>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY JOINS ME TO DISCUSS THE $4.5 BILLION SETTLEMENT SHE, ALONG WITH 14 OTHER ATTORNEYS GENERAL, JUST AGREED TO WITH PURDUE PHARMA, THE MAKER OF OXYCONTIN, AND THE OWNERS, THE SACKLER FAMILY.

LATER, THE LEADERS OF THREE LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS ON THE RECEIVING ENDS SOME MORE THAN 8 BILLION DOLLARS DONATED BY MACKENZIE SCOTT NO STRINGS ATTACHED.

AND FINALLY, THE LOCAL FARMS STEPPING UP TO FEED A COMMUNITY HIT HARD BY THE PANDEMIC.

♪.

♪.

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PURDUE PHARMA THE MAKER OF OXYCONTIN MAY SOON BE NO MORE.

SETTLEMENT APPEARS NEAR AFTER SWEETENERS ADDED TO THE DEAL BROUGHT A FEW LONG-TIME HOLD-OUTS ON BOARD INCLUDING MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY WHO WAS THE FIRST ATTORNEY GENERAL TO BRING A SUIT AGAINST THE SACKLER FAMILY, THE OWNERS OF PURDUE THEMSELVES.

IN ADDITION TO THE DISSOLUTION OF THE COMMUNITY AND IMMUNITY FROM TO FURTHER SUIT IT WOULD INCLUDE MORE THAN 4.3 BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE SACKLERS TO HELP FIGHT THE OPIOID CRISIS THEY HELPED CREATE.

WHAT ELSE DID THE SACKLERS DO TO BRING MORE STATES ON BOARD, AGREED TO RELEASE MORE THAN 20 MILLION ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS.

RELATED TO PURDUE'S OPIOID SALES MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION.

WHILE THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY, WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, THE FAMILY SHOULD STILL BE PRETTY COMFORTABLE.

WITH MORE THAN 5 BILLION DOLLARS LEFT OVER, MUCH OF IT THANKS TO THOSE OXYCONTIN SALES.

>> THE DAY'S RESOLUTION DELIVERS THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR.

A RECKONING THAT COMPOSES THE SACKLERS MISCONDUCT, STRIPS THEM OF POWER, AND PROVIDES MONEY THAT WILL BE DEDICATED ENTIRELY TO PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY.

I KNOW THAT TODAY ISN'T EVERYTHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN IN TERMS OF JUSTICE, I DO BELIEVE IT IS THE MOST WE COULD EXPECT AND GET UNDER THE LAW AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS.

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>> Baude: THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALSO SAID 90 MILLION DOLLARS OF THE TOTAL FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT WILL COME TO MASSACHUSETTS, SHE JOINS ME NOW, ATTORNEY GENERAL IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

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>> Baude: RECENTLY AS A MONTH AGO YOU WERE REJECTING ANY SETTLEMENT WITH THE COMPANY, WHAT SPECIFICALLY OF THESE ELEMENTS I TALKED ABOUT OR OTHERS TURN THE TRICK WITH YOU >> WELL, REALLY, IT'S BECAUSE THE TEAM OF LAWYERS IN MY OFFICE DID THE WORK OF GETTING PURDUE AND THE SACKLERS TO TURN OVER ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS.

ONE THING WE LEARNED THROUGH THIS HOLE EXPERIENCE, JIM, AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING WITH FAMILIES OVER THE YEARS, THEY WANT THE SACKLERS TO GO TO JAIL.

I ASKED THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO PROSECUTE THEM CRIMINALLY THEY DECLINED TO DO SO TO DATE I CONTINUE TO ASK THEM TO DO THAT.

THE SECOND THING THEY WANTED IS TRANSPARENCY THEY WANTED THE STORY TO BE TOLD, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF THIS FIRST TIME EVER PUBLIC DOCUMENT REPOSITORY THAT WILL BE SET UP THAT WILL HAVE EVERY E-MAIL, MEMO, INCLUDING ALL THE ATTORNEY/CLIENT PRIVILEGED INFORMATION THAT HAS EXISTED IN THE COMPANIES THROUGH TIME IT WILL TELL THE STORY AND LAY THERE FOR ALL TO SEE EXACTLY WHO KNEW WHAT WHEN AND WHO DID WHAT WHEN.

AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART THIS DISCLOSURE BECAUSE IT BRINGS THE TRANSPARENCY THAT THE FAMILIES HAVE LONG BEEN SEEKING THE ACCOUNTABILITY I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THIS RESOLUTION I'M NOT HAPPY THAT BILLIONAIRES WERE ABLE TO GO TO BANKRUPTCY COURT AND USE THE BANKRUPTCY PROCESS TO SHUTDOWN OUR STATE LITIGATION, I AM PROUD MY TEAM FOUGHT TOOTH AND NAIL TO THE END AND WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THIS RESULT WHICH IMPORTANTLY INCLUDES THE PUBLIC DOCUMENT DISCLOSURE FOR ALL TO SEE.

ALSO IMPORTANTLY, PURDUE AND SACKLERS ARE GONE, PURDUE IS WOUND DOWN, GOING AWAY AS A BUSINESS, THAT'S IMPORTANT.

AND THE SACKLERS ARE OUT OF THIS BUSINESS.

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>> Baude: OTHER THAN SATISFYING AND A DEMAND OF THE FAMILY, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY, COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO ME BRIEFLY CONCRETELY HOW DOES ACCESS TO THOSE MILLIONS OF DOCUMENTS CHANGE THE WORLD AND MAKE IT HOPEFULLY LESS LIKELY THAT THERE'S ANOTHER SACKLER POLICEMAN AND ANOTHER PURDUE PHARMA >> I THINK IT DOES A COUPLE OF THINGS.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE PUSHING FOR CHANGES IN CONGRESS TO PREVENT THIS FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN.

WE'RE TALKING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SO THEY ADOPT A NEW APPROACH TO THIS KIND OF CRIME.

AND I THINK THAT WHAT THE DOCUMENTS WILL DO IS THEY WILL ACTUALLY SHOW EXACTLY WHAT THE SACKLERS AND PURDUE DID HOW THEY WENT TO CONGRESS TO LOBE TO CHANGE THE RULES, RETAINED TOP FLIGHT LAW FIRM TO DO THEIR BIDDING SCHEMED TO PUMP SALES OF OEX-Y, THEY WILL INFORM THE WORK OF OF PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS AND POLICY EXPERTS AND LAW LAWMAKERS AS WE GO FORWARD SO WE CAN PREVENT THIS FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT, JIM, BECAUSE IT FOLLOWS SIMILAR REQUIREMENT THAT I MADE AS A RESULT OF THAT SETTLEMENT AGAINST MACKENZIE A FEW MONTHS AGO, MACKENZIE WAS THE COMPANY THAT PURDUE HIRED TO HELP THEM FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THE SALES AND MARKETING AND I ALSO REQUIRED FULL DOCUMENT DISCLOSURE AS PART OF THAT.

MY MESSAGE IS TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FIRMS, LAW FIRMS, ACCOUNTING, CONSULTING FIRMS, IF YOU'LL DO BUSINESS OUT THERE YOU BETTER BE DAMN SURE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR CLIENTS ARE DOING AND YOU BETTER BE DAMN SURE THAT YOU ARE IN THE PERPETRATING FRAUD, PERPETRATING ILLEGALITY OR PERPETRATING HARM IN THE WAY THAT PURDUE AND THE SACKLERS ASSISTED BY OTHERS DID TO THE DEVASTATION OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> Baude: WHAT HAPPENS WITH 90 MILLION MASSACHUSETTS GETS AND WHO DECIDES WHERE IT GOES >> THIS IS 90 MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S COMING INTO THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS TO BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR TREATMENT.

WE KNOW WE NEED MORE RESOURCES FOR TREATMENT.

I WORKED WITH THE LEGISLATURE FEW YEARS AGO TO SET UP A FUND AND OPIOID TRUST FUND, ANY MONEY I'VE COLLECTED GOES INTO THAT FUND TO BE DISBURSED FOR TREATMENT, THERE'S AN ADVISORY COUNCIL, OF STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD FAMILIES SUFFERING FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER VICTIMIZED BY PURDUE AND THE SACKLERS AND OTHERS WHO WILL HELP FIGURE OUT THE APPROPRIATE ALLOCATION OF THIS FUNDING.

SO I'M PLEASED ABOUT THAT.

WE CONTINUE DO ENOUGH AND I WOULD SAY WE NEED TO DO MORE ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL WHEN IT COMES TO RESOURCES FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS.

THEY ARE GREAT, THEY ARE GROWING.

MORE OPIOID DEATHS THIS CRORE THAN LAST AND I AM ACUTELY AWARE OF THAT AND I'M NOT GOING TO STOP FIGHTING.

>> Baude: THE LEGISLATURE CONTINUE GET INVOLVED IN DIVERT THIS MONEY TO SOME OTHER HOLE IN THE BUDGET.

THIS HAS TO GO TO TREATMENT PREVENTION.

CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

AND CREDIT TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR PASSING THE LAW THAT MY OFFICE HELPED IMPLEMENT, WHICH IS -- WHICH IS REALLY TO SPECIFICALLY MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS GOING JUST FOR TREATMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR FAMILIES.

EVERY LEGISLATURE IN THE STATE UNDERSTANDS IN MY VIEW JIM HOW DESPERATE THE NEED IS AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXAMPLE OF GOVERNMENT WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO GET RESOURCES WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

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>> Baude: YOU KNOW IN THE EVERY ATTORNEY GENERAL IS BROUGHT INTO THIS DEAL, ONE IS A COLLEAGUE, I WANT TO READ ONE LINE OF WHAT HE HADS AT THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THIS SETTLEMENT.

THIS DEAL ALARMING ALLOWING THE SACKLERS TO STILL WALK AWAY WITH PERSONAL WEALTH IN TACK AND ALLOWS FUNDS ALREADY INTENDED FOR CHARITY TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS DEAL.

I HAVE TO SAY YOU KNOW, AND I'M GUESSING YOU HAVE THE SAME FEELING, YOU'LL TELL ME, AS A CITIZEN, THE FACT THAT AS OF THE MOMENT THERE ARE NO CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS WE'LL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND AGAIN, THE FACT THAT THEY STILL GET TO LIVE IN LUXURY AS WE LEARNED IN THAT SPECTACULAR BOOK, WHICH YOU WERE MENTIONING QUITE FREQUENTLY EMPIRE OF PAIN, WITH BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT.

WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO WHAT TOM HAD TO SAY >> I UNDERSTAND WHERE CONNECTICUT IS COMING FROM,S THERE'S A HANDFUL OF STATES NOT SIGNED ON THEY GET THE BENEFIT OF THE SETTLEMENT THAT WE REACHED THEY'RE STILL GOING TO GET THE BENEFIT OF THAT WHETHER THEY DECIDE TO SIGN ON OR NOT.

BUT CERTAINLY THE RHETORICAL POINTS I UNDERSTAND, I TOTALLY AGREE.

IT'S WHY I WENT TO CONGRESS TO SAY CONGRESS PLEASE PASS THE SACKLER ACT, WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT THE SACKLERS FROM USING BANKRUPTCY TO OBEYED FULL ACCOUNTABILITY.

CONGRESS HAS YET TO ACT, I WENT TO JUSTICE TO SAY PLEASE PROSECUTE THIS FAMILY, BAD ACTORS WE'LL SEE IF THEY TAKE THAT STEP.

I KNOW FULL WELL THAT THIS ISN'T ENOUGH BUT IT IS WHAT I MEANT WAS ABLE TO DO UNDER EXISTING LAW AND AGAIN, I'M PROUD OF OUR TEAM FOR NOT A YEAR AGO WHEN A LOT OF STATES WANTED TO SETTLE AND WORKING TO GET A RESOLUTION IT WAS GOING TO REQUIRE THINGS LIKE THE DOCUMENT DISCLOSURE, ALSO ANOTHER BILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS THAT WILL GO TOWARDS TREATMENT AND RECOVERY AROUND OF THIS COUNTRY.

SO IS IT PERFECT?

NO.

IS IT THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO FOR OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AT THIS TIME?

GIVEN THE LAW AND GIVEN THE BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, ABSOLUTELY.

BUT YOU KNOW, I WON'T REST, JIM, AND WE'VE ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE OTHER OPIOID MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS JUST LIKE I DID WITH MACKENZIE, JUST LIKE I DID WITH PURDUE AND THE SACKLERS, JUST LIKE I DID IF FILING ANOTHER SUIT RECENTLY AGAINST A BIG MARKETING COMPANY THAT HELPED PURDUE WITH ITS MARKETING I'LL CONTINUE TO PURSUE ALL THE BAD ACTORS IN THIS SPACE AND WORK TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE IT'S WHAT OUR FAMILIES DESERVE AND ALSO I'LL WORK TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE SO WE ELIMINATE SOME SYSTEMIC FAILURES THAT LEAVE US IN THIS.

>> Baude: YOU MENTIONED YOU WENT TO SO FAR DID NOT CRIMINALLY PROSECUTE THE SACKLERS IF YOU BELIEVE THEIR BEHAVIOR MERITS PROSECUTION WHY DON'T YOU DO IT >> I DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS UNDER STATE LAW TO DO THIS KIND OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DOES.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CUT A DEAL WITH PURDUE ALLOWED THEM, THE COMPANY, TO GUILTY AND PAY A FINE BACK IN THE FALL.

I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN THE TRUMP JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION PURSUE THE SACKLERS NOT JUST PURDUE WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS DOING AND FORTUNATELY NOW, BECAUSE OF OUR WORK AND BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF THE TEAM AND THE MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU WILL SEE DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN, SEEN BEFORE AND PERHAPS SHED MORE LIGHT ON WHAT HAPPENED.

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>> Baude: I WANT TO BE CLEAR, DO YOU BELIEVE BASED ON THE DOCUMENTS YOU'VE SEEN TEAM SEEN THEY'VE COMMITTED CRIMES FOR WHICH THEY COULD BE PROSECUTED AND CONVICTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, I DO AND I ALSO THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE INSTANCES, JIM WHERE IT'S THE CASE THAT YOU TRY TO MAKE, IT'S ABSOLUTELY CASE THAT YOU TRY TO MAKE YOU LOOK AT THE DEVASTATION YOU LOOK AT THE HARM, YOU LOOK AT HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE DECEASED AND DIED AS A RESULT YOU LOOK AROUND AT THE NUMBER OF GRANDPARENTS IN OUR STATE RAISING GRANDCHILDREN, THE NUMBER OF PARENTS WHO'VE LOST SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO THIS DISEASE AND IT'S A DISEASE AND AN EPIDEMIC THAT WAS REALLY FUELED AND FURTHERED BY THE ACTIONS OF PURDUE AND BY THE ACTIONS OF THE SACKLER FAMILY MEMBERS.

SO WE HELD THEM TO ACCOUNT AS BEST WE COULD IN THIS COURT.

THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE HELD TO ACCOUNT IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION.

AND ULTIMATELY I GUESS THEY WILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF JUSTICE SOME DAY.

>> Reporter:.

>> Baude: HOPE THAT'S TRUE, GOOD TO SEE YOU THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS, JIM, GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

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>> Baude: MORE INFORMATION ON PF AND THE FAMILY BEHIND IT.

AS I SAID I RECOMMEND A FABULOUS BOOK CALLED EMPIRE OF PAIN.

THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE SACKLER FAMILY, ALSO WATCH MY CONVERSATION WITH THE AUTHOR, PATRICK RADDEN KEEF A GREATER BOSTON.

NEXT UP MANY WORLD RICHEST PEOPLE PLEDGED TO GIVE AWAY LARGE PORTION OF THEIR MONEY, LIKE BILL AND MELINDA GATES THROUGH THEIR FOUNDATION AND A NUMBER OF OTHER BILLIONAIRES SIGNED ON TO THE GIVING PLEDGE THEY CO FOUNDED WITH WARREN BUFFET ALL COMMITTING TO GIVE AWAY THE MAJORITY OF THEIR FORTUNES, SOME ACTUALLY HONORED THOSE COMMITMENTS, THEN THERE'S THE WORLD'S RICHEST MAN, JEFF BEZOS WHO PROMISED TO GIVE AWAY 10 BILLION DOLLARS TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE LAST YEAR, JUDGE THE ABOUT THE TIME TWO AMAZON WORKERS WERE FIRED FOR CRITICIZING WORKING CONDITIONS THERE.

BUT JEFF BEZOS EX-WIFE MACKENZIE SCOTT GOT 25% OF THE AM AMAZON STOCKS IN THE DIVORCE PUTTING HER BILLIONS WHERE HER MOUTH IS SHE'S GIVEN AWAY MORE THAN 8 BILLION DIRECTLY TO GROUP THAT IS CAN PUT THAT MONEY INTO ACTION RIGHT AWAY, THEY DON'T HAVE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION AND THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT WITH THE GRANT, SHE EXPLAINED IN A RECENT POST IN THIS EFFORT WE'RE GOVERNORED BY A HUMBLING BELIEF THAT IT WILL BE BETTER IF DISPROPORTIONATE WEALTH WERE NOT CONCENTRATED IN SMALL NUMBER HANDS AND SOLUTIONS ARE BEST DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED BY OTHERS.

MANY OF THE HUNDREDS OF RECIPIENTS HAVE BEEN COMMUNITY COLLEGES CENTERS, COLLEGES LOCAL ARTS GROUPS, SOME RIGHT HERE IN BOSTON.

I'M JOINED NOW BY PEOPLE BEHIND THREE OF THEM.

MADELINE STECZYNSKI IS THE CO FOUNDER OF SUE MEX, HOWARD STEWART IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CULTURAL STRATEGIST OF THE THEATER COMPANY BY AND FOR LGBTQ PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND KATHY EDWARDS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW ENGLAND FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS, THREE VERY HAPPY PEOPLE.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, CAN WE GO AROUND THE CLOCK, STARTING WITH MADELINE HOW DID YOU FIND OUT THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION WAS THE RECIPIENT OF IN YOUR CASE, A MILLION BUCKS?

>> WE GOT A -- CAN YOU HEAR ME?

.

>> Baude: PERFECTLY >> SO NICE TO BE HERE AND THANK YOU REALLY HONORED TO SHARE THIS TIME WITH ALL OF YOU GUYS, YOU'RE ALL AMAZING.

WE GOT A CRYPTIC E-MAIL FROM SOMEBODY I HAD NEVER MET BEFORE THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE E-MAILS THAT LIKE, YOU KNOW, I REPRESENT SOME DONORS INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING YOUR WORK, PLEASE REACH OUT AND GET IN TOUCH.

AND YOU KNOW, IN THE AVALANCHE.

OF E-MAIL YOU GET EVERY DAY YOU GET AN E-MAIL LIKE THAT AND YOU GO, OK, I'LL GET TO IT AND THEN MAYBE AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU SEND ON IT A QUICK RESPONSE THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, SURE, I'M CURIOUS, HERE'S MY CONTACT INFORMATION, AND THEY WANTED TO HAVE A PHONE CONVERSATION AND I REMEMBER HAVING THAT MOMENT WHERE I WAS LIKE, THE WORLD IS SO CRAZY RIGHT NOW, THIS DOESN'T EVEN SEEM REAL.

AND YET, BECAUSE WE'RE SOMETIMES WORKING IN THE OFFICE AND SOMETIMES WORKING REMOTELY, MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO GIVE THEM MY CELL PHONE NUMBER, WHICH I FELT A LITTLE HESITANT TO DO QUITE HONESTLY.

JUST BECAUSE THE WORLD IS CRAZY RIGHT NOW AND I'M LIKE I DON'T KNOW.

>> Baude: BUT YOU DID >> I GAVE THEM MY CELL PHONE NUMBER, WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND ESSENTIALLY THE FIRST SENTENCE OUT OF THE WOMAN THAT I SPOKE TO OUT OF HER MOUTH WAS, I REPRESENT MACKENZIE SCOTT AND HER HUSBAND AND THEY AND THEY'RE INTERESTED IN GIVING YOUR ORGANIZATION $1 MILLION GIFT.

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>> Baude: KATHY, DID YOU HAVE A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE OR NO?

>> YES.

WE HAD A PRELIMINARY CONVERSATION ACTUALLY TO TALK ABOUT IT'S NEW ENGLAND FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND THE REGIONAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AS A WHOLE WITH SOME CONSULTANT WORKING FOR MACKENZIE SCOTT WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT AT THE TIME BUT WE DID HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, AND WE DID NOT KNOW IF IT WOULD GO ANYWHERE OR ON WHOSE BEHALF IT WAS.

BUT ABOUT A MONTH LATER, RECEIVED THE SAME KIND OF PHONE CALL E-MAIL THAT MADELINE DESCRIBED.

WONDERFUL UNEXPECTED NEWS.

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>> Baude: MADELINE MENTIONED DAN WHO'S A HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER WHO WAS THE TEACHER OF BASIS AND SCOTT'S KIDS WHO SHE IS NOW MARRIED TO PART OF THE GIVING, HAROLD SIMILAR EXPERIENCE >> ABSOLUTELY I THINK FOR US WE WORKED WITH THE GROUP THEY ASKED US TO SUBMIT A SERIES OF INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS BECAUSE THEY HAD AN INTEREST AND THEY INFORMED US THAT IF THE DONOR WANTED TO PURSUE THE OPPORTUNITY THEY WOULD REACH OUT TO US.

AND SO AGAIN YOU KIND OF LIKE MANAGE EXPECTATIONS.

AROUND IT WAS LIKE THIS IS PHENOMENONAL AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS.

SO TRYING TO COMMUNICATE IT TO THE TEAM, BUT SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'LL JUST PROCEED AS WE WOULD USUALLY DO BUT SOMEONE IS INTERESTED.

WHAT MAY BE DIFFERENT FOR ME IS THAT WHEN CALL WAS ACTUALLY SET UP SUPPOSEDLY, AND IT WAS A 15-MINUTE CALL, I WAS SICK THAT DAY, SO I'D ACTUALLY CLEARED MY SCHEDULE AND I LOOKED AT THIS APPOINTMENT AND I SAID AM I GOING TO KEEP THIS CALL AND YOU KNOW, 15 MINUTES, WHAT WILL IT HURT, AND SO IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I'VE MADE.

SO TAKE THAT 15 MINUTE PHONE CALL.

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>> Baude: THE MORAL IS RESPOND TO YOUR E-MAIL.

I THINK THAT'S THE MESSAGE.

HAROLD STARTING WITH YOU, 3 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE THEATER, BRIEFLY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOUR OPERATION?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN >> I THINK IT MEANS BEFORE WE JUMP TO OPERATIONS, I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE AMAZING HUMAN BEINGS THAT MAKE UP THE ORGANIZATION AND OUR MISSION AND THE PEOPLE WE SERVE, SO I THINK IT JUST MEANS A LOT IN TERMS OF LIKE RECOGNITION, I THINK FOR YOUR ME PERSONALLY AS ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS LEADING THE ORGANIZATION AND AS SOMEONE WHO YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SLEEPNESS NIGHTS WHERE YOU WONDER SHOULD I COMPROMISE?

CHANGE SOFTER WITH OUR MESSAGE TO APPEAL TO MORE PEOPLE?

IT REALLY MEANS THAT OUR WORK IS AFFIRMED AND I THINK AND OUR OPERATIONS CONTINUED YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASED NEED DURING THE PANDEMIC IN TERMS OF SERVICES, TRANS PEOPLE OF COLOR AND ESPECIALLY LIKE DIRECT SUPPORT AND BASIC NEEDS BUT FOR OUR ORGANIZATION PUTS US IN A POSITION WHERE A, WE DECIDED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE BEST PACKAGE FOR OUR STAFF, WHETHER THAT'S BENEFITS, SALARIES, RETIREMENTS WE'RE A YOUNG STAFF, A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR STAFF AND WE ENHANCE OUR PROGRAMS WE MOVE THE MONEY TO INDIVIDUALS CONNECTED TO US AND PEOPLE WE PARTNER WITH, BUT THEN ALSO INTERESTING AND VERY NEW CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE THIS MONEY RE GENERATE THROUGH OUR ORGANIZATION AND CAN WE BE IN A POSITION TO MAKE INVESTMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO IT IS SOME NEW CONVERSATIONS AND FULFILLMENTSES OLD FOUNDATION.

>> Baude: KATHY NEW ENGLAND FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS, HOW DOES THAT CHANGE WHAT THE ORGANIZATION IS ABLE TO DO.

>> WELL, AS HAROLD SAYS, IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DREAM A LITTLE BIT AND TO DO EVEN MORE THAN WE'RE ALREADY DOING.

AND I'M NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT VOLUME.

VOLUME OF GRANT MAKING BUT REALLY TO GO DEEPER WITH THE WAY WE SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN OUR WORK IN THE PAST CALENDAR YEAR, MADE OVER 400 GRANTS, GAVE AWAY 5.7 MILLION DOLLARS, AND THE ARTIST AND THE CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE SUPPORT IN THE NEW ENGLAND REGION, IN MASSACHUSETTS HERE IN BOSTON, WE KNOW HOW MUCH THEY NEED SUPPORT RIGHT NOW AND ASSUREDLY THOSE DOLLARS WILL FLOW THROUGH OUR ORGANIZATION TO MEET OUR LONG-TERM COMMITMENTS TO GETTING RESOURCES WHERE THEY ARE MOST NEEDED IN THE ARTS ECOSYSTEM.

BUT YOU KNOW, AS HAROLD SAID, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS.

AND WE'RE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION BUT WE DO SO OFTEN FEEL INVISIBLE AND THAT'S FINE BUT WE'RE LIKE AN INVISIBLE KIND OF BACKBONE TO THE CULTURAL ECOSYSTEM.

AND WE'RE REALLY SUPPORTING THE AMAZING WORK OF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ZUMIX AND THEATER AND THAT'S AS IT SHOULD BE BUT NONETHELESS IT JUST MEANS SO MUCH TO KNOW THAT OUR WORK HAS BENZENE AND THAT THE KIND OF ORGANIZATION WE ARE A NONPROFIT GRANT MAKER, A SERVICE PROVIDER TO THE REGION, YEAH, IT'S VALUED, IT'S IMPORTANT, IS CRITICAL TO INVEST IN IF WE BELIEVE, AS WE DO THAT THE ARTS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE AND A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

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>> Baude: $1 MILLION FOR ZUMEX HOW DOES THAT CHANGE WHAT YOU DO IN EAST BOSTON >> I WOULD ALMOST MIMIC WHAT HAROLD HAD SAID.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK CAME OUT IN SOME OF THE PRESS THAT MACKENZIE SCOTT'S TEAM HAD PUT OUT IS THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS THEY CHOSE TO SUPPORT ACROSS THE WHOLE COUNTRY HAD SEVERAL THINGS IN COMMON, THEY HAD LONG TRACK RECORDS OF DOING EXCELLENT WORK AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL, SO THEY WERE CONSIDERED EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

THEY WERE CHRONICALLY UNDER FUNDED AND THEY BELIEVE THOSE INSTITUTIONS GIVEN HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND DOING THAT WORK HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST UTILIZE THOSE RESOURCES SO I KNOW WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT ACTUALLY EVEN JUST SOME BENCHMARKING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IF WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PARTICULARLY IN THIS CLIMATE TO ATTRACT EXCELLENT STAFF AND RETAIN THEM AND BE ABLE TO BUILD ON FOUNDATION OF SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE HERE TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE THE CHANGING NEEDS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO OFFER COMPETITIVE SALARIES AND COMPETITIVE PACKAGES AND IT'S HEARTBREAKING HONESTLY WHEN WE LOSE PEOPLE TO NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T LOVE THEIR JOB, THEY ALSO SIMULTANEOUSLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THEIR WELL-BEING AND THAT'S A TRUTH WE BUMP UP A LOT.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT IS BETTER PACKAGES FOR STAFF.

WE ALSO JUST CREATED A SUBCOMMITTEE AT THE BOARD WHICH I THOUGHT WOULD BE A LAZY LITTLE COMMITTEE THINKING ABOUT INVESTMENT AND WHAT AN INVESTMENT POLICY MIGHT LOOK LIKE IF WE WERE DREAMING ABOUT THE FUTURE AND SO YOU KNOW, IT'S MILLION DOLLARS IS NOT A TOTAL GAME CHANGER BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE TO DELIVER ON OUR FUND-RAISING STRATEGIES AND KEEP OUR ENGINE GOING WITH OUR OPERATIONS BUT IT IS A HUGE BOOST IN THE ARM TO LIKE REALIZE THAT KIND OF RECOGNITION IS OUT THERE.

>> Baude: ALMOST OUT OF TIME, DID ANY OF YOU SPEAK TO MACKENZIE SCOTT OR DAN AFTER YOU RECEIVED THE EIGHT, THREE AND $1 MILLION?

ANYBODY?

NO.

>> I DID WRITE TO THEM.

.

>> Baude: OK, SO THE ANSWER IS NO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I WOULD SAY I'M A SPIRITUAL PERSON, I THINK WE'VE HAD SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS BUT NOT ON THE PHONE.

.

>> Baude: I'M ALMOST OUT OF TIME AND I'LL DIRECT THIS TO YOU, KATHY, I USED TO RUN NONPROFITS I KNOW WHAT THE TORTURE IS OF GRANT APPLICATIONS AND SENDING IN REPORTS, DETAILING EVERY SINGLE PENNY THAT YOU SPENT.

IS WHAT MACKENZIE SCOTT AND DAN ARE DOING IS THAT GOING TO CHANGE THE NATURE OF PHILANTHROPY IN OF THIS COUNTRY?

>> I THINK THE ANSWER IS WE HOPE SO.

UNRESTRICTED GIFTS AND TRUSTING THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE GROUND DOING GREAT WORK FOR YEARS AND REALLY KNOW THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR COMMUNITY NEEDS IS ABSOLUTELY THE WAY TO GO.

SO WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE BEING SUCH A VISIBLE CHAMPION FOR THAT FORM OF GIVING.

.

>> Baude: FOR EVERYBODY WATCHING THAT RUN AS NONPROFIT I WOULD SUGGEST YOU SEND A SPIRITUAL MESSAGE RIGHT NOW TO MACKENZIE SCOTT OR DAN.

HAROLD CATHY MADELINE, CONGRATULATIONS WITH YOUR WONDERFUL WORK, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

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>> Baude: AS BOSTON RECOVERS FROM THE PANDEMIC, LOCAL FARM IS STEPPING UP TO PROVIDE FRESH FOOD TO COMMUNITY RESIDENTS.

THE STORY BED FORD REPORTS THE FARM IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF A NEIGHBORHOOD HARD HIT BY COVID.

>> ONCE THEY REALLY GROW OUT, WE CAN ADD SOIL TO THEM TOO >> EVERY MORNING, BOBBY WALKER SHARES HIS FARMING KNOWLEDGE WITH SMALL GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS AT THE FOWLER CLARK EPSTEIN FARM IN MATTAPAN.

>> IN THE SWEET POTATOES ARE LOOKING GOOD.

THERE'S A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THEM THERE FOR A SECOND.

BUT.

YEP.

>> ORIGINALLY CULTIVATED IN 1786, THE HALF ACRE OF LAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY SAT VACANT FOR DECADES UNTIL A REHABILITATION EFFORT IN 2013 LED BY PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE WALKER AND PATRICIA SPENCE, THE PRESIDENT OF URBAN FARMING INSTITUTE.

>> OUR MISSION IS WE DON'T JUST GROW FOOD, WE GROW PEOPLE >> THAT INCLUDES EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, FOOD INSECURITY INCREASED ACROSS THE STATE BY 55% AND NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR LIKE MATTAPAN WERE DISPROPORTIONALLY AFFECTED.

>> UCONN GET ON THE BUT AT THAT TIME.

YOU PROBABLY COULD GET TO A CORNER STORE.

PROBABLY.

BUT EVEN THEY WERE HAVING ISSUES GETTING FOOD.

AND WHAT WE LEARNED IS THAT THE FOOD CHAIN JUST DISINTEGRATED DURING COVID.

SO TO BE HONEST, WE PLACE TO BE.

>> WITH DONATIONS FROM THE CITY AND OTHER FUNDERS THE FARM WAS ABLE TO STAY OPEN PROVIDING $15,000 POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE TO THE COMMUNITY AND OFFERING COUPONS FOR PRODUCE AT THE FARMER'S MARKET TO CUSTOMERS LIKE MATTAPAN RESIDENTS KARA BOETGGER AND WILLIE JACKSON.

>> DEFINITELY THINGS WERE TOUGH, THERE WERE SO MANY UNKNOWNS SO ANY EXTRA HELP THAT WAS AVAILABLE WAS REALLY A BLESSING.

>> FIXED INCOME THIS REALLY HELPS.

YOU KNOW, THIS REALLY HELPS.

>> Reporter: COMMUNITY OUT REGIMENS CREATING A SPACE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, LIKE WALKER WHO CURRENTLY LIVES ON THE FARTHER HE SAID HE COULD HAVE NEVER DREAMED OF THIS PLACE AS A KID GROWING UP IN ROXBURY.

>> NONE OF THIS WAS HERE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, LIKE, A FARM IN THE CITY?

THAT'S LIKE WHAT I -- I GET A LOT.

A FARM IN THE CITY?

WHERE?

WHERE?

>> WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, THE FARM REDUCED ITS TEAM OF 750 VOLUNTEERS TO JUST TEN.

PEOPLE LIKE TALIA McCRAY WHO MOVED TO MATTAPAN DURING THE PANDEMIC AND USED THE FARM AS A WAY TO ESTABLISH TIES TO HER NEW NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO COME HERE AND ONE NOT ALWAYS FEEL LIKE I'M LEANING ON THE ONE OR TWO HUMANS THAT I KNOW AND EXPANDING MY COMMUNITY AND LIKE MY NETWORK AND JUST, YOU KNOW, KNOWING NEW PEOPLE AND PLACES AND THINGS.

>> THIS LOOKS GOOD.

THIS LOOKS GOOD >> THE FARMERS AT FOWLER CLARK CONTINUE TO GROW, PRODUCE AND THEIR ROOTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: TORI BED FORD NEWS.

>> Baude: STANDS OUT AS BLACK OWNED FARM IN MAJORITY BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD, NATIONWIDE THE NUMBER OF BLACK FARMERS SHRUNK FROM 14% IN 1920 TO LESS THAN 2% AS OF A FEW YEARS AGO.

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PLAN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH 4 BILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT RELIEF FOR FARMERS OF COLOR WAS BLOCKED BY WHITE FARMERS BANKS AND JUDGES LAST MONTH LEAVING A GLARING RACIAL DISPARITY IN FARMING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW, THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING PLEASE STAY SAFE.

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