>>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVE -- YOU WITH THE CREATIVE -- CREATIVITY AND CUL TOO IN YOUR CREATIVITY AND CUL TOO IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A FARM THAT COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A FARM THAT EMBRACES SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMBRACES SOCIAL JUSTICE AND LGBTQ+ PRIDE.

LGBTQ+ PRIDE.

>> NOT JUST GETTING EXCITED >> NOT JUST GETTING EXCITED ABOUT THE RAINBOWS BUT REALLY ABOUT THE RAINBOWS BUT REALLY REALLY HOW WE ARE ON THIS PLANET REALLY HOW WE ARE ON THIS PLANET IN ORDER TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

IN ORDER TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

>> A COMMUNITY CELEBRATES >> A COMMUNITY CELEBRATES JUNETEENTH BY HIGHLIGHTING THE JUNETEENTH BY HIGHLIGHTING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF GENERATIONS OF CONTRIBUTIONS OF GENERATIONS OF ITS BLACK RESIDENTS.

ITS BLACK RESIDENTS.

>> THERE'S NOTHING LIKE >> THERE'S NOTHING LIKE DESCENDANTS TELLING THEIR DESCENDANTS TELLING THEIR STORIES.

STORIES.

>> AND ADDRESSING ISSUES OF >> AND ADDRESSING ISSUES OF HOUSING INSECURITY THROUGH ART.

HOUSING INSECURITY THROUGH ART.

>> IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY >> IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY INSPIRING TO FEEL LIKE WE CAN INSPIRING TO FEEL LIKE WE CAN ACTUALLY WORK WITH PEOPLE AND ACTUALLY WORK WITH PEOPLE AND CHANGE SOMETHING OR HOPEFULLY WE CHANGE SOMETHING OR HOPEFULLY WE WILL.

WILL.

>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND >> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

"CONNECTING POINT."

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

CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

POINT."

YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS ZYDALIS I'M ZYDALIS.

I'M ZYDALIS ZYDALIS I'M ZYDALIS.

WE'RE EXPLORING ALL THAT WESTERN WE'RE EXPLORING ALL THAT WESTERN NEW ENGLAND HAS TO OFFER.

NEW ENGLAND HAS TO OFFER.

AND TO DATE WE'RE COMING TO YOU AND TO DATE WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM HISTORIC ADAMS, FROM HISTORIC ADAMS, MASSACHUSETTS, IN THE NORTHERN MASSACHUSETTS, IN THE NORTHERN BERKSHIRES.

BERKSHIRES.

THIS BOASTS A PICTURESQUE THIS BOASTS A PICTURESQUE DOWNTOWN WHERE A VISIT BY DOWNTOWN WHERE A VISIT BY PRESIDENT McKINLEY IN 189 PRESIDENT McKINLEY IN 189 STEVEN TO LAY THE CORNERSTONE OF STEVEN TO LAY THE CORNERSTONE OF THE LIBRARY IS MARKED BY A THE LIBRARY IS MARKED BY A STATUE IN HIS HORN.

STATUE IN HIS HORN.

BUT THE TOWN THAT SITS AT THE BUT THE TOWN THAT SITS AT THE BASE OF MOUNT GREYLOCK, IS BASE OF MOUNT GREYLOCK, IS PERHAPS BEST KNOWN FOR ITS PERHAPS BEST KNOWN FOR ITS OUTDOOR RECREATION AND IS THE OUTDOOR RECREATION AND IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF LEGENDARY BIRTHPLACE OF LEGENDARY SUFFRAGIST SUSAN B. ANTHONY.

SUFFRAGIST SUSAN B. ANTHONY.

ADAMS AND THE NORTHERN ADAMS AND THE NORTHERN BERKSHIRES ALSO HAVE AN ARTISTIC BERKSHIRES ALSO HAVE AN ARTISTIC SIDE, BUT OUR SHOW TODAY BEGINS SIDE, BUT OUR SHOW TODAY BEGINS IN HAM SHISH COUNTY.

IN HAM SHISH COUNTY.

-- HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

-- HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

TWO MAMAS FARM IS NESTLED IN THE TWO MAMAS FARM IS NESTLED IN THE TOWN OF COUPLINGTON, WHERE TOWN OF COUPLINGTON, WHERE OWNERS SARAH AND LEE DESCRIBE OWNERS SARAH AND LEE DESCRIBE THEIR FARM AS QUEER IN MEN WAYS.

THEIR FARM AS QUEER IN MEN WAYS.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US THEIR STORY.

THEIR STORY.

>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ATTRACTED TO >> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ATTRACTED TO FARMING.

FARMING.

I GREW UP IN NORTHAMPTON THOUGH I GREW UP IN NORTHAMPTON THOUGH I WAS BORN HERE.

I WAS BORN HERE.

AND I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A AND I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A FARMER, YOU KNOW, I LOVE FARMER, YOU KNOW, I LOVE ANIMALS, I LOVE TENDING LIFE, ANIMALS, I LOVE TENDING LIFE, AND I WAS INTO PERMA CULTURE AND AND I WAS INTO PERMA CULTURE AND JUST LIKE GROWING LOCAL FOOD AND JUST LIKE GROWING LOCAL FOOD AND TRYING TO REINVENT ECONOMIES AND TRYING TO REINVENT ECONOMIES AND SO HERE WE ARE.

SO HERE WE ARE.

>> FARMING SORT OF SPOKE TO ME >> FARMING SORT OF SPOKE TO ME IN SOME WAY.

IN SOME WAY.

I SORT OF CAME ALONGSIDE IT IN I SORT OF CAME ALONGSIDE IT IN THIS, YOU KNOW, WAY THAT PEOPLE THIS, YOU KNOW, WAY THAT PEOPLE DO, WHERE YOU MEET SOMEBODY WHO DO, WHERE YOU MEET SOMEBODY WHO HAS A FARM AND START COMING BY HAS A FARM AND START COMING BY AND -- MY INTEREST IN FARMING AND -- MY INTEREST IN FARMING AND DAIRYING AND AT THAT TIME I AND DAIRYING AND AT THAT TIME I WAS IN UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL AND WAS IN UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL AND WAS WRITING POETRY AND THERE WAS WAS WRITING POETRY AND THERE WAS SOMETHING REALLY BEAUTIFUL ABOUT SOMETHING REALLY BEAUTIFUL ABOUT THE RHYTHM OF DAIRYING AND I MET THE RHYTHM OF DAIRYING AND I MET SARAH AT AN ORGANIC FARMING SARAH AT AN ORGANIC FARMING CONFERENCE ABOUT DAIRYING.

CONFERENCE ABOUT DAIRYING.

AND SO WE CONNECTED!

AND SO WE CONNECTED!

>> WE'RE TWO MAMEAS -- MAMAS >> WE'RE TWO MAMEAS -- MAMAS FARM N COVINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FARM N COVINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BETWEEN NORTHAMPTON AND BETWEEN NORTHAMPTON AND PITTSFIELD.

PITTSFIELD.

AND WE'RE QUEER-RUN MAPLE FARM.

AND WE'RE QUEER-RUN MAPLE FARM.

>> QUEER IN IDENTITY, YOU KNOW.

>> QUEER IN IDENTITY, YOU KNOW.

WE BOTH IDENTIFY AS QUEER.

WE BOTH IDENTIFY AS QUEER.

AND WE ALSO QUEER THINGS AS SORT AND WE ALSO QUEER THINGS AS SORT OF A VERB.

OF A VERB.

SO -- SO -- [LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] LIKE I THINK THE WAY THAT WE LIKE I THINK THE WAY THAT WE APPROACH THE WORLD, THE WAY WE APPROACH THE WORLD, THE WAY WE APPROACH FARMING AND PARENTING, APPROACH FARMING AND PARENTING, IS QUEER.

IS QUEER.

IT'S DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PEOPLE IT'S DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PEOPLE MAY DO THINGS.

MAY DO THINGS.

>> I'VE ALWAYS JOKED TO LEE >> I'VE ALWAYS JOKED TO LEE THAT, LIKE IN THE FIRST FIVE THAT, LIKE IN THE FIRST FIVE THINGS ABOUT ME, I USED TO NEVER THINGS ABOUT ME, I USED TO NEVER SAY THAT I'M GAY.

SAY THAT I'M GAY.

LIKE THAT JUST NEVER -- IT LIKE THAT JUST NEVER -- IT WASN'T THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

WASN'T THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

AND YOU KNOW IN THE LAST -- AND YOU KNOW IN THE LAST -- REALLY, ONCE TRUMP AND WHATEVER REALLY, ONCE TRUMP AND WHATEVER IS GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY, IS GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY, SUDDENLY LIKE MY PRIVILEGE AT SUDDENLY LIKE MY PRIVILEGE AT GROWING UP IN NORTHAMPTON AND GROWING UP IN NORTHAMPTON AND LIKE BEING GAY IS REALLY COMING LIKE BEING GAY IS REALLY COMING BACK UP THERE BECAUSE WE'RE IN A BACK UP THERE BECAUSE WE'RE IN A PLACE THAT WE CAN BE.

PLACE THAT WE CAN BE.

[HORN HONKING] [HORN HONKING] >> I LOVE PRIDE.

>> I LOVE PRIDE.

I THINK THAT IT'S A LOVELY AND I THINK THAT IT'S A LOVELY AND NECESSARY SORT OF TRIBUTE TO OUR NECESSARY SORT OF TRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF JOY AND CELEBRATION, WE DON'T JOY AND CELEBRATION, WE DON'T GET A LOT OF.

GET A LOT OF.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR ME TO IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR ME TO REMEMBER, AND THIS IS PART OF REMEMBER, AND THIS IS PART OF HOW I CELEBRATE PRIDE, IN HOW I CELEBRATE PRIDE, IN REMEMBERING AND HONORING ITS REMEMBERING AND HONORING ITS ROOTS AS REAL -- AS A RIOT, AS A ROOTS AS REAL -- AS A RIOT, AS A REBELLION, AS AN ACTIVE SORT OF REBELLION, AS AN ACTIVE SORT OF FIGHTING BACK AGAINST FIGHTING BACK AGAINST OPPRESSION.

OPPRESSION.

AND PART OF THE WAY THAT I THINK AND PART OF THE WAY THAT I THINK THAT I LIKE TO CELEBRATE AND THAT I LIKE TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR PRIDE IS IN MAKING SURE HONOR PRIDE IS IN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SORT OF STILL ROOTED THAT WE'RE SORT OF STILL ROOTED IN THAT AND NOT JUST GETTING IN THAT AND NOT JUST GETTING EXCITED ABOUT THE RAINBOWS BUT EXCITED ABOUT THE RAINBOWS BUT REALLY REALIZING LIKE HOW WE ARE REALLY REALIZING LIKE HOW WE ARE ON THIS PLANET IN ORDER TO MAKE ON THIS PLANET IN ORDER TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

THINGS BETTER.

>> MAPLE SUGARING IS OUR PRIME >> MAPLE SUGARING IS OUR PRIME ENTERPRISE AT THIS JUNCTURE.

ENTERPRISE AT THIS JUNCTURE.

I LIKE MAPLE SYRUP.

I LIKE MAPLE SYRUP.

IT'S ONE OF THE FEW SWEETENERS IT'S ONE OF THE FEW SWEETENERS THAT I CAN SEAT WITH MY THAT I CAN SEAT WITH MY ILLNESSES.

ILLNESSES.

SO IT'S EXCITING TO HAVE SUCH SO IT'S EXCITING TO HAVE SUCH HIGH-QUALITY, PURE, ORGANIC HIGH-QUALITY, PURE, ORGANIC MAPLE SYRUP AND I KNOW EXACTLY MAPLE SYRUP AND I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE IT COMES FROM.

WHERE IT COMES FROM.

>> THE TAP GOES IN THE TREE.

>> THE TAP GOES IN THE TREE.

THERE IT GOINGS.

THERE IT GOINGS.

YOUR SAP COMES DOWN INTO YOUR YOUR SAP COMES DOWN INTO YOUR LAL RAT LINE.

LAL RAT LINE.

I LOVE THE SYMBIOTIC NATURE OF I LOVE THE SYMBIOTIC NATURE OF FARMING AND WE TEND TO THE FARMING AND WE TEND TO THE FOREST AND YOU KNOW, HELP THE FOREST AND YOU KNOW, HELP THE MAPLE BABIES GROW AND KEEP MAPLE BABIES GROW AND KEEP DIVERSITY GOING.

DIVERSITY GOING.

AND I'M HOPING THIS CAN BE A AND I'M HOPING THIS CAN BE A REGENERATIVE LIVELIHOOD AND -- REGENERATIVE LIVELIHOOD AND -- YOU KNOW, FARMING IS ENDLESSLY YOU KNOW, FARMING IS ENDLESSLY CREATIVE.

CREATIVE.

WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF FARMERS WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF FARMERS THEY THINK OF IOWA CONFARMERS THEY THINK OF IOWA CONFARMERS AND THAT'S THIS MECHANIZED AND THAT'S THIS MECHANIZED THING.

THING.

AND I LOVE THE ARTISTI.

AND I LOVE THE ARTISTI.

I LOVE -- ARTISTRY.

I LOVE -- ARTISTRY.

I LOVE THAT EVERY BATCH TASTES A I LOVE THAT EVERY BATCH TASTES A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

THE CREATIVITY AND ENGINEERING THE CREATIVITY AND ENGINEERING THAT GOES INTO DESIGNING THE SAP THAT GOES INTO DESIGNING THE SAP LINE SYSTEMS.

LINE SYSTEMS.

IT'S GREAT.

IT'S GREAT.

AND THE SKILLS MY KIDS CAN GET AND THE SKILLS MY KIDS CAN GET FROM IT, IT'S JUST EXCITING THAT FROM IT, IT'S JUST EXCITING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET TO GROW UP THEY'RE GOING TO GET TO GROW UP WITH THAT.

WITH THAT.

>> IF YOU ENJOYED THAT STORY, BE >> IF YOU ENJOYED THAT STORY, BE SURE TO GO ONLINE TO SURE TO GO ONLINE TO NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT AS WE NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT AS WE CELEBRATE PRIDE WITH A LOOK AT CELEBRATE PRIDE WITH A LOOK AT THE PEOPLE, STORIES, AND ISSUES THE PEOPLE, STORIES, AND ISSUES THAT SHAPE THE LGBTQ+ EXPERIENCE THAT SHAPE THE LGBTQ+ EXPERIENCE IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

>>> AND TWO MAMAS FARM ALSO >>> AND TWO MAMAS FARM ALSO BOASTS A MILE ROUND TRIP HIKE TO BOASTS A MILE ROUND TRIP HIKE TO A WATERFALL ON THE SOUTH END OF A WATERFALL ON THE SOUTH END OF THE PROPERTY.

THE PROPERTY.

IN A DIGITAL EXTRA, HE TALK IN A DIGITAL EXTRA, HE TALK ABOUT THE HIKING TRAILS THAT ARE ABOUT THE HIKING TRAILS THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

>> OUR LAND IS ALL IN >> OUR LAND IS ALL IN CONSERVATION.

CONSERVATION.

WE DID THAT BACK IN 2010.

WE DID THAT BACK IN 2010.

AND IT'S A ONE-MILE ROUND TRIP AND IT'S A ONE-MILE ROUND TRIP HIKE THAT STARTS IN THE SUGAR HIKE THAT STARTS IN THE SUGAR BUSH AND YOU CAN SEE THE TREES.

BUSH AND YOU CAN SEE THE TREES.

THE WATERFALL IS MORE THAN OF A THE WATERFALL IS MORE THAN OF A SEVEN-YEAR CASCADES, BUT WE CALL SEVEN-YEAR CASCADES, BUT WE CALL IT A WATERFALL.

IT A WATERFALL.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGIT EXTRA >> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGIT EXTRA AND SO MUCH MORE AT AND SO MUCH MORE AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> THIS JUNETEENTH THE LOCAL >>> THIS JUNETEENTH THE LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION ANCESTRAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION ANCESTRAL BRIDGES TEAMED UP WITH THE BRIDGES TEAMED UP WITH THE AMHERST HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND AMHERST HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM TO PRESENT THE JUNETEENTH MUSEUM TO PRESENT THE JUNETEENTH HERITAGE WALKING TOUR.

HERITAGE WALKING TOUR.

THIS ONE AND A HALF MILE TOUR THIS ONE AND A HALF MILE TOUR EXPLORES THE HISTORY AND EXPLORES THE HISTORY AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY GENERATIONS OF BLACK FAMILIES IN GENERATIONS OF BLACK FAMILIES IN AMHERST THROUGH STORYTELLING, AMHERST THROUGH STORYTELLING, ARTWORK, AND SPECIAL EXHIBITS.

ARTWORK, AND SPECIAL EXHIBITS.

THE TOUR WAS CURATED BY THE THE TOUR WAS CURATED BY THE DESCENDANTS AND I SPOKE WITH DESCENDANTS AND I SPOKE WITH ORGANIZERS TO LEARN MORE.

ORGANIZERS TO LEARN MORE.

>> WEST CEMETERY IS THE RESTING >> WEST CEMETERY IS THE RESTING PLACE OF THE THOMPSON BROTHERS.

PLACE OF THE THOMPSON BROTHERS.

THEY ALL SERVED -- AS THEY ALL SERVED -- AS MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER 54TH MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER 54TH INFANTRY REGIMENT OR THE FIFTH INFANTRY REGIMENT OR THE FIFTH CALGARY.

CALGARY.

MY FOURTH TIMES GRANDFATHER WAS MY FOURTH TIMES GRANDFATHER WAS IN THE FIFTH CALVARY AND HE IN THE FIFTH CALVARY AND HE TRAVELED WITH THOSE BRAVE TRAVELED WITH THOSE BRAVE SOLDIERS WHO WENTLY -- ACTUALLY SOLDIERS WHO WENTLY -- ACTUALLY WENT TO TEXAS TO DELIVER THE WENT TO TEXAS TO DELIVER THE NEWS OF FREEDOM.

NEWS OF FREEDOM.

IT SERVES AS A MARKER OF HISTORY IT SERVES AS A MARKER OF HISTORY AND PEOPLE WHO HELPED BUILD THIS AND PEOPLE WHO HELPED BUILD THIS TOWN IN MANY WAYS.

TOWN IN MANY WAYS.

>> YOU MENTIONED BEING A >> YOU MENTIONED BEING A DECENTAND OF -- DECENTANT OF THE DECENTAND OF -- DECENTANT OF THE BLACK FAMILIES AND I KNOW THIS BLACK FAMILIES AND I KNOW THIS TOUR IS UNIQUE IN BEING THAT IT TOUR IS UNIQUE IN BEING THAT IT IS IS DECENT-LED AND CURATED BY IS IS DECENT-LED AND CURATED BY DESCENDANTS.

DESCENDANTS.

WHY WAS THAT IMPORTANT AND WHAT WHY WAS THAT IMPORTANT AND WHAT ADDED VALUE DOES THAT BRING TO ADDED VALUE DOES THAT BRING TO THIS TOUR, HAVING THAT THIS TOUR, HAVING THAT PERSPECTIVE?

PERSPECTIVE?

>> WELL, ONE, YOU KNOW, I'M TOLD >> WELL, ONE, YOU KNOW, I'M TOLD IT'S A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND IN THIS IT'S A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND IN THIS AREA.

AREA.

AND I THINK IT IS INCREDIBLY AND I THINK IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR DECENTANTS TO -- IMPORTANT FOR DECENTANTS TO -- DESCENDANTS TO SELL THEIR DESCENDANTS TO SELL THEIR STORIES.

STORIES.

IT'S WONDERFUL -- TELL THEIR IT'S WONDERFUL -- TELL THEIR STORIES.

STORIES.

IT'S WONDERFUL TOLD THROUGH IT'S WONDERFUL TOLD THROUGH ARCHIVES, BUT THERE'S NOTHING ARCHIVES, BUT THERE'S NOTHING LIKE DESCENDENTS TELLING THEIR LIKE DESCENDENTS TELLING THEIR STORIES.

STORIES.

THIS WAS ALSO INSPIRED BY THE THIS WAS ALSO INSPIRED BY THE ACTS OF MY GRANDFATHER, DUDLEY ACTS OF MY GRANDFATHER, DUDLEY BRIDGES, SR., WHO GREW UP IN BRIDGES, SR., WHO GREW UP IN SPRINGFIELD BY WAY OF GEORGIA.

SPRINGFIELD BY WAY OF GEORGIA.

AND HE HAD INITIATED X TO AND HE HAD INITIATED X TO HIGHLIGHT AND FIND HOME FOR HIGHLIGHT AND FIND HOME FOR THESE CIVIL WAR TABLETS THAT THESE CIVIL WAR TABLETS THAT WERE GIFTED IN 1892.

WERE GIFTED IN 1892.

-- 1893.

-- 1893.

AND THEY INCLUDE THE NAMES OF AND THEY INCLUDE THE NAMES OF BLACK SOLDIERS, WHICH WASN'T BLACK SOLDIERS, WHICH WASN'T COMMONPLACE AT THAT TIME.

COMMONPLACE AT THAT TIME.

SO YOU KNOW, WE WERE INSPIRED TO SO YOU KNOW, WE WERE INSPIRED TO REALLY CARRY ON HIS EFFORTS AS REALLY CARRY ON HIS EFFORTS AS WE DID LAST YEAR, WITH THE WE DID LAST YEAR, WITH THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION.

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION.

AND THEN CARRY ON THIS YEAR AND THEN CARRY ON THIS YEAR TO -- TO GO THROUGH THE TOWN.

TO -- TO GO THROUGH THE TOWN.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF >> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THESE HISTORIC SPOTS, BECAUSE THESE HISTORIC SPOTS, BECAUSE THIS ONE 1/2-MILE WALKING TOUR THIS ONE 1/2-MILE WALKING TOUR STOPS AT SOME OF THESE KEY SPOTS STOPS AT SOME OF THESE KEY SPOTS IN AMHERST SUCH AS THE EMILY IN AMHERST SUCH AS THE EMILY DICKINSON MUSEUM AND HOPE DICKINSON MUSEUM AND HOPE CHURCH.

CHURCH.

AND IT ALSO FEATURES ART AND IT ALSO FEATURES ART EXHIBITS, AND OTHER SPECIAL EXHIBITS, AND OTHER SPECIAL EXHIBITS AS WELL.

EXHIBITS AS WELL.

SO WHAT WENT INTO CHOOSING THE SO WHAT WENT INTO CHOOSING THE LOCATIONS AND HOW DO THEY LOCATIONS AND HOW DO THEY IMMERSE VISITORS IN THAT IMMERSE VISITORS IN THAT DAY-TO-DAY LIFE EXPERIENCE, THAT DAY-TO-DAY LIFE EXPERIENCE, THAT GENERATIONS OF BLACK FAMILIES GENERATIONS OF BLACK FAMILIES WENT THROUGH AND ARE STILL GOING WENT THROUGH AND ARE STILL GOING THROUGH?

THROUGH?

>> THEY'RE ALL POINTED.

>> THEY'RE ALL POINTED.

THEY'RE ALL AFRICAN LESSER KNOWN THEY'RE ALL AFRICAN LESSER KNOWN BLACK HISTORICAL LANDMARKS.

BLACK HISTORICAL LANDMARKS.

SO EMILY DICKINSON WAS CAREFULLY SO EMILY DICKINSON WAS CAREFULLY CHOSEN.

CHOSEN.

CHARLES THOMPSON WAS ACTUALLY A CHARLES THOMPSON WAS ACTUALLY A FIDDLER FOR THE DICKINSONS.

FIDDLER FOR THE DICKINSONS.

AND THERE'S ALSO THE -- LEADS AND THERE'S ALSO THE -- LEADS THAT HISTORY OF SOME OF THOSE THAT HISTORY OF SOME OF THOSE DESCENDANTS BEING WITH AMHERST DESCENDANTS BEING WITH AMHERST COLLEGE.

COLLEGE.

I HAD PERSONALLY BEEN INSPIRED I HAD PERSONALLY BEEN INSPIRED BY THAT BY SEEING THE NEW SERIES BY THAT BY SEEING THE NEW SERIES DURING THE PANDEMIC SHUTDOWN.

DURING THE PANDEMIC SHUTDOWN.

AND LOOKING AT IN -- THEY'RE AND LOOKING AT IN -- THEY'RE FICTIONAL SCENES WHERE EMILY IS FICTIONAL SCENES WHERE EMILY IS PARTYING WITH BLACK PEOPLE IN PARTYING WITH BLACK PEOPLE IN THE BARN AND KNOWING WHO THEY THE BARN AND KNOWING WHO THEY WOULD BE -- WHO THEY WOULD HAVE WOULD BE -- WHO THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN.

BEEN.

AND YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ALL AND YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ALL SPACES THAT YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- SPACES THAT YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- THIS WAS REALLY A FIRST FOR IN THIS WAS REALLY A FIRST FOR IN MANY WAYS.

MANY WAYS.

THE AMHERST HISTORY MUSEUM.

THE AMHERST HISTORY MUSEUM.

THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT BLACK AND INDIGENOUS FAMILIES BLACK AND INDIGENOUS FAMILIES HAVE BEEN ON THE WALLS IN THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE WALLS IN THAT SPACE.

SPACE.

SO IT WAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT SO IT WAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR ANCESTRAL BRIDGES TO HAVE AN FOR ANCESTRAL BRIDGES TO HAVE AN EXHIBIT THAT WAS FULLY CURATED EXHIBIT THAT WAS FULLY CURATED BY DESCENT WRENTDS --ANTS IN -- BY DESCENT WRENTDS --ANTS IN -- DESCENDANTS IN THAT SPACE.

DESCENDANTS IN THAT SPACE.

THE HOPE CHURCH AND GOODWIN THE HOPE CHURCH AND GOODWIN CHURCH, THESE WERE ESTABLISHED CHURCH, THESE WERE ESTABLISHED BY THESE FAMILIES.

BY THESE FAMILIES.

SO IT WAS WONDERFUL TO HAVE THEM SO IT WAS WONDERFUL TO HAVE THEM THERE AND CALL ATTENTION TO THERE AND CALL ATTENTION TO THEM.

THEM.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE FIRST AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE FIRST AND OLDEST STANDING BLACK CHURCHES OLDEST STANDING BLACK CHURCHES HERE AND HE SHOULD BE HERE AND HE SHOULD BE CELEBRATED -- THEY SHOULD BE CELEBRATED -- THEY SHOULD BE CELEBRATED AS MUCH.

CELEBRATED AS MUCH.

>> I'M ALWAYS FASCINATED BY >> I'M ALWAYS FASCINATED BY HISTORY AND LEARNING ABOUT WHERE HISTORY AND LEARNING ABOUT WHERE WE'RE FROM EVERYTHING.

WE'RE FROM EVERYTHING.

SO AS A SEVENTH-GENERATION DEES SO AS A SEVENTH-GENERATION DEES SENDANT LIKE -- DESCENTINT LIKE SENDANT LIKE -- DESCENTINT LIKE YOURSELF, WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOURSELF, WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM THERE PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM THERE TOUR?

TOUR?

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

OUR EXHIBIT, THE HISTORY MUSEUM, OUR EXHIBIT, THE HISTORY MUSEUM, WE ENDED WITH A -- WE ENDED VERY WE ENDED WITH A -- WE ENDED VERY PURPOSEFULLY WITH A CAMPAIGN PURPOSEFULLY WITH A CAMPAIGN THROUGH AN ARTIST AND PHYSICIAN, THROUGH AN ARTIST AND PHYSICIAN, DR. SHIRLE JACKSON WHEN WHITAKE.

DR. SHIRLE JACKSON WHEN WHITAKE.

AND THIS CAMPAIGN IS REALLY HE AND THIS CAMPAIGN IS REALLY HE BRAINCHILD, AND THAT'S TOTE TO BRAINCHILD, AND THAT'S TOTE TO VOTE.COM AND THAT DEALS WITH VOTE.COM AND THAT DEALS WITH VOTER DEPRESSION -- SUPPRESSION.

VOTER DEPRESSION -- SUPPRESSION.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE.

WE'RE CELEBRATING THE PAST, WE'RE CELEBRATING THE PAST, REALLY TO FOCUS ON ITS REALLY TO FOCUS ON ITS RELEVANCE.

RELEVANCE.

TO THE FUTURE.

TO THE FUTURE.

AND THE COURAGEOUS ACTS OF THOSE AND THE COURAGEOUS ACTS OF THOSE WHO STEPPED FORWARD WHEN THEY WHO STEPPED FORWARD WHEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE CHOICES THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CHOICES THAT WE DO NOW.

DO NOW.

THERE WAS NO INTERVIEWING THEM THERE WAS NO INTERVIEWING THEM TO GET THEIR MESSAGE ACROSS.

TO GET THEIR MESSAGE ACROSS.

YOU KNOW, FOR US ALL TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, FOR US ALL TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, TAKE PART AND HONOR YOU KNOW, TAKE PART AND HONOR THAT AND MADE SURE THAT WE'RE THAT AND MADE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT, NOT ONLY TO CONNECT DOING THAT, NOT ONLY TO CONNECT AND EMPOWER THE YOUTH AND AND EMPOWER THE YOUTH AND ESPECIALLY -- OUR YOUTH OF ESPECIALLY -- OUR YOUTH OF COLOR, TO YOU KNOW, FOR THEM TO COLOR, TO YOU KNOW, FOR THEM TO CELEBRATE THAT -- YOU KNOW, THEY CELEBRATE THAT -- YOU KNOW, THEY COME FROM HEROES, YOU KNOW?

COME FROM HEROES, YOU KNOW?

AND REALLY BE INSPIRED BY THAT.

AND REALLY BE INSPIRED BY THAT.

BUT I THINK ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO BUT I THINK ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO CARRY THIS FORWARD SO WE'RE TO CARRY THIS FORWARD SO WE'RE NOT CELEBRATING THIS HISTORY ON NOT CELEBRATING THIS HISTORY ON A MONTH OR A DAY OUT OF THE A MONTH OR A DAY OUT OF THE YEAR.

YEAR.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> ART AND SOCIAL >>> ART AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ARE NO STRANGERS RESPONSIBILITY ARE NO STRANGERS TO ONE ANOTHER, AS A RECENT SHOW TO ONE ANOTHER, AS A RECENT SHOW AT REAL EYES GALLERY IN ADAMS AT REAL EYES GALLERY IN ADAMS DEMONSTRATES.

DEMONSTRATES.

FOUR ARTISTS WORKING UNDER THE FOUR ARTISTS WORKING UNDER THE BANNER OF NORTH ADAMS BANNER OF NORTH ADAMS CONTEMPORARY WANTED TO DO CONTEMPORARY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEIR COMMUNITY, SOMETHING FOR THEIR COMMUNITY, AND SO THEIR SHOW ENTITLED, "A AND SO THEIR SHOW ENTITLED, "A SENSE OF PLACE," AIMS TO RAISE SENSE OF PLACE," AIMS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF HOUSING INSECURITY, AWARENESS OF HOUSING INSECURITY, WITH SOME OF THE PROFITS WITH SOME OF THE PROFITS BENEFITING LOUSE -- LOUISON BENEFITING LOUSE -- LOUISON HOUSE, AN ORGANIZATION THAT HOUSE, AN ORGANIZATION THAT TACKLES ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS3 TACKLES ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS3 IN THE NORTHERN BERKSHIRES.

IN THE NORTHERN BERKSHIRES.

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

SULLIVAN BRINGS US THE STORY.

>> IT IS EARLY SATURDAY INC.

IN >> IT IS EARLY SATURDAY INC.

IN ADAMS -- EVENING IN ADAMS.

ADAMS -- EVENING IN ADAMS.

JUNE 4TH, 2022, THE OPENING JUNE 4TH, 2022, THE OPENING NIGHT OF THE BENEFIT ART NIGHT OF THE BENEFIT ART EXHIBITION FOR THE TRANSITIONAL EXHIBITION FOR THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM IN NORTH ADAMS.

HOUSING PROGRAM IN NORTH ADAMS.

THE BRAINCHILD OF FOUR LOCAL THE BRAINCHILD OF FOUR LOCAL ARTISTS NORTH AS THE NORTH ARTISTS NORTH AS THE NORTH ADAMS -- KNOWN AS THE NORTH ADAMS -- KNOWN AS THE NORTH ADAMS CONTEMPORARY.

ADAMS CONTEMPORARY.

>> SARAH SUIT TRO I'VE KNOWN AS >> SARAH SUIT TRO I'VE KNOWN AS AN ARTIST LOCALLY FOR A LONG AN ARTIST LOCALLY FOR A LONG TIME.

TIME.

SHE EMAILED ME TALKING ABOUT THE SHE EMAILED ME TALKING ABOUT THE ARTIST COLLABORATIVE AND THEY ARTIST COLLABORATIVE AND THEY WERE THINKING OF DOING WERE THINKING OF DOING FUND-RAISERS FOR DIFFERENT FUND-RAISERS FOR DIFFERENT NONPROFITS.

NONPROFITS.

WOULD WE BE INTERESTED.

WOULD WE BE INTERESTED.

AND I SAID, SURE, WE'D LIKE AND I SAID, SURE, WE'D LIKE THAT.

THAT.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

AND LATER ON I HEARD BACK SAYING AND LATER ON I HEARD BACK SAYING WE'RE GOING TO DO LOUISON HOUSE WE'RE GOING TO DO LOUISON HOUSE AND WE'RE GOING TO DO YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE PROJECT.

THE WHOLE PROJECT.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW -- EVEN KNOW I DON'T EVEN KNOW -- EVEN KNOW IF SHE HAD THE NAME AT THE TIME.

IF SHE HAD THE NAME AT THE TIME.

>> THE NAME IS A SENSE OF PLACE.

>> THE NAME IS A SENSE OF PLACE.

EACH ARTISTS OFFERS UP HER OWN EACH ARTISTS OFFERS UP HER OWN MEDIUM AND STYLE.

MEDIUM AND STYLE.

IT'S TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE IT'S TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE HOUSENESS ISSUES THAT LURK HOUSENESS ISSUES THAT LURK BENEATH, PLACES LIKE ADAMS AND BENEATH, PLACES LIKE ADAMS AND NORTH ADAMS.

NORTH ADAMS.

>> THESE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS >> THESE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT FOR HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT FOR EVERYONE.

EVERYONE.

SO IN SITTING AROUND, WE SAID SO IN SITTING AROUND, WE SAID WE'RE ARTISTS.

WE'RE ARTISTS.

WE'RE NOT POLITICIANS.

WE'RE NOT POLITICIANS.

WE'RE NOT IMPACTS.

WE'RE NOT IMPACTS.

WE'RE NOT ECONOMISTS.

WE'RE NOT ECONOMISTS.

WHAT CAN WE ACTUALLY DO?

WHAT CAN WE ACTUALLY DO?

WHAT CAN WE DO WITHOUT LEAVING WHAT CAN WE DO WITHOUT LEAVING OUR CAREERS?

OUR CAREERS?

AND SO WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD AND SO WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD SELL OUR ART AND GIVE DONATIONS, SELL OUR ART AND GIVE DONATIONS, HALF, 50%, OF WHATEVER WE SELL HALF, 50%, OF WHATEVER WE SELL TO A CAUSE.

TO A CAUSE.

WHY NOT RIGHT HERE?

WHY NOT RIGHT HERE?

NORTH ADAMS, ADAMS.

NORTH ADAMS, ADAMS.

AND SO LOUISON HOUSE.

AND SO LOUISON HOUSE.

>> I'VE KNOWN ABOUT LOUISON >> I'VE KNOWN ABOUT LOUISON HOUSE FOR A LONG TIME AND WHEN HOUSE FOR A LONG TIME AND WHEN WE THOUGHT OF DOING A BENEFIT WE THOUGHT OF DOING A BENEFIT SHOW, WE THOUGHT ABOUT SOME SHOW, WE THOUGHT ABOUT SOME LARGER ORGANIZATIONS, YOU KNOW, LARGER ORGANIZATIONS, YOU KNOW, IN OTHER PARTS OF THE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE BERKSHIRES.

BERKSHIRES.

BUT IT SEEMED MORE CONNECTED TO BUT IT SEEMED MORE CONNECTED TO US TO FOCUS -- WHERE WE LIVED.

US TO FOCUS -- WHERE WE LIVED.

>> ALL FOUR WOMEN ARE >> ALL FOUR WOMEN ARE ACCOMPLISHED ARTISTS AND WE WERE ACCOMPLISHED ARTISTS AND WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET A FLY ON FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET A FLY ON THE WALL VIEW FROM EACH OF THEIR THE WALL VIEW FROM EACH OF THEIR STUDIOS.

STUDIOS.

DEBBIE'S OFFERINGS ARE A CROSS DEBBIE'S OFFERINGS ARE A CROSS BETWEEN REPRESENTATION AND BETWEEN REPRESENTATION AND ABSTRACT ART WHERE SHE PUTS ABSTRACT ART WHERE SHE PUTS COMBINATIONS IN LANDSCAPE SPACE COMBINATIONS IN LANDSCAPE SPACE TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE READ FROM IT.

TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE READ FROM IT.

SARAH STARTED HER CAREER AS A SARAH STARTED HER CAREER AS A REALIST FIGURATIVE PAINTER.

REALIST FIGURATIVE PAINTER.

OUTSIDE OF BETTY'S STUDIO, OUTSIDE OF BETTY'S STUDIO, SEVERAL OF HER WORKS CAN BE SEEN SEVERAL OF HER WORKS CAN BE SEEN AND AT FIRST GLANCE, THEY GIVE AND AT FIRST GLANCE, THEY GIVE OFF THE ILLUSION OF BEING OFF THE ILLUSION OF BEING PAINTINGS.

PAINTINGS.

BUT FROM INSIDE THE STUDIO, WE BUT FROM INSIDE THE STUDIO, WE SEE THE INDUSTRIAL SETUP NEEDED SEE THE INDUSTRIAL SETUP NEEDED FOR HER TO CREATE THAT ILLUSION.

FOR HER TO CREATE THAT ILLUSION.

>> I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED PAINTING >> I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED PAINTING AND WAS ALWAYS A PAINTER.

AND WAS ALWAYS A PAINTER.

AND THEN THAT CHANGED FOR ME AND THEN THAT CHANGED FOR ME WHEN I GOT MY HAND ON THREADS.

WHEN I GOT MY HAND ON THREADS.

AS A WAY OF PAINTING.

AS A WAY OF PAINTING.

AND SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHY MY AND SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHY MY WORK IS UNIQUE COMPARED TO THE WORK IS UNIQUE COMPARED TO THE OTHERS I'M EXHIBITING WITH.

OTHERS I'M EXHIBITING WITH.

AND WE EACH HAVE A LITTLE AND WE EACH HAVE A LITTLE DIFFERENT BACKGROUND, DIFFERENT DIFFERENT BACKGROUND, DIFFERENT TRAINING, DIFFERENT INTERESTS IN TRAINING, DIFFERENT INTERESTS IN MEDIUMS TO USE.

MEDIUMS TO USE.

BUT WE ALL APPRECIATE AND LIKE BUT WE ALL APPRECIATE AND LIKE EACH OTHER'S WORK.

EACH OTHER'S WORK.

>> DIANE IS ABLE TO USE THE VIEW >> DIANE IS ABLE TO USE THE VIEW OUTSIDE HER WINDOW AS HER MOUSSE OUTSIDE HER WINDOW AS HER MOUSSE AS SHE -- MUSE AS SHE WORKED AS SHE -- MUSE AS SHE WORKED WITH PASTELS.

WITH PASTELS.

>> I'VE ALWAYS LOVED PAINTING >> I'VE ALWAYS LOVED PAINTING WHEN I SEE OUTSIDE.

WHEN I SEE OUTSIDE.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE LIGHT, THE WAY IT CHANGES DURING LIGHT, THE WAY IT CHANGES DURING THE DAY, THE WAY THAT THINGS THE DAY, THE WAY THAT THINGS JUST ARE ILLUMINATED AT DUSK AND JUST ARE ILLUMINATED AT DUSK AND DAWN.

DAWN.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I REALLY AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I REALLY TREASURED AS BEING ABLE TO SIT TREASURED AS BEING ABLE TO SIT THERE AND ABSORB WHAT I'M THERE AND ABSORB WHAT I'M SEEING, YOU KNOW.

SEEING, YOU KNOW.

IT'S SORT OF LIKE A -- I DON'T IT'S SORT OF LIKE A -- I DON'T KNOW.

KNOW.

SORT OF LIKE A MEDITATION SORT OF LIKE A MEDITATION WITHOUT MEDITATING.

WITHOUT MEDITATING.

[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] >> WHATEVER METHODS AND MEDIUMS, >> WHATEVER METHODS AND MEDIUMS, EACH ARTISTS ARE SEVERAL WORKS EACH ARTISTS ARE SEVERAL WORKS ON DISPLAY FOR THE BENEFIT, SOME ON DISPLAY FOR THE BENEFIT, SOME RECENT AND OTHERS DATING BACK RECENT AND OTHERS DATING BACK MORE THAN A DECADE OR TWO.

MORE THAN A DECADE OR TWO.

THE HOPE SO THE SELL SOME ART, THE HOPE SO THE SELL SOME ART, RAISE SOME MONEY, AND RAISE RAISE SOME MONEY, AND RAISE AWARENESS OF THE GROWING HOUSING AWARENESS OF THE GROWING HOUSING INSECURITY IN THE REGION.

INSECURITY IN THE REGION.

>> I'M JUST HOPING THAT THIS >> I'M JUST HOPING THAT THIS REALLY JUST HELPS MORE PUBLIC REALLY JUST HELPS MORE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE ISSUES FOR AWARENESS OF THE ISSUES FOR PEOPLE.

PEOPLE.

NOT JUST LOUISON HOUSE BUT A LOT NOT JUST LOUISON HOUSE BUT A LOT OF US WHO ARE DEALING WITH OF US WHO ARE DEALING WITH HOUSING AND HOMELESS ISSUES.

HOUSING AND HOMELESS ISSUES.

>> IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN INCREDIBLY >> IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN INCREDIBLY INSPIRING TO PEOPLE THAT WE CAN INSPIRING TO PEOPLE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY WORK WITH PEOPLE AND ACTUALLY WORK WITH PEOPLE AND CHANGE SOMETHING OR HOPEFULLY WE CHANGE SOMETHING OR HOPEFULLY WE WILL.

WILL.

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

DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

CONTENT.

IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, EACH OF THE FOUR EXCLUSIVE, EACH OF THE FOUR MEMBERS OF NORTH ADAMS MEMBERS OF NORTH ADAMS CONTEMPORARY DISCUSSES THEIR CONTEMPORARY DISCUSSES THEIR EXPERIENCE AS AN ARTIST LIVING EXPERIENCE AS AN ARTIST LIVING IN THE ECLIPSE MILL IN THE IN THE ECLIPSE MILL IN THE NORTHERN BERKSHIRES, AFTER NORTHERN BERKSHIRES, AFTER SPENDING MOST OF THEIR CAREERS SPENDING MOST OF THEIR CAREERS IN BIG CITIES.

IN BIG CITIES.

>> THIS IS KIND OF LIKE BEING IN >> THIS IS KIND OF LIKE BEING IN THE CITY IN THE COUNTRY.

THE CITY IN THE COUNTRY.

BECAUSE THE INTLIG LIKE THIS -- BECAUSE THE INTLIG LIKE THIS -- BUILDING IS LIKE THIS OLD BUILDING IS LIKE THIS OLD FACTORY BUILDING.

FACTORY BUILDING.

BUT A FEW STEPS AWAY IS ACRES BUT A FEW STEPS AWAY IS ACRES AND ACRES OF WILDNESS.

AND ACRES OF WILDNESS.

SO IT SATISFIES A NUMBER OF SO IT SATISFIES A NUMBER OF THINGS TO BE HERE.

THINGS TO BE HERE.

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

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> LOCAL POET AND AUTHOR JOY >>> LOCAL POET AND AUTHOR JOY LADIN HAS RELEASED HER 10th LADIN HAS RELEASED HER 10th BOOK OF POETRY ENTITLED, BOOK OF POETRY ENTITLED, "SHAQUILLE O'NEAL SPEAKS."

"SHAQUILLE O'NEAL SPEAKS."

-- SHEKHINAH SPEAKS."

-- SHEKHINAH SPEAKS."

IN JEWISH TRADITION, THE IN JEWISH TRADITION, THE SHEKHINAH IS IMAGINED AS A SHEKHINAH IS IMAGINED AS A PASSIVE, SILENT PRESENCE WHICH PASSIVE, SILENT PRESENCE WHICH REPRESENTS THE FEMININE SIDE OF REPRESENTS THE FEMININE SIDE OF GOD.

GOD.

IN THIS COLLECTION, LADIN IN THIS COLLECTION, LADIN SAMPLES LANGUAGE FROM A BOOK OF SAMPLES LANGUAGE FROM A BOOK OF ISAIAH AND COSMOPOLITAN MAGAZINE ISAIAH AND COSMOPOLITAN MAGAZINE TO ENVISION A SHEKHINAH WHO TO ENVISION A SHEKHINAH WHO NEVER STOPS TALKING AND ALLOW NEVER STOPS TALKING AND ALLOW RADARS TO BECOME AWARE OF THEIR RADARS TO BECOME AWARE OF THEIR EXISTENCE IN THIS WORLD.

EXISTENCE IN THIS WORLD.

I SPOKE WITH LADIN TO LEARN I SPOKE WITH LADIN TO LEARN MORE.

MORE.

>> I THINK IT STARTED AROUND MY >> I THINK IT STARTED AROUND MY Ph.D DISSERTATION.

Ph.D DISSERTATION.

I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT MODERNIST AMERICAN POT TICK -- MODERNIST AMERICAN POT TICK -- POT TICKS.

POT TICKS.

AND IF YOU'VE EVER RED T S. AND IF YOU'VE EVER RED T S. ELLIOT OR EZRA POUND, I DON'T ELLIOT OR EZRA POUND, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I THINK I KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I THINK I UNDERSTAND AND THEN SUDDENLY I'M UNDERSTAND AND THEN SUDDENLY I'M LOST.

LOST.

AND SO -- AND I HAVE THE SAME AND SO -- AND I HAVE THE SAME RESPONSE TO EMILY DICKINSON.

RESPONSE TO EMILY DICKINSON.

AND I THOUGHT, INSTEAD OF TRYING AND I THOUGHT, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO WRITE A Ph.D DISSERTATION TO WRITE A Ph.D DISSERTATION ABOUT WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WHY ABOUT WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WHY DON'T I WRITE ABOUT WHY I CAN'T DON'T I WRITE ABOUT WHY I CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE POEMS THAT I'VE UNDERSTAND THE POEMS THAT I'VE RED OVER -- READ OVER AND OVER RED OVER -- READ OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

AGAIN.

THERE'S A SENSE THAT THEY'RE THERE'S A SENSE THAT THEY'RE COMBINING WORDS THAT ARE DRAWING COMBINING WORDS THAT ARE DRAWING FROM RADICALLY DIFFERENT PARTS FROM RADICALLY DIFFERENT PARTS OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

LIKE EMILY DICKINSON HAS THIS LIKE EMILY DICKINSON HAS THIS BEAUTIFUL PHRASE, A.M.

THEFT -- BEAUTIFUL PHRASE, A.M.

THEFT -- AMETHYST REMEMBRANCE.

AMETHYST REMEMBRANCE.

WHAT IS THAT?

WHAT IS THAT?

MIN ROLLING?

MIN ROLLING?

THAT -- MINEROLOGY AND ANOTHER THAT -- MINEROLOGY AND ANOTHER IS FROM HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY.

IS FROM HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY.

AND SHE JAMS THEM TOGETHER INTO AND SHE JAMS THEM TOGETHER INTO SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT MEANS A LOT BUT YOU CAN'T FIGURE MEANS A LOT BUT YOU CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT MEANS BECAUSE THE OUT WHAT IT MEANS BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE BITS COME FROM LANGUAGE BITS COME FROM DIFFERENT PLACES.

DIFFERENT PLACES.

SO I FIGURED OUT HOW TO DESCRIBE SO I FIGURED OUT HOW TO DESCRIBE THOSE KINDS OF EFFECTS AND I THOSE KINDS OF EFFECTS AND I THOUGHT, WELL, THIS IS THOUGHT, WELL, THIS IS INTERESTING TO ME.

INTERESTING TO ME.

I WANT TO LEARN TO DO THIS SORT I WANT TO LEARN TO DO THIS SORT OF DICTION MIXING.

OF DICTION MIXING.

SO I HAD WORKED WITH WOMEN'S SO I HAD WORKED WITH WOMEN'S MAGAZINE LANGUAGE BEFORE.

MAGAZINE LANGUAGE BEFORE.

COSMOHAD ALWAYS SCARED ME I COSMOHAD ALWAYS SCARED ME I THINK BECAUSE OF THE COVERS, THINK BECAUSE OF THE COVERS, LIKE -- YEAH.

LIKE -- YEAH.

[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] >> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

>> THEY'RE INTENSE.

>> THEY'RE INTENSE.

NOTHING SAYS GIVE UP ON GENDER NOTHING SAYS GIVE UP ON GENDER TRANSITION LIKE LOOKING AT THOSE TRANSITION LIKE LOOKING AT THOSE COVERS.

COVERS.

[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] YOU WILL NEVER GET THERE, JOY.

YOU WILL NEVER GET THERE, JOY.

>> YEAH!

>> YEAH!

GOOD POINT, RIGHT, YEAH.

GOOD POINT, RIGHT, YEAH.

>> BUT I -- YOU KNOW, HOW >> BUT I -- YOU KNOW, HOW THERE'S A WEBSITE AND A DATABASE THERE'S A WEBSITE AND A DATABASE AND I COULD JUST SEARCH FOR AND I COULD JUST SEARCH FOR STUFF.

STUFF.

I THOUGHT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I I THOUGHT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I TRIED TO TAKE A PART OF GOD TRIED TO TAKE A PART OF GOD SPEAKING IN ISAIAH AND SPEE IF SPEAKING IN ISAIAH AND SPEE IF THERE'S -- AND SEE IF THERE'S A THERE'S -- AND SEE IF THERE'S A COSMO ARTICLE THAT SORT OF COSMO ARTICLE THAT SORT OF RELATES TO IT.

RELATES TO IT.

SO THERE'S AN ISAIAH PASSAGE SO THERE'S AN ISAIAH PASSAGE THAT STARTS OUT, SING OUT OH THAT STARTS OUT, SING OUT OH BARREN ONE THAT HAS NOT GIVEN BARREN ONE THAT HAS NOT GIVEN BIRTH, WHICH I RELATE TO BIRTH, WHICH I RELATE TO SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT ABLE TO GIVE SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT ABLE TO GIVE BIRTH.

BIRTH.

BUT -- AND SO I PUT BARREN INTO BUT -- AND SO I PUT BARREN INTO THE COSMO WEBSITE AND THE COSMO WEBSITE AND IMMEDIATELY THE FIRST THING THAT IMMEDIATELY THE FIRST THING THAT CAME UP WAS, WHY THIS WOMAN IS CAME UP WAS, WHY THIS WOMAN IS PROUD TO BE KNOWN AS THE PAGEANT PROUD TO BE KNOWN AS THE PAGEANT QUEEN WITHOUT A OUTER RUGS.

QUEEN WITHOUT A OUTER RUGS.

AND THE SHEKHINAH OF COURSE AND THE SHEKHINAH OF COURSE IS -- SHE'S CALLED QUEEN.

IS -- SHE'S CALLED QUEEN.

SHE DOES NOT HAVE A UTERUS.

SHE DOES NOT HAVE A UTERUS.

SHE PROUD.

SHE PROUD.

-- SHE IS PROUD.

-- SHE IS PROUD.

IT SEEMS LIKE IF THE COES MOW IT SEEMS LIKE IF THE COES MOW WEBSITE CAN BE SEEN AS A FORM OF WEBSITE CAN BE SEEN AS A FORM OF DIVINE COMMUNICATION, IT JUST DIVINE COMMUNICATION, IT JUST GOTTEN THE THUMBS UP FROM GOD ON GOTTEN THE THUMBS UP FROM GOD ON THIS PROJECT.

THIS PROJECT.

SO I TOOK IT FROM THERE.

SO I TOOK IT FROM THERE.

AND I STARTED TAKING WORDS OUT AND I STARTED TAKING WORDS OUT OF EACH TEXT AND LITERALLY JUST OF EACH TEXT AND LITERALLY JUST MAKING LISTS OF THEM AND MURKING MAKING LISTS OF THEM AND MURKING THEM TOGETHER UNTIL -- MOURNING THEM TOGETHER UNTIL -- MOURNING THEM TOGETHER UNTIL THEY STARTED THEM TOGETHER UNTIL THEY STARTED COHEARING INTO PHRASES AND COHEARING INTO PHRASES AND SENTENCES AND SENTENCES STARTED SENTENCES AND SENTENCES STARTED TO SOUND LIKE THEY WERE SAYING TO SOUND LIKE THEY WERE SAYING SOMETHING.

SOMETHING.

AND THEY WEREN'T.

AND THEY WEREN'T.

IT WAS MORE ME TRYING TO HEAR IT WAS MORE ME TRYING TO HEAR WHAT VOICE WAS COMING THROUGH WHAT VOICE WAS COMING THROUGH THE SENTENCING.

THE SENTENCING.

-- SENTENCES.

-- SENTENCES.

>> WHEN I FIRST READ THAT YOU >> WHEN I FIRST READ THAT YOU USE BOOK OF YAIZ AND USE BOOK OF YAIZ AND COSMOPOLITAN, IT DOESN'T MAKE COSMOPOLITAN, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME, BUT THE WAY YOU ANY SENSE TO ME, BUT THE WAY YOU EXPLAIN IT IT MAKES PERFECT EXPLAIN IT IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE.

SENSE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT SO THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.

EXPLANATION.

AND I KNOW THAT THE BOOK IS ALSO AND I KNOW THAT THE BOOK IS ALSO DESCRIBED ALLOWING READERS TO BE DESCRIBED ALLOWING READERS TO BE CONSCIOUS OF THEIR SPACE AND CONSCIOUS OF THEIR SPACE AND CONNECTION IN THIS WORLD.

CONNECTION IN THIS WORLD.

AND WHAT WAYS WILL WE EXPERIENCE AND WHAT WAYS WILL WE EXPERIENCE THIS JOURNEY OF AWARENESS THIS JOURNEY OF AWARENESS THROUGH THIS BOOK?

THROUGH THIS BOOK?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SURPRISING TO ME ABOUT THE WAY SURPRISING TO ME ABOUT THE WAY THE SHEKHINAH TALKED, LIKE WHEN THE SHEKHINAH TALKED, LIKE WHEN I ASKED MYSELF, HOW DOES THE I ASKED MYSELF, HOW DOES THE SHEKHINAH SPEAK, THE ONLY THING SHEKHINAH SPEAK, THE ONLY THING I GOT WAS, ANY WAY SHE WANTS TO.

I GOT WAS, ANY WAY SHE WANTS TO.

RIGHT?

RIGHT?

YOU DON'T TELL DIVINITY HOW TO YOU DON'T TELL DIVINITY HOW TO TALK.

TALK.

>> RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] >> HOW DARE YOU.

>> HOW DARE YOU.

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> NOT A GOOD IDEA.

>> NOT A GOOD IDEA.

BUT BOTH IN ISAIAH AND IN KOZ BUT BOTH IN ISAIAH AND IN KOZ KOZ -- COSMOPOLITAN, THE WAY KOZ -- COSMOPOLITAN, THE WAY THAT THESE VOICES SPEAK TO US IS THAT THESE VOICES SPEAK TO US IS IN THE SECOND PERSON.

IN THE SECOND PERSON.

THEY'RE ALL ADDRESS YOU A YOU.

THEY'RE ALL ADDRESS YOU A YOU.

-- ADDRESSING A YOU.

-- ADDRESSING A YOU.

AND BOTH GOD IN ISAIAH JA AND AND BOTH GOD IN ISAIAH JA AND THE YOU IN WOMEN'S MAGAZINES IS THE YOU IN WOMEN'S MAGAZINES IS THE YOU THAT SEEMS TO KNOW THE YOU THAT SEEMS TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU.

EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU.

IT KNOWS YOU BETTER THAN YOU DO.

IT KNOWS YOU BETTER THAN YOU DO.

HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THAT?

HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THAT?

IT'S LIKE, THIS STRANGER KNOWS IT'S LIKE, THIS STRANGER KNOWS WHAT MAKEUP YOU SHOULD WEAR?

WHAT MAKEUP YOU SHOULD WEAR?

AND WHAT MISTAKES YOU'VE MADE AND WHAT MISTAKES YOU'VE MADE WHEN YOU'VE TRIED TO WEAR IT?

WHEN YOU'VE TRIED TO WEAR IT?

LIKE -- THAT'S -- IT'S A KIND OF LIKE -- THAT'S -- IT'S A KIND OF OMNISCIENCE BUT IT'S NOT OMNISCIENCE BUT IT'S NOT TRANSSENTENT OM -- TRANSSENDENT TRANSSENTENT OM -- TRANSSENDENT OMNISCIENCE.

OMNISCIENCE.

YOU'RE IN MY STUFF AS AND THE YOU'RE IN MY STUFF AS AND THE MISTAKE I'M DOING PUTTING ON MISTAKE I'M DOING PUTTING ON MASCARA.

MASCARA.

IN ISAIAH, I KNOW YOU'RE IN ISAIAH, I KNOW YOU'RE HEARTBROKEN, I KNOW YOU'RE HEARTBROKEN, I KNOW YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THIS.

WORRIED ABOUT THIS.

SO IT'S THE SAME KIND OF TREY SO IT'S THE SAME KIND OF TREY INTIMATE AND -- KIND OF INTIMATE INTIMATE AND -- KIND OF INTIMATE AND AUTHORITATIVE NAMES OF THE AND AUTHORITATIVE NAMES OF THE YOU.

YOU.

-- NAMING OF THE YOU.

-- NAMING OF THE YOU.

SO THOSE TWO DINGS WENT TOGETHER SO THOSE TWO DINGS WENT TOGETHER BEAUTIFULLY.

BEAUTIFULLY.

AND I HAD THOUGHT THAT THE BOOK AND I HAD THOUGHT THAT THE BOOK WOULD REALLY BE ABOUT THE WOULD REALLY BE ABOUT THE SHEKHINAH TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHO SHEKHINAH TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHO SHE WAS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, FROM SHE WAS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I DIDN'T KNOW MY PERSPECTIVE, I DIDN'T KNOW AND I KNOW THE PEOPLE GENERALLY AND I KNOW THE PEOPLE GENERALLY DON'T KNOW.

DON'T KNOW.

BUT I WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT BUT I WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT THE SHEKHINAH IS ACTUALLY MOSTLY THE SHEKHINAH IS ACTUALLY MOSTLY TRYING TO TELL US WHO WE ARE.

TRYING TO TELL US WHO WE ARE.

AND SHE'S TRYING TO DO THAT AND SHE'S TRYING TO DO THAT PARTLY BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO PARTLY BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO PROVE THAT SHE'S REALLY HERE PROVE THAT SHE'S REALLY HERE WITH US.

WITH US.

THAT SHE KNOWS US, EACH OF US, THAT SHE KNOWS US, EACH OF US, INSIDE OUT, SO SHE WANTS TO SAY, INSIDE OUT, SO SHE WANTS TO SAY, I KNOW YOU'RE FEELING THIS WAY I KNOW YOU'RE FEELING THIS WAY AND I KNOW YOU'VE GONE THROUGH AND I KNOW YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THIS.

THIS.

AND SHE'S ALSO DOING THAT, AND SHE'S ALSO DOING THAT, THOUGH, BECAUSE SHE WANTS US TO THOUGH, BECAUSE SHE WANTS US TO REALIZE, NOT JUST THAT SHE'S REALIZE, NOT JUST THAT SHE'S THERE, BUT HOW WE ARE CONNECTED.

THERE, BUT HOW WE ARE CONNECTED.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪.

♪.

>> AND FOR MORE, HEAD OVER TO >> AND FOR MORE, HEAD OVER TO "CONNECTING POINT" ONPINE FOR A "CONNECTING POINT" ONPINE FOR A DIGIT EXTRA AS SHE TAKES US ON A DIGIT EXTRA AS SHE TAKES US ON A JOURNEY OF EXISTENCE AND JOURNEY OF EXISTENCE AND AWARENESS THROUGH HER HOME AWARENESS THROUGH HER HOME ENTITLED, "YOUR BODY," WHICH IS ENTITLED, "YOUR BODY," WHICH IS FEATURED IN HER LATEST POETRY FEATURED IN HER LATEST POETRY COLLECTION ENTITLED SHEKHINAH COLLECTION ENTITLED SHEKHINAH SPEAKS.

SPEAKS.

>> YOU KEEP TRYING TO ESCAPE THE >> YOU KEEP TRYING TO ESCAPE THE BODY I LOVE, THE BLAZING CRUSH BODY I LOVE, THE BLAZING CRUSH OF PHYSICALITY, IMMUTER, AND OF PHYSICALITY, IMMUTER, AND SHAME -- IMPURITY AND SHAME, SHAME -- IMPURITY AND SHAME, SEPARATING YOU FROM YOURSELF, SEPARATING YOU FROM YOURSELF, FROM YOUR SOUL, FROM ME.

FROM YOUR SOUL, FROM ME.

THE BODY I FORMED IN YOUR THE BODY I FORMED IN YOUR MOTHER'S WOMB.

MOTHER'S WOMB.

DELIVERED, DANDLED, NURSED, AND DELIVERED, DANDLED, NURSED, AND COMFORTED.

COMFORTED.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGIT EXTRA >> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGIT EXTRA ON OUR WEB PAGE RIGHT NOW.

ON OUR WEB PAGE RIGHT NOW.

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

EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

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I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND TAKE THANKS FOR WATCHING AND TAKE CARE.

CARE.

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