B.U's SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, DR. SANDRO GALEA, AS WELL AS COVID SURVIVOR ROBERT LEWIS, JR. WE'LL ALSO HEAR FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHOSE JOURNEYS WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, IN OUR COVID AND THE CLASSROOM SERIES.

PLUS, THE MAN BEHIND THE FACES OF COVID PROJECT, WHICH HONORS THE LIVES OF THE MANY WHO'VE DIED OVER THE PAST YEAR.

>> Braude: A YEAR AGO TODAY, GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT CHANGED LIFE AS WE KNEW IT, DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY DUE TO THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK.

>> THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE EFFORTS TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD WILL BE DISRUPTIVE.

BUT OUR GOAL NEEDS TO BE TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE EFFORTS TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF THIS DISEASE NOW.

>> Braude: THAT WAS THEN, WHEN THE NUMBER OF PRESUMPTIVE POSITIVE COVID CASES IN MASSACHUSETTS STOOD AT 92.

IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED, SCHOOLS, RESTAURANTS, AND OTHER BUSINESSES WERE ORDERED TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS.

PEOPLE WERE ADVISED NOT TO SEE ANYONE OUTSIDE THEIR HOMES UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

AND WE LEARNED A WHOLE LOT ABOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING, AEROSOL TRANSMISSION, AND CLOTH VERSUS N95 VERSUS A HUNDRED OTHER KINDS OF MASKS.

NOW, A YEAR LATER, CONFIRMED COVID CASES IN THE STATE HAVE TOPPED 560,000.

MORE THAN 16,000 HAVE DIED AND WE'RE STILL AVERAGING MORE THAN A THOUSAND NEW CASES A DAY.

BUT WE'RE ALSO PUSHING FORWARD WITH REOPENINGS OF BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, AND MORE.

THE RULES ABOUT WHO CAN SEE WHO ARE GETTING LOOSER AS WELL, THANKS TO THE ONGOING VACCINE ROLLOUT.

AND JUST TODAY, THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED A NEW WEBSITE THAT WILL LET PEOPLE PRE-REGISTER FOR VACCINES STARTING FRIDAY-- AN EFFORT TO SIMPLIFY THE PROCESS AND REDUCE THE STRESS OF THE REFRESH PANDEMIC.

I'M JOINED NOW BY THE SAME MAN WHO JOINED ME ONE YEAR AGO TODAY, DR. SANDRO GALEA, DEAN OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND BEFORE WE DIVE IN, HERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF OUR EXCHANGE FROM BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN WE WERE STILL GETTING TOGETHER IN TV STUDIOS.

>> Braude: BAKER, AS I SAID, ROUGHLY THE 12th GOVERNOR TO DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

IS THAT THE RIGHT MOVE AND IS IT ENOUGH FOR OUR STATE?

>> IT PROBABLY IS THE RIGHT MOVE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

IS IT ENOUGH?

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT WE DO WITH IT.

>> Braude: MY BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THIS, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS NO SKILLS IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH AREA, IS IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S EVERY MAN AND WOMAN AND INSTITUTION FOR THEMSELVES.

WHICH IT SEEMS TO ME JUST CREATES CONFUSION WITH THE PUBLIC, NO?

>> IT'S FRUSTRATING AND CONFUSING.

I THINK I HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE SYMPATHY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THESE DECISIONS, FRANKLY, BECAUSE IT'S NOT SO CLEAR WHAT THE RIGHT DECISION IS.

>> Braude: THOUGH IT WAS CLEAR WHAT THE WRONG DECISIONS WERE-- COMING FROM BLEACH-CENTRAL, AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

DOCTOR, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANKS FOR JOINING ME.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, JIM.

>> FOR THE REST OF TRUMP'S TERM OTHER THAN VACCINE DEVELOPMENT, IT REALLY WAS EVERY MAN AND WOMAN FOR THEMSELVES, WAS IT NOT?

>> WE UNFORTUNATELY SUFFERED FROM A VACUUM OF LEADERSHIP AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND I THINK AS I SEE WHAT I SAID THEN, HAVE I FOR THE WHOLE PAST YEAR A LOT OF SYMPATHY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TO MAKE DECISIONS.

BUT THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN MANY RESPECTS FAILED IN DECISION MAKING FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Braude: TWO THINGS DIDN'T START WITH TRUMP, RACISM AND THE DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE WHICH YOU HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT AND SPOKEN ABOUT EXTENSIVELY, AND A LACK OF REAL INVESTMENT IN A PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE.

IF WE CAN TALK ABOUT BOTH.

ON THE FORMER, PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE DYING AT HIGHER RATES.

THEY'RE GETTING VACCINATED AT LOWER RATES.

ITS HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF.

I KNOW WE TALK A GOOD GAME BUT DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE SPOTLIGHT THAT HAS BEEN CAST ON THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE THINGS TO CHANGE FOR.

>> IF YOU ASK I BELIEVE IT WILL, I SUPPOSE I ANSWER IT BY I'M HOPING IT WILL.

AND I HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS, MANY OTHERS HAVE.

JIM YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS LONG BEFORE THE COVID PANDEMIC.

I AM OFTEN ASKED THESE DAYS TO SAY HOW DO WE DEAL WITH ISSUES OF RACISM AND HOW THEY FEAK HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE RIGHT NOW.

AND THE ANSWER IS IT'S REALLY HARD TO DEAL WITH IT RIGHT NOW.

WE SHOULD HAVE DEAL WITH THIS FIVE YEARS AGO OR IF WE TACKLE IT NOW WE SHOULD MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T REMAIN A PROBLEM FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.

WE HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE WE HAVE UNDERINVESTED IN LOOKING AFTER PEOPLE MARGINALIZED LOOKING AFTER PEOPLE OF COLOR, LOOKING AFTER PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOME AND THE PANDEMIC HITS AND ALL THOSE GROUPS BECAME MORE VULNERABLE TO COVID WHICH WAS ENTIRELY FORE SEEABLE, WHICH WERE A CONVERSATION WE HAD BEFORE.

SO IT SEEMS TO ME AT THE MOMENT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE DOUBLE DOWN ON OUR EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY IS LEFT BEHIND.

AND ONCE THIS IS OVER, TO ACTUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH ON OUR COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE WE NO LONGER HAVE HAVE, HAVE-NOTS.

>> Braude: I KNOW ARE YOU NOT A POLITICIAN BUT YOU ARE A DEAN.

AND PATTY MURRAY WHO IS THE CHAIR OF THE KEY COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE HAS FILED A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR BILL, CALLED THE PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE SAVES LIVES BILL.

TALK ABOUT SPEAKING THE TRUTH.

I WOULD ASSUME, THIS IS PROBABLY NAIVE, THAT IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT SHOULD GET BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IT WOULD BE PROSPECTIVE INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH, NO?

>> YOU WOULD HOPE SO.

PUBLIC HEALTH HAS HAD A VERY WEAK VOICE IN CONGRESS FOR A LONG TIME AND PUBLIC HEALTH CAUCUS HAS NOT BEEN PARTICULARLY STRONG.

IN MANY RESPECTS IT IS BECAUSE PUBLIC HEALTH IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN ST INVISIBLE.

PUBLIC HEALTH DOES ITS JOB WHEN YOU DON'T TALLLY KNOW THIS NEED FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.

THIS PAST YEAR HAS SHOWN US WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH MATTERS, WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE MATTERS.

SO IF WE DO NOT EMERGE FROM THIS MOMENT INVESTING IN PUBLIC HEALTH THEN WE REALLY LEARNED NOTHING.

>> Braude: DO PUB LOOK HEALTH LEADERS LIKE YOU, HAVE YOU LEARNED ANYTHING IN THE PAST YEAR THAT WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU DO BUSINESS GOING FORWARD?

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST LESSON I TAKE FROM IT IS HOW DIFFICULT IT HAS BEEN TO COMMUNICATE CLEARLY AND HOW DIFFICULT IT HAS BEEN TO DO SO WHEN THERE HAVE BEEN THESE CONFLICTING DIVIDES AT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STATE GOVERNMENT TO MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND REALLY PARTICULARLY WHEN THINGS ARE CHANGING IN REALTIME.

IT REALLY, THE MOMENT HAS SHOWN US THE IMPORTANCE OF CLARITY, OF SHARP CLARITY, OF RAPID COMMUNICATION AND I THINK WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE BREAK DOWNS ON THAT, I DO THINK THAT A LOT OF IT IS DUE TO THE VACUUM OF FEDERAL LEADERSHIP, BUT ST NOT JUST THAT.

I THINK WE ALL COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER AT THAT.

>> ONE OF THE AREAS WE'RE MESSAGING SO IMPORTANT IS ON OBVIOUSLY ON THE ISSUE OF VACCINE HESITANCY, IF IF WE CARE ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES AND ABOUT OUR OWN, AND REACHING HERD IMMUNITY, THAT NUMBER HAS TO GO UP IN TERMS OF VACCINATED.

APPARENTLY HESITANCY IS GOING DOWN.

MY TAKE ON THE CDC GUIDE LINES OF YESTERDAY, I THINK YESTERDAY, BUT SOMETIME IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS EXPLAINING WHAT VACCINATED PEOPLE CAN DO, FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE CAN DO, THAT UNVACCINATED PEOPLE CANNOT DO.

THAT IS THE KIND OF CARROT MESSAGE THAT I THINK IS GOING TO CAUSE PEOPLE ON THE FENCE TO MAYBE JUMP OVER THE FENCE, IF I BEING UNNECESSARILY HOPEFUL?

>> NO, I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT PLACES LIKE ISRAEL, ISRAEL IS QUITE A BIT AHEAD OF US IN VACCINATING THE POPULATION, CLOSE TO 50%.

THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING.

THE VACCINE, IS PEOPLE ARE SEEING WHAT THEY CAN DO IF THEY VET VACCINATED.

SO I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF VACCINE HESITANCY, ELEMENTS OF TRUST AND LACK OF TRUST IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT WILL NOT BE OVERCOME IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, THAT WILL TAKE TIME, BUT I DO THINK THERE ARE OTHER ELEMENTS WHICH ARE MORE, VACCINE BY CHOICE WHERE PEOPLE ARE SORT OF WAITING AND SEEING WHERE THEY WILL SOON START SEEING HOW MUCH MORE THEY CAN REENTER LIFE AND CHOOSE TO GET VACCINATED.

>> WELL, LET'S TALK FOR A SECOND IF WE CAN ABOUT THE MORE BAKED IN HESS TENSEE THAT YOU DESCRIBED BASED ON HISTORY, PARTICULARLY AMONGST PEOPLE OF COLOR, PARTICULARLY MONGSZ BLACK PEOPLE.

HOW DO YOU BREAK THAT DOWN, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF HISTORY IS SADLY PERFECTLY ACCURATE?

>> I THINK THE ONLY WAY TO BREAK BREAK THAT DOWN IS BY BEING HONEST ABOUT IT, BY SAYING THERE IS NO WAY THAT ANY SOCIETY CAN GAIN THE TRUST OF A GROUP THAT HAS FELT THAT IT WASN'T SAFE IN A DAY OR IN A WEEK OR IN A MONTH.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE HONEST AND SAY NO, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR DO NOT TRUST THE HEALTH SYSTEM.

THEY ARE RIGHT NOT TO TRUST THE HEALTH SYSTEM AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO START TRUSTING IT NOW.

AND TO SAY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO NOW IS MAKE SURE THE VACCINES ARE TAKEN UP, SO WE CAN PROTECT LIVES, BUT WE ARE GOING TO COMMIT TO INVESTING AND REBUILDING TRUST OVER THE NEXT YEAR, FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS, BECAUSE YOU CANNOT MANUFACTURE TRUSTS, TODAY IT IS MARCH 109, BY APRIL 10th OR MAY 10th THAT IS SIMPLY FALSE.

>> DOCTOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, JIM STAY AS WELL.

IT WAS JUST ABOUT A YEAR AGO, ON MY NEXT GUEST'S 60th BIRTHDAY, THAT HE FIRST STARTED FEELING SICK.

HE WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL, SEDATED, AND WOKE UP 12 DAYS LATER, UNABLE TO EVEN TOUCH HIS NOSE.

BUT AFTER WEEKS OF INTENSIVE RECOVERY AT SPAULDING REHAB, AND WEEKS MORE PHYSICAL THERAPY AT HOME, HE STARTED TO REGAIN HIS STRENGTH.

AND ON JULY 24th, ROBERT LEWIS, JR.

JOINED GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER AND MAYOR MARTY WALSH IN THROWING OUT THE FIRST PITCH AT THE RED SOX HOME OPENER.

ALL THE WHILE, HE'S CONTINUED HIS WORK WITH COUNTLESS OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL, HELPING THEM NAVIGATE SOME OF THE HARDEST ASPECTS OF THIS PANDEMIC.

AND HE JOINS ME NOW.

HE'S ALSO FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE BASE, A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES MOSTLY BLACK AND LATINO KIDS IN AND AROUND BOSTON WITH HIGH-QUALITY BASEBALL AND RESOURCES TO HELP THEM REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL, BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD.

ROBERT, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> GREAT, THANK YOU, JIM, GREAT TO SEE YOU AS WELL.

>> SO IT'S HARD TO EVEN SAY THIS, YOU ALMOST DIED FROM COVID-19.

HOW HAS THAT CHANGED THE WAY YOU LIVE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE IS JUST SO MUCH TO IT, JIM.

YOU KNOW, I THINK BACK A YEAR AGO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR BIRTHDAY.

AND THAT THIS COVID ALMOST KILLED ME, RIGHT.

AND BUT THE IMPACT IT HAS HAD ON MY FAMILY.

SO YOU KNOW, AS THIS YEAR HAS GONE BY I THINK THERE ARE THINGS THAT I HAVE COME TO REALIZE.

ONE IS JUST THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY WHICH MEANT A LOT.

IT'S ALSO BEEN HARD BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO SEE YOUR FRIENDS.

BUT I ALSO REALIZE TOO THAT YOU KNOW, YOU REALIZE THE INEQUITIES AROUND THE COVID AND SOME OF THE ISSUES OF RACE AND HOW THAT HAS AFFECTED ME.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT THAT HAS CHANGED BUT I FEEL LIKE IT HAS OPENED UP MY EYES AM I FEEL LIKE I'M AWAKE IN WAYS THAT I THINK THAT I CARED ABOUT THESE ISSUES OF RACE AND ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS.

BUT THIS THING REALLY HIT US HOME IN THE PANDEMIC AND THE RACIAL RECKONING, BROUGHT SO MUCH TO THE FOREFRONT THAT I REALIZED THAT ME AND MY ROLE AND WHAT I DID, THERE WAS MORE THAT I NEEDED TO DO IN ADDRESSING AND TAKING ON HEESE ISSUES.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.

AND PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO SUFFERING BIG TIME ARE THE KIDS YOU'VE DEDICATED YOUR LIFE TO, LEARNING LOSS, ISOLATION, ALL THAT SORT OF THING.

HOW ARE THEY WEATHERING THIS PANDEMIC STORM, ROBERT?

>> IT'S HARD.

IT IS HARD.

RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW WE THINK OF THE LEARNING LOSS, AND FOR US, IT'S THIS, IT'S A QUESTION OF YOU KNOW, EDUCATIONAL EQUITY, LIKE OUR KIDS WERE BEHIND AND SMUGGLING WHEN THEY WERE IN SCHOOL WITH A TEACHER.

NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN OUR YOUNG FOLKS ARE ADAPTING TO, FOR THOSE THAT HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY.

AND THEN THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, YOU KNOW, ARE FOLKS STRUGGLING WITH FOOD, FAMILIES THAT WERE, DADS AND MOMS THAT WERE LIKE LAID OFF, AND NOT LAID OFF WITH A STIMULUS CHECK, LAID OFF BECAUSE THEY WORK UNDER THE TABLE.

SO I'M GLAD OUR YOUNG FOLKS HAVE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN OFFER SERVICES, OUR BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, BASKETBALL WHERE WE CAN OFFER LEARNING PODS, AND FOR US TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE HELP TO TRY TO LEVEL THIS EDUCATIONAL INEQUITY THAT IS GOING ON.

SO OUR YOUNG FOLKS AT LEAST HAVE A PLACE TO COME TO.

BUT IT'S BEEN HARD, MAN.

IT'S BEEN HARD FOR THEM.

AND THEIR FAMILIES.

HOMES, HOUSES, APARTMENTS WEREN'T MADE TO BE CLASSROOMS AND LIBRARIES.

AND NOW FOLKS ARE FIGURING OUT HOW TO ADOPT DURING THIS TIME.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, YOU WERE, YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN PROBLEM SOLVING ON STEROIDS, AND VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE.

IS THERE A PLAN OUT THERE, I DON'T JUST MEAN WITHIN THE BASE, WITHIN SOME OF YOUR BROTHER AND SISTER ORGANIZATIONS, TO HELP THESE KIDS RECOUP WHAT THEY LOST IN THIS PAST YEAR?

>> YOU KNOW, I CAN SPEAK TO, YOU KNOW, FOLKS THAT I TALK TO, I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT DO WE DO THIS SUMMER.

WHAT DO WE DO THIS SUMMER ABOUT LEARNING LOSS.

BUT THEN ALSO WHILE WE HAVE EDUCATORS THINKING ABOUT THAT, JIM, WE ALSO HAVE FAMILIES THAT ARE SAYING LAST SUMMER OUR KIDS COULD NOT GO OUT TO PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS.

SO NOW WE HAVE PARENTS THAT WANT TO GET THEIR KIDS OUT TO BE ACTIVE AND PLAYING AND BEING PHYSICALLY ENGAGED AND LOOKING AT ENRICHMENT AND SPORTING ACTIVITIES WHILE ALSO THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS LEARNING LOSS.

BUT ALSO WHILE WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THE LEARNING LOSS, HOW ARE WE DEALING WITH THE EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES THAT A LOT OF OUR YOUNG FOLKS AND FAMILIES ARE STILL DEALING WITH TODAY.

>> Braude: WHEN I SPOKE TO YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER YOUR BOUT WITH COVID, I ASKED YOU WHY YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS PUBLICLY.

AND YOU SAID BECAUSE IT GAVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO, THE RACIAL GAP, THE RACIAL DIVIDE IN HEALTH CARE AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS.

I JUST SPOKE TO THE DEAN OF BU SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH ABOUT THE SAME THING.

WHEN I ASKED HIM IF HE THOUGHT THAT THE SPOTLIGHT ON THESE INEQUITIES DURING HE CAN VID WOULD LEAD TO MORE POSITIVE ADDRESSING OF THEM PROS SPECTIVELY.

HE SAID THE EXACT SAME TWO WORDS THAT YOU SAID MONTHS AGO TO ME.

I HOPE SO.

THAT IS NOT VERY OIPSZ.

OPTIMISTIC, ARE YOU OR ARE YOU NOT?

>> LISTEN, HAVE I TO, I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT BOSTON AS THIS CITY THAT LIKES TO CLAIM OURSELVE AS THE BEST IN, THE BEST IN EDUCATION.

THE BEST IN HIRING.

THE BEST IN HOSPITAL, THE BEST IN LIFE SCIENCES, THE BEST IN ARTS AND CULTURE.

I HOPE THAT BOSTON SAYS THERE IS A NEXT BEST TOO.

AND THAT BEST IS ON INVESTMENT IN URBAN YOUNG FOLKS.

BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, JIM, WE AND OUR YOUNG FOLKS ARE THAT FUTURE WORKFORCE.

WE ARE.

WE'RE THE FUTURE OF THIS 21S CENTURY ECONOMY.

SO I HAVE TO BELIEVE IF BOSTON IS THE BEST, AND WE LOVE TO CLAIM THAT, WE HAVE NOTHING MORE THAN A MORAL OBLIGATION THAN TO STEP UP TO ENSURE THAT OUR YOUNG FOLKS ARE GOING TO GET THIS EQUITY BECAUSE LET'S BE HONEST, THEY'VE EARNED THIS RIGHT.

OUR FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS EARNED THIS RIGHT TO BE EDUCATED, TO BE FED, TO BE HEALTHY, AND TO GET THE BEST OF, YOU KNOW, OF BOSTON IS THE BEST.

BECAUSE BOSTON CAN'T BE THE BEST, IF IT IS NOT FOR THE FOLKS THAT LIVE HERE AS WELL.

>> ROBERT THOSE KIDS ARE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU, AND WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AS WELL, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

>> JIM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, TO SHED A SPOTLIGHT ON THESE ISSUES, APPRECIATE YOU.

NEARLY A YEAR SINCE SCHOOLS WERE SHUT DOWN, SOME STILL HAVEN'T REOPENED.

AND WHILE THE STATE JUST THIS WEEK STARTED LAYING OUT TIMELINES TO GET ALL YOUNGER KIDS BACK IN CLASSROOMS FULL-TIME, THE FUTURE FOR TEENS REMAINS UNCERTAIN.

ALL YEAR LONG, THREE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS HAVE BEEN SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH US AS PART OF OUR "COVID AND THE CLASSROOM" SERIES.

STEPHANIE LEYDON HAS MORE ON THEIR REFLECTIONS, ON A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER.

>> Reporter: SHE KNEW IT'D BE DIFFRENT, BUT WHEN SAM GAMBER STARTED SENIOR YEAR AT MARLBOROUGH HIGH, SHE WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE THE BEST OF >> I'M SUPER EXCITED, STILL GOT TO SEE THE POSITIVES EVERYWHERE.

THAT'S MY JOB AS A DRUM MAJOR."

>> Reporter: BUT WITHIN WEEKS, HER SCHOOL WENT REMOTE AND SIX MONTHS, LATER HER ENTHUSIASM'S FADED.

>> I GUESS IN TERMS OF, LIKE, MENTAL HEALTH, I'VE KIND OF GONE DOWN A BIT.

>> THE MONOTONY OF IT, LIKE THE CONSTANT REPETITION OF THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER...

I'M JUST NOT IN THE SAME PLACE THAT I WAS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

>> Reporter: HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS HAVE SHARED A UNIQUE WINDOW INTO THEIR LIVES WITH "GBH NEWS" VIA VIDEO DIARIES.

>> YOU JUST WAKE UP, DO SCHOOL, REPEAT.

THE IMPACT HAS BEEN UNEVEN.

>> A GIANT TEST OF MY SELF MOTIVATION.

>> Reporter: BUT, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, COVID HAS AFFECTED ALL THE STUDENTS' LIVES >> A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS, A LOT OF DOWNS.

AGE SOMETIMES THEIR DREAMS.

>> I HAD A NIGHTMARE WHERE I WAS SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE AND THEY HAD COVID AND THEN I HAD TO GO HOME AND I GAVE IT TO MY FAMILY.

AND THESE ARE THE FEARS THAT I DEAL WITH ALL THE TIME.

>> Reporter: THOMAS WHITE, A TOP RUNNER AT BOSTON LATIN SCHOOL, HAS BEEN CAREFUL TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST COVID AND STRUGGLES TO UNDERSTAND WHY OTHERS ARE MORE CAVALIER.

>> SOME OF MY FRIENDS HAVE CHANGED AND I'VE HAD TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT WHO I CONSIDER MY FRIENDS BECAUSE OF THE CHOICES THEY MAKE WITH COVID, WHICH I THINK HAVE BEEN UNFORTUNATE.

>> Reporter: FOR ANNE LAURIE PIERRE, A SENIOR AT EVERETT HIGH SCHOOL, COVID'S NOT AN ABSTRACT THREAT.

HER FATHER CONTRACTED THE DISEASE EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC AND LAST SPRING HE PASSED AWAY.

HER MOTHER GOT COVID, TOO.

SHE RECOVERED, BUT IS NOW HOSPITALIZED AS SHE UNDERGOES TREATMENT FOR LEUKEMIA.

>> AND THAT'S DEFINITELY CHANGED ME, BECAUSE I'M REALLY USED, I'M USED TO HAVING MY MOTHER HERE WITH ME, LIKE IN THE HOUSE ALL THE TIME.

THIS YEAR WAS A BIT DIFFERENT.

>> Reporter: IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT YEAR, BUT ALSO SHE SAYS AN IMPORTANT ONE FOR RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT RACIAL DISPARITIES AND HER OWN EFFORTS TO EXPAND CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE AT EVERETT HIGH.

>> I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT MYSELF AND MY STRENGTH AND WHO I AM, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD A LOT OF AWAKENINGS WITHIN THEMSELVES AND WHO THEY TRULY ARE AND HOW MUCH THEY'RE CAPABLE OF TAKING IT.

>> Reporter: AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT'S CERTAIN: A GENERATION COMING OF AGE DURING A PANDEMIC IS BEING TESTED.

>> Braude: STEPHANIE LEYDON JOINS ME NOW.

THE SERIES HAS BEEN TERRIFIC, CONGRATULATIONS.

>> JIM, THANKS SO MUCH, APPRECIATE IT, IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE.

>> Braude: OF COURSE, OF COURSE.

YOU KNOW THERE WAS A STORY IN THE GLOBE THE OTHER DAY WITH A FRIGHTENINGLY HIGH RATE OF CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AMONG JUNIORS AND SENIORS, ARE YOUR KIDS EXPERIENCING ANY OF THAT?

>> THEY ARE NOT.

BUT I HAVE TO SAY THIS IS A SELF-SELECTING GROUP OF KIDS, THEY HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH US ALL YEAR, SENDING VIDEO DIARIES, TEXTING WITH OUR REPORTERS, ALLOWING US INTO THEIR HOMES AND NOW INTO THEIR SCHOOLS AS THOSE OPEN UP.

SO THIS IS A GROUP OF KIDS WHO ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATED.

BUT EVEN AMONG THESE KIDS, REMOTE SCHOOL HAS BEEN HORRIBLE.

JUST SO DIFFICULT FOR THEM AT TIMES TO EVEN LOG ON AND SOME INDEED HAVE TAKEN A BREAK FROM IT BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.

>> Braude: STUNNING SELF-AWARENESS AMONGST ALL OF THEM.

IS THERE A CHANCE THAT ANY OR ALL OF THEM WOULD BE BACK IN A CLASSROOM BEFORE GRADUATION?

>> YEAH, WELL, WE WERE JUST AT FRAMINGHAM HIGH THIS WEEK WHICH JUST OPENED UP AFTER A YEAR OF BEING CLOSED.

ONE OF THE STUDENTS WE'RE FOLLOWING IS BACK THERE AND HER WORLD HAS CHANGED DRAMICALLY BECAUSE OF THAT.

WE'RE FOLLOWING OTHER STUDENTS IN EF VET-- EVERETT, THEY'RE HOPING TO OPEN UP BUT NOT UNTIL APRIL AND A THIRD STUDENT HAD THE OPTION TO GO BACK BUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS BRINGING IN KIDS WITH LAPTOPS, SITTING IN THEIR HOME ROOM ALL DAY AND DOING ZOOM CLASSES.

SO HE IS TAKING A PASS ON THAT OPTION.

>> Braude: GRADUATION SAY BIG DEAL THOUGH.

FINALLY, TO BE CLEAR TO PEOPLE WATCHING AT HOME WHO HAVEN'T CHECKED OUT THE SERIES YET, YOU DON'T JUST TALK AND FOLLOW STUDENTS, YOU TALK TO TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, EVERYBODY ELSE IN THIS EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE TOO.

>> CORRECT.

WE'RE TRYING TO BRING IN THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND GET-- THE SERIES IS TOLD THROUGH THE EYES OF THE STUDENTS, THEY ARE THE CENTER OF IT.

BUT THEY INTERACT WITH THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, ARE ALL PART OF IT AS WELL.

>> GREAT.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, I RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE, STEPHANIE LEYDON, THANKS.

>> THANKS SO MUCH, JIM.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT FULL SERIES ONLINE AT WGBH NEWS.ORG/COVID AND THE CLASSROOM.

AS WE TOUCHED ON EARLIER, EVEN AS WE LEARNED OF THE FIRST COVID-RELATED DEATHS, MANY WERE STILL ASKING: HOW SERIOUS WILL THIS REALLY GET?

HOW MANY PEOPLE MAY DIE?

A YEAR LATER, WE KNOW THAT ANSWER IS MORE THAN 500,000 PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION.

PEOPLE WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND LIVES, WHO DESERVE TO BE REMEMBERED.

PEOPLE LIKE 78-YEAR-OLD ELEANOR HANLON OF BOSTON, WHOSE DAUGHTER WROTE OF HOW HER MOTHER WAS HER "BEST FRIEND WHO LOVED WITH AN OPEN HEART."

79-YEAR-OLD FRANK LANGONE OF SPRINGFIELD, WHO WAS A "LEGENDARY FLORIST" AND "ALWAYS THERE FOR PEOPLE."

85-YEAR-OLD DR. JOHN CARTER JUNIOR OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, WHOSE FAMILY SAID HE "ALWAYS COMMITTED HIMSELF TO EDUCATION AND USING HIS TALENTS TO HELP OTHERS."

AND 16-YEAR-OLD RYAN KAPES OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, WHOSE FAMILY WROTE: "YOU COULD SEE THE LOVE THAT RYAN HAD FOR HIS FAILY AND FRIENDS THROUGH HIS EYES AND AMAZING SMILE.

HE WILL BE MISSED SO DEARLY AND DEEPLY FOREVER."

WE'VE BEEN SHARING STORIES LIKE THEIRS ON THIS SHOW OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, FROM THE FACES OF COVID TWITTER ACCOUNT, WHICH WAS STARTED NEARLY A YEAR AGO, BECAUSE, AS THE TWITTER BIO STATES: "THEY WERE MORE THAN A STATISTIC."

THE MAN BEHIND THE EFFORT IS ALEX GOLDSTEIN, WHO JOINS ME NOW.

ALEX, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME, JIM.

>> Braude: ASK CAN YOU REMIND ME, HOW DID THIS EFFORT OF YOURS GET STARTED?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I THINK LIKE A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE EARLY DAYS OF PANDEMIC, I FOUND MYSELF BEING REALLY QUICKLY OVERWHELMED WITH THE DATA AND STATISTICS OF DEATHS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS AND VENTILATORS AND FLATEN THE CURVE.

AND THAT WAS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE STORY BUT IT FELT LIKE IT WAS LACKING THE HUMAN COMPONENT OF THAT, OF THIS LOSS THAT WAS JUST CASS CLAITING OVER US, AND SO I SORT OF SOWT OUT IN THE EARLY DAYS TO TRY TO PUT A FACE AND A NAME TO THOSE STATISTICS THROUGH MY OWN RESEARCH.

AND THEN IT BECAME SOMETHING MUCH MORE WHICH BECAME A PLATFORM FOR FAMILIES TO SHARE THEIR OWN STORIES.

AND IT GREW QUITE A BIT OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

>> Braude: MAY I UNFAIRLY ASK YOU IF THERE WERE ONE OR TWO STORIES THAT HAVE STUCK WITH YOU MORE THAN OTHERS?

>> YOU KNOW, IT IS SOMETHING THAT, IN SOME WAYS THEY ALL STICK WITH YOU FOR VERY DIFFERENT REASONS.

SOMETIMES ST BECAUSE THE PHOTO THE FAMILY SUBMITS IS THIS BEAUTIFUL MOMENT FROM A WEDDING.

SOMETIMES IT'S BECAUSE THE INJUSTICE THAT YOU READ IN THE STORY ABOUT SOMEBODY WITHOUT DIED OF COVID BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE PPE IN THEIR NURSING HOME THAT THEY WERE WORKING IN, OR THE WAL-MART THAT THEY WERE A SECURITY GUARD, SOMETIMES IT'S BECAUSE OF THEIR SORT OF HUMOROUS DETAILS THE FAMILIES ARE WILLING TO SHARE ABOUT THEIR LIVES, AND SO YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME TO CHOOSE ONE BECAUSE SO MANY PIECE OF THESE HAVE REALLY STAYED WITH ME THROUGHOUT.

SO I FEEL LIKE IT'S ALMOST NOT DOING IT JUSTICE TO TRY TO CHOOSE JUST ONE OR TWO.

>> Braude: I SHOULDN'T HAVE EVEN ASKED THE QUESTION.

I KNEW IT AS SOON AS I SAID IT BUT I'M GLAD YOU ANSWERED IT.

YOU KNOW, YOU FILLED PART OF A HOLE THAT PRESIDENTS GENERALLY DO, BUT OBVIOUSLY DONALD TRUMP FAILED TO DO.

THAT CHANGED WHEN THERE WAS A CANDIDATE JOE BIDEN, A POWERFUL SPEECH ON INAUGURAL EVE, AND THEN THIS JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

>> WHILE WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THIS PANDEMIC FOR SO LONG, WE HAVE TO RESIST BECOMING NUMB TO THE SORROW.

WE WILL REMEMBER EACH PERSON WE'VE LOST, THE LIVES THEY LIVED, THE LOVED ONES THEY LEFT BEHIND.

WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS, I PROMISE YOU.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME A READ ONE OF YOUR ENTRIES, ALEX, I THINK THE SAME THING.

REQUEST DOES IT MATTER SO MUCH TO SOMEONE THAT SOMEONE THEY DON'T KNOW, A TWITTER ACCOUNT OR A PRESIDENT AND WHO DOESN'T KNOW THE PERSON THEY LOVED TOOK TIME TO CELEBRATE THE LIVES THAT WERE LOST.

WHY DOES IT MATTER TO THEM?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IN SOME WAYS WHAT YOU JUST SAID ABOUT IT BEING A STRANGER IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT ALL OF THE NORMAL SORT OF COMMUNAL THINGS WE DO TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO A LOVE ONE, THE FUNERAL AND THE WAKE AND MEMORIAL SERVICES, AND JUST HAVING PEOPLE BRING US FOOD AND SIT WITH US AND CRY WITH US, THAT IS ALL BEEN DEFERRED THIS ENTIRE YEAR, 525,000 TIMES.

AND SO IT, WITHOUT THAT, AND IN THE ISOLATION OF GRIEVING WITHIN THE FOUR WALLS OF OUR HOMES, I THINK THAT WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR IS JUST SOME KIND OF PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT WE HAVE LOST SOMETHING.

AND IF IT IS A WHOLE BUNCH OF STRANGERS ON A TWITTER PAGE, YOU KNOW WHAT, I WILL TAKE IT BECAUSE THAT IS AT LEAST SOME KIND OF MEANS FOR NOT ONLY ME TO RECEIVE COMFORT OR A MOURN TORE RECEIVE COMFORT BUT ALSO FOR STRANGERS TO EXPRESS TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY SHARE THIS LOSS.

AND THAT THESE FOLKS AREN'T ALONE AS THEY GO THROUGH THIS.

>> I TOTALLY CAN IMAGINE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THOSE FAMILIES.

WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT, WHAT HAS IT MEANT FOR TO YOU CHRONICLE THESE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF LIVES.

>> I WOULD SAY IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL RITUALS OF MY ENTIRE LIFE T IS SOMETHING I DO EVERY DAY, THE LAST THING I DO BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP AND THE FIRST THING I DO WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING.

AND IT IS A SACRED SPACE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES TO PUT THEIR LOVED ONES FORWARD.

AND TO BE IN THE EMBRACE OF STRANGERS WHO SAY YOU KNOW WHAT, I DIDN'T KNOW YOUR LOVED ONE BUT THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT HERE HARMS ALL OF US.

AND I'M SORRY, AND I WILL FOREVER FEEL GRATEFUL FOR HAVING HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

>> Braude: AND I KNOW PEOPLE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOU, YOU HAVE DONE A TERRIFIC PUBLIC AND PERSONAL SERVICE.

CONGRATULATIONS, ALEX, AND ST GOOD TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> THANKS SO MUCH, JIM, TAKE CARE.

AND AGAIN, IF YOU'VE LOST SOMEONE YOU LOVE TO THE PANDEMIC AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THEIR STORY, PLEASE, VISIT: twitter.com/faces-of-covid.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR WATCHING, STAY SAFE.

AND FOR MORE REFLECTIONS ON THE MANY WAYS IN WHICH THE PANDEMIC HAS CHANGED, AND CONTINUES TO SHAPE, OUR LIVES, VISIT: www.wgbh.org/news/a-year-apart.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org