub> <sub>if American politics</sub> <sub>was a patient</sub> <sub>and walked into your office</sub> <sub>right now.</sub> <sub>What would be your diagnosis</sub> <sub>and what would be</sub> <sub>your recommendation?</sub> <sub>Take a deep breath.</sub> <sub>We're all suffering from</sub> <sub>a little bit of anxiety,</sub> <sub>a little bit of anxiety</sub> <sub>about what is out there.</sub> <sub>Our country is an incredibly</sub> <sub>great country</sub> <sub>and the greatness of it</sub> <sub>comes from the American people.</sub> <sub>So we're so fixated</sub> <sub>on Washington,</sub> <sub>but the greatness of our country</sub> <sub>comes from within.</sub> <sub>So take a deep breath,</sub> <sub>calm down.</sub> <sub>Maybe take a Valium.</sub> <sub>That would be the</sub> <sub>prescription I read</sub> <sub>this week.</sub> <sub>And and throughout</sub> <sub>good indications of you</sub> <sub>reaching across the aisle</sub> <sub>to make things happen</sub> <sub>where they need to happen.</sub> <sub>The Great Mississippi</sub> <sub>River Coalition,</sub> <sub>the navigation project,</sub> <sub>was heralded this week.</sub> <sub>And you were there?
Yeah.
So.</sub> <sub>So sometimes folks fuss because</sub> <sub>you work with other people.</sub> <sub>But if you're going</sub> <sub>to do something for your state,</sub> <sub>you can't help but notice</sub> <sub>that Democrats control</sub> <sub>the presidency.</sub> <sub>The White House excuse me,</sub> <sub>the White House, the Senate</sub> <sub>and the House.</sub> <sub>So if you're going to do</sub> <sub>something,</sub> <sub>you've got to work</sub> <sub>with other people.</sub> <sub>I was part of the bipartisan</sub> <sub>infrastructure bill,</sub> <sub>which, among other things,</sub> <sub>has money</sub> <sub>going to Shreveport right</sub> <sub>now, money</sub> <sub>going to Ascension Parish.</sub> <sub>You just described the deepening</sub> <sub>of the Mississippi River</sub> <sub>Channel.</sub> <sub>Right.</sub> <sub>All these things</sub> <sub>are going to help our state.</sub> <sub>It is going to move</sub> <sub>our state, not just catching up</sub> <sub>with Texas in 2022,</sub> <sub>but prepare our state for 2050</sub> <sub>so that our children</sub> <sub>and our grandchildren</sub> <sub>have a reason to stay here</sub> <sub>and not move away.</sub> <sub>You look at insurance,</sub> <sub>post-hurricane recovery.</sub> <sub>Grand Isle having buildings</sub> <sub>that are not</sub> <sub>they can't afford the insurance</sub> <sub>for when insurance</sub> <sub>is some of those buildings.</sub> <sub>Plus, people are still</sub> <sub>struggling with building back</sub> <sub>after hurricanes</sub> <sub>of the past year</sub> <sub>and two years.</sub> <sub>What is your advice?</sub> <sub>Is there anything</sub> <sub>that can be done</sub> <sub>to help people continuously?</sub> <sub>Absolutely.</sub> <sub>That was all part</sub> <sub>of the bipartisan</sub> <sub>infrastructure bill</sub> <sub>and the bipartisan</sub> <sub>infrastructure bill.</sub> <sub>There are billions of dollars</sub> <sub>to help mitigate flood risk,</sub> <sub>prioritizing areas</sub> <sub>of our country</sub> <sub>that flooded in the last</sub> <sub>ten years.</sub> <sub>There's $3 billion</sub> <sub>for coastal restoration.</sub> <sub>Prioritizing</sub> <sub>areas of our country hit</sub> <sub>by natural disasters</sub> <sub>in the last six years.</sub> <sub>Now, it's not an earmark,</sub> <sub>but you couldn't better</sub> <sub>say Louisiana</sub> <sub>then, prioritizing</sub> <sub>those areas hit</sub> <sub>by natural disasters</sub> <sub>in the last six years.</sub> <sub>Our state just got, I think</sub> <sub>it's $120 million</sub> <sub>out of the bipartisan</sub> <sub>infrastructure bill in order</sub> <sub>to strengthen infrastructure,</sub> <sub>which is coastal</sub> <sub>and which is at risk</sub> <sub>from natural disasters.</sub> <sub>Now that bipartisan</sub> <sub>infrastructure bill,</sub> <sub>I could keep going.</sub> <sub>Yeah.</sub> <sub>Prepares us for 2050,</sub> <sub>and it makes our place</sub> <sub>more secure.</sub> <sub>It'll make us more prosperous</sub> <sub>and that's</sub> <sub>why people will stay.</sub> <sub>Sir, it's August.</sub> <sub>You're going around the state</sub> <sub>a lot</sub> <sub>this month talking to people.</sub> <sub>What is the feedback</sub> <sub>you're getting?</sub> <sub>What are you hearing?</sub> <sub>Biggest concerns.</sub> <sub>Yeah, people want to know.</sub> <sub>People are concerned</sub> <sub>about inflation.</sub> <sub>They're really concerned</sub> <sub>about inflation.</sub> <sub>If you go to the bigger cities,</sub> <sub>they're concerned about crime.</sub> <sub>And there's always</sub> <sub>this kind of issue of what's</sub> <sub>going on at the border,</sub> <sub>because they have a sense</sub> <sub>that, you know,</sub> <sub>if we can't protect our border,</sub> <sub>we can't take</sub> <sub>care of our country.</sub> <sub>And so</sub> <sub>that's kind of,</sub> <sub>you know, pocketbook.</sub> <sub>On the other hand,</sub> <sub>they also notice that</sub> <sub>we are dipping</sub> <sub>in the Mississippi River.</sub> <sub>I work in the port system.</sub> <sub>I'm a farmer.</sub> <sub>And all of that</sub> <sub>is going to help me</sub> <sub>in some way.</sub> <sub>The Internet and the bipartisan</sub> <sub>infrastructure bill,</sub> <sub>there was about $60 billion.</sub> <sub>I think I remember to make sure</sub> <sub>that every American</sub> <sub>has access to affordable,</sub> <sub>high speed Internet.</sub> <sub>Astonishing</sub> <sub>that many don't in Louisiana.</sub> <sub>So an evangelist parish,</sub> <sub>evangelist parish, Jennifer</sub> <sub>Vidrine is the mayor of plot.</sub> <sub>And she says that</sub> <sub>the evangelist Parish</sub> <sub>was third worst in the country</sub> <sub>in terms of a parish or county,</sub> <sub>in terms</sub> <sub>of their Internet access.</sub> <sub>And now they're getting</sub> <sub>a federal grant</sub> <sub>that's going to be used</sub> <sub>to build out their Internet.</sub> <sub>They're going to go, as she puts</sub> <sub>it, from worst to first.</sub> <sub>Fantastic.</sub> <sub>Now, think about what that means</sub> <sub>for Evangelist Parish.</sub> <sub>My wife says that</sub> <sub>a woman won't move to a place</sub> <sub>unless there's a good school,</sub> <sub>a good hospital,</sub> <sub>a good grocery store.</sub> <sub>And she has access to high speed</sub> <sub>Internet.</sub> <sub>Okay.</sub> <sub>She wants her child</sub> <sub>to get telehealth</sub> <sub>if her child needs telehealth.</sub> <sub>She wants her husband</sub> <sub>to be able to zoom to work.</sub> <sub>She wants to watch Netflix</sub> <sub>on Saturday night.</sub> <sub>And she also</sub> <sub>may be zooming to work right now</sub> <sub>since a</sub> <sub>wife tells you where to live.</sub> <sub>That means Evangelist Parish</sub> <sub>has the ability to begin to grow</sub> <sub>once more.</sub> <sub>Well, it's good to see always.</sub> <sub>And Louisiana</sub> <sub>is lucky</sub> <sub>to have you go around the state</sub> <sub>listening to concerns</sub> <sub>and taking care of everybody.</sub> <sub>Right.</sub> <sub>Trying to.</sub> <sub>That's what it's all about.</sub> <sub>I am.</sub> <sub>I have the privilege</sub> <sub>of representing</sub> <sub>the great state of Louisiana,</sub> <sub>and I'm going to try</sub> <sub>and represent everyone</sub> <sub>as well as I can.</sub> <sub>All right, Bill, thank you.</sub> <sub>Thank you, Andrew.</sub> <sub>The pandemic</sub> <sub>has accelerated a 50 year</sub> <sub>problem in the making.</sub> <sub>Fewer and fewer teachers.</sub> <sub>Cara Saint Cyr met</sub> <sub>with Kimberly Eckert,</sub> <sub>an educator</sub> <sub>working to close this alarming</sub> <sub>employment gap.</sub> <sub>Now a look into the causes</sub> <sub>and potential solutions.</sub> <sub>When did you get into teaching?</sub> <sub>Oh, well,</sub> <sub>I started teaching in 2008,</sub> <sub>but I took the long way around.</sub> <sub>I was actually in social work</sub> <sub>before I was a teacher.</sub> <sub>Yes, I went to law school before</sub> <sub>I was a teacher.</sub> <sub>So it took it took a while.</sub> <sub>But once I got there,</sub> <sub>it was a perfect fit.</sub> <sub>And I make sort of jokes</sub> <sub>now that I've never done</sub> <sub>more social work</sub> <sub>in my entire life.</sub> <sub>And I felt that from first day</sub> <sub>on the job.</sub> <sub>Wow.
Okay.</sub> <sub>So so you've been teaching</sub> <sub>for a while?</sub> <sub>Yes.
Yes, I have.</sub> <sub>So what's it been like,</sub> <sub>I guess, going</sub> <sub>from starting in 2008</sub> <sub>to right now?</sub> <sub>It's incredible.</sub> <sub>And honestly, like the students</sub> <sub>make it incredible.</sub> <sub>And the fact that I'm better</sub> <sub>at my job every year</sub> <sub>makes</sub> <sub>it more and more incredible.</sub> <sub>A lot of the needs and a lot</sub> <sub>of the challenges that we see</sub> <sub>now, they're not new.</sub> <sub>Whenever</sub> <sub>you say needs and challenges</sub> <sub>that haven't changed,</sub> <sub>what are you talking about?</sub> <sub>So some students need teachers.</sub> <sub>Students need great teachers</sub> <sub>that are effective every day,</sub> <sub>intentionally,</sub> <sub>every single day.</sub> <sub>So we know that that's</sub> <sub>never going</sub> <sub>to change.</sub> <sub>The fact that we know</sub> <sub>that certain schools or certain</sub> <sub>areas are under-resourced.</sub> <sub>That has not changed.</sub> <sub>We know that sometimes</sub> <sub>the gaps that are just</sub> <sub>sort of created by where</sub> <sub>students are in society,</sub> <sub>those have not changed.</sub> <sub>And right down to teacher</sub> <sub>shortage, the shortage</sub> <sub>of highly qualified</sub> <sub>teachers in classrooms,</sub> <sub>that hasn't changed.</sub> <sub>And a lot of people are just now</sub> <sub>talking</sub> <sub>about the teacher shortage</sub> <sub>because of,</sub> <sub>I think, the pandemic</sub> <sub>and everything that's</sub> <sub>been unfolding afterwards.</sub> <sub>But when did this issue start?</sub> <sub>So teacher shortage,</sub> <sub>especially in high need areas</sub> <sub>that we just talked about.</sub> <sub>So special education STEM.</sub> <sub>And again, in rural</sub> <sub>areas, in urban areas,</sub> <sub>there's there's not been a time</sub> <sub>in my lifetime that</sub> <sub>that has not been the case.</sub> <sub>I think sometimes it's blurry</sub> <sub>because people may</sub> <sub>may have their students</sub> <sub>in a space</sub> <sub>where they were not touched</sub> <sub>by the shortage.</sub> <sub>But there are many areas,</sub> <sub>obviously, across the state</sub> <sub>and across the country that have</sub> <sub>that have never really seen</sub> <sub>a time</sub> <sub>where we've had enough,</sub> <sub>where there's been enough</sub> <sub>highly qualified teachers</sub> <sub>to go around.</sub> <sub>I think in the case of COVID</sub> <sub>and the mass exit of teachers</sub> <sub>from the profession,</sub> <sub>in the aftermath of that</sub> <sub>and definitely the climate</sub> <sub>that we are seeing now,</sub> <sub>we're seeing</sub> <sub>that at even greater rates</sub> <sub>because it's just dwindling.</sub> <sub>But honestly, it's been decades.</sub> <sub>If you talk to,</sub> <sub>you know, teacher prep,</sub> <sub>they'll tell you</sub> <sub>their enrollment in programs</sub> <sub>has been dipping</sub> <sub>for decades as well.</sub> <sub>Why is this happening right now?</sub> <sub>Yeah.</sub> <sub>So the diminished interest</sub> <sub>in teaching again,</sub> <sub>it's been going on for decades</sub> <sub>and some of the issues</sub> <sub>we can kind of point to</sub> <sub>that are very obvious.</sub> <sub>Like one,</sub> <sub>I think pre-K</sub> <sub>did a poll in 2018</sub> <sub>and it was released</sub> <sub>and it talked about how</sub> <sub>that was the first year</sub> <sub>that over 54% of parents</sub> <sub>were actively</sub> <sub>discouraging their children</sub> <sub>from being teachers.</sub> <sub>2019, which again,</sub> <sub>both of these polls came out</sub> <sub>before COVID.</sub> <sub>That was the year</sub> <sub>that the PDK poll noted</sub> <sub>that teachers</sub> <sub>were actively</sub> <sub>discouraging students</sub> <sub>from becoming teachers.</sub> <sub>So that's just</sub> <sub>sort of anecdotal.</sub> <sub>If you talk to students</sub> <sub>who are incredibly talented</sub> <sub>and ask them their views</sub> <sub>on being a teacher,</sub> <sub>they've probably been told at</sub> <sub>least once, Don't be a teacher.</sub> <sub>You're wasting your talents.</sub> <sub>You're too good to be a teacher.</sub> <sub>So some of that is</sub> <sub>very obviously</sub> <sub>we have been actively</sub> <sub>discouraging people</sub> <sub>from entering the profession</sub> <sub>or filtering them</sub> <sub>into other fields</sub> <sub>that don't have nearly</sub> <sub>the demand as we do in teaching.</sub> <sub>How does that affect</sub> <sub>children, though?</sub> <sub>If we don't have</sub> <sub>as many teachers</sub> <sub>and people are being discouraged</sub> <sub>to be teachers, and</sub> <sub>where does that leave them?</sub> <sub>It's it leaves them.</sub> <sub>It leaves them</sub> <sub>without an education,</sub> <sub>without a consistent</sub> <sub>means to understand</sub> <sub>the needs that the world has</sub> <sub>and the understanding</sub> <sub>that they are</sub> <sub>the solutions to the problems.</sub> <sub>And I think if you don't have</sub> <sub>a consistent,</sub> <sub>experienced teacher</sub> <sub>who has the skills</sub> <sub>and the knowledge</sub> <sub>to help children</sub> <sub>reach their potential</sub> <sub>and become aware</sub> <sub>of the problems and become aware</sub> <sub>of the opportunities, then we're</sub> <sub>missing out on generations.</sub> <sub>I think of students</sub> <sub>who will never understand</sub> <sub>how much we needed them</sub> <sub>to step up</sub> <sub>and step into the light</sub> <sub>and become a part of the world.</sub> <sub>Where do we go from here?</sub> <sub>What are the solutions?</sub> <sub>So just understanding that</sub> <sub>that we would have more teachers</sub> <sub>if we wouldn't</sub> <sub>have as many barriers</sub> <sub>to people accessing</sub> <sub>being able to step up to that.</sub> <sub>We've taken some strides</sub> <sub>in Louisiana with that</sub> <sub>by eliminating like Praxis</sub> <sub>one praxis core,</sub> <sub>because that's a direct</sub> <sub>result of your K-12 education.</sub> <sub>If you have trouble passing</sub> <sub>through this</sub> <sub>basic thing, this basic test.</sub> <sub>That's a reflection on</sub> <sub>what did we do to teach you,</sub> <sub>to get you ready for that.</sub> <sub>And so I think we started</sub> <sub>to realize it was a double tax.</sub> <sub>Like, you can't be a</sub> <sub>part of the solution</sub> <sub>because there's this test here</sub> <sub>that bars</sub> <sub>you from entering the game.</sub> <sub>So I think the more</sub> <sub>we start to look at that,</sub> <sub>there are way more people</sub> <sub>who I think</sub> <sub>would be amazing teachers.</sub> <sub>But we also have forces</sub> <sub>that are sort of</sub> <sub>making it</sub> <sub>very difficult for that.</sub> <sub>And so I think that a</sub> <sub>mixture of it recruiting,</sub> <sub>where we are understanding</sub> <sub>just how difficult</sub> <sub>it is to be a great teacher,</sub> <sub>like being honest about that</sub> <sub>and purposely seeking</sub> <sub>the best and the brightest,</sub> <sub>but eliminating</sub> <sub>a lifetime of debt</sub> <sub>to invite them</sub> <sub>in and then to support them</sub> <sub>and to encourage them</sub> <sub>and to elevate them</sub> <sub>once they're in.</sub> <sub>I think that</sub> <sub>once we start to do that</sub> <sub>intentionally</sub> <sub>and we</sub> <sub>we keep our eye on the prize,</sub> <sub>then we won't be having</sub> <sub>this conversation again</sub> <sub>in ten years.</sub> <sub>That's my hope.</sub> <sub>Yeah.</sub> <sub>I mean, it basically</sub> <sub>just sounds like meeting</sub> <sub>people where they are making</sub> <sub>everything accessible.</sub> <sub>Right.</sub> <sub>Which, again, a great teacher</sub> <sub>does in a classroom every day.</sub> <sub>So there you go.</sub> <sub>All right.</sub> <sub>Well, thank you so much.</sub> <sub>Sure.</sub> <sub>Thank you.</sub> <sub>Transitioning out of prison</sub> <sub>can be an uphill battle,</sub> <sub>especially without any support</sub> <sub>system.</sub> <sub>Cara met with a former</sub> <sub>inmate in Araby</sub> <sub>who opened a thrift store</sub> <sub>to offer opportunity and hope.</sub> <sub>The United States incarcerates</sub> <sub>more people</sub> <sub>than any other democratic nation</sub> <sub>in the world,</sub> <sub>stirring controversy</sub> <sub>and turmoil.</sub> <sub>It is no exaggeration</sub> <sub>to say that</sub> <sub>many people are afraid to be</sub> <sub>out on the streets at night.</sub> <sub>But Louisiana</sub> <sub>reigns as the capital,</sub> <sub>beating out all other U.S.</sub> <sub>states and countries with the</sub> <sub>largest prison population.</sub> <sub>But when you have a</sub> <sub>community so intertwined</sub> <sub>with massacres region,</sub> <sub>how do they reenter society</sub> <sub>when they're released?</sub> <sub>Flow.</sub> <sub>Hi.
Welcome.</sub> <sub>This the hard Cara?
Hi.</sub> <sub>My name is Miriam Henderson.</sub> <sub>New logo.</sub> <sub>Miriam Henderson, you logo</sub> <sub>is the founder of Sister Heart's</sub> <sub>Thrift Store.</sub> <sub>Looking at her,</sub> <sub>you can't tell all</sub> <sub>she's been through.</sub> <sub>I was in prison</sub> <sub>for 12 and a half years,</sub> <sub>and after I was released</sub> <sub>from prison,</sub> <sub>I realized that</sub> <sub>I was extremely traumatized,</sub> <sub>that I truly</sub> <sub>did not feel like</sub> <sub>I could function in society.</sub> <sub>And I didn't know what to do.</sub> <sub>There was no medication.</sub> <sub>There was no doctor, no therapy.</sub> <sub>And I didn't know what to do.</sub> <sub>To be honest with you,</sub> <sub>being behind bars</sub> <sub>is is a fictitious type of place</sub> <sub>because you have to learn</sub> <sub>to survive in an extremely</sub> <sub>abnormal environment.</sub> <sub>There's nothing normal</sub> <sub>about the environment of prison.</sub> <sub>You are programed,</sub> <sub>you're programed 24 hours a day.</sub> <sub>And that program is mental</sub> <sub>and emotional programing</sub> <sub>where you are</sub> <sub>desensitized, demoralized</sub> <sub>and dehumanized.</sub> <sub>And Miriam's</sub> <sub>experience</sub> <sub>coming out of prison is almost</sub> <sub>as difficult as going in.</sub> <sub>So she created this place</sub> <sub>with the intent of easing</sub> <sub>the transition.</sub> <sub>Every item in this store</sub> <sub>has been discarded.</sub> <sub>It was discarded by someone</sub> <sub>rejected, thrown away.</sub> <sub>Someone didn't want it anymore.</sub> <sub>Well, those of us</sub> <sub>that have been to prison,</sub> <sub>we have a relationship</sub> <sub>with all of these items</sub> <sub>because we, too,</sub> <sub>have been rejected, discarded</sub> <sub>and thrown away by society</sub> <sub>and our families.</sub> <sub>So that's why</sub> <sub>if you look around,</sub> <sub>everything is so beautiful</sub> <sub>and is neat</sub> <sub>and is clean, is organized.</sub> <sub>Because now</sub> <sub>we have learned how to take what</sub> <sub>we call society's trash</sub> <sub>and convert it into treasures.</sub> <sub>I use the concept of a thrift</sub> <sub>store</sub> <sub>to decarceration.</sub> <sub>The dictionary</sub> <sub>defines decarceration</sub> <sub>as the practice or policy</sub> <sub>of reducing the number</sub> <sub>of people subject</sub> <sub>to incarceration.</sub> <sub>But Merriam defines it</sub> <sub>as a more holistic approach</sub> <sub>to her.</sub> <sub>It's a way of recalibrating</sub> <sub>the brain</sub> <sub>to regain independence,</sub> <sub>which she provides</sub> <sub>by letting recently</sub> <sub>incarcerated people work</sub> <sub>at the store.</sub> <sub>This is a program here</sub> <sub>we focus on mental</sub> <sub>and emotional.</sub> <sub>That's our focus.</sub> <sub>They need to focus on</sub> <sub>like, for example, color coding.</sub> <sub>You know,</sub> <sub>these are all match colors.</sub> <sub>So let's put these colors</sub> <sub>together.</sub> <sub>That's analytical.</sub> <sub>Then you strategically say,</sub> <sub>okay,</sub> <sub>let's put all the skirts here.</sub> <sub>These are the pants.</sub> <sub>So you have to use</sub> <sub>your brain in ways</sub> <sub>that we were never allow</sub> <sub>to use our brains in prison.</sub> <sub>This is decarceration</sub> <sub>because we have to use our brain</sub> <sub>to enhance our lives,</sub> <sub>something that we're not allowed</sub> <sub>to do in prison.</sub> <sub>Merriam Store</sub> <sub>has employed over 200</sub> <sub>formerly incarcerated people</sub> <sub>and helped them</sub> <sub>get back on their feet.</sub> <sub>Anthony Taylor</sub> <sub>is just one of them.</sub> <sub>Why ended up here?</sub> <sub>Because I was homeless</sub> <sub>on the street.</sub> <sub>I was living in downtown</sub> <sub>New Orleans and sleeping</sub> <sub>on a piece of cardboard</sub> <sub>along the river.</sub> <sub>And I met a lady one day</sub> <sub>who I helped out and</sub> <sub>did some volunteer work for her,</sub> <sub>and she invited me</sub> <sub>to come and meet Miss Marion.</sub> <sub>And on that day,</sub> <sub>I walked</sub> <sub>in the store</sub> <sub>and I met this Marieme,</sub> <sub>and she told me a little bit</sub> <sub>about the program.</sub> <sub>Milton McCoy</sub> <sub>is the most recent employee.</sub> <sub>He's been out of prison</sub> <sub>for two weeks.</sub> <sub>I didn't wasn't intending on</sub> <sub>looking for them,</sub> <sub>but I was actually trying</sub> <sub>to sign up for food</sub> <sub>stamps on my phone.</sub> <sub>And I was asked about buying</sub> <sub>or renting a house</sub> <sub>and I said, yeah.</sub> <sub>And I got, uh,</sub> <sub>I got a call from a broker</sub> <sub>and town was with referral.</sub> <sub>Referral to a real estate agent.</sub> <sub>And I explained my situation</sub> <sub>to the real estate agent</sub> <sub>and she gave me Ms..</sub> <sub>Miriam's number.</sub> <sub>The sister arts program</sub> <sub>also offers bank account</sub> <sub>support, driver's license</sub> <sub>support and transportation</sub> <sub>things.</sub> <sub>People on the outside may take</sub> <sub>for granted.</sub> <sub>But two people</sub> <sub>coming back into society,</sub> <sub>it's taking their freedom back.</sub> <sub>Or in Miriam's case.
It's</sub> <sub>this is decarceration.</sub> <sub>And decarceration is reversing</sub> <sub>the trauma of incarceration.</sub> <sub>And so at everything,</sub> <sub>everything that we do, we are</sub> <sub>in a constant</sub> <sub>state of decarceration.</sub> <sub>When I am developing</sub> <sub>relationships, I'm</sub> <sub>in a state of decarceration</sub> <sub>because I have to create.</sub> <sub>When when situations</sub> <sub>at all</sub> <sub>times.</sub> <sub>You can donate to Sister Heart's</sub> <sub>thrift store</sub> <sub>by dropping off your items</sub> <sub>at their location</sub> <sub>on West Judd's</sub> <sub>Perez Drive.</sub> <sub>We showed you</sub> <sub>some of the ugly sides</sub> <sub>of social media</sub> <sub>and dating sites in part</sub> <sub>one of our special report</sub> <sub>about online scammers.</sub> <sub>Well, tonight, there's more.</sub> <sub>How scammers are groomed</sub> <sub>and taught</sub> <sub>how to rip people off.</sub> <sub>But there are now some websites</sub> <sub>offering</sub> <sub>tons of information</sub> <sub>that you need to know,</sub> <sub>especially if you want</sub> <sub>to wade the waters</sub> <sub>of online dating.</sub> <sub>When I first Googled my name</sub> <sub>and dating scams,</sub> <sub>I learned how extensive it was.</sub> <sub>My pictures</sub> <sub>used with a fake profile</sub> <sub>and another name.</sub> <sub>This was after</sub> <sub>I began getting emails</sub> <sub>from women</sub> <sub>who had already been burned</sub> <sub>from people using my pictures.</sub> <sub>Some of the women</sub> <sub>had already given away</sub> <sub>thousands of dollars.</sub> <sub>After our first report</sub> <sub>on these scams aired.</sub> <sub>I got several more emails.</sub> <sub>This woman tells of a six</sub> <sub>month communication</sub> <sub>with someone using my photos.</sub> <sub>She gave him $5,000</sub> <sub>before she realized</sub> <sub>what was happening.</sub> <sub>I ended up seeing a therapist</sub> <sub>after what happened to me</sub> <sub>because I couldn't</sub> <sub>personally understand</sub> <sub>how this guy had got me</sub> <sub>so drawn in and hurt me.</sub> <sub>We introduced you to Anna Rowe</sub> <sub>last week.</sub> <sub>Her own romance scam ordeal</sub> <sub>led her to develop the website</sub> <sub>and blog.</sub> <sub>Catch the catfish dot com.</sub> <sub>It's one of the most</sub> <sub>comprehensive</sub> <sub>and educational websites</sub> <sub>out there</sub> <sub>if you're considering</sub> <sub>the online dating scene.</sub> <sub>Go first to her website.</sub> <sub>Catch the catfish dot com.</sub> <sub>They are incredibly clever</sub> <sub>with their questioning</sub> <sub>to talk things out of you and</sub> <sub>to build trust.
And</sub> <sub>for me, unlike when</sub> <sub>the police</sub> <sub>who are now</sub> <sub>putting educational stuff</sub> <sub>out there site,</sub> <sub>they don't offer up</sub> <sub>any information</sub> <sub>about themselves, actually,</sub> <sub>whether it's it's</sub> <sub>not necessarily</sub> <sub>the truth about themselves,</sub> <sub>but they actually tell you</sub> <sub>a lot of information</sub> <sub>about their persona</sub> <sub>because it draws</sub> <sub>you in to those sites</sub> <sub>to give information back.</sub> <sub>And that's</sub> <sub>I mean, that's how I did it.</sub> <sub>He offered he offered his</sub> <sub>vulnerabilities to me first.</sub> <sub>And then I felt safe to share</sub> <sub>my vulnerabilities with him</sub> <sub>and then how he that's</sub> <sub>how he hurt me.</sub> <sub>You know,</sub> <sub>he he used those back to me.</sub> <sub>So it's a very clever</sub> <sub>manipulation</sub> <sub>that victims gateway.</sub> <sub>As you've seen</sub> <sub>the scams online or extensive</sub> <sub>they're even teaching sites</sub> <sub>for scammers.</sub> <sub>Let me repeat that.</sub> <sub>There are teaching sites</sub> <sub>for scammers and ORO explains.</sub> <sub>The scammers that do this.</sub> <sub>I, I actually how I do that</sub> <sub>groups</sub> <sub>so they are only allowed</sub> <sub>to have groups on Facebook</sub> <sub>and other places</sub> <sub>where they train each other.</sub> <sub>They ask each other advice</sub> <sub>for situations</sub> <sub>they find them in</sub> <sub>while they're doing</sub> <sub>this.
And</sub> <sub>you're saying that</sub> <sub>the the scammers have groups?</sub> <sub>Oh, yes.</sub> <sub>If you go in type</sub> <sub>in to the Facebook</sub> <sub>search, for example, Yahoo!</sub> <sub>Updates,</sub> <sub>because they're known as Yahoo!</sub> <sub>Boys.</sub> <sub>So if you go and type in Yahoo!</sub> <sub>Updates in to Facebook,</sub> <sub>you will find multiple groups</sub> <sub>and they are full of scammers.</sub> <sub>And as much as we report them,</sub> <sub>then they do nothing</sub> <sub>to take them down.</sub> <sub>But I hide in those groups</sub> <sub>and that's</sub> <sub>how I've educated myself</sub> <sub>about them, so that</sub> <sub>I've got the last</sub> <sub>four blocks</sub> <sub>that are on my website,</sub> <sub>actually are all about them.</sub> <sub>And that's how I</sub> <sub>that's how I learned</sub> <sub>about all the tricks</sub> <sub>that they use</sub> <sub>and everything else</sub> <sub>that goes with it.</sub> <sub>So there are multiple</sub> <sub>kinds of scams</sub> <sub>that I will run</sub> <sub>through with the fake profiles.</sub> <sub>Sometimes they're phishing</sub> <sub>for personal information.</sub> <sub>So over the course of the scam,</sub> <sub>it might be</sub> <sub>that they suggest to the victim</sub> <sub>that they take out a loan.</sub> <sub>The scammers will have created</sub> <sub>a complete fake website</sub> <sub>that looks like a bank</sub> <sub>with life forms,</sub> <sub>and they will send</sub> <sub>in pictures of their identity,</sub> <sub>their phone number,</sub> <sub>their email address</sub> <sub>and they input that</sub> <sub>into a system</sub> <sub>because they think it's</sub> <sub>going to be a loan.</sub> <sub>And then they take</sub> <sub>that information</sub> <sub>and they use it on the online</sub> <sub>benefit system in America,</sub> <sub>for example,</sub> <sub>to create a claim</sub> <sub>for unemployment benefit.</sub> <sub>And I know I've read the US</sub> <sub>has the lost billions</sub> <sub>to look forward</sub> <sub>online fraud to the benefits</sub> <sub>claims.</sub> <sub>Here's that website of anaerobe.</sub> <sub>Catch the catfish scam.</sub> <sub>It's packed with information,</sub> <sub>articles, blogs,</sub> <sub>what to do and examples</sub> <sub>of what has happened</sub> <sub>and still tough to understand.</sub> <sub>In my case,</sub> <sub>the Instagram copycats.</sub> <sub>They use a version of my name</sub> <sub>Amoroso.</sub> <sub>Now, all my information,</sub> <sub>my resume</sub> <sub>pictures,</sub> <sub>Instagram will take them down.</sub> <sub>But as quickly as they do,</sub> <sub>others pop up.</sub> <sub>So still some education to go</sub> <sub>there.</sub> <sub>Everyone,</sub> <sub>that is our show for this week.</sub> <sub>Remember, you can watch anything</sub> <sub>LPB any time.</sub> <sub>Wherever you are</sub> <sub>with our LPB PBS app,</sub> <sub>you can catch LPB News</sub> <sub>and Public Affairs</sub> <sub>shows as well as other Louisiana</sub> <sub>programs</sub> <sub>that you've come</sub> <sub>to enjoy over the years.</sub> <sub>And please like us on Facebook,</sub> <sub>Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok</sub> <sub>for everyone here</sub> <sub>at Louisiana Public</sub> <sub>Broadcasting, I'm Andre Moreau.</sub> <sub>And so next time,</sub> <sub>that's the state we're.</sub> <sub>Every day</sub> <sub>I go to work for Entergy.</sub> <sub>I know</sub> <sub>customers are counting on me.</sub> <sub>So Entergy is investing</sub> <sub>millions of dollars</sub> <sub>to keep the lights on</sub> <sub>and installing new technology</sub> <sub>to prevent outages</sub> <sub>before they happen together.</sub> <sub>Together, together,</sub> <sub>we power life.</sub> <sub>Additional support</sub> <sub>provided by the Fred Bea</sub> <sub>and Ruth B Zigler Foundation</sub> <sub>and the Zigler Art Museum</sub> <sub>located in Jennings City Hall.</sub> <sub>The Museum focuses on emerging</sub> <sub>Louisiana artists</sub> <sub>and is an historical</sub> <sub>and cultural center</sub> <sub>for Southwest Louisiana</sub> <sub>and the Foundation</sub> <sub>for Excellence</sub> <sub>in Louisiana</sub> <sub>Public Broadcasting.</sub> <sub>With support from viewers</sub> <sub>like you.</sub>
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