>> O'CONNELL: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON:" I'M SUE O'CONNELL, IN FOR JIM BRAUDE.

WE'LL DIG INTO SOME OF THE TROUBLING STORIES WE'VE SEEN RECENTLY, INVOLVING KIDS CARRYING OUT VIOLENT ATTACKS, AND WHETHER WE SHOULD CONCERNED, MORE BROADLY.

THEN LATER, HOW ONE ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT WENT FROM SPEAKING NOT A WORD OF ENGLISH TO GIVING THE VALEDICTORIAN ADDRESS AT GRADUATION, PLUS, WHY THE FIRST LADY CALLS COMMUNITY COLLEGES "ONE OF AMERICA'S BEST-KEPT SECRETS."

♪♪ >> O'CONNELL: OVERALL, VIOLENT CRIME RATES IN THIS REGION HAVE BEEN LARGELY FALLING OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT MORE RECENTLY, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL HIGH-PROFILE INCIDENTS CARRIED OUT BY YOUNG PEOPLE.

AMONG THEM, THE PAIR OF 13-YEAR-OLD TWINS WHO WERE ARRESTED LAST WEEK FOR AS MANY AS NINE ASSAULTS AROUND BOSTON OVER THE PAST MONTH, AND THE FIVE TEENAGERS FACING ASSAULT CHARGES AFTER POLICE SAY CELL PHONE VIDEO SHOWED THEM ATTACKING A WOMAN IN A DOWNTOWN CROSSING A FEW WEEKS BACK.

THEN THERE ARE THE ACCUSATIONS OF DECADES OF SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE BETWEEN STUDENTS AT THE MISSION HILL K-THROUGH-8 SCHOOL THAT CITY OFFICIALS VOTED TO SHUT DOWN LAST WEEK.

NOT TO MENTION A NATIONAL REPORT FROM BOSTON UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS THAT FOUND KIDS AGES 12 TO 17 ARE NOW 40% MORE LIKELY TO CARRY A HANDGUN THAN THEY WERE TWO DECADES AGO, ALTHOUGH THOSE NUMBERS ARE LOWER HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

I'M JOINED BY RUTH ZAKARIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MASSACHUSETTS COALITION TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE, AND JUMAANE KENDRICK, DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS AT THE DORCHESTER-BASED NON-PROFIT MISSION SAFE.

>> O'Connell: WELCOME TO BOTH YOU OF.

I ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CAREFUL HERE.

WE TALK ABOUT STATISTICS.

WE TALK ABOUT SOME HIGH-PROFILE INCIDENTS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALSO PRESENTING A FULL PICTURE OF WHAT WE SEE AS HAPPENING FROM THE STATISTICS SENT TO US.

JUMAANE, OBVIOUSLY ANY VIOLENCE IN ANY NEIGHBORHOOD INVOLVING KIDS OR ADULTS, WE DON'T WANT THAT HAPPENING.

BUT THERE IS A FEELING THAT THINGS HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT SAFER FOR ADULTS, IN SOME WAYS, AND CHILDREN ARE REACTING IN SOME WAYS TO THE OBVIOUS STRESSES THAT THEY HAVE LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENTS THAT THEY ARE.

SOCIAL MEDIA, WHICH IS ALSO HAVING AN IMPACT, AND, OF COURSE, THE COVID PANDEMIC.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOUR TAKE IS ON THESE NUMBERS AND THESE STORIES ARE THAT WE JUST SHARED WITH THE AUDIENCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU NAMED A NUMBER OF THOSE THINGS, COVID BEING ONE OF THEM.

WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE DON'TTUT" SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

AND AFTER SCHOOL, AND DURING THOSE TIMES OF SCHOOL, THEY7MQn DON'T HAVE ACCESS BECAUSE OF THE DAYS AND TIMES THAT THE PROGRAMS ARE OPERATING.iQ- YOU KNOW, COVID HAS MADE IT IN A WAY WHERE THIS ONLINE LEARNING HAS BEEN A REAL BIG STRUGGLE.

AND SO YOUTH AND STUDENTS ARE NOT GOING INTO SCHOOL ON A DAILY BASIS AND CONSISTENT BASIS, AND THEY'RE FINDING THEMSELVES SKIPPING SCHOOL OR LEAVING SCHOOL EARLY, WHICH IS GIVEN THEM ALL THIS ADULT TIME WHERE THEY -- GETTING INTO THINGS THEY SHOULDN'T GET INTO.

COVID IS A BIG ONE.

WE HAVE A LACK OF ADVOCATES AND CASE MANAGERS ON THE STREETS BECAUSE THERE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES FOR THOSE, RIGHT?

YOU ALSO HAVE A HUGE ISSUE AROUND PROGRAMS -- COMMUNITY PROGRAMS WITHIN THE SCHOOLS THEMSELVES.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PROGRAMS WITHIN THE SCHOOLS FROM THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T SPEAK ABOUT THAT ENOUGH, BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOU HAVE COMMUNITY RESOURCES WITHIN THE SCHOOL, WHERE THEY'RE WORKING WITH THEM WITHIN THE SCHOOL, AND WHEN THEY LEAVE THE SCHOOL, THEY'RE FOLLOWED BY THOSE PEOPLE AND CONNECTED TO THE PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO WHEN THEY LEAVE, NO MATTER WHAT TIME, IT COULD BE 10 O'CLOCK OR 2 O'CLOCK, THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN THOSE SAVE PLACES, THESE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, AND THEY FIND THEMSELVES THERE.

AND THEN JUST IN ADDITION, WE HAVE A DIVERSION ISSUE WHERE WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE, JUVENILES, ARE LOCKED UP, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN THOSE TEENAGED AGES, THEY ARE RELEASED BASED ON THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT.

BUT THERE IS NOT A LOT OF DIVERSION.

THERE IS STRONG DIVERSION PROGRAMS WHEN YOU DO HAVE THEM, BUT WE HAVE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE, WE NEED MORE.

SO DIVERSION, COVID, LACK OF ACCESS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND THEN HAVING COMMUNITY RESOURCES WITHIN THE SCHOOLS ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE SEEING.

>> O'Connell: JUMAANE, TO YOUR POINT, BEFORE COVID HIT US, WE WERE SEEING, AT LEAST IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL'S VIEWPOINT, WHERE MY KID WENT, THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, THERE AREN'T ENOUGH NURSES, THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH SOCIAL WORKERS INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOLS BEFORE COVID TO HELP CHILDREN WHO ARE NAVIGATING DIFFICULT TIMES, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I WAS ACTUALLY WORKING IN BPS PRIOR TO COMING OVER TO MISSION SAFE AS THE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS.

SO I'VE SEEN IT WITHIN BPS, ANDz-( HAVEZXkm,WHEREHñ,d YOUTH DON'T HAVE GOING ON.

YEAH, IT IS A BIG ISSUE.FñR >> O'Connell:w GOOD NEWS HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS IS HOPEFULLY OUR GUN LAWScí-t BEEN HELPINGj OF THE HANDS OF EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN.

AND THE BAD NEWS IS THAT NATIONALLY THOSE NUMBERS DON'T SHOW THAT.

AND THE MORE BAD NEWS, IF YOU WILL, IS THE GHOST GUNS THAT FOLKS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT THEY CAN MAKE GUNS THAT ARE GOING UNCHECKED.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR REACTION TO WHERE WE ARE WITH CRIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO YOUTHS PARTICIPATING IN VIOLENT INCIDENTS?

>> YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I THINK A LOT ABOUT WHAT THIS PREVENTION MEANS.

BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WE DON'T WANT TO JUST PUNISH YOUNG PEOPLE AFTER SOMETHING BAD HAS HAPPENED.

WE WANT TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL PREVENTION, TO ENSURE THAT THE VIOLENCE AND TRAUMATICç>49HRj( DOESN'T HAPPEN AT ALL.

ANDEhTv9HUzr<D MERELY ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO BE WELL IN THE WORLD AND SAFE IN THE WORLD.

ACCESS TO EDUCATION, YOUTH JOBS, OR SAFE RECREATION, AND THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN THOSE PROGRAMS, AND INVESTING IN YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENSURE THAT THEY DO HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO BE SAFE AND WELL IN THE WORLD.

SO WHEN I SEE THESE NUMBERS -- AND THE NUMBERS WENT DOWN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN MASSACHUSETTS, BUTO3Qç AS YOU MENTIONED, NOT NATIONALLY.

THE QUESTION THAT COMES UP FOR ME IS: WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED TO BE DOING?

THE ADULTS NEED TO BEDOING TO MAKE SURE THATqBñq YOUNG PEOPLE DO HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SAFE AND WELL IN THEt/m1 WORLD..ñÑn >> O'Connell: JUMAANE, I WAS IN ROXBURY AND ABOUT FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO THERE WAS A WEAPONS DISCHARGE SHOOTING, AND NOBODY WAS HURT, IN JAMAICA PLAIN.

I WAS OUT OF MY CAR AT THE TIME, IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON, THERE WAS A SCHOOL BUS WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS ON THE BUS, WHO SAW WHAT HAPPENED, SAW THE POLICE COME.

AND I WAS SHOCKED.

I THEN CALLED MY CITY COUNCILOR WHO TOOK ACTION, IT HAPPENED TO BE TITO JACKSON AT THE TIME, AND I SAID, WHO IS MAKING SURE THESE KIDS ARE GOING HOME TO SUPPORT SERVICES AFTER SEEING THIS VIOLENT INCIDENT?

THIS WOULD NOT BE TOLERATED IN WESTIN.

THIS WOULD NOT BE TOLERATED IN SHERBERN OR DOVER.

IF THERE WAS AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS, THERE WOULD BE SCHOOL COUNSELORS RIGHT THERE.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO AS A SOCIETY TO UNDERSTAND WHEN VIOLENCE HAPPENS AROUND OUR CHILDREN, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE GETTING THE SUPPORT BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND AS THEIR FAMILIES, TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN PROCESS PROCESS WHAT IS HAPPENING?

>> THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS IN ROXBURY AND MATTAPAN ARE NORMAL.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

WHEN YOU HAVE VIOLENCE IN THESE COMMUNITIES AS OFTEN AS YOU DO, IT BECOMES SOMEWHAT OF WHAT THEY WOULD SAY IS NORMAL; AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM HALF THE TIME.

WHEN WE HAVE THESE INCIDENTS AND THERE IS NO DEBRIEFING, NO IMMEDIATE FOLLOWUP WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WITNESSED THESE TYPES OF TRAUMATIC EVENTS, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.- THAT FALLS ON THE ADULTS.

THAT'S NOT THE CHILDREN.

THE ADULTS ARE RATIONALIZING IT IN A WAY WHERE IT IS THE CHILD'S FAULT.

THEREFORE THEY MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING FOR THEY'RE IN THE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THIS IS OKAY.

THAT IS WHERE WE'RE HAVING THE BREAKDOWN.

WE NEED TO CHANGE THE MENTALITY OF THAT.

WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN, WHAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY?

THERE IS A SMALL GROUP WHO HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY, I COMPLEND THOSECOMMEND THOSE PEOPLE.

WE ARE DOING FOLLOWUP.

WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN KIDS ARE TRAUMATIZED BECAUSE IT TURNS INTO ANXIETY AND UNSAFENESS.

WE NEED TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND TO RESPOND TO THESE WHEN THESE HAPPEN.

THERE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH OF US.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES: HAVING A CAPACITY ISSUE IS HUGE.

AND ALSO DOING THINGS TO CHANGE THE SOCIETY THAT WE'RE LIVING IN INFRASTRUCTURE WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO CHANGE WHY THESE YOUNG PEOPLE GOT OFF THE BUS AND THERE IS NOTHING GOING ON, AND THEY':3YyÑ JUST IN THESE IDLE SITUATIONS WHERE THEY CAN SHOOT IN FRONT OF A SCHOOL BUS.

IT CAME FROM A PETH RA PETHURA WHERE THERE IS ACCESS TO GUNS SO EASILY.

WHY THEY DON'T HAVE ANY VALUE IN THROUGH COMMUNITY OR THEMSELVES TO WHERE THEY FEEL LIKE THIS IS OKAY.

SO THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT NEED TO CHANGE ON THE ADULT SIZE TO PERP PET WAITPERPETUATEAND MODEL WHAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE DOING.

>> O'Connell: I'M A FIRM BELIEF -- I DON'T CARE WHO THE PERSON IS, IN MY OPINION, IF YOU'RE UNDER 18, 18 OR UNDER, AND YOU'RE INVOLVED IN A CRIME, YOU'RE A VICTIM AS MUCH.

THAT'S MY FIRM RELIEF, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE CRIME IS.

I'M ALWAYS SHOCKED HOW WE HAVE IN SOCIETY SUCH A SLIDING SCALE DEPENDING ON WHO THAT PERSON IS THAT COMMITTED THE CRIME AND IF WE'RE GOING TO APPLY THAT MINOR STATUS TO THEM.

IT DRIVES ME ABSOLUTELY CRAZY.

I'M WONDERING, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE, ARE THERE WAYS THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO EDUCATE CHILDREN AND TEENS DIRECTLY ABOUT GUN SAFETY, ABOUT GUN LAWS?

YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING HOW SEVERE IT IS HERE, ESPECIALLY IN MASSACHUSETTS, IF YOU GET CAUGHT BREAKING A GUN LAW.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE APPROACHES YOU'RE LOOKING AT TO TRY TO HELP REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE FROM AN EDUCATIONAL STANDPOINT?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.

I APPRECIATE YOUR ANALYST ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE IMPACTED BY FIREARMS.

I WANT TO TALK FIRST ABOUT THE POLICY ISSUE RELATED TO THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT GUNS ARE COMING INTO COMMUNITIES IN ALL SORTS OF WAYS.

SO WE NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND ONE OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES IS SOMETHING CALLED THE CRIME PREVENT DATA ANALYSIS BILL, AND WE BETTER ANALYZE DATA COLLECTED IN COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW THAT.

WE CAN'T MAKE THIS POLICY AROUND HOW TO ADDRESS THAT UNLESS WE UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT IS COMING FROM.

AND IN TERMS OF EDUCATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, SO, YOU KNOW, ONE EXAMPLE IS -- AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THEMéhs LANGUAGE ABOUT HOW VIOLENCE BECOMES NORMALIZED BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN THINKING A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THAT.

THERE IS A DOCUMENTARY CALLED "THIS AIN'T NORMAL" ABOUT VIOLENCE, AND WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH THE MAKERS OF THE DOCUMENTARY TO OLD SCREENINGS OF THE DOCUMENTARY WITH PANEL DISCUSSIONS THAT VOLVE YOUNG PEOPLE, SURVIVORS OF GUN VIOLENCE,,SGw FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO WEREx5"& FORMERLY INCARCERATED BECAUSE WE WANT TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AROUND PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED ABOUT VIOLENCE.

WE WANT TO TALK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE SERIOUS NATURE OF THIS, AND ALSO RECOGNIZE SO MUCH OF THIS IS BASED IN TRAUMA AND NOT FEELING SAFE IN THE WORLD.

AND WE COME TOGETHER AND SAY THIS IS NOT NORMAL.

WE NEED TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL SAFE IN THE WORLD, AND WE NEED TO ATTEND TO THEIR EMOTIONAL NEEDS.

I THINK THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE.

>> O'Connell: JUMAANE, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A KID I WAS WAITING AT A BUS STOP, AND HE WAS MAKING SOME JOKES ABOUT SHOOTING, NOTHING SERIOUS.

I SAID TO HIM, GUNSHOTS HURT A LOT.

AND HE DIDN'T BELIEVE ME.

IT REALLY STRUCK ME AS ONE OF THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT -- WE WATCH TELEVISION, AND PEOPLE GET SHOT IN THE LEG AND THEY RUN EIGHT MILES.

AND WE'RE NOT DOING A VERY JOB COMMUNICATING THE TRAUMA THAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEBODY IS SHOT.

IT'S NOT JUST GETTING SHOT IN THE LEG.

I'M JUST WONDERING FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT KIND OF CONVERSATIONS ARE YOU HAVING WITH TEENS AND YOUTH ABOUT WAYS THAT THEY CAN BE PART OF PREVENTING VIOLENCE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE CAN BE A NEW NORMAL THAT WILL MAKE ALL OF US SAFER?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AS A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF VIOLENCE AND A GUNSHOT WOUND, SO IT DOES HURT, RIGHT?

SO WHEN I HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME -- YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED T])n+X LOGICALLY HAv BUT"/ WHY THEY FRAME ISz THEG<Ynra GLORIFYING THESE THINGS,/q>< COMMITING ACTS-j;X VIOLENCE, THEY'RE GLORIFYING THOSE THINGS.

BUT THE ACTUALITY IS WHEN THEY'RE INJURED OR INCARCERATED, THE STORY THAT IS NOT BEING TOLD IS THE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, THE FEAR, THE PAIN, THE SELF-MEDICATION, RIGHT?

THOSE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

THE LONELINESS, RIGHT?

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, ONE, WE'RE GIVING THEM THE ACTUALITY FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY BECOME A PERSON THAT THEY ARE IDOLIZING THAT NORMALIZES EXPRESSING THE PAIN AND THE HEARTBREAKS OF THE ACTUAL SITUATIONS, VERSUS IGNORING THEM AND ONLY SPEAKING ON THE SO-CALLED GOOD PARTS OF WHAT HAPPENS, RIGHT?

WHEN THEY SEE THEY SEE IT FROM SOMEBODY THEY IDOLIZE, THEN IT IS OKAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE HARDSHIPS, AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE PEER-PRESSURED OR GETTING INTO GANG ACTIVITY.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS CREATING PEER MODEL PROGRAMMING SO THEY'RE GOING OUT AND THEY'RE SPEAKING THE SAME THING TO THEIR PEERS SO THEREFORE IT DOES NOT SEEM LESS THAN OR THEY SEEM TO BE OUTCAST BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE SPEAKING IS NOT COOL.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE WHAT IS COOL.

WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE WHAT THE VALUE IS OF SPEAKING HONESTLY ABOUT HARDSHIPS AND NOT -- WHAT DO THEY SAY, HURTING IN SILENCE, RIGHT?

THAT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING.

WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE THAT SO THEY CAN LEAN ON THEIR SISTERS, BROTHERS, PEERS, AUNTS AND UNCLES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES SO IT IS NOT SOMETHING THEY'RE GOING THROUGH BY THEMSELVES.

THAT'S HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS BECAUSE JUST IDOLIZING PEOPLE AND REPEATING WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AND THOSE ARE MOSTLY NEGATIVE BEHAVIORS.

SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CHANGE THOSE -- >> O'Connell: I APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING ME AND LETTING US TAKE A LOOK BEHIND THESE HEADLINES AND HOPE TO PAY ATTENTION TO KIDS AND VIOLENCE EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, NOT JUST WHEN IT IS IN THE NEWS.

>> O'CONNELL: RUTH ZAKARIN, JUMAANE KENDRICK, THANKS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT UP, IT'S NO SECRET THAT STUDENTS HAVE HAD TO BATTLE AGAINST A PANDEMIC AND REMOTE LEARNING OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS TO EARN THEIR DEGREES, AND THIS YEAR'S GRADUATING CLASS FROM ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS NO DIFFERENT, BUT FOR SOME OF THOSE WALKING ACROSS THE STAGE THIS FRIDAY, THE ROAD TO GETTING THEIR CAP AND GOWN WAS PAVED WITH EXTRA HURDLES.

AMONG THEM IS THE CLASS OF 2022'S VALEDICTORIAN AND GRADUATION SPEAKER, SHADIA SINGO, WHO EMIGRATED FROM THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO TO THE UNITED STATES IN 2018.

SHE NOW GRADUATES WITH AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN WEB TECHNOLOGIES, AND SHE JOINS ME NOW TO SHARE MORE OF HER STORY, ALONG WITH ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S INTERIM PRESIDENT JACKIE JENKINS-SCOTT.

>> O'Connell: WELCOME BACK TO BOTH OF YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS, SHADIA!

HOW ARE YOU?

HOW EXCITED ARE YOU?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'M FEELING PRETTY GOOD.

AND YOU?

>> O'Connell: I'M GREAT.

TELL ME YOUR STORY, HOW YOU ENDED UP AT ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

>> I CAME IN 2018, AND I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR A COLLEGE THAT HAD MORE BLACK PEOPLE BECAUSE I WAS JUST NEW HERE AND I WANTED TO FEEL INTEGRATED.

AND ROXBURY HAS THAT DIVERSITY, STUDENTS FROM EVERYWHERE, AND I WAS, LIKE, THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO BE.

>> O'Connell: TELL ME ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY HERE.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FAMILY, AND HOW SUPPORTIVE THEY HAVE BEEN ON YOUR JOURNEY TO ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE?

>> YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND I'M HERE BY MYSELF.

I DON'T HAVE NO FAMILY HERE.

THEY'RE ALL BACK HOME.

BUT THEY'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE.

MY FATHER BE CALLING ME ALL OF THE TIME AND CHECKING ON ME AND MAKING SURE I GOT EVERYTHING DONE.

>> O'Connell: PRESIDENT J.C.JACKIE JENKINS-SCOTT, IT IS A MOMENT -- WE'RE A COMMUNITY COLLEGE FAMILY AT MY HOUSE.

>> GREAT.

>> O'Connell: TELL ME A POLITICALLITTLE BIT ABOUT -- IS IT A MOMENT, OR AM I JUST BEING OPTIMISTIC?

ARE WE SEEING A MOMENT WHERE WE'RE TURNING TO COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN A WAY WE HAVEN'T RECENTLY?

>> I THINK IT IS A MOMENT AND IT'S NOT A MOMENT.

I THINK WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE OPTIMISTIC.

OF COURSE THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE VALUE PARTICULAR FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE SHADIA OF GETTING A COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATION AT A MUCH LOWER COST THAN GOING ON TO A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE.

AND THEN STUDENTS WHO ARE ABLE TO ENROLL IN WHAT WE CALL DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMS AND EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAMS CAN GREATLY REDUCE THE COST OF GOING TO COLLEGE.

AND, AS YOU KNOW, NOWADAYS, IT USED TO BE THAT A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA COULD GET YOU A GOOD JOB AND LIFE-LONG HEALTH BENEFITS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

AND WE KNOW NOW THAT THE ENTRY LEVEL TO A MORE SECURE FUTURE IS CERTAINLY A COLLEGE DEGREE.

AND SO THAT'S THE OPTIMISM, THAT THE VALUE OF A COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATION IS NOW BEING RECOGNIZED.

BUT I LOVE SHADIA'S STORY.

THAT IS WHAT COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE FOR.

AND CONGRATULATIONS, SHADIA!

YOU ARE VERY BRAVE TO BE HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU STILL HAVE THE SUPPORT OF YOUR FAMILY.

EVEN BACK HOME, WHO ARE CHEERING YOU ON AND SUPPORTING YOU AND WANTING YOU TO DO WELL.

SO CONGRATULATIONS.

WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU.

>> O'Connell: AND I KNOW THEY'LL BE WATCHING YOU REMOTELY AS YOU GRADUATE THIS FRIDAY.

SHADIA, WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR YOU?

AFTER YOU GET YOUR DIPLOMA THIS FRIDAY, WHAT'S NEXT?

>> SO I'M ACTUALLY WORKING AS A FULL-TIME TECHNICIAN AT A.B.

CITY, AND I'M GOING TO MOVE ON.

THEY'RE GETTING ME READY TO GET A POSITION, WHICH IS PRETTY AMAZING.

I'M CONTINUE IN BOSTON STARTING IN FALL 2022, AND I'LL BE TAKING COMPUTER FORENSICS.

>> O'Connell: MANY PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THERE ARE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.

YOU DO TWO YEARS HERE AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND YOU CAN TRANSFER YOUR CREDITS TO SOME OTHER PRIVATE UNIVERSITY.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHY WE'RE DOING THAT A LITTLE BIT IS BECAUSE FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN IS AN INSTRUCTOR AT COMO COLLEGE -- >> YES.

SHE HAS TAUGHT AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES FOR MANY YEARS.

>> O'Connell: SHE HAD THIS TO SAY JUST RECENTLY.

>> MY WIFE IS A COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROFESSOR.

SHE SAYS IT IS THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN AMERICA.

>> O'Connell: WHY IS IT THE BEST KEPT SECRET?

WHY AREN'T WE SHOUTING FROM THE ROOFTOPS?

>> ONE OF THE REASONS IS COMMUNITY COLLEGES OFFER SUCH A DIVERSE EDUCATION FOR SUCH A DIVERSE POPULATION.

PARTICULARLY OUR UNDERSERVED POPULATION.

AT ROXBURY, OVER 80 OF OUR STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR.

MANY OF THEM ARE IMMIGRANTS.

MANY COME FROM FAMILIES THAT DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, RESOURCES TO SEND THEIR KIDS DIRECTLY ON TO A FOUR-YEAR, PRIVATE INSTITUTION, OR EVEN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

SO I THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF A COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATION.

AND IT'S A GREAT EDUCATION.

ONE OF THE THINGS HERE AT ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS I LOVE THE FACULTY.

THEIR LOVE OF THIS STUDENT POPULATION, WHICH IS A VERY DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION -- SO COMMUNITY COLLEGES SERVE A POPULATION THAT YOU DON'T SEE VERY OFTEN IN OUR TRADITIONAL HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS.

AND SOMETIMES THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT MAKE CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS NOT BE AS VALUED AS THEY SHOULD BE.

AND THAT'S PART OF OUR CHALLENGE, IS TO TELL OUR STORY, AND TO HELP PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF A COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATION.

AND I THINK IT IS SO, SO IMPORTANT AND SO EXCITING.

>> O'Connell: YOU'VE USED THE WORD "VALUE" A NUMBER OF TIMES, AND IT IS AN IMPORTANT ONE, ESPECIALLY AT THIS POINT IN OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SECONDARY EDUCATION.

WE'VE GOT BOSTON UNIVERSITY INCREASING THEIR TUITION, THE LARGEST INCREASE THEY'VE HAD.

OBVIOUSLY MANY INSTITUTIONS REACTING TO COVID AND ALL OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE ALL GONE THROUGH.

WE'VE GOT THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION WHO ARE REALIZING THEY MAY NEVER GET TO PAY OFF THEIR COLLEGE LOANS, AND THEY'RE IN JOBS THAT REALLY COST MORE FOR THEM TO GET THAN THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO MAKE FOR THEM IN SOME WAYS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> O'Connell: AND WE'RE GETTING FINANCIAL ADVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO SAY DON'T PAY MORE FOR YOUR COLLEGE EDUCATION THAN YOU EXPECT TO MAKE IN A YEAR.

WHICH IS JUST VERY DIFFICULT TO DO.

>> I HADN'T HEARD THAT.

>> O'Connell: YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO PAY BACK WITH A YEAR'S SALARY -- ALL OF THOSE ROADS LEAD TO COMMUNITY COLLEGES AS AN ANSWER, RIGHT?

>> YES.

AND THE OTHER THING ABOUT THAT IS YOU GET AN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT EDUCATION.

THE FACULTY AT ROXBURY COMMUNITY ARE JUST TERRIFIC.

THEY LOVE THESE STUDENTS.

THEY LOVE TEACHING.

AND THEY PROVIDE A VERY HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION.

I THINK SHADIA CAN PROBABLY TELL YOU, SHE HAS ENJOYED HER CLASSES.

>> O'Connell: SHADIA, TELL ME -- I'VE BEEN ACCIDENTALLY AUDITING MY DAUGHTER'S CLASSES, AND SHE GOES TO BUNKER HILL COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND I'M SURE THEY'RE EQUAL TO THE GREAT COURSES THAT ROXBURY COLLEGE HAS, HOW DIFFICULT THE COURSES ARE AND HOW ROBUST THEY ARE, AND HOW TALENTED THE PROFESSORS AND INSTRUCTORS ARE.

TELL ME ABOUT WHAT ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE COURSES WAS AND WHAT YOU TOOK AWAY FROM THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

>> WELL, OVERALL IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING.

I FEEL LIKE AT ROXBURY WE'RE MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS, THE TEACHERS CARE ABOUT US, AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT EXCEPTIONAL.

AND YOU WANT TO HAVE THE BEST GRADES AND HAVE ALL OF THE TOOLS PROVIDED TO YOU TO DO SO.

MY FAVORITE CLASS IS PROBLEM SOLVING WITH MY PROFESSOR, WHO IS ACTUALLY MY ADVISOR.

>> O'Connell: THAT IS CHALLENGING?

>> YES, VERY, VERY CHALLENGING.

HAVE YOU TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS OUT OF THE BOX AND YOU HAVE TO THINK.

IT HELPS ME REALIZE -- SHE ALWAYS SAYS THERE IS NOT ONLY ONE BOX TO A SOLUTION.

THIS IS WHAT I GAVE YOU, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER WAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT.

AND THAT'S WHAT I KEEP DOING TODAY AND IT IS JUST AMAZING.

>> O'Connell: PRESIDENT, ARE WE ANY CLOSER TO HAVE FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE?

I KNOW IT IS AFFORDABLE AND TOR SOME FOR SOME STUDENTS IN BOSTON WHO GRADUATE THEY CAN GO AT A LOW RATE OR FREE RATE, BUT DO YOU SEE POLITICALLY ANY WILL THERE?

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FORGIVE PAST STUDENT LOANS, BUT WHAT ABOUT MOVING FORWARD?

WHAT CAN WE DO TO SAY TO CITIZENS, WE WANT YOU EDUCATED FROM FIRST GRADE TO HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO BE EDUCATED MORE?

>> WELL, I AM JUST SO PROUD OF CONGRESSWOMAN AYANNA PRESSLEY.

IF IT IS UP TO HER, THIS WILL HAPPEN.

AND SHE HAS PLEDGED THAT SHE IS NOT GOING TO GIVE UP ON THIS FIGHT.

SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY MUCH AT THE TOP OF HER LIST.

AND I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER CONGRESSMEN AND CONGRESSWOMEN WHO HAVE TAKEN THIS CHALLENGE ON.

IT IS A MATTER OF POLITICAL WILL IN OUR COUNTRY, AND GAINING THE MOMENTUM.

I THINK WE CAN SPEND BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON TANKS; WHY CAN'T WE SPEND SOME DOLLARS ON EDUCATING OUR POPULOUS?

AND THAT IS THE POSITION CONGRESSWOMAN PRESLEY HAS TAKEN AND SO MANY OTHERS.

BUT LET'S NOT -- YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T FORGET THAT THIS WILL BE A CHALLENGE.

IT IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

BUT I THINK THAT IF WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT IT, CONTINUE TO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF IT, AND TO CONTINUE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS KIND OF SUPPORT IN EDUCATION FOR THE POPULOUS CAN REALLY HELP SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY.

IT IS REALLY PART OF WHAT HAS MADE THIS COUNTRY GREAT, IS THAT WE HAVE GIVEN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE A WAY OUT.

AND SO, UM, I'M HOPING THAT THERE WILL BE THE POLITICAL WILL TO MAKE FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATION A REALITY.

BUT IT WILL NOT BE DONE WITHOUT EDUCATION AND WITHOUT A FIGHT, QUITE FRANKLY.

>> O'Connell: IS YOUR SPEECH WRITTEN?

ARE YOU READY TO GO?

>> YES, I'M READY TO GO.

>> O'Connell: WHAT'S THE HIGHLIGHT?

WHAT IS THE THEME?

>> THE THEME IS "DON'T LET ANYONE'S OPINION OF YOU BE A REALITY.

YOU ARE THE MASTER OF YOUR LIFE."

>> THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.

>> O'Connell: IF YOU CAN ENVISION IT, YOU CAN BE IT, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

>> O'Connell: CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH, AND I'M SURE EVERYONE IN YOUR FAMILY IS PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

HERE IS TO A BETTER YEAR NEXT YEAR IN SCHOOL.

>> IT IS A GREAT DAY.

>> O'Connell: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

CAN DEMOCRATS WIN BACK RURAL VOTERS?

A WINNING PROGRESSIVE FROM CONSERVATIVE MAINE SHARES HER LESSONS IN HER NEW BOOK: "DIRT R