>>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING WITH YOU THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A CHEF WHO PROMOTE WELLNESS THROUGH FOOD.

>> IF WE TEACH KIDS WHAT VEGETABLES ARE, THAT THEY CAN TASTE GOOD, THAT IT'S FUN TO GET IN THE KITCHEN, MAYBE THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO PICK HEALTHIER OPTIONS AS THEY GET OLDER.

>> LOCAL STUDENTS WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A WHEELCHAIR WITH RETRO FUTURISTIC FORM AND FUNCTION.

>> WE HAVE A NEW KWAN TAM -- QUANTUM WHEELCHAIR AND THAT BRINGS THE PERSON IN THE WHEELCHAIR UP TO THE EYE LEVEL.

>> AND WE'LL PAY A VISIT TO A LOCAL ARTIST WHOSE WORK GRACES THE COVERS OF THE "NEW YORKER" MAGAZINE.

>>> AND THEN THE TOPIC WAS GAY MARRIAGE AND I SUBMITTED MY BRIDES AND I GOT AN EMAIL FROM HER SAYING WE'D LIKE TO HOLD THIS OUT FOR THE ACTUAL MAGAZINE.

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

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

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

AFTER LIVING WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS FOR OVER A DECADE, ASHLEY TRESOLINE DISCOVERED THE POWER OF CLEAN EATING AND KNEW THAT SHE HAD TO SHARE IT WITH HER COMMUNITY.

THROUGH HER WORKSHOPS, CLASSES, AND HOME VISITS, SHE SHARES INSSPIRING STORIES OF WELLNESS THROUGH FOOD, AS WELL AS DELICIOUS RECIPES TO HELP PEOPLE WITH THEIR OWN FOOD HEALING JOURNEY.

SHE SHARED HER STORY RECENTLY WITH PRODUCER DAVEED.

>> WE'RE JUST -- DAVE FRASER.

>> WE'RE JUST GOING TO POUR THIS IN OVER OUR BANANA.

I START FROM AGE 4 TO 100.

WHOEVER WANTS TO COOK WITH ME, WHOEVER WANTS TO LEARN, WHOEVER NEEDS A LITTLE HELP CHANGING THEIR DIET, THAT'S WHERE I START.

I HAVE SOME FRESH HYDROPONIC TOMATOES.

I LOVE THESE.

>> ASHLEY TRESOLINE HAS ALWAYS LOVED TO COOK.

GROWING UP IN A LARGE ITALIAN FAMILY WHERE FOOD WAS A BIG PART OF THEIR LIVES.

WHEN SHE WAS IN HER EARLY 20S, SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.

LIVING WITH M.S.

HAS MADE HER REALIZE HOW MUCH FOOD PLAYS A PART IN OUR HEALTH.

>> GOT DIGGED AT 21.

AND BECAUSE -- DIAGNOSED AT 21, AND I HAD TO LEARN A DIFFERENT WAY TO EAT.

NOT BY THE DOCTOR'S ADMISSION BUT BY MY OWN, BECAUSE I WAS SICK OF FEELING AWFUL.

THE MEDS HELPED A LITTLE, BUT I WANTED TO FEEL BETTER.

SO I LEARNED EVERYTHING.

I'VE ALSO GROWN UP COOKING.

I'VE LOVED TO COOK.

I'M GOOD AT IT.

WE DON'T WANT TO ADD ANY SUGAR, NONE OF THAT BROWN SUGAR, ANY OF THAT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PAY ME FOR MY FOOD BEFORE I EVEN DECIDED TO OPEN UP A FOOD BUSINESS.

>> SHE FOUND HERSELF TAKING A WHOLE NEW APPROACH TO HELD AND DISCOVERED THE POWER OF CLEAN EKING.

WITH -- EATING.

WITH A DESIRE TO SHARE THIS KNOWLEDGE WITH HER COMMUNITY, SHE FORMED HER OWN COMPANY, BELLA FOODIE.

>> BELLA CAME FROM SOMETHING MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER USED TO SAY.

BELLA IN ITALIAN MEANS BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL, LIKE THERE'S A FEW DIFFERENT MEANS OF IT.

-- MEANINGS OF IT.

BUT FOODIE IS WHAT I AM.

I'M NOT A TRAINED CHEF AND I FULLY ADMIT THAT.

I'VE LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS OVER THE YEARS.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THE -- [NO [NO AUDIO] >> WHAT VEGETABLES ARE.

THAT THEY CAN TASTE GOOD.

THAT IT'S FUN TO GET IN THE KITCHEN, THAT WE CAN EAT GOOD FOOD AND THEY CAN RECOGNIZES IT WHEN THEY GO TO THE STORE WITH THEIR PARENTS OR THE FARMERS' MARKET, THAT MAYBE THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO PICK HEALTHIER OPTIONS AS THEY GET OLDER.

AND THIS IS A GREAT THING TO MAKE AND JUST LEAVE IN YOUR FRIDGE.

>> IN HER WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES, SHE SAYS SHE'S TELLING PEOPLE THINGS THAT THEY PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW, BUT JUST NEED A LITTLE HELP GETTING THERE.

FROM LESS SUGARS TO LESS CARBS, TO BUYING LOCAL WHEN POSSIBLE.

>> I HAVE A BASE POINT OF WHERE I START.

I'M MOSTLY -- I LIKE LOCAL, SEASONAL INGREDIENTS.

I TRY TO STICK WITH THAT.

LATELY I'VE GETTING A LOT OF CLIENTS ARE LOOKING FOR MONEY-SAVING MEALS, THINGS THAT GO A LONG WAY BECAUSE OF -- GROCERY PRICES ARE REALLY UP ON.

BUT I'M BIG ON THE FARMERS' MARKET, LOCAL FARMS.

WE TALK ABOUT HOW 23U BUY LOCAL AND CEASAL INGREDIENTS, THEY'RE CHEAPER, THEY'RE BETTER.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TRUCKED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THEY'RE MORE NUTRIENT DENTS, ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS -- DENSE, ALL THE WFERLT THINGS -- WE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED THIS BUT WE DON'T.

SO WE GO FOR THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULDN'T.

WE'RE GOING TO TOSS THIS UP.

THE KEMAH, THE VERY LONG, THE GREEN, THE LACK.

I -- BLACK.

I LOVE SEEING A CHANGE IN PEOPLE, SEEING THEM HAPPIER.

I LOVE HEARING THAT WHATEVER THEY ATE, LIKE A CLIENT TEXTED ME, WHAT YOU MADE FOR ME WAS SO GOOD TONIGHT.

CAN WE HAVE THAT AGAIN.

IT'S SWEET.

OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I JUST WANT TO HELP PEOPLE STAY HEALTH YEAR FROM THE INSIDE OUT -- HEALTHIER FROM THE INSIDE OUT ANY WAY I CAN.

I LOVE TO SERVE IT OVER A BED OF FRESH SPINACH.

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

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

>>> MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, AND IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, WE TAKE A LOOK AT ICONIC CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST ANGELA DAVIS.

FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, DAVIS HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR CHANGE.

NOW HARVARD IS HOME TO THE 78-YEAR-OLD'S PERSONAL ARCHIVES AND "CONNECTING POINT'S" ADAM REILLY TAKES US THROUGH THE MORE THAN 150 BOXES OF PAPERS, PHOTOS, AND OTHER DETAILS THAT SHED NEW LIGHT ON ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL WOMEN IN MODERN AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> DAVIS WAS FIRED FROM HER TEACHING POST AT UCLA AFTER THEN-GOVERNOR REAGAN OBJECT TOED HER MEMBERSHIP -- OBJECTED TO HER MEMBERSHIP IN THE COMMUNIST PARTY.

IN PRISON DAVIS'S PROFILE ONLY INCREASED.

>> YOU HAVE TO COMPLETELY REVOLUTIONIZE THE ENTY IF A PRICK OF SOCIETY.

>> -- ENTIRETY OF THE SOCIETY.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, AS WELL AS MORE STORIES, ALL MONTH LONG AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> STEAMPUNK IS A VISUAL AESTHETIC THAT OONG CRATES SIGN FICTION AND VICTORIAN-ERA ELEMENTS.

LOCAL ARTIST AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED STEAMPUNK EXPERT BRUCE ROSENBAUM HAS TEAMED UP WITH A PATHFINDER REGIONAL VO VARIABLE TECHNICAL SCHOOL IN PALMER FOR THE STEAMPUNK QUANTUM WHEESH CLAP RACE -- WHEELCHAIR COLLABORATION PROJECT.

STUDENT GABRIEL LUPPI WILL BE THE DESIGN RECIPIENT AND STUDENTS FROM PATHFINDER TECH WILL HELP TRANSFORM IT INTO A STEAMPUNK-STYLE WORK OF ART.

I SPOKE WITH ROSENBAUM AND LUPPI ALONG WITH ERIC DUDA, SUPERINTENDENT AT PATHFINDER TO, LEARN MORE.

>> IT'S HISTORY, ART,% TECHNOLOGY.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE THREE ELEMENTS.

AND IT STARTED OUT IN SCIENCE FICTION, THAT THE TERM "STEAMPUNK" WAS COINED BY SCIENCE FICTION AUTHOR IN THE 1980s.

AND IT WAS THIS IDEA OF REALLY THE KIND OF THE POPULAR SCIENCE FICTION JENE ARE IN THE 19 -- GENRE IN THE 1980s WAS CYBER PUNK.

IT WAS LIKE TERMINATE, WHAT TECHNOLOGY IS DAJ IMAGINED TO BE LIKE IN THE FUTURE.

BUT THERE WERE A SET OF AUTHORS WHO SAID, WHAT IF DURING THE VICTORIAN PERIOD OR THE INDUSTRIAL AGE, WHICH WAS, YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY MID 1800s TO EARLY 1900S, WHAT IF THEY HAD OUR MODERN TECHNOLOGY.

HOW EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE CHANGED.

AS IF THE COMPUTER WAS INVENTED A HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE IT ACTUALLY WAS.

AND THAT ALMOST HAPPENED WITH A REAL STORY OF CHILES BABIDGE, A SCIENTIST AND MATHEMATICIAN WHO DESIGNED A ECONOMICAL COMPUTER IN THE 18 -- MECHANICAL COMPUTER IN THE 18 60S.

SHE COULDN'T FIND FUNDING TO BUILT IT.

IT WAS BUILT ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO IN ENGLAND AND IT ACTUALLY WORKED.

SO IT'S THIS KIND OF RETRO FUTURE SENSIBILITY OF LOOKING TOWARDS THE PAST, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT THE FUTURE AT THE SAME TIME.

>> AND SO YOUR ART AND DESIGN COMPANY HAS COLLABORATED WITH PATHFINDER TECH AND PALMER FOR THE STEAMPUNK QUANTUM WHEELCHAIR COLLABORATION PROJECT.

SO TELL ME MORE ABOUT WHAT THIS PROJECT IS AND WHY IT STARTED.

>> IT WAS PROBABLY -- CLOSE TO 10 YEARS AGO.

I GOT A CALL FROM THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION TO DO A STEAMPUNK BEDROOM MAKEOVER FOR A BOY IN ACTUALLY FLORENCE, MASS, WHO HAD MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY.

AND WE DID THE BEDROOM AND THEN WE SAID, WOULDN'T IT BE COOL ALSO TO KIND OF STEAMPUNK HIS WHEELCHAIR.

AND WE REACHED OUT TO THE QUANTUM WHEELCHAIR COMPANY AT THAT TIME, AND THEY DONATED A CHAIR AND WE JUST KIND OF SAID, WELL, LET'S JUST GO AT IT.

AND I WORKED WITH A LOCAL COMPANY AND PUT IT TOGETHER.

OUT OF THAT, WE CAME ONE THIS REALLY GREAT DESIGN, BUT THE BOY THAT WE GAVE IT TO, HIS NEEDS HAD CHANGED.

AND SO WE COULDN'T -- HE COULDN'T REALLY USE IT.

WE THEN DECIDED, OKAY, WELL, LET'S FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

AND KIND OF HAVE A WIN WHERE WE COULD WORK WITH A LOCAL SCHOOL AND THAT'S -- WE FOUND PATHFINDER TECH.

AND THEY SAID, YEP, THEY WOULD LOVE TO BE INVOLVED AND INVOLVED THEIR INSTRUCTORS AND THEIR STUDENTS.

AND THIS TIME WE REALLY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY WORK WITH THE OWNER -- YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL OWNER OF THE WHEELCHAIR, AND HAVING THEM HELP US WITH THE DESIGN IN TERMS OF THE AESTHETIC BUT ALSO THE FUNCTIONALITY, SO THEY COULD USE IT FOR A LONG TIME.

AND THE REAL KIND OF WONDERFUL PART ABOUT THIS IS THAT WE HAVE A NEW QUANTUM WHEELCHAIR THAT ACTUALLY HAS A LIFT SYSTEM.

IT'S LIKE A SCISSOR LIFT THAT COMES UP.

AND THAT ACTUALLY BRINGS THE PERSON IN THE WHEELCHAIR UP TO THE EYE LEVEL.

SO WHERE THEY CAN TALK, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ON THE SAME LEVEL, WHICH IS A HUGE BENEFIT.

>> NOW, BEFORE I GET TO YOU, GABE, I WANT TO ASK ERIC, WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THIS PROJECT THAT REALLY MADE YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED, HAVE PATHFINDER TECH INVOLVEMENT WITH IT, AND TELL ME WHAT THE SCHOOL'S ROLE WILL BE.

>> HAVING KNOWN BRUCE AND HIS BACKGROUND AND HIS ENERGY, HIS EXCITEMENT AROUND TAKING ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE AND ART AND COMBINING THEM ALL, WE IMMEDIATELY KNEW A PROJECT LIKE THIS WOULD BE IDEAL FOR STUDENTS TO DO WHAT WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE, WHICH IS THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, BE INNOVATIVE, CREATIVE, HAVE AN ART ASPECT WHEN POSSIBLE.

AND HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH BRUCE, BEING LOCAL ON OUR -- TO OUR AREA, WE JUMPED ON BOARD WITH IT.

WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE FACT THAT THIS COULD BE SORT OF AN INTERDISCIPLINARY PROJECT WHICH IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO US.

WE HAVE 16 TECHNICAL PROGRAMS.

WE'RE WE'RE TECH HIGH SCHOOL SERVING 16 SCHOOLS.

AND WE HAVE A WIDE CROSS SECTION OF PROGRAMS AND STUDENTS.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO FIND THAT INTEREST LEVEL AND BEYOND, BEYOND JUST THOSE PROGRAMS, WHICH WE KNEW WOULD BE A NICE ALIGNMENT, WE WERE ABLE TO DWIR TWINE ASPECTS, INCLUDING OUR ART PROGRAM AND ART TEACHER, WHICH I BELIEVE ARE DOING PARTS OF THE UPHOLSTERY AND DESIGN PORTIONS OF IT.

SO WHEN WE SAW AN OPTION FOR STUDENTS TO BE INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE, WE SAID THIS WAS A NICE FUTURE.

>> DAVE, WERE YOU THE WELL-DESERVING CANDIDATE CHOSEN TO BE THIS YOUTH DECLINE COLLABORATOR.

AND YOU WILL BE RECEIVING YOUR VERY OWN CUSTOM STEAMPUNK WHEELCHAIR.

TELL ME ABOUT WHAT INTERESTED YOU IN THIS PROJECT AND HOW HAS IT IMPACTED YOUR LIFE SO FAR?

>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTED ME BECAUSE I GO TO COLLEGE FOR THIS.

THAT'S THE WHOLE REASON I PICKED MECHANICAL ENGINEERING BECAUSE I WANT TO WORK WITH WHEELCHAIRS AND I WANT TO MAKE ADAPTABLE EQUIPMENT FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS AND YOU KNOW, CAN DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGE THAT I CAN, TOO.

YOU KNOW, FACE A LOT OF CHALLENGES.

SO -- AND I'M ALWAYS IN A WHEELCHAIR.

SO IT'S REALLY COOL TO DO THIS.

>> AND HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN STEAMPUNK?

BECAUSE I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE CRITERIA WAS BEING ARTISTIC AND HAVING ANG INTEREST IN STEAM -- AN INTEREST IN STEAM, WHICH STANDS FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATH.

>> YEAH, MY UNCLE AND MY GRANDPA, THEY'RE ALWAYS DONE THIS MECHANICAL ENGINEERING STUFF AND THEY'VE ALL THE DONE DESIGNING.

I WATCHED MY FAMILY WASHINGTON -- WORK ON CARS AND IT'S -- IT'S A REALLY COOL THING.

>> I READ THAT AT JUST 18 MONTHS OLD, YOU ALREADY WERE LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE A POWER WHEELCHAIR.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU RECEIVED YOUR FIRST WHEELCHAIR AT THE AGE OF 2 AND SOMETHING THAT BRUCE HAS SAID REALLY STUCK OUT TO ME WITH THIS PROJECT, SAYING THAT THIS PROJECT REALLY KIND OF TAKES THE CONVERSATION AWAY FROM WHY ARE YOU IN A WHEELCHAIR AND HAS THAT FOCUS ON YOUR INDIVIDUALITY AND PERSONALITY.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT ASPECT OF THIS PROJECT FOR YOU?

>> REALLY IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT WHEELCHAIRS ALL THE TIME AND THEY'RE REALLY COOL BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY'RE KIND OF BLAND.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE THEY DON'T REALLY YELL OUT TO THE PERSON LIKE WHAT THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY WANT OR WHO THEY MEAN TO THEMSELVES.

>> AND SO BRUCE, HOW DO YOU GUIDE AND EVEN ERIC, HOW DO THE STUDENTS HELP GUIDE THIS PROCESS IN THE DESIGN PROCESS?

>> SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH IS JUST WORKING ON A CONCEPT.

SO COMING UP WITH HAND SKETCHES, HAND DRAWINGS.

AND HAVING THIS KIND OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WHERE WE WILL KIND OF GO OUT AND JUST KIND OF HAVE SOME WILD THINKING ON WHAT THIS CAN BE.

BUT ALSO, KEEPING IN MIND THE FUNCTIONALITY, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HINDER THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE WHEELCHAIR IN THAT IT'S -- YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA WORK FOR GABE IN THE NEAR TERM AND IN THE LONG TERM.

SO CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT, DRAWING, AND THEN WORKING WITH THE INSTRUCTORS AND STUDENTS AT PATHFINDER TECH, TO ACTUALLY STOCK THE FABRICATION TO DO THE CAD DRAWINGS AND TO START MAKING IT.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> WHEN GAYLE KABAKER MOVED TO WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS FROM SAN FRANCISCO WITH HER SOON-TO-BE HUSBAND, ARTIST PETER KITCHELL, HER FRIENDS TOOK BETS ON HOW LONG SHE'D STAY.

SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE AREA AND HAS CALLED IT HOME FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

THE SUCCESSFUL ARTIST, ILLUSTRATOR, AND WRITER HAS CREATED COVERS FOR THE "NEW YORKER" MAGAZINE AND HAD A SHOW AT THE PRESTIGIOUS KENNEDY CENTER IN WASHINGTON, D.C., IN 2020.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER SWRTZED HER AT -- VISITED HER AT HER STUDIO IN ASHFIELD AND BRINGS US HER STORY.

>> I MET MY HUSBAND PETER KITCHELL IN SAN FRANCISCO WHEN WE WERE -- WHERE WE WERE BOTH LIVING AND HIS DAD WAS AN ARCHITECT IN AMHERST.

AND PETER HAD BOUGHT LAND OUT HERE WHEN HE WAS VISITING HIS DAD.

SO WHEN I MET HIM, HE HAD THIS PROPERTY ALREADY.

AND I KIND OF ENDED UP JUST TAGGING ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

WELL, I'D ALWAYS LOVED TO DRAW, EVER SINCE I WAS A KID.

I WAS LIKE THE ONE WHO COULD DRAW.

WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, THERE WAS KIND OF NEVER ANY OTHER IDEA OTHER THAN I'D GO TO ART SCHOOL.

I WANTED TO BE A FAX ILLUSTRATOR -- FASHION ILLUSTRATOR AND I WANTED TO GO TO SCHOOL IN NEW YORK.

MY PARENTS MOVED TO L.A.

BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT ME THAT FAR AWAY, SO WE COMPROMISED ON SAN FRANCISCO, BECAUSE THE ACADEMY OF ART HAD A FASHION ILLUSTRATION PROGRAM.

SO I WENT THERE FOR FOUR YEARS.

AND GOT OUT.

I WAS A FASHION ILLUSTRATOR FOR A FEW YEARS UNTIL I CAME HERE.

AND THAT'S WHEN I HAD TO BRANCH OUT INTO EVERYTHING ELSE.

I PAINT THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY, WITH PAINT AND PAPER.

AND THEN I SCAN IT AND FINISH IT AND PHOTOSHOP.

-- IN PHOTOSHOP.

I ENTERED A CONTEST THAT THE ART DIRECTOR FROM THE NEW YORKER WAS DOING.

EACH WEEK SHE WAS POSTING A TOPIC THAT WAS SIMILAR TO THE REAL NEW YORKER.

AND PEOPLE WERE SUBMITTING.

AND THEN SHEET PICK AT THE END OF THE WEEK, SHE'D PICK THE TOP 10 AND A WINNER.

SO I STARTED PLAYING.

AND THE FIRST WEEK OR TWO I GOT INTO LIKE NUMBER TWO.

AND I WAS LIKE, WOW, THIS IS FUN!

AND THEN THE TOPIC WAS GAY MARRIAGE.

AND I SUBMITTED MY BRIDES AND I GOT AN EMAIL FROM HER SAYING WE'D LIKE TO HOLD THIS OUT FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE ACTUAL MAGAZINE.

THAT WAS REALLY SPECIAL BECAUSE IT REALLY MEANT A LOT TO PEOPLE.

AND I GOT A LOT OF EMAILS AND LIKE A -- PEOPLE WROTE ME.

IT WAS VERY SPECIAL.

I GOT INVOLVED THREE YEARS AGO AND THIS IS A SERIES OF 100 PORTRAITS TO CELEBRATE THE 100 YEARS OF WOMEN GETTING THE VOTE.

AND ALSO TO JUST, YOU KNOW, REALLY CALL OUT THESE WOMEN WHO ARE DOING REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS.

SOME FAMOUS, SOME NOT FAMOUS, FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

YOU KNOW, IT'S TOUGH OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

A LOT OF SCARY STUFF.

AND I THINK THAT THERE'S A PLACE FOR ART TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

SO HOWEVER I CAN USE MY ART TO SUPPORT CAUSES THAT I WANT TO -- THAT I BELIEVE IN OR TO GET INFORMATION OUT TO PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOU CAN MAKE A REALLY BIG IMPACT.

AND THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> SERVING AROUND 200 STUDENTS IN FRAIDGES AND HAMPSHIRE COUNTIES, THE LITERACY PROJECT PROVIDES FREE HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALIENCY PREPARATION CLASSES FOR ADULTS.

WITH THE GOAL OF HAVING ITS PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE MEANINGFULLY AND EQUITY TA -- ETQUITBLY IN THE ECONOMIC AND CULTURE ASPECTS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, THE NONPROFIT OFFERS A NUMBER OF RESOURCES AND EVEN SOME CREATIVE COURSES.

I SPOKE WITH JUDITH ROBERTS, EXEUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALONG WITH STUDENTS CRINGZ MORALES AND DEBB GONZALEZ TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM.

>> WE ARE A SMALL LOCAL NONPROFIT, JUST IN FRANKLIN AND HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

WE'RE IN FIVE TOWNS, AMHERST, NORTH HAMPTON, GREENFIELD, NORTH, AND WARE.

AND WE'RE A G.E.D.

PREPARATION PROGRAM.

OUR STAY TUNEDS -- STUDENTS HAVE STUDYING IN READING, WRITING, MATH, SCIENCE, AND SOCIAL STUDIES.

ANDALONG THE WAY, THEY REALLY FALL IN LOVE WITH LEARNING AND OFTEN FALL IN LOVE WITH READING AND WRITING AND EVEN THAT.

SO WE TRY TO KEEP OUR CLASSROOMS SMALL, WARM, AND WELCOMING.

RIGHT NOW OUR CLASSES ARE TOTALLY ONLINE, BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE COMPUTERS TO FOLKS SO THAT THEY CAN JOIN US ONLINE.

AND WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN.

EVERYBODY DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE AT SUCCESS, AND THAT EDUCATION IS TRULY THE STEPPINGSTONE TO A BETTER LIFE.

SO MOST OF OUR STUDENTS COME TO US SAYING THAT THEY WANT TO GET THEIR G.E.D., THEIR HIGH SET, SO THEY CAN GET A BETTER JOB.

BUT THERE'S ALSO A RIPPLE EFFECT BECAUSE MORE THAN HALF OF OUR STUDENTS ARE PARENTS.

AND SO THEY'RE BETTER ABLE TO HELP THEIR KIDS WITH THE KIDS' HOMEWORK ONCE THEY ATTAIN THEIR EDUCATION GOALS.

SO LITERACY REALLY, REALLY CHANGES LIVES.

AND DON'T GET ME WRONG.

OUR STUDENTS COME TO US.

THEY CAN READ.

THEY JUST NEED TO IMPROVE SKILLS TO PASS THE HIGH SET.

BUT ONCE OUR STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO ATTAIN THEIR EDUCATION GOALS, THEY'RE BETTER ABLE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, SO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

>> AND I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT REASON FOR TAKING CLASSES AT THE LITERACY PROJECT.

SO, WHAT ARE YOUR STORIES BEHIND WHY YOU DECIDED TO START JOINING CLASSES AT THE LITERACY PROJECT?

>> I DON'T JOINED THE LITERACY PROJECT BECAUSE I HAD GONE DOWN A HOLE AT -- I HAD SOME PERSONAL ISSUES GOING ON IN MY LIFE WHERE I WAS JUST MENTALLY UNSTABLE.

AND I WAS VERY UNHAPPY.

I GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I EVEN WANTED TO TAKE MY OWN LIFE AND I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL.

AND WHEN I WOKE UP I DECIDED TO STOP DRINKING, WHICH DRINKING WAS SOMETHING THAT IT WAS A BIG ISSUE FOR ME.

I DRANK EVERY DAY.

I WAS SPENDING THERE ARE 300 -- $00 A -- $300 ON DRINKING ALONE.

I AM CAPE UP TO -- I CAME UP TO THIS HOUSE, IT'S A SOBER HOUSE.

AND THAT'S WHERE I AM NOW.

AND ONE DAY I WAS -- I WAS UPSET ABOUT SOMETHING, SOMETHING STARTED BOTHERING ME.

AND I DECIDED, YOU KNOW WHAT, I NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

I NEED TO -- [INAUDIBLE] AND I TALKED TO JOSH OUT THERE.

VERY GREAT GUY.

I LOVE JOSH.

VERY EASY TO TALK TO.

AND HE HELPED ME ZIP RIGHT THROUGH IT.

I THINK IT WAS -- I THINK FOUR OR FIVE DAYS AND I GOT -- AND I PASSED MY HIGH SET AND THE SAME DAY THAT I PASSED IT, I GOT INTO GCC.

>> AND DEB, WHAT WAS YOUR REASON?

>> I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT.

AND I END UP GETTING PREGNANT YOUNG.

I WAS 18.

SO I TRIED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

I JUST DECIDED TO DO MOTHERHOOD.

AND I TRIED AGAIN WHEN IT MY DAUGHTER.

WHEN I WAS 26.

THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT.

AND I JUST SAID, FORGET IT.

I'M NEVER GONNA TRY AGAIN.

I'M NEVER GOING TO GET MY G.E.D.

AND THEN I MOVED FROM THE CITY AND I CAME TO GREENFIELDS AND I REACHED OUT TO A SCHOOL.

I SAID I NEED TO DO SOMETHING WITH MY LIFE.

YOU KNOW, I'M 37 NOW AND THEN MY SON JUST GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN JUNE.

AND HE -- HE MADE ME CRY ON GRADUATION DAY BECAUSE HE SAID TO ME, HE SAID, MOM, LOOK, I DID THE ONE THING THAT YOU COULDN'T DO AND THAT WAS GRADUATE.

AND THAT HURT ME SO BAD THAT I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

SO I CAME HERE IN JULY.

I STARTED IN SEPTEMBER.

I GRADUATED FROM GETTING MY HIGH SET IN DECEMBER.

SO I WAS LIKE, SO PROUD OF MYSELF THAT I DID IT WITHIN THE SAME YEAR THAT MY SON GRADUATED BECAUSE I TOLD HIM, I SAID YOU'RE GOING TO EAT YOUR WORDS, BUDDY!

YOU'RE GOING TO EAT YOUR WORDS!

AND I SURE DID.

THE FIRST PHONE CALL THAT I MADE WHEN I PASSED WAS TO MY SON.

I SAID, I GUESS YOU'LL BE COMING TO MY GRADUATION.

SO I'M SO EXCITED FOR GRADUATION IN JUNE!

>> JUDITH, I KNOW THAT YOU DESCRIBED THE PROGRAM AS HAVING AN ARTS AND HUMANITIES SLANT.

WHY IS THAT THE CASE AND WHAT CREATIVE PROGRAMS DO YOU OFFER?

>> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE MEMOIR WRITING PROJECT AND STUDENTS ARE WRITING THEIR MEMOIRS.

ONE STUDENT SAID TO ME SHE CAME TO THE UNDERSTAND BECAUSE SHOULD I WASN'T SAFE IN HER HOME COUNTRY.

BUT IN OUR CLASSROOM, SHE FEELS SAFE TO HAVE HER MEMORIES AND WRITE ABOUT THEM AND SHARE THEM.

AND THAT'S JUST SUCH A BEAUTIFUL THING.

SO WE ALSO ARE PART OF THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

ALL THESE SKILLS AND THE COMPUTER SKILLS, THE READING WRITING, THE SPEAKING, ARE ALL PART OF THAT AS WELL.

>> AS AN ADULT, THE HARDEST PART IS STARRING SOMETHING NEW IS HAVING THE -- STARTING SOMETHING NEW IS RUNNING THE COURAGE TO BEGIN IT.

WHAT WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH SOMEBODY THAT'S IN THE SAME SITUATION?

>> I WOULD SAY JUST DO IT AND YOU'LL BE SURPRISED WHAT YOU CAN DO.

AND THAT WILL GIVE YOU A LOT OF FUEL TO KEEP GOING.

YOU KNOW, TO GET YOURSELF OUT OF THAT RUT, THAT FEELING LIKE -- LIKE YOU'RE STUCK.

JUST DO IT.

DON'T SEE -- THERE'S NO SECRET FORM LA.

NO ONE IS GOING -- FORMULA.

NO ONE IS GOING TO COME THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR AND BE LIKE, COME ON, I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU I LONG, WE'RE GOING TO GET YOUR GOALS.

NO, YOU JUST GOT TO GET UP AND DO IT.

>> HAVE A GOOD MINDSET AND KNOW THAT KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD TO DO ANYTHING.

I'M 37 AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE THIS.

I'M PROBABLY GONNA BE IN COLLEGE UNTIL 80, 90 YEARS OLD.

¶ ¶ >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF CRIMINAL.

-- OF "CONNECTING POINT."

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