>>> FROM THE ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION STATEHOUSE STUDIOS IN DOWNTOWN MONTGOMERY, WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

I'M RANDY SCOTT.

TODD STACY HAS THE DAY OFF.

COMING UP ON THE PROGRAM, WE'LL TALK TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE NAPOLEON BRACY FROM MOBILE COUNTY, WHO IS RUNNING FOR A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT WITH ALABAMA'S REDRAWN DISTRICT 2.

WE'LL ALSO INTRODUCE YOU TO A NEW PROPOSAL BEFORE THE ALABAMA HOUSE WHICH COULD BRING HELP TO ALABAMA'S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

PLUS, A SCHOOL IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN MONTGOMERY THAT'S CARVING ITS OWN PLACE IN HISTORY.

BUT FIRST TODAY'S NEWS.

THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE WILL START THE NEW 2024 REGULAR SESSION IN A FEW WEEKS, BUT MANY PEOPLE ARE ASKING WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE ON ITS AGENDA.

RECENTLY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SHED A LITTLE LIGHT ON THAT TOPIC, HERE'S "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" TODD STACY.

>> THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE BUSY GETTING THEIR DUCKS IN A ROW.

THIS WEEK, HOUSE SPEAKER, NATHANIEL LEDBETTER SHARED HIS OUTLOOK.

AT THE TOP OF HIS LIST IS IMPROVING ALABAMA'S WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE BY MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO GET ABLE-BODIED WORKERS OFF THE SIDELINES.

>> WE HAVE 43% OF THE PEOPLE WORKING IN OUR STATE THAT DOES NOT HAVE A JOB.

I'M NOT BLAMING THEM.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY WELL, THEY JUST NEED TO FIND A JOB.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF JOBS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT GOES WITH THAT.

>> THE LATEST REPORT SHOWS ALABAMA'S PARTICIPATION RATE IS BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 62.8%.

RECENT SURVEY DATA HAS SHOWN THAT MULTIPLE FACTORS KEEP PEOPLE FROM JOINING THE WORKFORCE, AMONG THEM, LACK OF TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK, LACK OF AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE OR CARE FOR AGING PARENTS AND THE RISK OF LOSING HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS THROUGH MEDICAID.

BECAUSE ALABAMA IS ONE OF JUST TEN STATES THAT HASN'T EXPANDED MEDICAID, ADULTS WITH QUALIFYING CHILDREN MUST MAKE NO MORE THAN 18% OF THE POVERTY LINE TO QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID.

THAT'S JUST $2,673 A YEAR FOR AN INDIVIDUAL OR $4,475 A YEAR FOR A FAMILY OF THREE.

SO, FOR SOME PEOPLE, GETTING A JOB THAT DOESN'T OFFER HEALTH INSURANCE COULD MEAN LOSING THEIR BENEFITS.

LEDBETTER SAID FINDING A SOLUTION FOR THE MORE THAN 300,000 ALABAMIANS IN THAT COVERAGE GAP IS A CONVERSATION WORTH HAVING.

>> I THINK IT IS A CONVERSATION STAGE.

RIGHT NOW THE PROBLEM WE HAVE SO MANY HOSPITALS IN DIRE STRAITS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

WE CAN'T NOT HAVE IT.

I THINK WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND GIVES PEOPLE IN THE GAP BETTER INSURANCE AND MEDICAID AND MAYBE ALSO HELP TO KEEP SOME PEOPLE ON THE ROAD SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO COME OFF AS FAR AS SOMETHING ON COMMERCIAL INSURANCE ALREADY.

>> SCHOOL CHOICE WILL BE DEBATED AND ALSO INVESTMENTS IN THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT AND THE ALABAMA NUMERACY ACT.

>> I THINK IT WILL MAKE STRIDES.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THIS, THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN ALABAMA DIDN'T GET THIS WAY OVERNIGHT.

OKAY.

I KNOW WE'RE NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIX IT OVERNIGHT BUT I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE PROGRAM IN PLACE THAT WILL FIX IT FOR THE FUTURE.

>> STATE SUPERINTENDENT MACKEY WAS IN ATTENDANCE AND APPLAUDED BUILDING ON EDUCATION SUCCESSES.

>> WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE SESSION BECAUSE THE LAST TWO OR THREE SESSIONS HAVE BEEN GOOD FOR EDUCATION, THE SPEAKER MENTIONED.

THE NUMERACY AND LITERACY ACT ARE 0 TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THEY HAVE DONE IN THE STATE AND ALREADY MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND WE ARE BARELY INTO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NUMERACY ACT.

I THINK WE WILL SEE IN THE NEXT FIVE TO SIX YEARS HUGE GROWTH BECAUSE OF THAT INVESTMENT.

>> THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS TUESDAY FEBRUARY 6TH.

FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M TODD STACY.

>> THIS WEEK U.S.

SENATOR TUBERVILLE SPOKE TO FELLOW SENATORS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BRINGING MORE NUCLEAR POWER TO BOLSTER ENERGY PRODUCTION.

HE SAID IT IS TIME TO LOOK INTO THIS ALTERNATIVE POWER SOURCE.

>> MR. PRESIDENT, I COME TO THE FLOOR TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE AMERICAN ENERGY.

WE ARE NOW IN THE COLD COLDEST TIME OF THE YEAR, THE DEMAND FOR ENERGY IS GOING UP AS PEOPLE TRY TO KEEP WARM.

THIS IS PLACING A STRAIN ON OUR POWER GRID ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

THIS ADMINISTRATION, OBVIOUSLY, HAS NO SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM.

I THINK THEY ARE ADDING TO THE PROBLEM.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS ON A CRUSADE TO MAKE US DEPENDENT ON UNRELIABLE, UNRENEWABLE RESOURCES LIKE WIND AND SOLAR.

WE NEED AN ALL-ABOVE APPROACH TO AMERICAN ENERGY PRODUCTION TO KEEP PRICES LOW AND CAPACITY HIGH.

WE HAVE TO HAVE IT.

HOW DO WE DO THAT?

WE DO IT BY INVESTING IN NUCLEAR POWER.

THE POLLS SHOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE MORE AND MORE SUPPORTIVE OF NUCLEAR POWER.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

A CLEAR MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT AND NEED MORE NUCLEAR PLANTS.

THIS SHOULD BE A BIPARTISAN ISSUE.

LET'S LOOK OUT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

IT'S GOOD ECONOMICS.

IT'S GOOD ENERGY POLICY.

IT'S GOOD FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND IT'S LONG, LONG OVERDUE.

>> THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO KEEP THEIR GUARD UP AGAINST RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES AND DISEASES SUCH AS COVID-19, PNEUMONIA AND THE FLU.

DR. WES STUBBLEFIELD SAYS EVEN THOUGH THE CDC AND THE ALABAMA HEALTH DEPARTMENT TRACKS CONDITIONS, CITIZENS SHOULD STAY ALERT.

>> THESE RESPIRATORY VIRUSES ARE CIRCULATING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND CAN CAUSE IN CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS SEVERE DISEASE AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO BE CAUTIOUS, ESPECIALLY WITH LOVED ONES AND THOSE WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL PROBLEMS THAT MAY MAKE THEM MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SEVERE DISEASE.

>> COMING UP NEXT, STATE REPRESENTATIVE THAT NAP WILL JOIN US.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE AT VIDEO@APTV.ORG.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE ON APTV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE, AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" PODCASTS.

>> RECENTLY, ALABAMA LAWMAKERS HAD THE TASK OF REDRAWING DISTRICT MAPS FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA, THIS AFTER THE LATEST CENSUS.

NOW THERE'S A NEW DISTRICT THAT WILL REQUIRE AN ELECTION TO ELECT A NEW MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

ONE OF THOSE MEMBERS OF ALABAMA'S LEGISLATURE THAT HAD A BIG HAND IN WORKING THOSE MAPS IS HERE JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE NAPOLEON BRACY FROM THE CITY OF MOBILE.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> LET'S GET TO YOU.

YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE NOW FOR HOW MANY YEARS, AND WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO GET INTO THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE?

>> CURRENTLY IN MY FOURTH TERM IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

BEFORE COMING HERE, I SERVED SIX YEARS ON THE PRITCHARD CITY COUNCIL.

I HAVE HAD 20 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY.

THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US AND THE CREATION OF THIS NEW DISTRICT IS PRETTY UNIQUE.

IT'S CREATED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ELECT A MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM SOUTH ALABAMA AND POSSIBLY THE SECOND BLACK CONGRESSIONAL MEMBER.

SO, IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE NEVER HAD IN THIS STATE.

THIS DISTRICT IS CREATED BASED OFF OF A LOT OF CITIES, TOWNS, COMMUNITIES, COUNTIES THAT FEEL THEY HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FAIR REPRESENTATION ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

JUST LIKE SO MANY THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, WE CAN FIND OVER THESE THINGS IN THE LEGISLATURE, BUT SOMETIMES THE COURTS HAVE TO STEP IN TO FORCE THE STATE TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

THAT'S HOW THIS DISTRICT WAS CREATED.

AS I MENTIONED, I SERVED SIX YEARS ON THE CITY COUNCIL BEFORE COMING TO THE LEGISLATURE.

I'M IN MY FOURTH TERM NOW AND I HAVE SERVED CITIZENS THAT WILL BE VOTING IN THE 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT FOR 20 YEARS.

I THINK IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DISTRICT AND I THINK IT'S JUST A NATURAL PROGRESSION FOR ME FROM BEING SOMEONE ON THE GROUND, UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES, FIGHTING FOR THOSE CITIZENS FOR A LONG TIME TO MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION TO CONTINUE TO TAKE THAT FIGHT TO WASHINGTON, D.C. >> AS YOU SAID, YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND THIS THEN COMES ABOUT.

YOU GET NATIONAL ATTENTION BECAUSE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT REDRAWING DISTRICTS GOT A LITTLE CONTENTIOUS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND YOU WERE TRYING TO EXPLAIN.

NOW, AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE WERE TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS WAS NEEDED AND WHY IT SHOULD BE NEEDED.

DO YOU THINK THE MESSAGE GOT OUT?

>> I'M NOT SURE IF IT GOT TO THE CITIZENS BUT IT DID TO THE COURT.

THERE WERE LAWSUITS FILED TO GIVE US THIS OPPORTUNITY.

BLACK PEOPLE IN ALABAMA MAKE UP 27, 28% OF THE POPULATION.

THAT'S NOT ONE OF SEVEN.

THAT'S CLOSER TO TWO OF SEVEN.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW IS BECAUSE UP TO DO THESE THINGS BASED OFF OF THE POPULATION.

AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, IT IS BASED OFF OF THE CENSUS AND BLACK PEOPLE DESERVE TO ELECT THEIR CANDIDATE OF CHOICE, WHICH WE TRY TO TELL THE REPUBLICAN SUPERMAJORITY AND THE LEGISLATURE AND NOW IT TOOK THE COURTS TO STEP IN TO TELL THEM, AS WELL.

>> SO YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE ALABAMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

WHY MAKE THE JUMP TO CONGRESS?

>> BECAUSE IT'S NEEDED.

OUR CITIZENS HAVE BEEN SUFFERING A LONG TIME BY NOT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FEDERAL REPRESENTATION.

THIS GIVES US THAT OPPORTUNITY.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT WE THINK WE COULD EXPAND ACROSS THIS DISTRICT THAT WILL BENEFIT MANY, MANY CITIZENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS IMPORTANT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

MAKING SURE WE HAVE GOOD-PAYING JOBS IN THE DISTRICT WHERE PEOPLE CAN MAKE DECENT WAGES TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES, PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE.

THAT'S REALLY BIG FOR ME.

WHEN WE GO OUT AND RECRUIT MAJOR INDUSTRY TO COME TO OUR AREAS, WE KNOW THAT MOBILE AND MONTGOMERY ARE THE ANCHOR CITIES WITHIN THIS NEW DISTRICT.

BUT WE HAVE SO MANY OTHER CITIES, TOWNS AND COUNTIES, OUTSIDE OF MOBILE AND MONTGOMERY THAT SHOULD BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THESE ANCHOR COMPANIES COMING IN BY HELPING TO SET UP SUPPLIERS IN OTHER AREAS SO PEOPLE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DRIVE AN HOUR OR TWO HOURS TO GO TO WORK JUST TO MAKE A DECENT WAGE.

WE CAN LAYER THOSE THINGS OUT.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THE CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE SHOULD HAVE A HAND IN.

EDUCATION IS VERY IMPORTANT.

IN MOBILE, WE HAVE SOMETHING WE CALLED SIGNATURE ACADEMIES.

THEY ARE CREATING A PIPELINE BETWEEN STUDENTS WHO NEED TRAINING IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN TRANSFER IT TO GOOD-PAYING JOBS AS SOON AS THEY GRADUATE.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE SEEN AND I IT'S BEEN WORKING IN MOBILE.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT THE LAST TEN YEARS.

IT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT ACROSS THE BOARD.

HEALTHCARE, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A STRATEGY TO OFFER THE STATE ONE LAST OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND MEDICAID.

WE NEED TO GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY.

OUR RURAL HOSPITALS ARE CLOSING, OUR HOSPITALS IN MONTGOMERY AND MOBILE ARE CROWDED BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO TRAVEL FAR DISTANCES FROM MINOR THINGS THAT SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE TAKEN CARE OF AT HOME.

THOSE ARE KEY.

THINK OF OUR VETERANS.

OUR VETERANS FOUGHT HARD.

THESE ARE BENEFITS THEY DESERVE.

WE SHOULD HAVE -- WE SHOULD CUT THE RED TAPE TO ALLOW VETERANS TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS THEY NEED AND THEY HAVE ALREADY EARNED.

THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF RED TAPE TO GET WHAT THEY ALREADY DESERVE.

I THINK THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE A GREAT MILITARY BASE IN MAXWELL, THAT'S IN THE MONTGOMERY AREA.

WE WILL BUILD SHIPS IN MOBILE.

WE THINK THE DEFENSE BUDGET IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS AND FOCUS ON THE KEY ISSUES AROUND THIS DISTRICT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STICKS OUT TO ME MORE THAN ANYTHING IS ACCESS.

WHEN I SPEAK TO MAYORS, COUNTY COMMISSIONS AND EVERYDAY CITIZENS, THEY WANT TO HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I HAVE PREACHED SINCE BEING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, REPRESENTING PEOPLE THAT CURRENTLY LIVE WITHIN THIS DISTRICT.

YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO ME.

YOU WILL SEE ME AT THE GROCERY STORE.

YOU WILL SEE ME AT CHURCH.

MY CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL WHERE YOUR CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL.

EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL I HAVE ATTENDED IS WITHIN DISTRICT 2.

I'M THE HOME CANDIDATE FOR THIS ELECTION.

PEOPLE KNOW MY WORK.

THEY HAVE SEEN ME.

I MARRIED MY WIFE OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT 2.

I FOUND HER IN TRINITY GARDENS, RIGHT IN MOBILE, IN DISTRICT 2.

MY FAMILY IS FROM CLARK COUNTY.

MY GRANDFATHER HAD A FARM IN DISTRICT 2.

MY PARENTS MOVED FROM CLARK COUNTY FOR AN OPPORTUNITY AND MOVED TO THE MOBILE AREA, THE HAPPY HILLS PROJECTS AND SETTLED OFF OF PRITCHARD LANE.

WHEN MY PARENTS PASSED AWAY AND MY BROTHER AND SISTER AND GRANDPARENTS, MY FAMILY IS BURIED IN CLARK COUNTY IN DISTRICT TWO.

DISTRICT TWO HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE AND FAMILY'S LIFE AND OUR FAMILY'S HISTORY.

IT'S WHO WE ARE.

THAT'S WHY SOME PEOPLE MAY BE SURPRISED I'M LEADING IN THE POLLS.

I'M A HOME GROWN CANDIDATE FROM THIS DISTRICT AND PEOPLE KNOW ME AND THEY KNOW MY WORK AND WHAT I STAND FOR IN THIS DISTRICT.

THAT'S WHY I'M LEADING IN THE POLLS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT AND BUY NAME AND I.D.

TO TRY TO WIN THIS ELECTION.

IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THE WORK I'VE DONE OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS BY BEING THE HOME-GROWN CANDIDATE ON THE GROUND, FIGHTING FOR THE CITIZENS OF DISTRICT 2.

THAT'S WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING THE LAST 20 YEARS AND I ASK THE CITIZENS TO GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT I HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOING AND TAKE IT TO WASHINGTON, D.C. >> YOU HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, AS YOU SAID.

WHY MAKE THE JUMP FROM CONGRESS FROM LEAVING ALABAMA TO JUMP TO CONGRESS.

WHY MAKE THE JUMP?

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT HOW HECTIC THINGS CAN BE?

>> NO, SIR.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD ME IN THE BEGINNING BUT I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL IN PRITCHARD.

THAT WAS TOUGH.

AND BEING IN THE SUPER MINORITY NEAR ALABAMA IS TOUGH, AS WELL.

BUT TO GO TO CONGRESS AND REPRESENT PEOPLE THAT FEEL THEY HAVE NOT BEEN REPRESENTED BEFORE IN THEIR LIFETIME, I THINK, IS AN OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME TO REPRESENT THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT DISTRICT.

WE HAVE FOUGHT HARD FOR A LONG TIME JUST TO HAVE FEDERAL REPRESENTATION AND TO KNOW IT CAN FINALLY COME TO PASS AND WE CAN FINALLY HAVE SOMEONE WITH A SEAT AT THE TABLE THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF AND HANDLE ISSUES THAT HAVE PLAGUED OUR COMMUNITIES FOR 0 SO LONG.

I THINK IT IS A BIG DEAL AND BIG STEP AND SOMEONE HAS TO DO IT.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE PEOPLE TO COME FROM MILES AWAY TO COME AND REPRESENT A DISTRICT I HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD IN AND REPRESENTING.

WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE AND EVEN COMING FROM OTHER AREAS LIKE WASHINGTON, D.C., MOVING BACK -- WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN HERE.

WE HAVE BEEN ON THE GROUND.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING.

WHERE WERE THESE PEOPLE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM TO HELP US WITH THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE BEEN FACING IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FROM EAST TO WEST AND YOU TALK ABOUT MONTGOMERY SOUTH, WHERE WERE THESE PEOPLE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE THIS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND EVERYONE WANTS TO SHOW UP WHEN WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THE WHOLE TIME.

>> SPEAKING OF THAT DISTRICT, IT'S CHANGED LITERALLY, PHYSICALLY IN SIZE AND HOW THE AREA THAT IT COVERS DUE TO THE REDRAWING OF THE MAPS.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THAT OR READY TO TAKE ON THAT CHALLENGE AS WELL.

>> I'M READY TO TAKE ON THAT CHALLENGE AS WELL.

I WILL SPEAK TO LOCAL LEADERS.

I'VE ALREADY STARTED THAT.

SO THAT WHEN WE SET UP OUR CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES WE WILL HAVE ONE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE DISTRICT AND ONE IN MONTGOMERY AND WE ARE LOOKING AT WHERE WE WILL HAVE THE THIRD OFFICE.

WE ARE LOOKING AT WORKING WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CONGRESS INTO THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE THE CONSTITUENT SERVICES ARE BEING MET RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED.

WE WANT TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE CITIZENS AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND, IN THESE RURAL AREAS, AS WELL, SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL MILES SO HAVE THEIR ISSUES AND CONCERNS MET.

WE HAVE FORMS THAT WE WILL HAVE THEM FILL OUT THAT WILL ALLOW US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF IF IT COMES DOWN TO ANY FEDERAL ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEIR SERVICE, THEY GET THE SERVICES REQUESTED AND NEEDED.

WE ALREADY HAVE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE WILL PUSH FOR TO MAKE SURE THE CONSTITUENTS NEEDS ARE MET THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.

>> IF ANYONE IS LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT YOU OR YOUR CAMPAIGN ONLINE, WHERE CAN THEY GO.

>> GO TO NAPOLEON BRACY.COM.

YOU CAN LOOK ME UP AT NAPOLEON BRACY FOR CONGRESS ON FACEBOOK.

HIP HOP STATE REPRESENT ON TWITTER.

AND GRAHAM AND NAPOLEON BRACY ON FACEBOOK.

>> HE'S REPRESENTATIVE NAPOLEON BRACY WHO'S ALSO TOSSED HIS HAT IN FOR CONGRESS HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> REMEMBER, VOTE NAPOLEON BRACY ON MARCH 5TH.

I KNOW YOU ARE A RESIDENT OF MONTGOMERY.

I APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE, AS WELL.

>> YES, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> THE ALABAMA STATEHOUSE IS A LITTLE QUIET RIGHT NOW BUT PRETTY SOON LAWMAKERS AROUND THE STATE WILL COME HERE FOR THE NEW REGULAR SESSION FOR 2024.

THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON PROPOSALS YEAR AROUND TO GET READY TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE AND THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

JOINING ME HERE NOW IS ONE OF THOSE REPRESENTATIVES, REPRESENTATIVE A.J.

CAMPBELL FROM GALLION, ALABAMA, HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOME BILLS AND PROPOSALS HE IS LOOKING AT AS WELL AS SOME OTHER THINGS THAT COULD COME UP FOR THE REGULAR SESSION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME, RANDY.

IT IS INDEED A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU HERE AT "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> DARE I SAY IT SEEMS LIKE WE JUST LEFT A FEW MINUTES AGO FROM THE LAST SESSION.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

THERE'S BEEN SOME DOWN TIME.

PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS ASKING ME, WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN LAWMAKERS AREN'T IN THE BUILDING?

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, YOU AND YOUR FELLOW REPRESENTATIVE AND MEMBER OF THE REPRESENTATIVE ARE HERE LITERALLY YEAR ROUND.

YOU ARE ALWAYS HERE AND WORKING, MAY NOT BE IN LARGE GROUPS.

>> WE ARE ALWAYS COMING IN BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS WE HAVE TO DO DOWN HERE AS WE GO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

AS YOU ARE WORKING IN YOUR DISTRICT, THERE WILL BE SOME THINGS THAT WILL COME UP.

FOR INSTANCE, I NEEDED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT A CONSTITUENT THAT WAS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH HIS UNEMPLOYMENT.

I CAME AND HAD A CONVERSATION AND VISITED WITH THEM REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

I GOT A CALL ABOUT THREE DAYS AFTER MY VISIT DOWN HERE AND THEY SAID, WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR AT LEAST GETTING THEM TO CALL ME BACK.

BECAUSE THAT HAD BEEN A PROBLEM.

I APPRECIATE THE DEPARTMENT.

THEY GOT RIGHT ON IT WHEN I SPOKE TO THEM ABOUT IT.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE DO ONCE WE ARE DOWN HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

>> SO, THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE IS PRETTY MUCH OPEN SEVEN DAYS OUT OF THE WEEK, 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR, EVEN SHOW YOU HAVE YOUR REGULAR OR SPECIAL SESSION, DARE I SAY, THAT YOU ARE HERE WITH MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE TO DO WORK AND THE PEOPLE CAN COME AND TALK TO YOU.

>> THE PEOPLE CAN COME AND TALK TO ME AND I'LL MAKE EFFORTS TO EITHER MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE OR WE CAN MEET DOWN HERE AT THE STATEHOUSE, AS WE DID THAT PARTICULAR DAY.

>> YEAR ROUND, YOU ARE WORKING ON PROPOSALS AND BILLS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE NEED AND SAID THEY HAVE NEEDED TO GET WORK AND TRACTION DONE.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A NEW PROPOSAL THAT'S QUITE INTERESTING AND IT DEALS, IN A WAY, CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, WITH HEALTHCARE, WHICH IS A BIG ISSUE HERE IN THIS STATE.

IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE IT HAS ENOUGH PEOPLE TO CARRY IT ON.

TELL US ABOUT THAT, SIR.

>> LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNOR IN HER BUDGET SENT OVER A PROPOSAL FOR A HEALTHCARE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

THE LOCATION WAS TO BE IN THE DEMOPOLIS AREA.

THIS CAME ABOUT FROM A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE PEOPLE THERE AND UAB HOSPITAL.

UAB HAS COME -- HAS SMALL COUNTIES AND SMALL TOWNS AND RURAL HOSPITALS THAT ARE CLOSING AND SOME LARGER ARE PARTNERING WITH THE SMALLER HOSPITALS.

WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT UAB SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL THERE IN DEMOPOLIS.

NOW UAB ACTUALLY HAS A LOT OF THEIR STUDENTS COMING THERE TO LEARN SOME THINGS AND DO SOME PROCESSES DOWN THERE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE COMING BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THEY FOUND OUT IS IT GAVE THEIR OPPORTUNITIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A PATIENT IN AND THEN BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THE WHOLE PROCESS OF THE PATIENT UNTIL THEY ARE DISCHARGED, AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWUP ON THAT PATIENT WHERE'S IN THEIR LARGER HOSPITALS, YOU MAY HAVE SOMEONE TRIAGE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, BUT THEN THAT DOCTOR THEN THE DOCTOR WOULD LOSE SIGHT OF THEM BECAUSE HE PASSES THEM TO SOMEONE ELSE.

IT GIVES STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY LEARN WHAT RURAL MEDICINE IS ABOUT.

IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO TOUCH THE PATIENT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS OF THEIR TIME THERE.

>> YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING AND I WANT TO MENTION IT BEFORE I LOSE TRACK OF IT.

THE FACT THAT ALABAMA HAS SEEN A LOT OF HOSPITALS IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE STATE CLOSED WHICH HAS BEEN -- I KNOW LISTENING TO LAWMAKERS A BIG CONCERN FROM NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST, LOSING HOSPITALS IN VARIOUS AREAS, NOT JUST RURAL HOSPITALS BUT ESPECIALLY RURAL HOSPITALS SINCE IN MANY CASES THEY MAY HAVE TO TREAT PEOPLE IN FOUR COUNTIES AT ONE TIME.

METROPOLITAN AREA, TOO.

SO, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS OF KEEN INTEREST TO LAWMAKERS, IS IT NOT, SIR?

>> IT IS OF VERY KEEN INTEREST TO LAWMAKERS.

I SAY THAT BECAUSE I JUST LOST A HOSPITAL -- WELL, DIDN'T JUST LOSE IT, PROBABLY TWO OR THREE YEARS BUT I JUST ACQUIRED THE AREA AS PART OF MY DISTRICT.

THAT'S OVER IN PICKENS COUNTY.

THE PICKENS COUNTY HOSPITAL HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.

SO, THE PEOPLE IN PICKENS COUNTY ARE HAVING TO DRIVE 40 MILES, 40 MILES EITHER WAY, NORTH, SOUTH, EAST OR WEST BEFORE THEY CAN GET TO A HOSPITAL.

NOW, THE OTHER THING THAT HAS HAPPENED IS THEIR AMBULANCE SERVICE HAS BEEN MOVED.

INSTEAD OF HAVING AN AMBULANCE SERVICE LOCATED IN PICKENS COUNTY, THEY NOW HAVE AN AMBULANCE SERVICE THAT HAS TO COME OUT OF TUSCALOOSA TO SERVICE PICKENS COUNTY.

THAT'S TIME.

SADLY ENOUGH, WE HAD A SITUATION WHERE A YOUNG FATHER, THE FATHER OF TWO, HAD A MAJOR HEART ATTACK OR WHATEVER IT MAY HAVE BEEN, BUT HIS YOUNG SONS HAD TO STAND THERE AND WAIT ON AN AMBULANCE TO TRY TO GET THERE AND THE FATHER PASSED.

THESE ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE HAVING OUT IN RURAL ALABAMA WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTHCARE.

THERE'S 105 OF US IN THE HOUSE AND 35 OF US IN THE SENATE.

THE MAJORITY OF THOSE OF US THAT ARE IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE ACTUALLY HAVE SERVICE AREAS THAT ARE HEALTHCARE DESERTS.

WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH THESE HEALTHCARE DESERTS, WE HONESTLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WE ARE DEALING WITH THE LIVES OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY ELECTED BY TO ADVOCATE, TO WORK FOR AND TO SERVICE THEIR NEEDS.

SO, I'M GOING TO BE WITH THIS HEALTHCARE SCIENCE SCHOOL, WHICH IS A NOVELTY.

THERE'S NONE IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES.

FIRST OF ITS KIND IN ALL OF THE UNITED STATES.

NOT JUST ALABAMA.

THIS IS A NOVELTY FOR THE UNITED STATES.

WHAT IT IS DESIGNED TO DO IS HELP TO BUILD US A HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE BUT A WORKFORCE THAT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF THE AREAS THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY SERVICING, WORKING IN.

THE UAB AND THE PARTNERSHIP ACTUALLY WROTE US A PROPOSAL FOR THIS HEALTHCARE SCIENCE SCHOOL.

IT'S A HIGH SCHOOL.

IT'S NOT -- IT DOESN'T SAY DOCTORS OR NURSES BUT HEALTHCARE.

NOT ONLY WILL WE BE LOOKING TO INTRODUCE AND TRAIN STUDENTS IN THE FIELD OF NURSING AND, YOU KNOW, DOCTORS, BUT WE NEED CNAS.

WE NEED RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS.

WE NEED PHYSICAL THERAPISTS.

WE NEED PHLEBOTOMISTS.

WE NEED ALL OF THESE HEALTHCARE AREAS.

WE NEED TO GET THEM FILLED AND WE ARE RUNNING REAL SHORT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BURNING OUT BUT THEY ALSO ARE AGING OUT.

WITH THIS HAPPENING, IF WE DON'T CLIMATE CHANGE AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT A DIFFERENT WAY OF INTERESTING PEOPLE IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY, THEN WE MAY HAVE A REAL MAJOR CONCERN ON DOWN THE ROAD HERE.

THIS HEALTHCARE HIGH SCHOOL WOULD BE ONE IN WHICH UAB WOULD ACTUALLY HELP US IN TERMS OF STAFFING, STAFFING THE TEACHERS THAT WILL TEACH THE HEALTHCARE SCIENCE PORTION, BUT WE WILL ALSO HAVE TEACHERS THAT WILL ACTUALLY DO THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH, MATH, AND FROM MY DAY AND TIME IT WAS READING, WRITING AND ARITHMETIC.

WE WOULD HAVE TEACHERS THERE THAT WOULD DO THAT, BUT THIS WOULD BE MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO HAVE HANDS-ON TRAINING, OBSERVING AND LEARNING, PRIOR TO EVEN GOING OFF TO COLLEGE AND MAKING A DECLARATION OF WHAT THEY WANT TO BE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE CAMPBELL, THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY.

WE WILL BE ON THE LOOKOUT BECAUSE PRETTY SOON YOU AND YOUR FELLOW LAWMAKERS WILL BE HERE AND THINGS WILL BE GETTING BUSY.

>> THEY WILL BE GETTING REAL BUSINESS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE A.J.

CAMPBELL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> WELCOME BACK.

THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY IS MIRED IN HISTORY.

EVEN IF YOU WALK DOWNTOWN YOU WILL SEE VESTIGES FROM HISTORY.

THERE'S ALSO HISTORY BEING MADE AND OFF DEXTER AVENUE YOU'LL FIND ONE OF THOSE LOCATIONS, A NEW SCHOOL CALLED VALIANT CROSS ACADEMY.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE NEW FACILITY IS THE HEAD, ANTHONY BROCK.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> LET ME GET A LITTLE BACKGROUND FROM YOU IF I CAN.

ALABAMA AND MONTGOMERY ARE MIRED IN HISTORY.

YOU ARE A NATIVE OF MONTGOMERY.

>> YES.

I'M THE YOUNGEST OF FIVE KIDS, BORN TO LEO AND SUSIE BROCK.

MY FAMILY IS LONG-TIME EDUCATORS.

MY FATHER WAS A PASTOR AND PUBLIC SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND MY MOM WAS A TEACHER.

MOST SIBLINGS AND RELATIVES ARE ALABAMA STATE GRADUATES AND EDUCATORS.

SO MY DNA IS HERE IN ALABAMA.

I'M PROUD TO BE FROM THIS MONTGOMERY SOIL.

THERE YOU HAVE IT.

>> I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THE HISTORY IN THIS AREA.

AS YOU SAID YOUR FAMILY IS INVOLVED IN IT, AS WELL.

AND YOU ALSO SAID YOU ARE VERY, VERY DEEP IN EDUCATION.

WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THAT EDUCATION RUNS THROUGH YOUR VEINS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE BEEN IN EDUCATION SINCE 1999.

MY FAMILY AND DEGREES ARE IN EDUCATION.

IT'S ALL I WANTED TO DO.

GROWING UP IN A HOME WITH EDUCATOR AND SEEING THE IMPACT MY FAMILY HAD ALL OF THOSE YEARS INSPIRED ME TO GO THAT ROUTE AS WELL.

>> SO AFTER COLLEGE, YOU ARE GOING THROUGH THAT LET ME FIND OUT WHAT I'M GOING TO DO STAGE, IS THAT WHEN THE THOUGHT OF MAYBE DO SOMETHING LIKE VALIANT CROSS ACADEMY CROSSED INTO YOUR MIND?

>> IT ACTUALLY DID NOT.

RIGHT OUT OF ALABAMA STATE WHEN I FINISHED IN 1999 I TOOK A JOB AND DID EVERYTHING FROM TEACH, COACH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER, PRINCIPAL, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.

DURING THAT TIME I STARTED A MENTORING PROGRAM CALLED BROTHER TO BROTHER AND SISTER TO SISTER.

WE WERE STAYING AFTER SCHOOL WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND AT THAT TIME THE SEED WAS PLANTED IN ME.

TO GO BACK FURTHER, NOT JUST FROM MY UPBRINGING BUT FROM MY TIME IN ALABAMA STATE, I WOULD GO HOME WITH FRIENDS AND REALIZE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE FAMILY STRUCTURE I GREW UP.

I THANK GOD WITH IT MOLDING AND SHAPING ME TO HAVE A HEART IN TO STAND IN THE GAP FOR AS MANY YOUNG PEOPLE AS I COULD.

>> SO, WHEN DID THE PROCESS OF PUTTING WHAT IS NOW VALIANT CROSS ACADEMY TOGETHER START FOR YOU?

>> SURE.

I WAS THE PRINCIPAL AT THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL AT PRATTVILLE CALLED THE SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM.

MY BROTHER FRED TOOK THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND COACH JOB AND I STARTED TO COME BY AND VISIT AND HE DIRECTOR TALKED ABOUT BRINGING MES ON AS A PRINCIPAL AND AFTER A LOT OF PRAYER AND THE RICH HISTORY AND THE ROLE OF IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND MY WIFE IS A GRAD, IT IS APPEALING TO ME AND I THOUGHT IT COULD BE THE MECCA OF EDUCATION IT HAS BEEN IN THE SOUTHEAST.

WHICH IT HAS BEEN FOR YEARS.

SO I TOOK THAT ROLE ON.

THAT'S HOW I CAME BACK TO MONTGOMERY VIA ST. JUDE.

I WAS THERE ONLY ONE YEAR.

WE HAD THE BASKETBALL THEME JUST WON TWO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, FOOTBALL HAD A GOOD YEAR, THE PTA AND ALUMNI WAS GOOD AND THE SCHOOL CLOSED AFTER THAT YEAR.

AT THAT TIME I SAID DO I GO BACK AND TAKE A POSITION AS PRINCIPAL AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL OR APPLY FOR A JOB AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OR WHAT GOD PUT IN ME WHICH WAS TO OPEN AN ALL-MALE SCHOOL.

IN 2014, WE DID A PROOF OF CONCEPT YEAR WHERE WE TRAVELED AND LOOKED AT SCHOOLS AND DID A LOT OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND WENT DOOR TO DOOR.

AND WE CONVINCED 30 YOUNG MEN TO START AT VALIANT CROSS ACADEMY IN 2015.

>> HERE WE ARE TODAY, 2024.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S MY FIRST TIME HEARING THAT.

>> YES, INDEED.

WHAT DO WE HAVE NOW IN TERMS OF WHAT IS VALIANT CROSS ACADEMY?

>> FAST FORWARD TO TODAY, WE HAVE 210 AMAZING, BRILLIANT YOUNG BROTHERS AT TWO CAMPUSES.

ONE OF OUR CAMPUSES IS ON DEXTER.

THE OTHER IS ON TROY UNIVERSITY IN MONTGOMERY'S CAMPUS, AS WELL.

SO 210 AMAZING YOUNG MEN.

WE HAVE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE YOUNG MEN PARTICIPATING IN DUAL ENROLLMENT WITH TROY UNIVERSITY, MONTGOMERY, FAULKNER, WITH STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

SOME ARE IN OUR CISCO NETWORKING PROGRAM, WE VAN ACADEMY AT THE SCHOOL AND RED TAILS FLIGHT ACADEMY, A YOUNG MAN LAUNCHED HIS OWN BUSINESS YESTERDAY.

THEY ARE DOING SO MANY THINGS THAT I DIDN'T PUT ON PAPER BUT AS THE SCHOOL UNFOLDS EVERY TIME AN OPPORTUNITY UNFOLDS TO PRESENT TO THESE YOUNG MEN WE ARE OPEN TO IT.

>> THESE SCHOLARS BECAUSE YOU REFER TO THEM AS SCHOLARS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> HAVE GONE ON TO DO SOME GREAT THINGS.

>> SURE.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN THOSE THAT WENT TO COLLEGE AND GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE.

>> NOT GRADUATED YET.

WE HAVE HAD TWO CLASSES.

ONE AT MOREHOUSE AND TRY UNIVERSITY AND A MAN IN ALABAMA, SOME IN THE MARINES, SOME IN THE ARMY, FEW WENT STRAIGHT TO THE WORKFORCE, WHICH IS GOOD.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THE SCHOOL, I SAID I WANTED THEM ALL TO GO TO COLLEGE BUT WHATEVER GOD PURPOSED IN THEIR HEART TO DO OR PUT ON THEM AND THEIR PASSION THAT'S WHAT SUCCESS IS TO US.

WHATEVER THAT IS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS IS WHAT WE WILL TRY TO GUIDE THEM THROUGH INTERNSHIPS AND SHADOWING PROGRAMS.

WE WANT THEM TO LIVE A HIGH-QUALITY LIFE.

SO THAT'S WHERE OUR FOCUS IS NOW.

>> ALL-MALE SCHOOL.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE HEARD OF THAT IN MANY YEARS.

NOT SAYING IT HASN'T BEEN DONE OR ISN'T POSSIBLE IT IS VERY MUCH POSSIBLE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE EXHIBITED WITH VALIANT CROSS ACADEMY.

IS THAT ONE OF THE TOP TIERS OF WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO WHEN ACTIONS STARTED TO GO INTO MOTION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

JUST BEING AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE MYSELF AND RELATING TO THESE YOUNG MEN AND TALKING ABOUT THE PITFALLS AND SOME THINGS I MAY HAVE DONE SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO STEP INTO THESE STUMBLING BLOCKS.

I LOOK LIKE THEM AND CAN HAVE GOOD DIALECT AND PULL THEM TO THE SIDE AND THAT'S ALWAYS WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE NOT AS APPREHENSIVE TO READ A QUESTION OR READ OUT LOUD.

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP I WOULD HAVE FOUGHT TOOTH AND NAIL.

THE PARENTS SOMETIMES KNOW IT IS THE BEST SITUATION FOR THEIR YOUNG MEN.

IT IS NOT THE ANSWER FOR EVERYBODY BUT I THINK IT IS A REALLY GOOD ANSWER FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN YOUNG MEN IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW.

>> SPEAKING OF BEING THE ANSWER, ACTUALLY ANSWER THE QUESTION FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE IN THE STATE BUT ALSO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE STATE.

IT HAS GOTTEN SOME NATIONAL ACCLAIM, IF YOU WILL, ALL THE WAY TO WASHINGTON, D.C., NEW YORK, YOU NAME IT.

PEOPLE HAVE NOTICED VALIANT CROSS ACADEMY.

THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF ACCOLADES YOUR SCHOOL HAS RECENTLY RECEIVED.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THOSE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO YOU.

>> A FEW YEARS BACK, WE WERE FIRST RECOGNIZED BY THE "USA TODAY" AS A COMMUNITY THAT THRIVE SCHOOL.

RECENTLY WE WON FIRST PLACE IN THE YAZ PRIZE, THE PULITZER PRIZE OF EDUCATION.

WE APPLIED FOR IT OUT OF 2,000 APPLICANTS IT WAS NARROWED TO 64 AND THEN 33 AND ENDED UP ONE PERSON WHO WON AND WE WERE BLESSED ENOUGH TO WIN IT.

WE HAD NO IDEA, VERY SHOCKED WHEN THEY CALLED OUR NAME BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY REALLY STRONG SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT WERE COMPETING FOR THAT PRIZE, AS WELL.

IT'S A TESTAMENT NOT -- I WILL SAY NOT TO MYSELF AND MY BROTHER FRED WHO'S A CO-FOUNDER BUT THE STAFF AT OUR SCHOOL.

WE HAVE A DEDICATED STAFF WHO GOES OVER AND BEYOND FOR THESE YOUNG MEN DAY AFTER DAY.

THEY ARE SOME SELFLESS PEOPLE WHOSE NAME MAY NOT BE CALLED AS MUCH BUT THEY ARE THE SECRET SAUCE ACROSS VALIANT CROSS ACADEMY.

>> BECAUSE YOU WON THIS PRIZE, THERE WAS SOME FINANCIAL GIFT COMING INTO IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> A MILLION DOLLARS, AM I CORRECT?

>> MILLION DOLLARS, YES.

>> OUTSTANDING BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO AN ALABAMA SCHOOL, IS IT NOT?

>> YES, HAD A SCHOOL IN THE SEMIFINALS LAST YEAR, PRITCHARD PREP, WHICH IS A REALLY STRONG SCHOOL IN THE PRITCHARD AREA.

>> WHEN PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT THIS, WHAT IS THEIR REACTION WHEN THEY HEAR VALIANT CROSS ACADEMY WON THIS AWARD?

>> EVERYBODY IS ASKING WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THIS PRIZE MONEY?

IT IS ALREADY MANDATED AND DICTATED AND THE PITCH WE HAD TO DO HOLD WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH THE MONEY.

WHICH I'M GOING TO PULL BACK NOW AND SAY WE WILL MAKE A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT ON JANUARY 18TH, NEXT THURSDAY AT THE SCHOOL.

THE FAMILY WILL BE VISITING FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER TO THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

WE'RE EXCITED TO HOST THEM NEXT WEEK AND WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING THE FIRST STEP IN THE FIRST TIER OF WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO WITH THE PRIZE MONEY.

>> AS I STARTED OFF BY SAYING THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY IN ALABAMA, IN MONTGOMERY, VALIANT CROSS ACADEMY HAS EARNED THAT SPOT RIGHT OFF DEXTER AVENUE OF BEING NOT JUST A PART PHYSICALLY OF THE LANDSCAPE OF MONTGOMERY BUT ALSO HISTORY, AS WELL, TOO.

THAT HAS TO MAKE YOU, YOUR STAFF AND THOSE YOUNG MEN VERY PROUD OF THEMSELVES.

>> WHEN YOU SAY EARNED, I THINK IT IS MORE THAT IT WAS FAVORED.

WE DIDN'T WRITE THE PLANS TO BE THERE.

THE WAY IT HAPPENED, THE METHODIST CHURCH HAD SOME SPACE AND WE STARTED TO LEASE IT AND NOW THE BUILDING IS OURS, BUT WE ALWAYS WANT TO THANK AND INCLUDE THEM IN THE STORY.

THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FOR ALLOWING US TO BE IN THAT SPACE ON DEXTER AVENUE ACROSS FROM DR. KING'S CHURCH ON THE SAME STREET THAT ROSA PARKS STEPPED INTO HISTORY AND THE SLAVE MARKET AT THE END OF THE STREET.

SO MUCH HISTORY IN WALKING DISTANCE OF THESE YOUNG MEN AND I NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT THIS IS WHERE THE SCHOOL IS EDUCATING AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOYS AND BOYS OF COLOR BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME HISPANIC BOYS AS WELL.

>> I REMEMBER THERE WAS MOVIE ACTIVITY IN MONTGOMERY, MICHAEL B. JORDAN CAME THROUGH FOR A VISIT.

>> HE DID.

THEY WERE SHOOTING "TRUE JUSTICE" AND HE CAME ACROSS THE STREET.

I THANK HIM FOR ALLOWING TO BE IN IT.

AND WE HAVE A PBS DOCUMENTARY ON THE APP CALLED FRUIT SHOT BY A FORMER STUDENT AND JOHN COOK DID SOME OF THE FILMOGRAPHY AS WELL.

THEY LISTED ME AS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER I WAS.

>> 200 SCHOLARS AND I'M SURE MORE ARE INTERESTED IN COMING IN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PART OF OUR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WILL TOUCH ON THAT.

OUR GOAL IS TO IMPACT AS MANY YOUNG MEN AS POSSIBLE.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE GET MEN BACK IN THE HOUSE.

WE NEED TO FORM THAT STRUCTURE OF HAVING THAT DAD IN THE HOUSE TO KIND OF TELL YOU DON'T ASTRAY OR REEL YOU BACK IN LIKE MY DAD OFTENTIMES WHEN HE SEES YOU GOING ASTRAY.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO CREATE OR HELP CREATE, STRONG FATHERS AND STRONG HUSBANDS AND STRONG COMMUNITY LEADERS HERE IN MONTGOMERY AND THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

WE ENCOURAGED THEM TO COME BACK TO MONTGOMERY, AS WELL.

IF THEY GO SOMEWHERE AFTER COLLEGER AFTER THE MILITARY, WE WANT THEM TO COME BACK AND INVEST THEIR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE NEED LEADERS HERE.

>> REAL QUICKLY, IF ANYONE NEEDS INFORMATION ABOUT VALIANT CROSS ACADEMY, WHERE CAN THEY GO TO?

>> OUR WEBSITE IS VALIANT CROSS.ORG.

AND OUR FACEBOOK PAGE IS VALIANT CROSS ACADEMY.

MY NAME IS PRINCIPAL BROCK ON INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK AS WELL.

THEY CAN GET INFORMATION THEY NEED OR STOP BY 301 DEXTER AVENUE OR THE HIGH SCHOOL AT 136 CATOMA STREET.

>> PRINCIPAL OF VALIANT CROSS ACADEMY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND FOR SHEDDING LIGHT ON VALIANT CROSS ACADEMY.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

TAKE CARE.

WE WILL BE BACK WITH MORE "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODE OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE AT VIDEO@APTV.ORG.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE ON APTV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" PODCASTS.

>> LEADERS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE THE ALABAMA EDUCATION SYSTEM AND EVEN THE WORKFORCE.

ONE ENTITY THAT HAS A KEEN INTEREST IN BOTH IS THE ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM.

JOINING US RIGHT NOW TO TALK ABOUT THAT IS DR. CHRIS COX WITH THE ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> QUICK QUESTION.

>> YES, SIR.

>> ARE YOU A NATIVE OF ALABAMA, SIR?

>> WELL, I GREW UP IN ALABAMA.

I GREW UP IN GENEVA, ALABAMA.

I'M ACTUALLY MOVED THERE WHEN I WAS A VERY YOUNG CHILD.

SO I CALL ALABAMA HOME.

I CLAIM IT AS HOME.

>> TELL ME, HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND THE ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM?

IT'S A LONG STORY.

I'LL TRY TO MAKE IT SHORT.

I STARTED AS A K-12 EDUCATOR AND STARTED AT 20 YEARS OLD AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL AIDE.

AT THAT POINT STARTED COACHING, GOT MY TEACHING DEGREE WHILE I WAS TEACHING AND FROM THERE WENT INTO ADMINISTRATION.

ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM.

IT'S BEEN A GREAT CHANGE FOR ME.

I LOVE K-12 BUT IT ALSO GIVES ME INSIGHT IN THAT BRIDGE FROM K-12 TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM.

SO, LOVE BEING HERE.

>> IT'S A BUSY BRIDGE INDEED.

BECAUSE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM IS VERY BUSY.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, A REPORT CAME OUT THAT SAID ENROLLMENT IS UP AND ANOTHER RESULT IS BUILDING AND EXPANDING THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM AS WELL.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE ENROLLMENT IS A HUGE PLUS.

>> ENROLLMENT IS UP AND WE ARE DEFYING THE ODDS NATIONALLY.

EVERYTHING YOU READ AND YOU SEE THE DATA OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES AROUND THE COUNTRY ENROLLMENT IS DOWN.

BUT I'M GOING QUOTE OUR VICE CHANCELLOR OF STUDENT SERVICES, I THINK WE ARE UP 7% FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER WHICH IS HUGE.

>> YOU MADE A GOOD POINT, LIVES GET CHANGED BECAUSE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT GETTING READY TO STEP OUTSIDE INTO THE WORLD BEING A PREPARED PERSON AND ALSO PREPARED TO JOIN A WORKFORCE WHICH ALABAMA IS ALSO COURTED FOR BY BUSINESSES AND OTHER ENTITIES COMING TO THE STATE.

ONE OF THE REASONS IS THAT ALABAMA HAS A GREAT WORKFORCE AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS A BIG ROLE IN THAT.

>> I BELIEVE EVERYTHING WE DO IS WORKFORCE.

WE ARE UNIQUE AND REALLY NO ONE ELSE DOES WHAT WE DO.

THAT IS WE TRANSFER STUDENTS.

THEY CAN COME TO US IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY, GET QUALITY TRANSFER COURSES IF THEY WANT TO GO TO ANY OF OUR GREAT UNIVERSITIES IN THE STATE BUT IF THEY WANT A TWO-CAREER TECHNICAL DEGREE THAT WILL PUT THEM TO WORK, WHETHER IT IS NURSING, WELDING, INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE, ALL OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS THERE, BUT ALSO WE DO SHORT SKILLED TRAINING.

SO WE CAN TAKE SOMEONE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, JUST NEEDING A JOB QUICKLY AND UP SKILL THEM AND WE BELIEVE THE SKILLS -- THEY CAN GET INTO A LIVABLE WAGE JOB FAIRLY QUICKLY.

WE ARE PRETTY NIMBLE AND DOING REALLY GOOD THINGS IN THE STATE.

>> LIKE YOU SAID, LEADING THIS COUNTRY IN TERMS OF WHAT COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEMS CAN DO.

>> YEAH.

I THINK CHANCELLOR BAKER, WHO'S OUR LEADER, HAS JUST -- HE'S NEVER SATISFIED.

AS LONG AS THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA THAT NEEDS UP SKILLING AND A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE, HE PUSHES US DAILY TO GET BETTER AND TRY TO SEEK THAT PERSON OUT.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HELP THEM.

>> ANOTHER CAVEAT OF ALL OF THE SUCCESS IS PHYSICAL NEW EXPANSION AS WELL, TOO.

>> YES.

THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

WE HAVE GREAT LEADERSHIP IN OUR OFFICE.

MARK SELLMAN IS WORKING WITH OUR COLLEGES AND WE ARE SEEING WORKFORCE CENTERS BUILT AROUND THE STATE AND OUR CAMPUSES, MANY OF THEM ARE 60 YEARS AND OLDER.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO GET THOSE FACILITIES TO A PLACE WHERE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF NEW HIGH SCHOOLS ARE BEING BUILT AND IF SOMEONE LEAVES A HIGH SCHOOL AND COME TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE WE WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE COME TO COLLEGE.

THAT MEANS IN OUR TECHNICAL FEELS OR WHATEVER TRAINING WE WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE MOVING TO A QUALITY CAREER.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT THE CAPITAL PROJECTS TAKING PLACE.

>> SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS TAKING PLACE IN THE STATE, THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE STARTING THEIR NEW REGULAR SESSION FOR THE YEAR.

LAWMAKERS ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU AND YOUR AGENCY ARE DOING BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THAT LEADS TO PROVIDING A BETTER WORKFORCE FOR THE STATE.

>> YES.

AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS SESSION.

WE ARE THANKFUL FOR OUR DELEGATION.

THEY HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF THE WORK WE HAVE BEEN DOING AND EXCITED ABOUT THIS SESSION BECAUSE WE BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME GOOD PLANS AS FAR AS IMPACTING.

ONE THING THAT I THINK IS A BUZZ WORD IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT IS SOMEWHAT OF A PROBLEM IS LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION.

WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A FOUNDATIONAL PLAN OF HOW WE CAN WORK WITH OUR K-12 FRIENDS AND MET WITH DR. MACKEY AND HIS TEAM OF HOW WE CAN WORK OUT A BRIDGE TO MAKE SURE THAT NO STUDENT LEAVES HIGH SCHOOL WITHOUT HAVING A PLAN OF BEING ABLE TO GET INTO THE WORKFORCE.

>> IT'S LIKE A SEAMLESS CONNECTION BETWEEN ENTITIES.

>> IT'S A SEAMLESS CONNECTION, AND WE ARE HOPING TO GET SOME -- HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO LET STUDENTS KNOW AT A YOUNG AGE, AROUND NINTH GRADE BECAUSE STUDENTS CAN START WITH US IN TENTH GRADE.

THEY CAN START WITH US IN DUAL ENROLLMENT.

THEY CAN TAKE SKILLS FOR SUCCESS TRAINING, WHICH IS TRAINING SUCH AS AN EXCAVATOR, DRIVING AND EXCAVATOR OR HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM FOR OUR FRIENDS DOWN SOUTH.

ALL OF THE INDUSTRY SECTORS.

WE WILL HAVE SOME QUICK TRAININGS THAT STUDENTS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO EXPOSE THEM IN NINTH GRADE SO THEY KNOW THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AS THEY ARE GOING THROUGH TENTH 10, 11, AND 12TH GRADE.

WE ARE HOPING OUR DELEGATION CAN SUPPORT US IN GETTING A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM THAT WILL ACTUALLY AT THE END OF THEIR SENIOR YEAR THAT THERE'S MENTORS THERE THAT COME FROM BUSINESS INDUSTRY, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, JUST THE COMMUNITY ITSELF THAT COME TOGETHER AND ARE ABLE TO PLUG THE STUDENTS INTO -- EITHER IF THEY ARE TRANSFERRING TO A UNIVERSITY, THIS IS MAYBE SOME ASSISTANCE YOU NEED OR IF YOU NEED A JOB THE MENTOR MAY BE THE PERSON THAT CAN OFFER THEM THAT JOB AND GET THEM INTO A CAREER.

WE ARE REALLY -- THERE'S A LOT OF RESEARCH THAT'S WENT INTO THIS.

IT'S NOT JUST HEY, WE ARE SAYING WE WILL HAVE MENTORS.

TODAY, THE STATE OF TENNESSEE HAS ABOUT 9,000 MENTORS THAT ARE BRIDGING THE GAP FROM CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION INTO THE WORKFORCE.

BECAUSE WE HAVE RESEARCHED THAT MODEL, WE BELIEVE WE CAN BE JUST AS GOOD AS TENNESSEE.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE PROPOSING IN THIS SESSION TO BE ABLE TO GET MENTORS TO ENGAGE.

SO, NOW, WHEN WE HAVE -- I CALL IT -- I CALL MAY AND GRADUATION UNEMPLOYMENT DAY WHERE WE HAVE AROUND 40,000 STUDENTS IN THE STATE THAT GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL AND GENERALLY THEY ARE UNEMPLOYED.

WE WANT TO MAKE THAT A DAY THAT IT IS NOT AN UNEMPLOYMENT DATE.

THAT THERE IS A PLAN FOR EVERY STUDENT TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS MEANINGFUL AND CAN PUT THEM TO WORK AND HAVE A LIVABLE WAGE.

>> YOU JUST MENTIONED SOMETHING, WHICH I REMEMBER TALKING TO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT.

ALABAMA IS IN COMPETITION WITH SURROUNDING STATES ABOUT HELPING TO GET THAT WORKFORCE UP AND OUT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND REPRESENTED.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO GET THEM ENGAGED.

I THINK -- AND WE BELIEVE THAT SOME OF THAT IS JUST BECAUSE OF KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IS OUT THERE.

HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE IT AND, YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE -- OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE IN OUR SCHOOLS ARE BETTER THAN ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

WE BELIEVE THAT ALABAMA HAS THE BEST.

WE BELIEVE WE HAVE TO EQUIP THEM AND GET THEM READY.

RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE, UNFORTUNATELY, ABOUT HALF OF OUR STUDENTS THAT GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL IN MAY, HALF OF THEM, IF THE DATA CONTINUES, HALF OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE NOT SEEKING ANY POST SECONDARY TRAINING.

WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT TO GET A JOB THAT HAS A LIVEABLE WAGE, MOST OF THE TIME HAS TO HAVE SOME SORT OF SKILL OR TRAINING.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR FRIENDS AT K-12 AND WITH DR. MACKEY AND HIS TEAM AND THE BOARD OVER THERE SO WE CAN BRIDGE THAT GAP.

WHAT WE HOPE IS, AND WE BELIEVE IT, THE HOPE IS THAT WE CAN GET THAT 50% -- ALMOST 50 % THAT IS NOT SEEKING POST SECONDARY TRAINING, IF WE CAN BRING THAT DOWN, THOSE PERCENTAGES DOWN, WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE PERCENTAGE OF LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION GO DOWN AND IT IS A FOUNDATIONAL FIX.

SO OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ONE DAY WILL REAP THE BENEFITS FOR THE INVESTMENT IN THE PROGRAM.

>> DR. CHRIS COX, ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND TELLING US WHAT YOU GUYS ARE UP TO.

PLEASE KEEP US UP TO SPEED.

>> WILL DO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE APTV.ORG.

♪ >> MONTGOMERY NATIVE PERSIO JULIAN WAS AN INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED CHEMIST THE THIRD AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO RECEIVE A PH.D.

IN CHEMISTRY, HE SPECIALIZED IN NATURAL PRODUCTS AND THEIR SYNTHESIS IN THE LABORATORY.

THIS TECHNOLOGY IS VERY IMPORTANT IN MEDICINES, FOOD PRODUCTS, PAINT AND FIREFIGHTING FOAMS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, JULIAN RECEIVED MANY AWARDS, INCLUDING ELECTION TO THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND THE NATIONAL INVENTORS HALL OF FAME.

>> THAT WILL DO IT FOR THE ADDITION OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

BE SURE TO JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR AN ALL-NEW PROGRAM FEATURING STATEWIDE NEWS.

I'M RANDY SCOTT.

AND FOR ALL OF US HERE AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION, WE THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GOOD EVENING AND BE