RU2 >>> COMING UP STORIES WE'RE RU2 CONNECTING YOU WITH TONIGHT.

RU2 CONGRESSMAN RICHARD NEAL ON THE RU2 HISTORIC $1.9 TRILLION COVID RU2 RELIEF PACKAGE.

RU2 >> THIS IS NOT USURPING PRIVATE RU2 SECTOR RESPONSIBILITY.

RU2 IT'S ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE RU2 CAPACITY FOR SO MANY RU2 INSTITUTIONS TO RESPOND TO THE RU2 PANDEMIC WOULD HAVE TO COME RU2 THROUGH GOVERNMENTAL ASSISTANCE.

RU2 >>> THE ERIC CARLE MUSEUM RU2 REOPENS WITH A NEW EXHIBIT RU2 EXAMINING THE CIVIL RIGHTS RU2 MOVEMENT THROUGH CHILDREN'S RU2 BOOKS.

RU2 >> HOW DO WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS RU2 ABOUT RACE WITH CHILDREN?

RU2 AND THE ANSWER TO THAT IS, HAVE RU2 CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE WITH RU2 CHILDREN.

RU2 PICTURE BOOKS MAKE THAT RU2 POSSIBLE.

RU2 >>> AND CELEBRATING WOMEN IN RU2 LEADERSHIP.

RU2 >> THERE ARE SO MANY LITTLE RU2 GIRLS OUT THERE THAT NOW HAVE A RU2 VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED RU2 STATES THAT.

RU2 >>> THOSE STORIES AND MORE.

RU2 >>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR RU2 JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING RU2 POINT."

RU2 I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

RU2 LAST THURSDAY, PRESIDENT JOE RU2 BIDEN SIGNED A HISTORIC $1.9 RU2 TRILLION COVID RELIEF PACKAGE RU2 INTO LAW SCORE, HIS FIRST MAJOR RU2 POLITICAL VICTORY IN OFFICE.

RU2 AMONG ITS MANY COMPONENTS, THE RU2 LATEST PACKAGE PROVIDES CHECKS RU2 OF $1400 TO AMERICANS EARNING RU2 LESS THAN $75,000 A YEAR.

RU2 ON CAPITOL HILL, THE POWERFUL RU2 WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE WAS RU2 RESPONSIBLE FOR CRAFTING HALF OF RU2 THE PACKAGE TOTALING A RU2 STAGGERING $941 BILLION.

RU2 "CONNECTING POINT"'S RAY HERSHEL RU2 SPOKE WITH COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN RU2 CONGRESSMAN RICHARD NEAL OF RU2 SPRINGFIELD WHO SAYS THE RELIEF RU2 PACKAGE COMES AT A CRITICAL TIME RU2 IN THE COUNTRY'S BATTLE AGAINST RU2 COVID.

RU2 >> WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET TO RU2 FULL ECONOMIC RECOVERY UNTIL WE RU2 DEFEAT THE VIRUS.

RU2 WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT, IN THIS RU2 PACKAGE THERE IS MONEY FOR RU2 CONSTITUENTS.

RU2 THERE IS MORE MONEY FOR TESTING.

RU2 WE EXPAND THE CHILD CREDIT, THE RU2 EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

RU2 WE EXTEND THE CHILD CARE CREDIT, RU2 THE EXPANSION THIS YEAR.

RU2 THERE ARE MORE DOLLARS FOR SMALL RU2 BUSINESS LOANS.

RU2 AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RU2 REMEMBER THAT WE ARE NOT ON THE RU2 OTHER SIDE OF THE PANDEMIC.

RU2 AND CERTAINLY THIS PACKAGE, I RU2 BELIEVE, WILL GO A LONG WAY RU2 TOWARD ALLEVIATING SOME OF THOSE RU2 CONCERNS.

RU2 THERE'S ABOUT $8 POIL 5 BILLION RU2 FOR THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, RU2 $100 MILLION FOR THE CITY OF RU2 SPRINGFIELD.

RU2 $115 MILLION FOR THE CITY OF RU2 WORCESTER, $33 MILLION FOR THE RU2 CITY OF PITTSFIELD.

RU2 I BELIEVE $31 MILLION FOR THE RU2 CITY OF HOLYOKE.

RU2 AND I CALL THAT UP ONLY TO POINT RU2 OUT THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC, RU2 MANY OF THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS RU2 WHO TOOK THE MOST RISKS, THEY RU2 NOW ARE STILL IN THE PRECARIOUS RU2 POSITION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT RU2 THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RU2 HOLD ON TO THEIR JOBS.

RU2 THIS WILL GIVE THEM A LONG-TERM, RU2 I THINK, MOMENT OF SATISFACTION.

RU2 >> IT CERTAINLY WAS A RU2 COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE, AS YOU RU2 JUST MENTIONED.

RU2 MOST PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR, OF RU2 COURSE, WITH THE STIMULUS CHECKS RU2 THAT ARE GOING OUT, YOU KNOW, RU2 $1400 FOR INDIVIDUALS EARNING RU2 UNDER $75,000 AND $2800 FOR RU2 INDIVIDUALS EARNING UNDER RU2 $150,000.

RU2 BUT THAT'S ONLY ABOUT 22% OF THE RU2 TOTAL ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE.

RU2 SO THERE'S 78% AS YOU MENTIONED RU2 THAT GOES TO OTHER AREAS, RU2 WHETHER IT'S EDUCATION, WHETHER RU2 IT'S STATES, WHETHER IT'S COVID.

RU2 SO IT IS A VERY COMPREHENSIVE RU2 PACKAGE.

RU2 >> WELL, GETTING OUR SCHOOLS RU2 OPEN IS ESSENTIAL.

RU2 AND I THINK THAT THERE IS MONEY RU2 HERE FOR OUR AIR CONDITIONING RU2 SYSTEMS IN THE SCHOOLS.

RU2 I THINK THAT THERE IS MONEY HERE RU2 FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN LAID RU2 OFF.

RU2 I THINK PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST RU2 IMPORTANT THINGS WE DID, ONCE RU2 AGAIN IN THIS LEGISLATION, WAS RU2 TO PROVIDE THE BEDROCK GUARANTEE RU2 OF EXPANDED AND EXTENDED RU2 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE THROUGH RU2 THE FALL.

RU2 THESE ARE VERY CRITICAL RU2 CONSIDERATIONS.

RU2 I THINK THE EMPLOYER PENSION RU2 PLAN RELIEF THAT WE UNDERTOOK RU2 WAS ALSO ESSENTIAL.

RU2 SO THIS IS BY MOST, I THINK, RU2 MEASUREMENTS, PERHAPS ON PAR RU2 WITH WHAT LYNDON JOHNSON DID IN RU2 $64 AND $65 --'S 64 AND '65.

RU2 IT'S ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE RU2 CAPACITY FOR SOME INSTITUTIONS RU2 TO RESPOND TO THE PANDEMIC WOULD RU2 HAVE TO COME THROUGH RU2 GOVERNMENTAL ASSISTANCE.

RU2 >> AFTER THE STIMULUS PACKAGE RU2 WAS SIGNED INTO LAW, YOU TALKED RU2 WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN.

RU2 I AM CURIOUS.

RU2 COULD YOU SHARE WHAT THE GIST OF RU2 THAT CONVERSATION WAS?

RU2 WHAT HE TOLD YOU AND WHAT YOU RU2 RESPONDED TO FOR THE PRESIDENT?

RU2 >> I TALKED TO THE PRESIDENT FOR RU2 ABOUT 10 MINUTES.

RU2 HE WAS ELATED.

RU2 CONGRATULATED ME OVER AND OVER RU2 AGAIN FOR WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO RU2 GET DONE.

RU2 10 MILLION JOBS THAT WERE LOST RU2 DURING THIS PANDEMIC IS A LITTLE RU2 BIT MORE THAN ONE YEAR OLD NOW.

RU2 10 MILLION JOBS.

RU2 THEY HAVE NOT COME BACK.

RU2 SO EVEN THOUGH THE NATIONAL RU2 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS 'TIED NORTH RU2 OF 6%, JANET YELLEN, SECRETARY RU2 OF THE TREASURY SAYS THAT NUMBER RU2 IS CLOSER TO 10% BECAUSE OF THE RU2 NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO STOPPED RU2 LOOKING.

RU2 >> REPUBLICANS HAVE MAINTAINED RU2 THAT THERE'S TOO MUCH THIS BILL, RU2 TOO MUCH MONEY.

RU2 THEY PROPOSE AN ALTERNATIVE BILL RU2 I THINK OF ABOUT A THIRD OF THE RU2 AMOUNT.

RU2 IN TERMS OF WHAT THIS MEANS FOR RU2 THE FEDERAL DEFICIT EXPANDING, RU2 AND LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH IN RU2 OUR COUNTRY, HOW DO YOU FEEL RU2 THIS COVID RELIEF PACKAGE IS RU2 GOING TO FAIR?

RU2 >> THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS MADE RU2 CLEAR THAT GETTING TO THE OTHER RU2 SIDE OF THE PANDEMIC SHOULD BE RU2 PRIORITY NUMBER ONE.

RU2 TIME AND AGAIN, JAY POWELL, RU2 CHAIRMAN OF THE FED, AS RECENTLY RU2 AS A COUPLE DAYS AGO HAS POINTED RU2 OUT THAT HE INTENDS TO KEEP RU2 INTEREST RATES LOW FOR THE RU2 FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

RU2 SOME SPECULATE THAT MEANS YEARS RU2 TO COME.

RU2 HE IS TRYING TO GET TO THAT RU2 INFLATION NUMBER OF 2% WHICH IS RU2 A TOUGH CALL.

RU2 IT'S LIKE A BANK SHOT IF YOU RU2 EVER PLAYED POOL.

RU2 HE IS I THINK AN AAUTHORITATIVE RU2 VOICE ON THIS.

RU2 HE'S DONE A GOOD JOCK.

RU2 THERE IS THE REALITY THAT IT RU2 WOULD BE VERY HARD FOR RU2 REPUBLICANS NOW, AND THIS IS A, RU2 I THINK, DIPLOMATIC CRITIQUE OF RU2 THEIR POSITIONS.

RU2 YOU CAN'T BE JUST FOR DEFICIT RU2 REDUCTION WHEN THERE'S RU2 DEMOCRATIC PRESENCE.

RU2 I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT RU2 THE DEBT EXPLODED UNDER RU2 PRESIDENT BUSH JUNIOR AND UNDER RU2 DONALD TRUMP.

RU2 PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TOOK THE RU2 POSITION THAT THE REPUBLICAN RU2 PROPOSAL OF $600 CHECKS WAS NOT RU2 ENOUGH.

RU2 HE WANTED $2,000 CHECKS.

RU2 IN THE LAST AMERICAN PRESIDENT RU2 WHO PAID GREAT ATTENTION TO THE RU2 DEFICITS AND DEBT WAS BILL RU2 CLINTON.

RU2 SINCE THAT TIME, I THINK THERE'S RU2 BEEN AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THE RU2 LONG-TERM VERMONTS AND BORROWING RU2 IS APPROPRIATE BUT CLINTON RU2 BALANCED THE BUNNELL FOUR TIMES RU2 DURING HIS PRESIDENCY.

RU2 IT'S ONLY BEEN BALANCED FIVE RU2 TIMES SINCE WORLD WAR II.

RU2 >> IF WICK LOOK FORWARD A LITTLE RU2 BIT AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN RU2 TERMS OF WHAT LIES AHEAD, OF RU2 COURSE, WE ARE KEELING WITH RU2 COVID AND WILL BE FOR SOME TIME RU2 NOW.

RU2 WHAT'S THE NEXT MAJOR INITIATIVE RU2 THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING RU2 THROUGH WAYS AND MEANS THAT THE RU2 PRESIDENT IS ESPOUSING AT THIS RU2 POINT OF VIEW?

RU2 IS IT THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL?

RU2 >> IT LOOKS AS THOUGH IT'S GOING RU2 TO BE INFRASTRUCTURE.

RU2 WE HAVE BEGUN THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

RU2 I HAVE HAD THAT CONVERSATION RU2 WITH SPEAKER PELOSI AND HER RU2 OFFICE A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.

RU2 WE TALKED ABOUT IT EXTENSIVELY.

RU2 I THINK THERE'S A BROAD RU2 ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT AMERICA'S RU2 INFRASTRUCTURE HAS FALLEN INTO A RU2 BROAD STATE OF DISREPAIR.

RU2 OUR AIRPORTS AND OUR RAILROADS RU2 ARE TWO THAT COME TO MIND THAT RU2 WE WANT TO EXPAND THIS TO MORE RU2 BROADBAND OPPORTUNITIES.

RU2 WE WANT TO EXPAND IT TO SEWER RU2 AND WATER.

RU2 I HAVE TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT RU2 TRYING TO IMPROVE RAIL SERVICE RU2 BETWEEN BOSTON, WORCESTER, RU2 SPRINGFIELD AND PITTSFIELD.

RU2 I THINK THAT IS A DISTINCT RU2 POSSIBILITY AS WELL.

RU2 SO DONALD TRUMP PROPOSED A $2 RU2 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN.

RU2 JOE BIDEN I EXPECT TO PROPOSE A RU2 $2 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN.

RU2 AND I AM OK WITH A CONSIDERABLE RU2 AMOUNT OF BORROWING FOR THAT.

RU2 BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A RU2 LONG-TERM INVESTMENT.

RU2 THERE AREN'T MANY PEOPLE, RU2 EXECUTION ME, THERE AREN'T MANY RU2 PEOPLE WHO BUY THEIR HOME WITH RU2 ONE PAYMENT.

RU2 YOU INVEST OVER THE LONG PERIOD RU2 OF TIME, INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY RU2 THAT THEN IN TURN IMPROVES THE RU2 QUALITY OF LIFE.

RU2 >>> EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT, RU2 "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE RU2 PEOPLE, PLACES, AND IDEAS THAT RU2 MATTER MOST TO WESTERN NEW RU2 ENGLAND.

RU2 BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

RU2 YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANY TIME RU2 FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND RU2 CONTEXT INCLUDING OUR LOOK AT RU2 THE THE KEYSTONE ARCHES OF THE RU2 BECKER WHICH IS RECENTLY RU2 DESIGNATED AS A HISTORIC RU2 LANDMARK BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT RU2 OF OF THE INTERIOR.

RU2 >> HE WAS SURVEYING ON HORS RU2 HORSEBACK.

RU2 THEY REMEMBER DOING THINGS LIE RU2 BUILDING TOWERS SO THEY COULD RU2 SEE OVER THE TREES.

RU2 LIGHTING FIRES AT NIGHT AND THE RU2 NEXT HILLSIDE SO THEY COULD SPOT RU2 WHEN WHERE THEY WERE HEADING RU2 WHEN THEY WERE SURGERY.

RU2 IT WAS INNOVATIVE.

RU2 >> DON'T MISS THIS DIGITAL RU2 EXCLUSIVE ONLINE AT RU2 NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

RU2 >>> THE ERIC CARLE MUSEUM HAS RU2 OPENED ITS DOORS ONCE AGAIN.

RU2 AFTER REMAINING CLOSED OVER THE RU2 WINTER DUE TO SPIKES IN COVID-19 RU2 CASES ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS, THE RU2 CARLE DEBUTS ITS NEWEST EXHIBIT RU2 WHILE WORKING TO KEEP VISITORS RU2 SAFE.

RU2 ROSS LIPPMAN VISITED THE MUSEUM RU2 ON OPENING DAY, AND SHOWS US THE RU2 STORY BEHIND THE EXHIBITION, RU2 PICTURE THE DREAM," THE STORY OF RU2 THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT RU2 THROUGH CHILDREN'S BOOKS.

RU2 >> THE SIGNS POINTING TO THE RU2 ERIC CARLE MUSEUM IN AMHERST RU2 HAVE FOR MONTHS LED TO AN EMPTY RU2 PARKING LOT, WHICH IS ONCE AGAIN RU2 BEING FILLED WITH FAMILIES EAGER RU2 TO RETURN.

RU2 >> ON MARCH 11th, THE CARLE RU2 REOPENED FOR IN-PERSON VISITING.

RU2 >> HELLO!

RU2 >> THE TIMING OF THIS REOPENING RU2 NOT LOST ON THE MUSEUM.

RU2 THE DAY MARKING ONE YEAR SINCE RU2 THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION RU2 DECLARED COVID-19 A PANDEMIC.

RU2 >> IT FEELS LIKE A KIND OF RU2 TRIUMPHANT MOMENT TO ONE YEAR BE RU2 HERE.

RU2 I THINK WE'VE ALL BEEN RU2 REFLECTING A LOT ON WHAT IT'S RU2 BEEN LIKE A YEAR AGO.

RU2 >> THE PICTURE MUSEUM WILL BE RU2 OPEN THURSDAY THROUGH 100 A RU2 LIMITED CAPACITY AND MANY OF THE RU2 STANDARD COVID-RELATED PROTOCOLS RU2 WE'VE ALL COME TO KNOW.

RU2 FACE MASKS, SOCIAL DISTANCING, RU2 AND CHECKLISTS, GUESTS MUST MEET RU2 IN ORDER TO VISIT.

RU2 >> THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC STATE RU2 GUIDELINES THAT WE CAN FOLLOW.

RU2 SO WHAT OUR CLEANING PROTOCOLS RU2 ARE HERE, HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN RU2 COME HERE IN A DAY.

RU2 WE FOLLOW ALL THE STATE RU2 GUIDELINES FOR THAT.

RU2 >> FOR A MUSEUM CATERING TO RU2 CHILDREN MANY OF THE RU2 RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE CAN CREATE RU2 BARRIERS FOR HOW CHILDREN BEST RU2 LEARN.

RU2 IN SPACES LIKE THE ART STUDIO, RU2 THE CARLE IS TRYING TO FIND THE RU2 RIGHT BALANCE.

RU2 KNOWING THAT, FOR MANY FAMILIES, RU2 IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE BEEN RU2 IN A MUSEUM OR OUT OF THE HOUSE RU2 IN MONTHS.

RU2 >> VISITORS WHO COME TO THE RU2 CARLE NOW ARE GIVEN AN ACTIVITY RU2 BAG, WHICH IS THEIR OWN, YOU RU2 KNOW, SET OF TOOLS AND PAPER AND RU2 WRITING UTENSILS SO THEY CAN DO RU2 THINGS AND FEEL SAFE IN THE RU2 GALLERY BUT THEY'RE NOT SHARING RU2 A LOT OF PAPER AND UTENSILS BACK RU2 AND FORTH.

RU2 >> AT THE CENTER OF THE CARLE'S RU2 REOPENING IS A NEW EXHIBIT RU2 TITLED "PICTURE THE DREAM.

RU2 THE STORY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS RU2 MOVEMENT THROUGH CHILDREN'S RU2 BOOKS."

RU2 IT'S A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN RU2 YEARS IN THE MAKING BETWEEN THE RU2 CARLE AND THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART RU2 IN ATLANTA.

RU2 >> THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FIFTH RU2 EXHIBITION WE'VE WORKED ON WITH RU2 THE HIGH.

RU2 AND IT WAS A TOPIC THAT WE BOTH RU2 INSTITUTIONS KNEW WE WANTED TO RU2 PRESENT.

RU2 ONE THING WE KNEW IN TALKING RU2 ABOUT THIS WAS THAT WE REALLY RU2 NEEDED TO FIND THE RIGHT CURATOR RU2 WHO COULD PUT THIS EXHIBITION RU2 TOGETHER.

RU2 >> OVER 40 ARTISTS CONTRIBUTED RU2 TO THE EXHIBIT, WHICH EXPLORES RU2 THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT RU2 THROUGH THE LENS OF CHILDREN AND RU2 CHILDREN'S STORIES.

RU2 DEPICTING THE HISTORIC FIGURES RU2 OF THE MOVEMENT AND ITS EVENTS.

RU2 FROM BLOODY SUNDAY AND THE MARCH RU2 OVER THE EDMOND PETTUS BRIDGE TO RU2 THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT RU2 TODAY, THE EXHIBIT WAS GUEST RU2 CURATED BY "NEW YORK TIMES" BEST RU2 SELLING AUTHOR AND KOHR RECEIPT RU2 THAT SCOTTS KING BOOK AWARD RU2 WINNER MS. PINCKNEY.

RU2 >> I COME TO THE ROLE WEARING RU2 MANY HATS.

RU2 I AM FIRST AND FOREMOST A MOM.

RU2 I RAISED CHILDREN.

RU2 I AM A CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR, A RU2 CHILDREN'S BOOK PUBLISHER.

RU2 AND SOMEONE WHO CARES DEEPLY RU2 ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS, SOCIAL RU2 JUSTICE.

RU2 I'M ALSO A DAUGHTER.

RU2 I AM A DAUGHTER OF CIVIL RIGHTS RU2 FOOT SOLDIERS.

RU2 >> PICTURE THE DREAM ALSO RU2 CONPRINTS THE DIFFICULTY MANY RU2 FAMILIES FACE IN TALKING ABOUT RU2 SYSTEMIC RACISM WITH CHILDREN.

RU2 SOMETHING DAVIS PINK KNEE SAYS RU2 IS PART OF THE MAGIC OF PICTURE RU2 BOOKS.

RU2 >> PEOPLE OFTEN ASK, HOW DO WE RU2 HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE RU2 WITH CHILDREN?

RU2 AND THE ANSWER TO THAT, FROM MY RU2 PERSPECTIVE IS, THE WAY WE HAVE RU2 CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE WITH RU2 CHILDREN IS TO HAVE RU2 CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE WITH RU2 CHILDREN.

RU2 PICTURE BOOKS MAKE THAT RU2 POSSIBLE.

RU2 >> THE EXHIBIT CAN BE SEEN AT RU2 THE CARLE THROUGH JULY 3rd.

RU2 AND THE MUSEUM HOPES IT WON'T BE RU2 CLOSING AGAIN DUE TO THE RU2 PANDEMIC.

RU2 >> YEAH, WE HOPE THAT EVERYBODY RU2 CONTINUES TO BE ABLE TO KEEP RU2 THESE COVID NUMBERS DOWN, DO THE RU2 RIGHT THING FOR EVERYBODY, AND RU2 THAT WE CAN, WE AND ALL THE RU2 OTHER MUSEUMS AROUND THE STATE RU2 CAN STAY OPEN.

RU2 >>> MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY RU2 MONTH AND BAY PATH UNIVERSITY, RU2 SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS AND UNITY RU2 FIRST RECENTLY HELD THEIR ANNUAL RU2 ON THE MOVE FORUM, THIS CAREER RU2 EXAMINING THE PAST, PRESENT, AND RU2 FUTURE OF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP.

RU2 I SPOKE WITH FORUM ORGANIZERS RU2 JANNINE FONDON, CHAIR OF THE RU2 UNDERGRADUATE COMMUNICATIONS RU2 DEPARTMENT AT BAY PATH AND RU2 DR. ANDREA HICKSON-MARTIN, THE RU2 PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR RU2 ELEMENTARY AND EARLY CHILDHOOD RU2 EDUCATION, TO DISCUSS THE RU2 INSIGHTS FOUND AND LESSONS RU2 LEARNED REGARD, THE ROLE OF RU2 WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP IN AMERICA.

RU2 >> ONE OF THE CONCERNS ACTUALLY RU2 WAS IN THE TOP THREE WAS THE RU2 ISSUE OF THE PANDEMIC.

RU2 HOWS IT HAS MORE WIDELY IMPACTED RU2 WOMEN VERSUS MEN.

RU2 AND THAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN RU2 THAT WOMEN WERE BEING EXPECTED RU2 TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK IN THEIR RU2 PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT VIA ZOOM OR RU2 REMOTELY.

RU2 BUT ALSO THEY ARE MANAGING HOME RU2 LIFE.

RU2 YOU KNOW, THEIR KIDS MAY HAVE RU2 BEEN HOME.

RU2 THEY WERE HOME SCHOOLING.

RU2 THEY REMEMBER HAVING TO TAKE RU2 CARE OF -- TAKE CARE OF THE HOME RU2 OUTSIDE OF JUST THE SCHOOLING.

RU2 THERE WERE BALANCING MANY, MANY RU2 THINGS.

RU2 SO WITHOUT A DOUBT THE PANDEMIC RU2 DEFINITELY IMPACTED WOMEN.

RU2 >> NOW, I KNOW MANY DISCUSSIONS RU2 TOOK PLACE DURING THE FORUM AS RU2 YOU MENTIONED WITH THE PANDEMIC.

RU2 WHAT OTHER THINGS CAME TO LIGHT RU2 AS A RESULT OF THESE TALKS?

RU2 >> THAT THERE ISN'T ENOUGH RU2 MENTORSHIP FOCUSED FOR WOMEN.

RU2 WOMEN SUPPORTING WOMEN.

RU2 YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE A RU2 BETTER SISTER HOOD IN OUR RU2 COMMUNITY.

RU2 AND AS WOMEN WE NEED TO LIFT RU2 EACH OTHER UP AS OPPOSED TO RU2 PUSHING EACH OTHER DOWN.

RU2 ANOTHER DISPARITY WAS AROUND RU2 SALARY.

RU2 AND THAT BEING AN OBSTACLE.

RU2 THAT THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE RU2 BETWEEN WHAT A MALE MAKES VERSUS RU2 A FEMALE.

RU2 AND THEN AS I STATED THE RU2 PANDEMIC HAS BEEN MORE -- HAS RU2 IMPACTED WOMEN MORE AND ALSO RU2 HISTORY.

RU2 HISTORY HAS SHOWN THAT IT HAS RU2 BEEN A WHITE MALE-DRIVEN RU2 SOCIETY, WITH TRADITIONAL RU2 BELIEFS AND EDUCATION MIDSTS RU2 ABOUT MEN BEING -- MYTHS ABOUT RU2 MEN BEING BETTER AT MATH THAN RU2 WOMEN.

RU2 THAT WAS ANOTHER THING THAT CAME RU2 OUT.

RU2 OF COURSE, THE LACK OF CHILD RU2 CARE FOR WOMEN.

RU2 AND ALSO ADULT, AGING PARENT RU2 CARE TENDS TO FALL ON FEMALES RU2 MORE THAN MEN.

RU2 >> THE NATIONAL STATISTICS ALSO RU2 SUPPORT ALL THAT WE FOUND.

RU2 AND THERE WAS ONE QUOTE BY RU2 PRESIDENT DORAN OF BAY PATH RU2 UNIVERSITY WHO SAID THAT THERE RU2 WAS AN IBM STUDY, SHE QUOTED AN RU2 IBM STUDY THAT C SUITES AROUND RU2 THE COUNTRY AND WORLD HAVE STILL RU2 HAVE MADE NOT MUCH PROGRESS RU2 SINCE 2019.

RU2 AND ALSO THERE WAS ANOTHER STUDY RU2 QUOTED, AGAIN, AS ANDREA RU2 MENTIONED THAT BLACK WOMEN AND RU2 WOMEN OF COLOR ARE OFTEN THE RU2 LOWEST PAID, THE LESS PROMOTED, RU2 LESS RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR WORK RU2 AND DILIGENCE IN THE WORKPLACE.

RU2 SO THERE ARE A LOT OF NATIONAL RU2 STATISTICS THAT JUSTIFY ALL THAT RU2 WE FOUND.

RU2 >> THE SPOTLIGHT OFTEN GETS RU2 SHINED ON WOMEN ON THE NATIONAL RU2 STAGE.

RU2 BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RU2 CONTRIBUTIONS WE ARE SEEING RU2 LOCALLY FROM WOMEN?

RU2 >> WE HAVE SOME REALLY STRONG RU2 REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN RU2 HIGHER EDUCATION IN THIS AREA.

RU2 YOU KNOW, WITH OUR OWN RU2 PRESIDENT, SANDRA DOOR RAN, RU2 PRESIDENT OF BAY PATH, I CAN RU2 THINK OF DR. MARY BETH COOPER RU2 FROM SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE, WE'VE RU2 GOT HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS RU2 BEING RUN BY A FEMALE.

RU2 WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS MORE RU2 WOMEN OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS IN RU2 THOSE ROLES.

RU2 BUT WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT RU2 EXAMPLES OF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP RU2 RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN BACKYARD.

RU2 >> YES.

RU2 AND ALSO WHEN YOU THINK, I'M SO RU2 GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT AROUND RU2 EDUCATION, ANDREA.

RU2 BECAUSE WE HAD WITH US TRACY RU2 GAINER WHO LEADS THE RU2 AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE RU2 PROFESSIONALS ORGANIZATION WHICH RU2 IS A RELATIVELY NEW RU2 ORGANIZATION.

RU2 BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, RU2 REALLY FUNCTION TO RAISE THE RU2 LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT WITH WOMEN RU2 PROFESSORS.

RU2 AND IF WE LOOK AT THAT STATISTIC RU2 I BELIEVE IT'S LIKE LESS THAN 3% RU2 OF YOUR FULL-TIME PROFESSORS ARE RU2 WOMEN OF COLOR.

RU2 >> NATIONALLY, WE HAVE SEEN AN RU2 INCREASED PRESENCE OF WOMEN IN RU2 LEADERSHIP ROLES, MOST NOTABLY RU2 BEING THE ELECTION OF THE FIRST RU2 FEMALE VICE PRESIDENT.

RU2 WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF KAMALA RU2 HARRIS?

RU2 >> I JUST REMEMBER, I HAD CHILLS RU2 THAT EVENING WHEN THE, WHEN WE RU2 FINALLY ANNOUNCED, RIGHT, THAT RU2 THE BIDEN-HARRIS TICKET HAD WON.

RU2 I JUST THOUGHT THAT THERE ARE SO RU2 MANY LITTLE GIRLS OUT THERE THAT RU2 NOW HAVE A VICE PRESIDENT OF THE RU2 UNITED STATES THAT THEY CAN RU2 ASPIRE TO BE.

RU2 AND BE JUST LIKE.

RU2 IT JUST IS INCREDIBLE.

RU2 AGAIN, WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE THAT RU2 WE NEED TO DO TO LEVEL THE RU2 PLAYING FIELD.

RU2 BUT THIS WAS DEFINITELY A STEP RU2 IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

RU2 >> WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, RU2 WITH HER, YOU KNOW, RISE TO THAT RU2 ROLE, I THINK IT'S ALSO CALMING RU2 THERE'S THE FACT THAT THERE'S A RU2 LOT OF WORK TO DO.

RU2 AS MUCH AS WE ARE ALL FOCUSED ON RU2 THAT IT'S GREAT TO SEE HER, YOU RU2 KNOW, SHE WILL BE THE FIRST BUT RU2 SHE MAY NOT BE THE LAST, WHICH RU2 IS GREAT.

RU2 AND UNDERSTANDING THAT I THINK RU2 SHE REPRESENTS IS THE FACT THAT RU2 WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

RU2 WHEN OUR VOICES APPEAR IN RU2 SPACES, IT'S ABOUT DOING THE RU2 WORK.

RU2 SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

RU2 AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S WONDERFUL RU2 WHEN WE CAN SEE HISTORY IN THE RU2 MAKING.

RU2 BUT AS WE SEE HER, WE SEE EVERY RU2 ONE ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES, RU2 ESPECIALLY THOSE WOMEN WHO ARE RU2 OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, DOING WHAT RU2 THEY NEED TO DO TO CREATE RU2 CHANGES.

RU2 >> WE ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT THE RU2 OBSTACLES WERE.

RU2 BUT THERE WERE ACTION STEPS THAT RU2 ALL THE GROUPS CAME UP WITH.

RU2 WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO AS WOMEN?

RU2 WE NEED TO OFFER EACH OTHER RU2 MENTORSHIP.

RU2 NETWORKING.

RU2 PARTNERSHIPS.

RU2 YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO USE -- AND RU2 I MYSELF AS A WHITE WOMAN, I RU2 NEED TO USE MY PRIVILEGE AS RU2 BEING A WHITE WOMAN, TO HELP RU2 OTHERS, NOT TO EXCLUDE BUT BE AN RU2 ADVOCATE, TO SUPPORT FOR RU2 SYSTEMIC CHANGE TO OCCUR.

RU2 WE NEED TO CLAIM, AS WOMEN, WE RU2 NEED TO CLAIM WHAT IS OURS.

RU2 AND HAVE SELF-BELIEF.

RU2 AND NOT FALL INTO THE IMPOSTOR RU2 SYNDROME.

RU2 KNOW THAT WE CAN STEP INTO OUR RU2 POWER.

RU2 >>> WHERE THERE IS A RIVER, RU2 THERE ARE FLOOD PLAINS.

RU2 AND WHERE THERE ARE FLOOD RU2 PLAINS, THERE IS FERTILE SOIL.

RU2 FOR CENTURIES, FARMERS HAVE RU2 TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THIS.

RU2 IT'S WHY SO MANY FARM FIELDS CAN RU2 BE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE RU2 CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY.

RU2 BUT MANY OF THOSE FARM FIELDS RU2 HAVE BEEN VACATED FOR YEARS AND RU2 HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO RETURN TO RU2 THE FLOOD PLAIN FOREST THAT THEY RU2 WERE BEFORE FARMERS CLEARED RU2 THEM.

RU2 "CONNECTING POINT"'S BRIAN RU2 SULLIVAN MET UP WITH SEVERAL RU2 ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS THIS PAST RU2 FALL DURING THEIR EFFORTS TO RU2 RESTORE ONE OF THOSE FORESTS IN RU2 THE MEADOWS OF NORTHAMPTON.

RU2 >> HEAVY CLOUD COVER HANGS OVER RU2 THE NORTHAMPTON MEADOWS ON OLD RU2 SPRINGFIELD ROAD AS MORE THAN 20 RU2 VOLUNTEERS TAKE TO THE TASK OF RU2 REPOPULATING THIS FORMER RU2 FARMLAND WITH ROWS OF TREES.

RU2 HOW MANY TREES?

RU2 WELL, SOMEWHERE IN THE RU2 NEIGHBORHOOD OF 900 SPREAD OUT RU2 OVER FOUR ACRES AND DONE WITHIN RU2 ROUGHLY FOUR HOURS' TIME.

RU2 THIS FLOOD PLAIN FOREST RU2 RESTORATION PROJECT IS A RU2 COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN RU2 MASS AUDUBON, THE NATURE RU2 CONSERVANCY AND THE MASS WITH RU2 LAND STEWARDSHIP INCORPORATED AS RU2 THE CONTRACTOR MANAGING THE RU2 INSTALLATION.

RU2 >> WE'VE BEEN PLANNING THIS RU2 PROJECT FOR OVER FOUR YEARS.

RU2 AND IT'S BEEN DELAYED FOR RU2 VARIOUS REASONS.

RU2 OF COURSE, THE PANDEMIC AMONG RU2 OTHERS.

RU2 AND JUST TO BE ABLE TO GET RU2 EVERYBODY OUT HERE WORKING TO RU2 HELP US INSTALL THESE PLANTS IS RU2 REALLY HEART WARMING.

RU2 >> THE WET AND MUDDY CONDITIONS RU2 MAY NOT HAVE SEEM SEWED RU2 WONDERFUL FOR ANY OF THE RU2 VOLUNTEERS HOPING TO STAY CLEAN RU2 AND DRY.

RU2 BUT AS FAR AS TREES BEING RU2 PLANTED IS CONCERNED, THOSE RU2 CONDITIONS WERE NEARLY PERFECT.

RU2 BECAUSE THE CONNECTICUT RIVER RU2 CUTS THROUGH SO MUCH OF WESTERN RU2 MARYLAND, FLOOD PLAIN AREAS LIKE RU2 THIS YEAR ARE NOT UNCOMMON RU2 THROUGHOUT THE RIVER'S PATH.

RU2 WHAT THEY OFFER IS SOIL THAT'S RU2 STONE-FREE AND RICH WITH RU2 NUTRIENTS.

RU2 IDEAL FOR REGROWING A FOREST OR RU2 AS HISTORY HAS SHOWN, GROWING RU2 CROPS.

RU2 >> FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, THIS RU2 WAS PRIME FARM LAND EVEN FOR THE RU2 EARLIEST EUROPEAN SETTLERS.

RU2 AND IT WAS EVEN USED BY NATIVE RU2 PERSONS PRIOR TO EUROPEAN RU2 SETTLEMENT OF THE AREA.

RU2 SO THE NORTHAMPTON MEADOWS HAVE RU2 BEEN OPEN FOR CENTURIES AND RU2 ARCADIA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY HOSTS RU2 SOME OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF RU2 FLOOD PLAIN FOREST ANYWHERE IN RU2 THE STATE.

RU2 AND WE THOUGHT WE COULD GROW RU2 THAT FOREST BLOCK OUT BY JUST RU2 TAKING SOME OF OUR FIELDS AND RU2 PUTTING THEM BACK INTO TREES.

RU2 >> THE LAST TIME WE LOOKED AT A RU2 PROJECT LIKE THIS WAS BACK IN RU2 EARLY SPRING OF 2019 AT FANNY RU2 CELEBRITY BINS.

RU2 A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO RU2 IS THAT THIS ONE FEATURES MUCH RU2 FEWER TREES WITH ONLY ABOUT RU2 2,000 GOING TO INTO THE GROUND RU2 IN THIS FIRST PHASE.

RU2 BUT THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF RU2 SIMILARITIES TO GO AROUND.

RU2 EACH LOCATION HAS SESSIONS THAT RU2 ARE VISIBLE FROM THE HIGHWAY.

RU2 IN FACT, DRIVERS PASSING ON THE RU2 1 UP THROUGH THIS NORTHAMPTON RU2 STRETCH HERE HAVE SEEN THIS RU2 FIELD FLOODED OUT IN THE SPRING.

RU2 THAT'S WHY PLANTING NOW IS RU2 PARAMOUNT.

RU2 >> IT WAS MUCH BIGGER IN SCOPE RU2 AND SIZE AND NOT JUST IN THE RU2 NUMBER OF TREES BUT IN BUDGET RU2 AND TIME FRAME COMPARED TO THE RU2 ONE HERE.

RU2 THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A TWO-DAY RU2 PROJECT COVERING EIGHT AND A RU2 HALF ACRES FOR THE 2,000 RU2 PLANTINGS.

RU2 WITH A MUCH SMALLER BUDGET RU2 VOLUNTEERS BECOME THE DRIVING RU2 FORCE IN COMPLETING THE TASK.

RU2 MANY OF WHOM ARE FIRST-TIMERS.

RU2 THIS MAKES A PREP COURSE AHEAD RU2 OF TIME NECESSARY.

RU2 SO THAT EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME RU2 PAGE.

RU2 BUT LIMITATIONS ASIDE, EACH NEW RU2 UNDER TAKING IN THE AREA RU2 PROVIDES A LEARNING CURVE TO RU2 POSSIBLY DO SOMETHING BETTER OR RU2 MORE EFFICIENT THAN THE ONE RU2 BEFORE IT.

RU2 >> ONE OF THE BIG DIFFERENCES RU2 THAT I SEE HERE THAT I THINK IS RU2 GOING TO BE REALLY HELPFUL IS RU2 PUT DEER PROTECTION IN AS THEY RU2 ARE DOING THE PLANTING.

RU2 THEY HAVE GOT SOME ELECTRIC RU2 FENCES.

RU2 THEY HAVE GOT SOME WIRE CAGES.

RU2 AND I THINK THAT WILL REALLY RU2 HELP THEIR SURVIVAL RATE, THE RU2 TREES.

RU2 >> LOMBARD WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN RU2 HEADING UP THAT PROJECT IN RU2 LONGMEADOW WITH THE NATURE RU2 CONSERVE VAN SO.

RU2 ALTHOUGH THE T&A WAS A PARTNER RU2 IN THIS ENDEAVOR TODAY SHE WAS RU2 JOINING THE DOZENS OF OTHER AS RU2 AN UNPAID HELPING HAND.

RU2 >> I AM REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT RU2 THIS.

RU2 AND I LIKE TO DO THIS IN MY FREE RU2 TIME AS WELL AS PROFESSIONALLY.

RU2 IT'S FUN TO BE THE PLANTING END RU2 INSTEAD OF ON THE PROJECT RU2 MANAGEMENT SIDE.

RU2 >>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING RU2 POINT" FOR MARCH 19th, 2021.

RU2 REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND RU2 THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW TONIGHT RU2 AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, RU2 DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT AND MORE RU2 ONLINE ANY TIME AT RU2 NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

RU2 AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT RU2 FRIDAY AT 6:00, RIGHT HERE ON RU2 NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA, FOR RU2 MORE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE, RU2 PLACES, AND IDEAS THAT MATTER RU2 MOST TO WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

RU2 I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

RU2 BE SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

RU2 >> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING RU2 POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR RU2 CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

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