>> NEISLOSS: I'M LIZ NEISLOSS, IN FOR JIM BRAUDE.

TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," I'M JOINED BY ONE OF THE WOMEN WHO DROVE A MAJOR CHANGE IN MASSACHUSETT S-- SIGNED INTO LAW YESTERDAY-- BANNING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST NATURAL AND PROTECTIVE BLACK HAIRSTYLES ACROSS THE STATE.

IT ALL STARTED WITH A DETENTION AND A PROM BAN OVER HER OWN HAIRSTYLE, MORE THAN FIVE YEARS AGO.

PLUS, WITH STAFFING SHORTAGES ACROSS THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, ONE LOCAL HOSPITAL PROGRAM IS TRYING TO EXPAND THE PIPELINE.

BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S OFFERS YEAR-ROUND PAID INTERNSHIPS TO BOSTON STUDENTS FROM PRIMARILY UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS.

THEIR VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH AND A RECENT GRADUATE OF THE PROGRAM JOIN ME.

♪♪ A FIVE-YEAR-LONG FIGHT OVER THE RIGHT OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO CONTROL THEIR OWN HAIRSTYLES HAS FINALLY ENDED IN VICTORY, WITH GOVERNOR BAKER SIGNING INTO LAW THE CROWN ACT.

IT BANS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST NATURAL AND PROTECTIVE BLACK HAIRSTYLES, INCLUDING BRAIDS, LOCS, TWISTS AND BANTU KNOTS.

AND MASSACHUSETTS IS THE 18TH STATE TO PASS SUCH A LAW, INCLUDING NEW JERSEY, WHERE LAWMAKERS INTRODUCED THE ACT AFTER A BLACK HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLER WAS FORCED TO CUT HIS LOCS IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN A MATCH.

THAT INCIDENT ALSO SPARKED A NATIONAL PROPOSAL, WHICH IS STILL WAITING ON SENATE ACTION.

BUT STANDING NEXT TO THE GOVERNOR WHEN HE PUT PEN TO PAPER YESTERDAY WERE THE TWO WOMEN WHO DROVE THE CHANGE HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, STARTING WAY BACK IN 2017.

THAT'S WHEN TWIN SISTERS MYA AND DEANNA COOK GOT DETENTION AND WERE BANNED FROM GOING TO PROM AND OTHER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AT THEIR MALDEN CHARTER SCHOOL, JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY WORE THEIR HAIR.

MYA COOK JOINS ME NOW, ALONG WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE BRANDY FLUKER OAKLEY, OF BOSTON, ONE OF THE BILL'S CO-SPONSORS.

>> Neisloss: MYA, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

HOW DID THIS FEEL, TO SEE ALL OF THESE EFFORTS TURN INTO LAW?

>> IT FELT AMAZING TO BE THERE YESTERDAY WITH THE GOVERNOR, CHARLIE BAKER, AND SEE HIM ACTUALLY SIGN THE CROWN ACT, AND NOW IT IS A LAW NOW.

SO IT FELT REALLY AMAZING.

IT WAS INTENSE, BUT IT WAS JUST -- I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR ANYTHING MORE.

>> Neisloss: SO YOU AND YOUR SISTER WERE REALLY CREDITED NOT ONLY WITH YOUR COURAGE FOR STANDING UP, FOR HELPING BE SOME OF THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND WHAT HAPPENED.

CAN YOU GIVE THE DETAILS?

YOU'RE NOW 21.

THIS IS YOU WHEN YOU WERE 15 THAT THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE.

CAN YOU PAINT THE PICTURE FOR US OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE AT A 15-YEAR-OLD?

>> YEAH.

MY SISTER AND I WENT TO GET LOCS BRAIDS, AND WE HAD NEVER DONE THAT BREAKFAST AND SO WE WERE REALLY EXCITED.

IT WAS DURING SPRING BREAK, AND WE CAME BACK TO SCHOOL AND ALL OF OUR FRIENDS WERE EXCITED.

AND IT WAS JUST A HAPPY DAY.

THE DAY AFTER THAT IS WHERE IT ALL WENT SOUTH.

OUR HISTORY TEACHER, SHE GAVE TODAYGAVE DEANNA AN IN FRACTURE, AND TOLD HER SHE HAD TO TAKE THE BRAIDS OUT.

AND I HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN, AND THE TEACHER ALREADY HAD THE FORM FILLED OUT FOR ME, AND SHE SENT ME TOT NURSE, TOO.

I REMEMBER IN THAT MOMENT GOING DOWN THE STAIRS, GOING TO THE NURSES' OFFICE, AND THINKING IT JUST DIDN'T FEEL REAL.

I'M MISSING CLASS TIME BECAUSE OF MY HAIR.

IT WAS REALLY UPSETTING, ESPECIALLY KNOWING I WASN'T DOING ANYTHING WRONG.

I REMEMBER GOING TO THE BATHROOM AFTER TALKING WITH THE NURSE TO CRY BECAUSE I DIDN'T BELIEVE WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT.

>> Neisloss: AND DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER FRIENDS AT THE TIME IN SCHOOL WHO YOU WERE ABLE TO DISCUSS THIS WITH?

IT WAS JUST YOU AND YOUR SISTER?

>> UM...SO WE DID HAVE SOME FRIENDS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TALK TO ABOUT IT WITH, BUT THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION, THEY STARTED CALLING DOWN ALL OF THE OTHER BLACK GIRLS TO INVESTIGATE THEIR HAIR.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, PEOPLE FELT LIKE MAYBE ME AND DEANNA, LIKE, TOLD THEM WHOSE HAIR WAS FAKE OR REAL OR WHATEVER, WHICH WASN'T TRUE.

SO WE DID HAVE SOME PEOPLE TO TALK TO IT ABOUT, BUT NOT THE SUPPORT OF EVERYONE RIGHT AWAY.

>> Neisloss: REPRESENTATIVE, I WANT TO TURN TO YOU.

YOU GAVE A VERY POWERFUL SPEECH WHEN YOU INTRODUCED THIS BILL.

YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS AS BEING A REAL ISSUE, A DAMAGING ISSUE, A PERVASIVE ISSUE.

AND YOU HAVE YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE.

CAN YOU TELL US YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS?

>> YEAH.

I WOULD BE HAPPY TO.

I THINK WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT AS BLACK WOMEN AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE OUR TEXTURE HAIR, WE ARE SOCIALIZED VERY EARLY ABOUT OUR HAIR.

I REMEMBER BEING A LITTLE GIRL, HAVING TO SIT FOR HOURS TO GET BRAIDS, AND THEN WHAT WAS CALLED A PRESSING CURL, AND THERE WOULD BE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT WAS PRESENTABLE AND WHAT WAS PROFESSIONAL.

I TAUGHT IN BALTIMORE CITY THIRD GRADE, AND I WENT NATURAL A COUPLE YEARS PRIOR TO THAT TEACHING ENGAGEMENT, AND FOR ME IT WAS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT MY STUDENTS SAW A BLACK WOMAN WHO SHARES THEIR BACKGROUND WEARING THEIR OTHER HAIR.

AND IN ATLANTA, GOING TO LAW SCHOOL, THE COACH WAS MORE OPEN, GRADUATED AND MOVED BACK TO BOSTON, AND IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT NATURAL HAIR WAS NOT VERY WELL-RECEIVED.

AND HOW WE THINK ABOUT THE COURTROOM AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION AND HOW THE OUTCOME OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH YOUR CLIENT, I HAD TO TAKE HOURS TO GET MY HAIR STRAIGHTENED.

FOR BLACK WOMEN, SOMETIMES THE CHOICE OF DO I WEAR MY HAIR STRAIGHT OR DO I GET TO GO TO THE GYM.

SOMETIMES WEARING THE HAIR STRAIGHT MEANS I CAN'T GO TO THE GYM FOR A WEEK OR TWO.

THAT ALSO HAS OTHER IMPLICATIONS.

I'VE HAD MY OWN STORIES, AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF STORIES THROUGHOUT MY FAMILY AND WITH MY FRIENDS, AND THIS IS WHY THE CROWN ACT IS SO IMPORTANT, AND WHAT WHY MYA AND DEANNA DID WAS SO IMPORTANT.

>> Neisloss: WE HAVE STATISTICS THAT CAN SHOW THAT YOUNG GIRLS ARE THE SUBJECT OF A LOT OF THIS PROBLEM, EXPERIENCING HAIR DISCRIMINATION BY THE AGE OF 12, 7%.

777%.%.

AND 66% OF BLACK GIRLS EXPERIENCE THIS, AND THAT IS 81% OF THE GIRLS THAT WERE SURVEYED.

THIS WOULD CLEARLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON SELF-ESTEEM.

MYA, YOU WERE 15 YEARS OLD.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT IT HAS DONE FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE?

YOU HAVE GONE ON TO HAVE A REAL IMPACT ON THIS ISSUE.

HOW DID YOU FEEL AT THE TIME?

>> THE FIRST DAY I CAME BACK TO SCHOOL, I FELT REALLY GOOD.

I FELT BEAUTIFUL.

I FELT MORE CONNECTED TO MY CULTURE.

AND THE SECOND DAY, AFTER I GOT IN TROUBLE FOR IT, I FELT EMBARRASSED.

I FELT SHAME.

I JUST FELT LIKE DIRTY.

I FELT LIKE JUST VERY EMBARRASSED AND JUST AWFUL.

I DIDN'T FEEL THE SAME WAY I DID THE FIRST DAY.

>> Neisloss: AND REPRESENTATIVE, DO YOU THINK THAT LAW WILL HAVE THE SAME IMPACT IN SCHOOLS?

THERE CAN NO LONGER BE OVERT DISCRIMINATION.

BUT A LOT OF THIS IS REALLY ABOUT IMPLICIT BIAS, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WE CAN'T LEGISLATE A BIAS TO GO AWAY BECAUSE WE'RE ALL HUMANS WHO HAVE OUR OWN LIVED EXPERIENCES THAT PERVASIVE IS IT IS UNCONSCIOUS.

SOMETIMES WE DON'T REALIZE WE'RE ACTING FOR OR AGAINST SOMETHING BECAUSE IT IS HARD WIRED INTO US.

WHAT I DO THINK THIS LEGISLATION DOES IN A VERY POWERFUL WAY IS PUTS PEOPLE ON NOTICE WE'RE NOT GOING TO TOLERATE OVER OVERT DISCRIMINATION.

SO THE SAME WAY SOMEONE MAY BE EXPERIENCING AN EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION, THERE COULD BE SOME PROTECTION THERE.

I THINK IT GIVES FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING DISCRIMINATION IN SCHOOL SETTINGS OR PROFESSIONAL SETTINGS OR OTHER SETTINGS, THE AM NEWS AMMUNITION AND THE POWER TO FIGHT BACK.

>> Neisloss: HISTORICALLY, THE LACK OF CHOICES FOR HAIR IS DUE TO A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW A PERSON'S HAIR CHOICES ARE CONNECTED TO THEIR RACE AND TO THEIR ORIGIN.

DO YOU THINK THIS MOVES THE NEEDLE IN OTHER WAYS, IN DEEPENING UNDERSTANDING BEYOND HAIR?

>> I THINK IT HELPS TO MOVE THE NEEDLE, BUT THERE IS CERTAINLY SO MUCH TO BE DONE.

AS A FORMER PUBLIC EDUCATOR MYSELF, IT SICKENS ME TO MYSELF THAT THERE ARE EDUCATORS HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH WHO WILL PENALIZE BLACK BOYS AND GIRLS BECAUSE OF THEIR NATURAL HAIR AND THE STYLES THEY CHOOSE TO WEAR.

IT IS ACROSS ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENT SEASON IN THE COMMONWEALTH, HOW ARE WE ENSURING THAT PEOPLE ARE EDUCATED.

OUR SESSION ENDS ON SUNDAY, SO I DOUBT THE BILL IS MOVING IN THE NEXT FOUR DAYS, BUT THERE IS A BILL TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ENTER OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE EDUCATED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF BLACK PEOPLE.

I REMEMBER BEING IN A BOSTON LATIN SCHOOL, AND A CLASSMATE WOULD COME WITH HER HAIR WET.

I WOULD SAY, MEGHAN, WHY DO YOU COME WITH YOUR HAIR WET?

AND SHE SAYS I HAVE TO WASH MY HAIR EVERY TWO DAYS.

AND I SAID, REALLY?

I WASH MY HAIR EVERY TWO WEEKS.

HER HAIR IS MORE OILY.

I WAS CURIOUS, SO I LEARNED ABOUT THAT.

BUT THAT NOTICIERO TO NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

>> Neisloss: MYA, DO YOU THINK THAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING AT A VERY EARLY AGE IN SCHOOL, THIS IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING AND OTHER CONVERSATIONS?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING, LIKE, EVEN WHEN A KID GOES TO PRE-SCHOOL BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY COULD EXPERIENCE THE RACISM.

YEAH, I THINK THE TRAINING SHOULD BE HAPPENING RIGHT EARLY ON.

>> Neisloss: REPRESENTATIVE, WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT BIAS AND BRINGING ANYTHING INTO SCHOOLS IS BEING WEAPONIZED, BASICALLY, WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH CRITICAL RACE THEORY, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

DO YOU THINK SOMETHING LIKE WORKING ON BIAS, WHAT IS BEHIND THESE ISSUES, IS REALLY POSSIBLE AT THIS MOMENT IN SCHOOLS?

>> I THINK IT IS POSSIBLE, AND IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING.

I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TAKING AN ELECTIVE IN HIGH SCHOOL CALLED "FACING HISTORY AND ART STYLES," AND THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED ABOUT SO MANY DIFFERENT CULTURES, AND SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION THAT OCCURS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND CERTAINLY IN THE U.S., AND IT IS FUNDED BY FOLKS WHO CULTURAL IDENTIFY AS JEWISH, AND THERE WAS A BIG SEGMENT ON THE HOLOCAUST, AND FOR ALL OF THE MARGINALIZED GROUPS THAT WERE TERRORIZED BY THE NAZIS.

I THINK WE'VE SEEN POCKETS OF IT THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

CERTAINLY THERE HAVE BEEN ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN EDUCATING THEIR OWN YOUTH ABOUT THEIR CULTURE AND WHAT IT MEANS TO OWN IT AND TO WALK INTO IT.

I THINK IT IS POSSIBLE.

IT IS JUST ABOUT HAVING PUBLIC COURAGE AND THE WILL IN ORDER TO MAKE THESE POLICIES ACTUALLY ENACTED.

>> Neisloss: MYA, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU FOUND YOUR PARTICULAR COURAGE?

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE PROGRESSION THAT NOW IS LAW?

>> I JUST FOUND MY COURAGE WITHIN MYSELF.

I KNEW I WASN'T GOING TO STAND FOR WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

AND IT ALSO HELPS HAVING MY SISTER THERE, TOO.

WE BOTH KNEW WE WERE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THE TREATMENT WE WERE GETTING FROM OUR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.

>> Neisloss: ARE YOU PLANNING TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH THIS?

THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY OTHER STATES WHERE THIS IS IN SOME FORM OF ACTION.

AND RIGHT NOW AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE DESCRIBING THAT AS AN UPHILL BATTLE IN THE SENATE.

MYA, ARE YOU PLANNING TO CONTINUE ON THIS?

>> YES.

ME AND MY SISTER, WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL IT IS FEDERAL LAW.

>> Neisloss: OKAY.

REPRESENTATIVE, DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE AT WHY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IT MAY BE AN UPHILL CLIMB?

>> I THINK WE'VE SEEN, IN RECENT YEARS, THAT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF CONTENTION THAT IS HAPPENING.

CERTAINLY I DON'T SERVE FEDERALLY, SO I CAN'T SPEAK FIRSTHAND, BUT I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW EVEN THINGS THAT SEEM LIKE COMMON SENSE, WE'VE BECOME SO ISOLATED AND FEEL HYPER PARTISAN THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.

BUT I'M OPTIMISTIC WE WILL DO THE RIGHT THING.

>> Neisloss: WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WOMEN, BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS MEN.

REPRESENTATIVE, YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR STORY TO TELL?

>> YEAH.

MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, FOR AS LONG AS I'VE KNOWN HIM, HE HAS HAD VERY LONG DREAD LOCS, AND HE HAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL I.T.

COMPANY.

AND HE WAS GOING OUT FOR A CONTRACT.

HE WON THE BID, AND THE PRIVATE COMPANY SAID WE'LL ONLY HIRE YOU IF YOU CUT OFF YOUR LOCS.

AND TO RECOGNIZE THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATION, IN ADDITION TO THE EMOTIONAL TOIL THAT IT PUTS ON FOLKS WHO HAVE BLACK-TEXTURED HAIR, HE MADE THE DECISION, I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THE JOB BECAUSE HE HAD OTHER PROSPECTS.

BUT PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE OUR TEXTURED HAIR ARE NEVER ASKED TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.

>> Neisloss: AND MYA, LAST QUESTION TO YOU: ARE YOU ABLE TO SAY HOW THIS EXPERIENCE HAS SHAPED YOU?

>> YES.

SO THIS EXPERIENCE HAS DEFINITELY SHAPED ME TO ALWAYS BE CONFIDENT AND USE MY VOICE.

BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL, EARLY ON, I WASN'T ALWAYS THE MOST CONFIDENT GIRL.

I WAS SHY.

BUT NOW I ALWAYS STAND UP FOR MYSELF NO MATTER WHAT, BECAUSE OF THIS EXPERIENCE.

>> Neisloss: YOU ARE CERTAINLY A ROLE MODEL.

I WANT TO THANK YOU YOU BOTH FOR JOINING ME ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.

MYA COOK AND REPRESENTATIVE BRANDY FLUKER OAKLEY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

NEXT UP, STAFF SHORTAGES HAVE LONG BEEN AN ISSUE FOR HOSPITALS AND THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE THINGS EXPONENTIALLY WORSE, WITH A COMBINATION OF UNEXPECTED STAFFING GAPS AND SICKER-THAN-USUAL PATIENTS FORCING MANY LOCAL OPERATING ROOMS TO CLOSE.

AS HOSPITALS LOOK FOR NEW WAYS TO FILL THESE ROLES, BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE-- MANY ARE TRYING TO FIND UNTAPPED PIPELINES-- LIKE BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL.

THEIR "STUDENT SUCCESS JOBS PROGRAM" MATCHES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, MANY FROM BOSTON'S MOST UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS, WITH YEAR-ROUND PAID INTERNSHIPS IN DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE HOSPITAL.

AND AS THEY'VE FOUND, THE BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM ARE VERY MUCH MUTUAL.

I'M JOINED BY DEVIN O'LOUGHLIN, A RECENT GRADUATE OF THE PROGRAM, WHO WILL BE STUDYING NURSING AT WAGNER COLLEGE IN THE FALL; AND DR. CLAIRE PIERRE, WHO LEADS THE COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAMS AT BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL.

>> Neisloss: THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

SO, DOCTOR PIERRE, LET ME START WITH YOU.

WHAT WAS THE GENESIS OF THIS IDEA?

>> Doctor: IT IS GREAT THAT YOU HAVE US TODAY, AND I'M EXCITED TO SHARE A LITTLE ABOUT OUR WONDERFUL PROGRAM.

WE STARTED, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE AT THE BRIGHAM, WE'RE COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.

AND EVERY THREE YEARS WE HAVE A PROCESS CALLED "THE COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT," WHERE WE ASK MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, INDIVIDUALLY OR AS A GROUP, TO SHARE WITH US WHAT THEIR RESOURCES AND STRENGTHS ARE, AND WHAT OTHER THINGS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE US TO PARTNER WITH THEM ON.

AND THE THEMES ARE PUBLICLY WHAT YOU'VE HEARD BEFORE: HOUSING, FOOD.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP A LOT EVERY YEAR WAS YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT AND ENGAGEMENT.

AND WE FOUND THAT MANY OF THE YOUNG STUDENTS THEY WERE STARTED WORKING WITH IN SCHOOLS WERE ALSO INTERESTED IN SCIENCES AND CAREERS IN HEALTH CAREERS.

SO IN 2001 WE STARTED THIS FOR THEM TO SUPPORT OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BY WORKING WITH THEM AND EXPOSING THEM, THROUGH PAID INTERNSHIPS, TO MENTOR WITH DIFFERENT CAREERS ACROSS THE HEALTH CARE FIELD IN A WAY THAT WOULD HELP THEM AND INSPIRE THEM TO TOOK ON NEW ROLES IN MEDICINE, BUT ALSO HELP US GET EXPOSED TO THE VARIETY OF SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES THAT THEY BRING.

>> Neisloss: SO WHAT DO THE STUDENTS GET TO DO?

>> OH, IT IS GREAT.

YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR I GOT TO REVIEW SOME OF THEIR -- AS A PART OF THE PROGRAM, AFTER THEIR INTERNSHIP, THEY CAN ACTUALLY APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP FROM US.

AND I THINK THIS STUDENT REALLY ILLUSTRATES WHAT THEY GET TO DO.

>> Neisloss: DEVIN, YOU CAN TELL US, WHAT DID YOU DO?

>> WELL, IT WAS SORT OF AN ARRAY OF THINGS, REALLY.

I STARTED AS A J.P.

IN MY SOPHOMORE YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL.

EVERY SUMMER YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SWITCH DEPARTMENTS IF YOU CHOOSE.

BUT THROUGHOUT MY HIGH SCHOOL CAREER, I WORKED IN SPECTROSITY, WHICH IS BRAIN IMAGING, AND I WORKED IN OB/GYN IN CHESTNUT HILL, AND I WORKED IN THE NURSES' HEALTH STUDY, ON LONGWOOD AVENUE.

AVENUE IN SPECTROSITY, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF LEARNING A LOT ABOUT CODING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE, WHERE I WOULD USE COMPUTER CODING PROGRAMS SUCH AS PYTHON TO ANONA MIZE PATIENT FILES FOR USE IN EDUCATION.

IN THE FISH CENTER, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF CONTACTING PATIENTS, SETTING UP PATIENT APPOINTMENTS, CANCELLATIONS, SORT OF ADMINISTRATIVE WORK -- >> Neisloss: SO IT WAS REALLY A BROAD ARRAY OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Neisloss: BUT, DEVIN, WHY DID YOU WANT TO DO THIS?

>> I WANTED TO DO THIS BECAUSE I REALLY WANTED TO GET MY FEET WET IN TERMS OF WORKING IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM BECAUSE I KNEW FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE THAT I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING WHERE I COULD HELP PEOPLE WITH MY OWN KNOWLEDGE.

SORT OF PATIENT INTERACTION, WHICH WAS SOMETHING I WAS VERY KEEN ON.

I LOVE TALKING TO PEOPLE.

AND I HEARD ABOUT THIS THROUGH SOME KIDS ON MY BUS THAT WENT TO BRIGHTON, AND THEY WOULD GET OFF AT 1 BRIGHAM CIRCLE WITH THEIR FANCY I.D.s AND I WAS SO EN ENAMORED BY IT, I ENDED UP APPLYING IN MY FRESHMAN YEAR.

>> Neisloss: DOES ANYONE IN YOUR FAMILY HAVE HAVING TO DOY WITH MEDICINE DO WITH THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY?

>> MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A NURSE IN WORLD WAR II.

SHE CAME FROM IRELAND WHEN SHE WAS 18, 19, MY AGE, AND WENT TO ENGLAND WITH NO ABILITY TO READ OR WRITE ENGLISH BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT SHE WAS TAUGHT WAS TAUGHT TO HER THROUGH IRISH.

SO I USE HER STORY AS AN INSPIRATION.

>> Neisloss: I'M GLEFG I'M GUESSING THAT WOULD REALLY CAPTURE THE IMAGINATION OF A KID, HEARING ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE.

>> YES.

>> Neisloss: DR. PIERRE, THIS IS REALLY A GOOD WAY TO DRAW IN MORE STUDENTS FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER PATHS TO GETTING MORE STUDENTS INTO MEDICINE WHO ARE FROM UNDERPRIVILEGED OR STUDENTS OF COLOR, WHO ARE MAYBE UNDERREPRESENTED IN MEDICAL FIELDS?

ARE THERE OTHER PATHS YOU HAVE COME ACROSS?

YOU SPEAK ABOUT HEALTH EQUITY.

>> SURE.

AT THE BRIGHAM ALONE, WE START VERY EARLY.

WE EXPOSE THE STUDENTS THROUGH HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, STARTING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

SO THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE -- WE HAVE READING BUTTONS, AND PEOPLE START READING TO YOU, AND YOU CAN SAY, I KNOW THIS LAWYER WHO WORKED AT THE HOSPITAL, I KNOW THIS DOCTOR WHO WORKED AT THE HOSPITAL, I KNOW THIS NURSE THAT WORKS AT THE HOSPITAL.

AND THEN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE HAVE OUR SCIENTISTS COME TO THE CLASSROOMS.

SO THEY CAN LEARN FROM A PHYSICAL THERAPIST OR A NEUROLOGIST.

WE REALIZED THAT BEING EXPOSED STO TO THE SCIENCES HAS TO HAPPEN PRETTY EARLY.

WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO SEE THE BREATH OF OPPORTUNITIES, FROM RESEARCH, AS DEVIN JUST MENTIONED, ALL THE WAY TO CLERICAL ROLES AND CLINICAL ROLES.

WHEN WE THINK OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN MEDICINE, THE PATH IS LONG AND THE CHALLENGES ARE REAL.

THERE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED PURPOSELY, PEOPLE WHO ARE DIVERSE, WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR.

WHAT WE DO IS THROUGH OUR ASSOCIATIONS, THROUGH POLICY AND ADVOCACY, WE PARTNER WITH OTHER HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL SCHOOLS AND NURSING SCHOOLS AND OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO JOIN MEDICINE, AND ALSO ENCOURAGE THE TRAINING PROGRAMS TO HAVE CONSCIOUS AND INTENTIONAL EFFORTS TO RECRUIT PEOPLE ACROSS THE U.S. OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.

>> Neisloss: AND WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, CLEARLY THAT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA, BUT IT WOULD ALSO SEEM THERE ARE BARRIERS FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PROCESS OF APPLYING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL, EVEN FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE WHITE AND PRIVILEGED AND PRACTICE AT THE PROCESS.

IT'S A HIGH BAR.

SO THAT'S A WORLD IN ITSELF, JUST GETTING INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL.

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO BREAK INTO.

WHAT HAS TO CHANGE THERE?

>> Doctor: I THINK A FEW BARRIERS ARE CLEAR.

ONE IS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GETTING INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL ARE MORE AND MORE COMPETITIVE.

PEOPLE EXPECT APPLICANTS TO HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE IN HEALTH CARE.

AND INTERNSHIPS ARE OFTEN NOT PAID, WHICH AUTOMATICALLY EXCLUDES YOUNG ASPIRING CLINICIANS WHO ARE FINDING THEMSELVES GROWING UP IN A FAMILY WHERE THEY HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

SO THEY HAVE TO WORK IN ORDER TO PAY FOR COLLEGE THEMSELVES, AND THEY HAVE TO WORK TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.

SO THEY CAN'T TAKE SIX MONTHS OF AN INTERNSHIP VOLUNTEERING AT A HOSPITAL.

THAT'S WHY OUR PROGRAM IS REALLY DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS NOT JUST THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, BUT ACTUALLY THROUGH COLLEGE.

WE STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEM.

WE PROVIDE THEM COLLEGE COUNSELING.

THE MENTORS, WHOM WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR, CONTINUE TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEM.

AND WE PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.

I'LL STOP THERE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE STRESS AND MENTAL HEALTH BURDEN THAT OUR YOUTH IS CARRYING IS JUST BEYOND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN.

AND IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE YEAR AFTER YEAR.

SO OUR PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE HIGH SCHOOLERS AND FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENTS.

>> Neisloss: DEVIN, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE RECOGNIZED CERTAINLY DURING THE YEARS OF COVID, THE IMPACT OF MENTAL HEALTH ON YOUTH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, SPEAKING FOR MYSELF PERSONALLY, IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, SPRING OF 2020, THERE WAS A FEELING OF ISOLATION THAT ME AND MY FRIENDS FELT THAT I HAVE NEVER FELT BEFORE IN MY LIFE.

AND AS J.P. DID AN AMAZING JOB MAKING SURE WE STAYED CONNECTED WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH OUR FRIENDS, AND I ALSO FOUND THAT HUMANS PERSEVERE THROUGH THE DARKEST HOUR.

PERSONALLY, WITH MY FRIENDS, WE WOULD FACE TIME OR DO SOMETHING OVER THE PHONE PRETTY MUCH ALL DAY BECAUSE WE WERE SORT OF YEARNING FOR THIS SOCIAL CONNECTION BETWEEN ONE ANOTHER.

>> Neisloss: HAS PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM, DEVIN, GIVEN YOU THE SENSE YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN A GREATER WAY TO HELP WITH SOME OF THESE BARRIERS DOWN THE ROAD?

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT INTERESTS YOU?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, AS J.P. HAS CONSTANTLY HELPED US IN TERMS WITH THESE BARRIERS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING.

I REMEMBER SHORTLY AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, WE HAD QUITE A LARGE COMMUNITY GATHERING, WHICH WE WOULD CALL A SEMINAR.

AND WE DISCUSSED, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES THIS MAKE US FEEL?

MORE SPECIFICALLY, HOW DOES THIS MAKE OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR FEEL?

AND I THINK THAT ONCE I GET MY DEGREE FOR NURSING AND I'M A PRACTICING NURSE, IT GIVES ME AA LOT A LOT OF POWER TO CHANGE THE DISCRIMINATIONS THAT WE SEE IN HEALTH CARE.

AND I'M GOING TO, YOU KNOW, VOW TO MYSELF THAT I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO PREVENT THAT SORT OF DISCRIMINATION.

>> Neisloss: OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

>> NEISLOSS: DR. CLAIRE PIERRE, DEVIN O'LOUGHLIN, THANKS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> Neisloss: THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.

♪♪ >> HEY FOLKS, EDGAR B. HERWICK III HERE FROM THE CURIOSITY DESK, THAT NEW VIDEO SERIES FROM GBH THAT EVERYONE IS TALKING OKAY, EVERYBODY'S NOT TALKING ABOUT IT-- YET!

BUT HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: IT ALL STARTS WITH YOU, CURIOSITY SEEKERS AND RESTLESS WONDERS WHO MEET EACH DAY, FULL OF QUESTIONS AND READY TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW.

THEN THERE'S ME, EDGAR B. HERWICK III, CERTIFIED STUDENT OF HISTORY, PROFESSIONAL QUESTION-ASKER, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST, FORMER DISTANT THIRD-PLACE FINISHER ON AN EPISODE OF "JEOPARDY!".

AND OF COURSE, EXPERTS, FROM AUTHORS TO ASTROPHYSICISTS, ENGINEERS TO ETYMOLOGISTS.

WE ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, TAKE YOU TO PLACES YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU WANTED TO GO, DIVE DEEPER INTO THE NEWS AND SOLVE SOME OF THOSE MYSTERIES HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT, ALL AROUND US.

WHEN?

EVERY WEEK, A NEW EPISODE LOVINGLY CRAFTED BY OUR CRACKERJACK TEAM OF CURIOUS CONTENT CREATORS.

IN A WORLD WHERE SO MANY ANSWERS ARE JUST A CLICK AWAY, THERE ARE STILL THINGS THE INTERNET CANNOT TELL US: MYSTERIES BIG AND SMALL JUST WAITING TO BE SOLVED AND SURPRISES GALORE, WHEN WE DARE TO SIMPLY ASK QUESTIONS.

THAT'S THE CURIOSITY DESK.

LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT.

BECAUSE HEY, I MIGHT JUST LOOK INTO IT FOR YOU.

I'M EDGAR B. HERWICK III, STAY CURIOUS OUT THERE.

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