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

STATE REPRESENTATIVE BUD WILLIAMS WEIGHS IN ON HOW THE STATE IS DOING ENROLLING OUT VACCINES TO MINORITIES AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

>> IT TAKES WORK TO GET THEM.

A LOT OF OUR CITIZENS JUST DON'T HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION, DON'T HAVE THE CARS.

AND WE'RE TELLING PEOPLE TONE TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

>>> A MUSEUM DEDICATED TO THE LIFE AND LEGACY 7 AMHERST'S FAVORITE POET UNDERGOES A RENOVATION.

>> THEY ARE GOING TO FEEL THEY CAN KIND OF ALMOST STAND IN HER FOOT STEPS AND LOOK OUT HER WINDOWS AND FEEL THE SAME LIGHT ON THEIR FACES THAT SHE WAS FEELING.

>>> AND A TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IN SUPPORT OF HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS.

>> JUST BY KNOWING THESE THINGS WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG, YOU CAN APPLY THEM TO YOUR FUTURE.

AND ALSO LIKE HELP THOSE IN NEED WHO YOU MAY KNOW OR WHO MAY BE IN A NEGATIVE RELATIONSHIP.

>>> DETAILS ON THOSE STORIES AND MORE UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

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

G GOOD EVENING.

AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

COVID-19 VACCINATIONS STARTED BEING ADMINISTERED THIS WEEK IN FOUR SPRINGFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD CLINICS, PROVIDING GREATER ACCESS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND HARD TO REACH POPULATIONS.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE BUD WILLIAMS OF SPRINGFIELD, ALONG WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BLACK AND LATINO LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS, HAD URGED GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER TO PROVIDE VACCINES TO THE MINORITY COMMUNITIES DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

"CONNECTING POINT"'S RAY HERSHEL SPOKE WITH REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS TO GET AN UPDATE ON HOW THE STATE IS DOING TO ROLL OUT VACCINES TO UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS.

>> WHAT WE FOUND OUT DURING THE ROLLOUT AT EAST FIELD MALL FOR THE VACCINE SITE, IS THAT THE SYSTEM JUST WASN'T WORKING FOR A LOT OF MARGINALIZED, UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

SO WE MET WITH THE COMMISSIONER CARLTON, OF SPRINGFIELD, GOVERNOR BAKER AT THE STATE LEVEL, SECRETARY SUTURERS AND WE SAID, HEY, LOOK, IF YOU GO OUT TO EAST FIELD MALL, AND YOU LOOK AT THE MAY-UP OF THE COMMUNITY THAT'S GETTING VACCINATED, IT'S NOT MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR.

SO THIS 211 SYSTEM AND THE SYSTEMS STARTED BEFORE JUST ISN'T WORKING.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO TAKE THIS PROGRAM TO UNDERSERVED, UNDERMARGINALLIZED COMMUNITIES THAT LITERALLY MEANS TO POOR PEOPLE, BASICALLY.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE STATE TO CREATE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVE NOW HAVE SITES WITHIN THE GREATER SPRINGFIELD COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE SITES IN MASON SQUARE, AT ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, J.C. WILLIAMS COMMUNITY CENTER, SOUTH END COMMUNITY CENTER, NEW NORTH CITIZENS.

AND WE THINK IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO GET HERD IMMUNITY AND WE WANT TO GET EVERYONE PROTECTED, THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE WITHIN THE SYSTEM HAVE TO BE PROTECTED.

>> REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS, THE FIRST OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD CLINICS YOU ADDRESSED AT ST. JOHN'S CHURCH WAS HELD EARLIER THIS WEEK.

HOW DID IT GO?

WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE LIKE?

AND WERE THINGS RUNNING SMOOTHLY AT THAT CLINIC?

>> IT WAS FANTASTIC AND FABULOUS.

WE HAD 200 DOSES, 200 VACCINES WE WERE GIVING OUT ON TUESDAY MORNING FROM NINE THEN 9:30 TO 12:00 NOON.

ALL THE SLOTS WERE TAKEN.

ALL THE PEOPLE SHOWED UP 100% OF THOSE WHO REGISTERED SHOWED UP.

AND WENT AS SMOOTH AS WE COULD EVER IMAGINE.

THAT JUST TELLS US THAT THERE'S TREMENDOUS NEED WITHIN OUR UNDERMARGINALLIZED COMMUNITY.

AND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE THE PROGRAM AND MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

WE ARE GOING TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

IT'S A LOT EASIER AND MORE CONVENIENT TO GET TO A SITE WITHIN THE MASON SQUARE COMMUNITY OR THE NORTH END OR THE McKNIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD OR THE OLD HILL NEIGHBORHOOD OR THE UPPER HILL NEIGHBORHOOD THAN IT IS TO GET TO EAST FIELD MALL.

IT TAKES WORK TO GET TO EAST FIELD MALL.

A LOT OF OUR CITIZENS JUST DON'T HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION.

DON'T HAVE THE CARS.

AND WE'RE TELLING PEOPLE, DON'T TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO BECAUSE THEY'RE FINDING OUT GETTING ON BUSES, A LOT OF PEOPLE, IS NOT A SAFE SITUATION.

>> WHAT ARE THE STATUS OF THESE NEIGHBORHOOD CLINICS AROUND THE CITY?

ARE THEY GOING TO BE CONTINUALLY OPERATING?

WILL YOU BE GETTING THE DOSES SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO OPERATE THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS?

FOR THE PEOPLE IN NEED?

>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WILL GET 800 DOSAGES A WEEK.

THE STATE HAS SET ASIDE 800 DOSAGES FOR THE UNDERSERVED,MUND ARE UNDERMARGINALLIZED COMMUNITY.

AND IT'S FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE BASICALLY MASON SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE NORTH END NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS, STATISTICALLY BLACKS AND LATINOS HAVE LAGGED BEHIND THE WHITE POPULATION IN TERMS OF GETTING THE VACCINE.

WHY DO YOU FEEL THAT'S THE CASE?

>> THERE'S TWO THINGS.

THERE'S SOME PESSIMISM THAT EXISTS BETWEEN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES IN TERMS OF TRUSTING THE HEALTH COMMUNITY.

THEY REALLY DON'T.

THERE'S A LOT OF TRUST.

THERE'S A LOT OF EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST WHY THERE SHOULD BE A LACK OF TRUST.

THE TUSKEGEE STUDY AND STUFF AND THERE'S OTHER INDICATORS.

AND THE OTHER PIECE IS AVAILABILITY.

THERE JUST HASN'T BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE, THE UNDERSUFFERRED AND UNDERMARGINALLIZED COMMUNITY.

I THINK WHEN YOU ROLL THIS STUFF OUT YOU HAD TO GO TO A COMPUTER TO SIGN UP.

MOST PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES DON'T EVEN HAVE A COMPUTER, DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.

I DON'T THINK WHEN THEY WROTE IT OUT IF THEY HAD PEOPLE IN UNDERMARGINALLIZED COMMUNITIES IN MIND.

BECAUSE NO MATTER WHEN THERE'S ALWAYS A TRAGEDY, WHETHER IT'S KATRINA HURRICANE, OR AN ICE STORM, OR A SNOW STORM, PEOPLE WITH THE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ARE ALWAYS DEALT WITH IN IN THIS WAY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS, WHAT'S YOUR MESSAGE?

HOW DO YOU GET PEOPLE WHO ARE MARGINALIZED IN THESE AREAS, AS YOU HAVE INDICATED, WHO ARE STILL RELUCTANT TO GET THE VACCINES?

WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM?

WHAT'S THE MESSAGE TO THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT VACCINE AND FOR THE FUTURE AND FOR THERE ARE HEALTH?

>> I HAVE STARTED A BLACK COVID COALITION ALONG WITH SOME OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS, REVEREND MORGAN AND ANDREW, AND WE STARTED TRYING TO EDUCATE FOLKS WITHIN THE UNDERSERVED, UNDERMARGINALLIZED COMMUNITY.

THE STATISTICS WILL TELL YOU MOST PEOPLE WILL TAKE THE VACCINE BASED UPON WHO TOOK IT.

AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A NATIONAL STAR.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN NATIONAL NEWS.

IT'S GOING TO BE SOMEONE LOCAL.

ONE OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, ONE OF THEIR FRIENDS, THEIR CLERGY, THEIR MINISTER, THEIR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, THE CITY COUNCILMAN.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT TO GET GUIDANCE.

AND WHEN THEY SEE OR FIND OUT SOMEONE TOOK THE VACCINE, AND THEY ACTUALLY CAN TOUCH AND FEEL THEM IN SOME KIND OF WAY, THEY WILL TAKE IT.

THAT'S HOW 60% OF THE FOLKS HAVE SAID THEY'VE TAKEN THE VACCINE.

>> AND OVERALL, REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS, ARE YOU GENERALLY SATISFIED WITH THE ROLLOUT IN SPRINGFIELD?

OR ARE THERE STILL AREAS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AS WE MOVE FORWARD?

>> THE ROLLOUT NOW, I WAS JUST UP AT EAST FIELD MALL A COUPLE DAYS AGO.

IT'S A WHOLE LOT BETTER.

THERE ARE NO MORE LINES.

THEY'RE DEALING WITH ABOUT 1600 VACCINES A DAY AT EAST FIELD MALL.

IT'S GOING PRETTY SMOOTH.

WE HAVE, IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE JUST NEED TO GET READY.

IN APRIL OR MAY WHEN WHEN THE WHOLE FRONT OPENS UP WHEN EVERYONE IS GIG TO BE ELIGIBLE TO GET THE VACCINE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE READY.

WE ARE GOING TO NEED MORE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE RESOURCES.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE DOCTORS, MORE NURSES, WE ARE GOING TO NEED MORE SITES BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET READY FOR THIS ON FLUX THAT'S COMING IN APRIL OR MAY.

AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL BE READY FOR THAT.

>>> FOR OVER A YEAR THE EMILY DICKINSON MUSEUM IN AMHERST HAS BEEN CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC DUE TO COVID-19.

AND WILL REMAIN CLOSED EVEN LONGER TO UNDERGO A LARGE RENOVATION PROJECT.

THE GOAL IS TO NOT ONLY RESTORE THE DICKINSON FAMILY HOME, BUT ALSO MAKE IT MORE HISTORICALLY ACCURATE.

IN OUR CONTINUING CELEBRATION OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, "CONNECTING POINT"'S ROSS LIPPMAN VISITED THE MUSEUM TO SEE WHAT WILL CHANGE AND HOW THE LEGACY OF EMILY DICKINSON HAS RESONATED A LITTLE MORE OVER THE PAST YEAR DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>>> OUR FINAL DAY LAST YEAR WAS MARCH 15th.

>>> PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, WE RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS CULTURAL FACILITIES FUND TO DO SOME PLANNING FOR FUTURE RESTORATION OF THE HOMESTEAD.

ULTIMATELY WE DECIDED TO JUST GO AHEAD WITH OUR RESTORATION PLAN.

UNDERSTANDING THAT WE NEED TO BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC FOR SOME CONSIDERABLE TIME.

AND WANTED TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF THAT TIME.

>> I THINK WHEN PEOPLE RETURN THEY'RE GOING TO SEE SOMETHING THAT LOOKS AND FEELS SO MUCH MORE IMMERSIVE THAN THE VISITORS EXPERIENCE IS RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE GOING TO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE WALKED INTO THE PERIOD OF DICKINSON'S LIFE THAT THEY CAN KIND OF ALMOST STAND IN HER FOOT STEPS AND LOOK OUT HER WINDOWS AND FEEL THE SAME LIGHT ON THEIR FACES THAT SHE WAS FEELING.

>> IN TERMS OF IDENTIFYING HER PERIOD OF DIG SANS WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK AS JANE SAID AT THAT TIME WHEN THE DICKINSONS HAD MOVED BACK TO THIS HOUSE.

EMILY HERSELF IS 24.

HER WRITING IS ABOUT TO TAKE OFF.

THE CIVIL WAR IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

AND SHE LIVES HERE WITH HER SISTER UNTIL HER DEATH IN 1886.

>> THE HOMESTEAD APPEARED IN A KIND OF COLONIAL REVIVAL SORT OF DECOR.

AND TO ME THAT HAS KIND OF CONTRIBUTED TO THE SENSE OF EMILY DICKINSON AS NOT JUST RECLUSIVE, WHICH SHE WAS, BUT LESS OF A THREE DIMENSIONAL PERSON.

SO IT SORT OF HAS SORT OF FLATTENED HER PERSONALITY IN COMMON LOWER, IN COMMON UNDERSTANDING.

>> EMILY DICKINSON CHOSE TO BECOME RECLUSIVE.

SHE CHOSE TO STOP LEAVING HER FATHER'S HOUSE OR GROUNDS, SHE SAID.

BUT SHE KNOW THAT SHE FOUND OTHER WAYS TO MAINTAIN CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THAT IS ACTUALLY THE KEY TO THE SIMILARITIES AND THE EXPERIENCE THIS WE'VE ALL HAD THIS YEAR.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE, I'VE PERSONALLY FOUND THIS, THAT IN MY RECOLLUSION THIS YEAR, I BECAME MORE CONNECTED TO FRIENDS THAT I HADN'T, I MAY HAVE LOST TOUCH WITH.

AND IT'S JUST A REMINDER THAT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT DICKINSON THAT IS UNIVERSAL, THAT IS VERY HUMAN, THAT TOUCHES EVERYBODY.

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

BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANY TIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT INCLUDING OUR LOOK AT THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SOCIAL REFORMER SUSAN B. ANTHONY, WHO PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT, AND WAS BORN RIGHT HERE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

>> IN THE 1840s SHE WENT TO A ITEM RANCE CONVENTION AND TRIED TO GET UP ON THE STAGE AND ADDRESS THE A; BEE AND A GENTLEMAN STOPPED HERE.

HE SAID, NO, THE LADIES HAVE COME TO LISTEN, AND NOT SPEAK.

THAT'S WHEN SHE TURNED HER LOOKS AT WILMES'S RIGHTS.

>> DON'T MISS THE VIDEO AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> LEARNING HOW TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN HEALTH ERELATIONSHIPS IS ESSENTIAL FOR US ALL.

SOME OF THE BENEFITS INCLUDE LESS STRESS AND AN INCREASE IN HAPPINESS.

RECENTLY, A GROUP OF 14 LOCAL TEENS FROM SIX SCHOOLS IN THE REGION PARTICIPATED IN A TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IN SUPPORT OF HEALTHY DATING RELATIONSHIPS.

I SPOKE WITH MONICA MORAN, THE MANAGER OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROJECT FOR THE PIONEER VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION, AND JAC PATRISSI, FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL AT GROWING A NEW HEART, WHO CO-FACILITATED THE LEADERSHIP GROUP TOGETHER.

AS WELL AS STUDENTS ISRA NADEEM WHO JUST COMPLETED THE PROGRAM.

SHE SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THESE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS WITH TEENS, SHARED WHAT THEY LEARNED AND DISCUSSED THE IMPACT THIS PROGRAM HAS HAD ON THEM.

>> THERE WERE 10 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS INVOLVED.

STUDENTS FROM 10 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

AND IT WAS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN A COUPLE OF ORGANIZATIONS, GROWING NEW HEART THAT JAC IS FROM.

I WORK WITH THE PIONEER VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION.

TWO RURAL TASK FORCES, SOUTHERN HILL TOWNS AND RED RIVER VALLEY AND THE SPIFFY COALITION.

AND WE ALL GOT TOGETHER TO DO THIS INITIATIVE.

MANY OF US WORK IN SCHOOLS.

AND I AND JAC GO INTO HIGH SCHOOLS AND WE'RE IN GATEWAY AND DO PREVENTION WHICH WE COULDN'T DO BECAUSE OF COVID.

IT ALLOWED US TO DO SOMETHING WE'VE WANTED TO DO FOR YEARS WHICH IS BRING TEENS TOGETHER FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

BUT THERE'S THE TRANSPORTATION IS SUCH AN OBSTACLE.

NOW SINCE WE ARE ON ZOOM ANYWAY IT WAS LIKE, O.

WE CAN FINALLY DO THAT.

YEAH.

SO JAC AND I FACILITATED A GROUP OF 14 STUDENTS FROM THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

>> NOW, LEARNING THE VALUES OF HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND HOW TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN THEM IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO KNOW AT ANY AGE.

SO WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR MONICA AND JAC, YOU BOTH, TO ESTABLISH THIS GROUP WITH A TEEN, WITH TEENS FROM HIGH SCHOOLS?

>> THE MATERIALS THAT WE SHARE ARE FOR EVERYONE.

AND I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK, ANTI-VIOLENCE WORK, FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

AND I, MYSELF, WAS IN SOME GREAT EARLY RELATIONSHIPS.

AND THEN I WAS IN A RELATIONSHIP WHICH I WAS WORKING AT WHAT WE USED TO CALL A BATTERERRED WOMEN'S SHELTER DOING PROGRAMS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

WHEN I MET SOMEONE WHO I ASKED MY BOARD, THEY KNEW THE PERSON, THE PERSON WAS A THERAPIST, A MEDIATOR, GREAT COMMUNICATION SKILLS.

AND THAT LITTLE CHECKLIST WE GIVE LIKE MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE LIKE THIS.

ALL THE BOXES WERE CHECKED.

AND THAT PERSON ENDED UP BEING ABUSIVE TOWARDS ME.

AND IT -- I WAS WORKING IN THE MOVEMENT!

AND SO IT REALLY MADE ME THINK, WHAT IS IT THAT I NEEDED TO KNOW WHEN I WAS THE AGE OF THE PEOPLE THAT I WAS WORKING WITH AT THE TIME?

THAT WERE NOT SHOWING PEOPLE?

AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE FRAMEWORK WE CAME UP WITH THAT WE USE, THE CORE OF IT CAME FROM.

REALLY TESTING THESE IDEAS OUT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND THEN AFTERWARDS, PART OF MY WORK CHANGED AND I STARTED WORKING ALSO WITH PEOPLE WHO, MOTHERS IN RELATIONSHIPS AND THEY'RE OLDER.

AND WITHOUT FAIL ALONG THE WAY THEY WOULD SAY, I NEEDED TO KNOW THIS WHEN I WAS 11 YEARS OLD.

WHY DON'T THEY TEACH US THIS WHEN WE'RE YOUNG?

AND WHEN I STARTED WORKING WITH MONICA, WE BOTH WORK ON A PROJECT WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, THE DIVISION THAT WORKS WITH SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT HELPS PART OF OUR TIME TO DO THIS.

WE BOTH HAVE THIS PASSION IMPORTANT DOING PUBLIC EDUCATION.

BUT WE KNEW THE REALLY CHANGE HAPPENS, EVERYONE KNOWS IT WHEN YOU ARE AT THAT AGE WHEN, BEFORE YOU GET INTO A REALLY DEEP, LONG COMMITTED RELATIONSHIP.

AND SO WE JOINED OUR SKILLS AND OUR EXPERIENCE.

MONICA HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR DECADES, TOO.

AND WITH THE PANDEMIC, LIKE MONICA SAID, IT WAS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET ALL THESE KIDS TOGETHER.

>> ISRA, YOU ARE ONE RIGHT PARTICIPANTS OF THIS GROUP.

WHAT COMPEL YOU HAD TO BE PART OF THIS PROJECT?

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES AND VALUES THAT YOU LEARNED?

>> I LEARNED A LOT OF VALUES.

I THINK THE FIRST WOULD BE THAT MONICA AND JAC MADE SUCH AN OPENING IN WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT WHERE I THINK WE ALL FELT WELCOMED.

ALTHOUGH WE DIDN'T KNOW EACH OTHER WE OPENED UP REALLY FAST.

SO I THINK ALL THE VALUES THAT WE LEARNED CAN HE WE KIND OF WERE TAUGHT AND WE KIND OF USED IN THIS GROUP.

AND WE PRACTICED THEM A LOT.

WE LEARNED ABOUT THE CYCLE OF ABUSE AND WE ALSO LEARNED ABOUT OPEN CONVERSATION AND THEN ASK ASPECTS OF A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP.

I THINK THESE CAN ALL BE APPLIED TO OUR FUTURE.

I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL STILL VERY YOUNG SO WE DON'T KNOW A LOT YET.

BUT JUST BY KNOWING THESE THINGS YOU CAN APPLY THEM TO YOUR FUTURE.

AND ALSO HELP THOSE IN NEED WHO YOU MAY KNOW OR MAY BE IN A NEGATIVE RELATIONSHIP.

>> NOW, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC HOTLINE WEBSITE A DISTURBING STATISTIC, AN AVERAGE ONE IN 10 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAS EXPERIENCED PHYSICAL VIOLENCE FROM A PARTNER.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO TAKE ACTION AND BEGIN TO CHANGE THAT?

>> IN ORDER TO TAKE ACTION THE FIRST STEP IS TO INITIATE CONVERSATION.

MAYBE NOT WITH THE PERSON WHO IS OBVIOUSLY ABUSING BUT THE PERSON WHO IS BEING ABUSED.

TO JUST TALK TO THEM AND UNDERSTAND HOW THEY MIGHT FEEL.

NOT TO NECESSARILY OFFER YOUR ADVICE RIGHT AWAY BUT JUST UNDERSTAND THEIR POSITION, LIKE WHAT THEY MIGHT BE FACING IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

AND WHAT THEY MIGHT FEAR.

IN A RELATIONSHIP LIKE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR AND A LOT OF NEGATIVITY WHERE THEY MIGHT NOT OPEN UP RIGHT AWAY.

YOU WANT TO ESTABLISH A SOLID BASE WHERE THEY CAN FEEL THEY CAN TALK TO YOU WITHOUT YOU JUDGING THEM.

>> I WOULD ECHO THAT AND BUILD ON IT.

I THINK AS A CULTURE, WE ACTUALLY NEED A WHOLE PARADIGM SHIFT.

AND WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT TEENS DON'T GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL WITHOUT THIS INFORMATION.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE REAL SHIFT.

IF IT WAS NORMAL FOR EVERYBODY WHO WAS 18 TO UNDERSTAND WHEN IT'S CORNSILK SAFE AND WHAT IS ABUSIVE AND WHAT ARE VALUES OF HEALTH AND EQUITY AND HOW DO YOU KNOW?

ALL RELATIONSHIPS START OUT GREAT.

IT'S COMPLICATED.

IT'S A CALCULUS.

IT'S AS COMPLICATED AS CALCULUS YET WE LIKE TO THINK IT ISN'T.

WE CAN MAKE IT NORMAL THAT EVERYBODY, THIS IS AS IMPORTANT AS LEARNING ANYTHING LIKE MATH AND ENGLISH.

IT SHOULD BE ON MCAT'S.

THEN IT WOULD BE INFUSED TO ALL OUR WAS CAN GOESES.

PARENTS WOULD KNOW IT AND THEY CAN TALK ABOUT THEIR KIDS.

RIGHT 94 IT'S NOT REALLY SEEPED INTO OUR CULTURE.

>> UPON COMPLETING THE PROGRAM, THE GROUP CREATED A VIDEO THAT TALKED ABOUT WHAT THEY ALL LEARNED.

AND WHAT WAS REALLY INSPIRING FOR ME WHEN I WAS WATCHING THE VIDEO WAS TO HEAR THE CONFIDENCE THAT ALL THE YOUNG WOMEN PROJECTED.

WHAT WAS THE MOST INSPIRING AND BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FOR YOU ALL AS COORDINATORS AND FACILITATORS?

AND ALSO FOR YOU, ISRA, AS A PARTICIPANT?

>> I SPENT A LEFT OF TIME WITH MY SON AS A TEENAGER WHO DID THAT FILM.

I'M SO PROUD OF HIS WORK.

SO I GOT TO REALLY WATCH PEOPLE AS WE WERE EDITING IT.

I WAS SO BLOWN AWAY BY SEEING HOW MUCH THEY KNEW AND MADE THEIR OWN.

IT JUST MADE ME, I WAS JOKING WITH MONICA.

I'M DONE NOW.

IF I COULD AFFORD IT I CAN RETIRE!

LET'S LET THEM DO IT!

IT JUST FELT GREAT.

THERE IS HOPE.

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT.

>> I THINK SEEING THE DEPTH OF THEIR UNDERSTANDING AFTER HAVING 24 HOURS WAS SO GRATIFYING.

BECAUSE I GO INTO THE CLASSROOM AND MAYBE I HAVE AN HOUR.

SOMETIMES I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE TWO OR THREE.

I'M REALLY FLOWING OUT THE RED FLAGS.

MAYBE ONE OF YOU WILL CATCH THIS LIFE SAVING RAFT.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME.

BUT TO REALLY HAVE THE TIME AND TO HAVE THE TEENS SIT THERE AND EXPLAIN THESE COMPLEX CONCEPTS, IT WAS SUCH A TREAT.

>> YEAH, I AGREE.

I THINK IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE THAT WE ALL LEARNED SO MUCH.

AND WE DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE IT UNTIL WE WATCHED THE VIDEO.

A LOT OF US SAID WE SOUNDED LIKE PROFESSIONALS BECAUSE IN THE WAY THAT WE EXPLAINED SUCH INTRICATE IDEAS AND CONCEPTS, WE DID IT AT A LEVEL WHERE WE DIDN'T REALIZE WE KNEW ALL THAT UNTIL WE SPOKE ABOUT IT.

>> NOW SINCE THE FIRST GROUP HAS JUST COMPLETED, WHAT'S NEXT?

HOW DO YOU CONTINUE MOVING THESE CONVERSATIONS FORWARD?

>> WE ARE ON WEEK TWO OF OUR SECOND GROUP.

WE WERE JUST PLANNING ONE GROUP BUT WE HAD A LOT OF INTEREST.

SO WE'RE LIKE, OK, LET'S DO A SECOND ONE.

SO WE'RE REVISING IT, AND FINE-TUNING IT AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP DOING THIS.

AND EVEN MAYBE DEVELOP A CURRICULUM AND TRAIN OTHER PEOPLE, TOO.

BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> ONE PART ABOUT DOING IT THIS TIME, WE HAVE TWO TEEN LEADERS CO-FACILITATING WITH US.

WHICH MAKES IT EVEN MORE RICH, AND I HOPE, LIKE AS WE DEVELOP IT, IT BECOMES, THAT BECOMES PART OF THE MODEL.

>>> IT'S BEEN OVER 20 YEARS SINCE THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD OPENED THE FLOOD GATES AND DREW DOWN THE WATER OF LAKE MASSASOIT, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS WATERSHOPS POND.

THE TYPICAL REASON FOR THE DRAW DOWN IN THE PAST HAS BEEN TO CLEAN UP DEBRIS AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE WATER.

BEGINNING THIS PAST FALL AND FOR THE NEXT YEAR, THE CITY HAS ONCE AGAIN DRAINED THE BODY OF WATER ADJACENT TO SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE.

TO NOT ONLY CLEAN IT BUT TO ALSO MAKE MUCH NEEDED REPAIRS TO THE DAM LOCATED AT THE WEST END OF THE LAKE.

AND PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US THE STORY.

>> AS YOU DRIVE ALONG ALDEN STREET NEAR SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE OR PASS OVER THE GENERAL EDWARDS BRIDGE, YOU MAY NOTICE SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THE WATERSHOPS POND.

ALL THE WATER IS GONE.

THIS PLAN DRAW DOWN OF THE POND IS TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE DAM AT THE WEST END.

THE CITY RECEIVED A SIGNIFICANT GRANT, ROUGHLY $3 MILLION, FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING NATURAL RESILIENCE COMPETITION.

THIS PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO LAST ABOUT 18 MONTHS.

>> IT'S BEEN CLASSIFIED FOR A HIGH HAZARD DAM FOR WELL OVER 15 YEARS IN THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD.

AND THANKFULLY THE MAYOR AND CONGRESSMAN NEIL WERE SUCCESSFUL GETTING THE FEDERAL MONIES TO DO THE WORK THAT'S NECESSARY TO REPAIR THIS DAM.

AND THE RESULT IS THE DRAW DOWN NOW AND THEN OVER THE WINTER, THROUGH NEXT SPRING, WE WILL BE GOING OUT TO BID FOR THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE REPAIRS TO THIS DAM.

>> INDEPENDENT FROM THE REPAIRS TO THE DAM, THE CITY ALSO PLANS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DRAW DOWN TO ORGANIZE THE REMOVAL OF UNDERWATER DEBRIS.

MUCH OF WHICH WOUND UP IN THE POND AS A RESULT OF THE 2001 TORNADO.

SMALL ITEMS SUCH AS CANS, BOTTLES, SPARE TIRES AND SHOPPING CARTS ARE STILL VISIBLE ON THE MUDDY BOTTOM.

THERE WERE ALSO SEVERAL AUTOMOBILES WHICH THE CITY HAS ALREADY REMOVED.

>> I WOULD HAVE TO SAY I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED IT'S NOT AS BAD AS THE DRAW DOWN OF 1996, WHICH HAD A LOT MORE DEBRIS.

THERE IS UNFORTUNATELY DEBRIS AND WE ARE GOING TO OVER THE NEXT YEAR BE CLEANING I WANT UP.

>> THE ENTIRE BODY OF WATER ENCOMPASSES 200 ACRES MAKING THE SIT'S SECOND LARGEST BODY EVER WATER AFTER THE CONNECTICUT RIVER.

THE DAM IS LOCATED BEHIND 1 ALLEN STREET AND IMPOUNDS WATER TO FORM WATERSHOPS POND ALSO KNOWN AS LAKE MASSASOIT.

IT WAS TO SPRY HYDROPOWER TO THE SPRINGFIELD ARMORY WHICH OPERATED THIS COMPLEX UNTIL 1968.

>> IN 1969 THE ARMY SOLD THE PROPERTY TO THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD FOR AS A RECREATIONAL ASPECT.

AND THE DAM WAS INCLUDED AS PART OF THAT PURCHASE TO THE CITY.

>> CORD, TO THE CITY, THE DAM WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1857 AND WAS LAST SUBSTANTIALLY MODIFIED IN 1958, FOLLOWING DAMAGES TO THE SPRINKLURE FROM HURRICANE DIANE.

THE WATERSHOPS POND DAM PROVIDES PROTECTION TO THE SOUTH END OF SPRINGFIELD IF THE MILL RIVER WERE EVER TO FLOOD.

THE CITY COMPLETED REPAIRS TO ITS OTHER HIGH HAZARD DAM LAST YEAR AND DESPITE THE INCONVENIENCE TO THOSE WHO USE WATERSHOPS POND FOR RECREATION, SULLIVAN SAYS IT'S WORK THAT IS LONG OVERDUE.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A SACRIFICE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE USE THIS FOR FISHING AND SO FORTH.

BUT THE REWARD IS NOW THIS DAM WILL BE DONE FOR ANOTHER 150 YEARS.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR MARCH 26th, 2021.

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

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

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

BE SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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