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

CONNECTING YOU WITH TONIGHT.

AN ACCLAIMED LOCAL POLE SHARES AN ACCLAIMED LOCAL POLE SHARES THE PASSION BEHIND HIS WORDS.

THE PASSION BEHIND HIS WORDS.

>> POETS, OF COURSE, HAVE TO BE >> POETS, OF COURSE, HAVE TO BE ATTUNED TO LANGUAGE AND ATTUNED TO LANGUAGE AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS ABUSED IN ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS ABUSED IN THE SERVICE OF POWER.

THE SERVICE OF POWER.

>>> A BELOVED NATURE >>> A BELOVED NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER'S LEGACY.

PHOTOGRAPHER'S LEGACY.

>> SO MANY PEOPLE WROTE, OH, I >> SO MANY PEOPLE WROTE, OH, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE MAN AND HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE MAN AND HE SAID, COME ON UP, I WILL SHOW SAID, COME ON UP, I WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO TAKE THAT PHOTO.

YOU HOW TO TAKE THAT PHOTO.

HE JUST WANTED OH PEOPLE TO GET HE JUST WANTED OH PEOPLE TO GET THE ENJOYMENT OUT OF IT THAT HE THE ENJOYMENT OUT OF IT THAT HE DID.

DID.

>> AND WE INTRODUCE YOU TO >> AND WE INTRODUCE YOU TO HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S FIRST GRADUATE IN LATINX FIRST GRADUATE IN LATINX STUDIES.

STUDIES.

>> THESE EXPERIENCES HAVE >> THESE EXPERIENCES HAVE ALLOWED ME TO EXPAND MY ALLOWED ME TO EXPAND MY PROFESSIONAL SKILLS BUT MOST PROFESSIONAL SKILLS BUT MOST IMPORTANT FOR ME IS THEY HELPED IMPORTANT FOR ME IS THEY HELPED ME CREATE RELATIONSHIPS IN MY ME CREATE RELATIONSHIPS IN MY COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

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

POINT."

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

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

POINT."

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

>>> LES CAMPBELL CONSIDERED >>> LES CAMPBELL CONSIDERED HIMSELF A SERIOUS AMATEUR HIMSELF A SERIOUS AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER AND THUS HIS PHOTOGRAPHER AND THUS HIS APPROACH TO PHOTOGRAPHY WAS AS APPROACH TO PHOTOGRAPHY WAS AS AN AVOCATION RATHER THAN AS A AN AVOCATION RATHER THAN AS A VOCATION.

VOCATION.

HE WAS DEVOTED TO PROMOTING THE HE WAS DEVOTED TO PROMOTING THE EXCITEMENT AND JOY OF EXCITEMENT AND JOY OF PHOTOGRAPHY, AND FOR MORE THAN PHOTOGRAPHY, AND FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS, HE SHARED HIS 60 YEARS, HE SHARED HIS KNOWLEDGE, ENTHUSIASM, AND KNOWLEDGE, ENTHUSIASM, AND APPRECIATIONIATION FOR THE ART APPRECIATIONIATION FOR THE ART WITH OTHERS.

WITH OTHERS.

PHONE KNOWN FOR HIS PHOTOGRAPHS PHONE KNOWN FOR HIS PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE QUABBIN RESERVOIR, OF THE QUABBIN RESERVOIR, CAMPBELL PASSED AWAY LAST CAMPBELL PASSED AWAY LAST SEPTEMBER AT THE AGE OF 95 AND SEPTEMBER AT THE AGE OF 95 AND PRODUCER DAVE FRASER TAKES A PRODUCER DAVE FRASER TAKES A LOOK BACK ON HIS LIFE AND THE LOOK BACK ON HIS LIFE AND THE MANY PEOPLE THAT HE TOUCHED MANY PEOPLE THAT HE TOUCHED ALONG THE WAY.

ALONG THE WAY.

>> MY FIRST HOBBY REALLY WAS >> MY FIRST HOBBY REALLY WAS BIRD WATCHING.

BIRD WATCHING.

AND I VERY SOON WANTED TO AND I VERY SOON WANTED TO PHOTOGRAPH BIRDS.

PHOTOGRAPH BIRDS.

AND YOU JUST DON'T PHOTOGRAPH AND YOU JUST DON'T PHOTOGRAPH BIRDS WITH A SNAPSHOT CAMERA.

BIRDS WITH A SNAPSHOT CAMERA.

SO YOU REALLY HAVE TO GET SO YOU REALLY HAVE TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY.

SERIOUS ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY.

AND SO I DID.

AND SO I DID.

>> LES CAMPBELL IS CONSIDERED BY >> LES CAMPBELL IS CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE WESTERN MASS'S MOST MANY TO BE WESTERN MASS'S MOST WELL KNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER.

WELL KNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER.

OVER HIS CAREER HE WAS AN OVER HIS CAREER HE WAS AN INNOVATOR, AN ENTREPRENEUR, AND INNOVATOR, AN ENTREPRENEUR, AND IN70 FOR, LECTURER, TEACHER AS IN70 FOR, LECTURER, TEACHER AS WELL AS A MASTER OF HIS CRAFT.

WELL AS A MASTER OF HIS CRAFT.

>> OF COURSE, I WASN'T BORN WHEN >> OF COURSE, I WASN'T BORN WHEN HIS CAREER STARTED.

HIS CAREER STARTED.

BUT BY 1958, HE WON AN AWARD BUT BY 1958, HE WON AN AWARD FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIET OF FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIET OF AMERICA AS THE TOP EXHIBITING AMERICA AS THE TOP EXHIBITING NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE WORLD.

WORLD.

>> HE WAS SOMEBODY THAT WAS VERY >> HE WAS SOMEBODY THAT WAS VERY QUIET AND UNASSUMING.

QUIET AND UNASSUMING.

I LEARNED THAT HE LIVED RIGHT I LEARNED THAT HE LIVED RIGHT HERE ON THE QUABBIN AND HE WAS HERE ON THE QUABBIN AND HE WAS INCREDIBLY JEALOUS BECAUSE HE INCREDIBLY JEALOUS BECAUSE HE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THE LIGHT HOWEVER YOU WANTED IT LIGHT HOWEVER YOU WANTED IT BECAUSE HE WAS HERE JUST ABOUT BECAUSE HE WAS HERE JUST ABOUT 24/7.

24/7.

>> AS A TEENAGER, LES WORKED IN >> AS A TEENAGER, LES WORKED IN THE WATER QUALITY LAB AT THE THE WATER QUALITY LAB AT THE QUABBIN RESERVOIR.

QUABBIN RESERVOIR.

AND IT WAS THERE THAT HE AND IT WAS THERE THAT HE DEVELOPED AN APPRECIATION AND DEVELOPED AN APPRECIATION AND LOVE FOR THE QUABBIN REGION.

LOVE FOR THE QUABBIN REGION.

THE RESERVOIR CHANGED LIFE THE RESERVOIR CHANGED LIFE FOREVER FOR THE SWIFT RIVER FOREVER FOR THE SWIFT RIVER VALLEY WHEN IT WAS BUILT IN THE VALLEY WHEN IT WAS BUILT IN THE 1930s.

1930s.

AND LES WANTED TO SHARE THAT AND LES WANTED TO SHARE THAT STORY WITH OTHERS THROUGH HIS STORY WITH OTHERS THROUGH HIS PHOTOGRAPHY.

PHOTOGRAPHY.

>> HE SPENT 44 YEARS WORKING >> HE SPENT 44 YEARS WORKING THERE.

THERE.

HE HAD THE KEY TO ALL THE GATES HE HAD THE KEY TO ALL THE GATES AND THE BACK ROADS AND THE KEY AND THE BACK ROADS AND THE KEY TO THE BOAT AS HE TOOK WATER TO THE BOAT AS HE TOOK WATER SAMPLES.

SAMPLES.

SO HE GOT TO SEE THE BEAUTY OF SO HE GOT TO SEE THE BEAUTY OF IT.

IT.

AND HE KNEW THE STORY OF IT.

AND HE KNEW THE STORY OF IT.

HE HAD RELATIVES THAT LIVED IN HE HAD RELATIVES THAT LIVED IN THE VALLEY.

THE VALLEY.

I MEAN, IT WAS A TRAUMATIC I MEAN, IT WAS A TRAUMATIC THING.

THING.

SO HE NOT ONLY WANTED TO MAKE SO HE NOT ONLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE COULD ENJOY THE SURE PEOPLE COULD ENJOY THE BEAUTY AND THE SOLITUDE OF THE BEAUTY AND THE SOLITUDE OF THE QUABBIN BUT HE ALSO WANTED QUABBIN BUT HE ALSO WANTED PEOPLE TO REMEMBER THE SACRIFICE PEOPLE TO REMEMBER THE SACRIFICE OF THE PEOPLE THAT GAVE UP THEIR OF THE PEOPLE THAT GAVE UP THEIR HOMES IN THE VALLEY.

HOMES IN THE VALLEY.

>> LES TRAVELED OFTEN TO SHARE >> LES TRAVELED OFTEN TO SHARE HIS WORK.

HIS WORK.

HE PIONEERED MULTI-IMAGE SLIDE HE PIONEERED MULTI-IMAGE SLIDE SHOWS WITH MUSIC AND SHARED THEM SHOWS WITH MUSIC AND SHARED THEM ON A WIDE SCREEN.

ON A WIDE SCREEN.

>> I WAS AS HIS UNWILLING ROADY >> I WAS AS HIS UNWILLING ROADY AT THE TIME.

AT THE TIME.

I WAS TUCKED INTO THE BACK SEAT I WAS TUCKED INTO THE BACK SEAT OF THE CHEVIE CAPRICE STATION OF THE CHEVIE CAPRICE STATION WAGON.

WAGON.

SOMETIMES WE HAD 12 PROJECTORS SOMETIMES WE HAD 12 PROJECTORS TO SET UP AND A 48-FOOT SCREEN, TO SET UP AND A 48-FOOT SCREEN, AUDIO GEAR.

AUDIO GEAR.

A LOT OF CABLES.

A LOT OF CABLES.

>> WHEN LES RETIRED FROM HIS >> WHEN LES RETIRED FROM HIS WORK AT THE QUABBIN, HE WORK AT THE QUABBIN, HE PURCHASED A PARCEL OF LAND PURCHASED A PARCEL OF LAND ACROSS FROM THE RESERVOIR'S MAIN ACROSS FROM THE RESERVOIR'S MAIN GATE, BUILT A STUDIO SO HE COULD GATE, BUILT A STUDIO SO HE COULD SHOW HIS WORK AND CALLED HIS SHOW HIS WORK AND CALLED HIS HOME SKY MEADOW.

HOME SKY MEADOW.

>> THIS WAS HIS HOME SINCE ABOUT >> THIS WAS HIS HOME SINCE ABOUT '91.

'91.

HE ALWAYS ADORED THIS PLACE.

HE ALWAYS ADORED THIS PLACE.

HE LOVES TO HAVE PEOPLE SEE IT.

HE LOVES TO HAVE PEOPLE SEE IT.

CAMERA CLUBS, ASTRONOMY CLUBS.

CAMERA CLUBS, ASTRONOMY CLUBS.

EVERYONE'S WELCOME.

EVERYONE'S WELCOME.

AND, OF COURSE, HE'S GOT THE AND, OF COURSE, HE'S GOT THE BEAUTIFUL GALLERY HERE NOW, TOO.

BEAUTIFUL GALLERY HERE NOW, TOO.

>> LES'S LOVE FOR THE QUABBIN >> LES'S LOVE FOR THE QUABBIN MOTIVATED HIM TO A VISITORS MOTIVATED HIM TO A VISITORS CENTER AND ASSOCIATE CALLED THE CENTER AND ASSOCIATE CALLED THE FRIENDS OF QUABBIN.

FRIENDS OF QUABBIN.

LES AND HIS SECOND WIFE TERRY LES AND HIS SECOND WIFE TERRY FILLED THE CENTER WITH FILLED THE CENTER WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND INFORMATION TO PHOTOGRAPHS AND INFORMATION TO HELP SHARE THE STORY OF QUABBIN HELP SHARE THE STORY OF QUABBIN WITH PEOPLE WHO STOPPED IN.

WITH PEOPLE WHO STOPPED IN.

>> PEOPLE WERE MOSTLY FROM >> PEOPLE WERE MOSTLY FROM BOSTON.

BOSTON.

THAT WAS THEIR WATER BUT THEY THAT WAS THEIR WATER BUT THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT HOW THAT KNEW NOTHING ABOUT HOW THAT WATER WAS GENERATED.

WATER WAS GENERATED.

AND THAT'S WHAT LES WANTED TO AND THAT'S WHAT LES WANTED TO EDUCATE THEM ABOUT.

EDUCATE THEM ABOUT.

>> CURRENTLY THERE IS AN EFFORT >> CURRENTLY THERE IS AN EFFORT BEING PUT FORTH TO NAME THE BEING PUT FORTH TO NAME THE VISITORS CENTER AFTER LES AND VISITORS CENTER AFTER LES AND TERRY.

TERRY.

>> WE JUST HAD TO HAVE SOMETHING >> WE JUST HAD TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE FOREVER.

THAT WOULD BE FOREVER.

AND WE WANTED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW AND WE WANTED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHO ENTER THE VISITORS CENTER WHO ENTER THE VISITORS CENTER AND LEARN ABOUT THE QUABBIN AND AND LEARN ABOUT THE QUABBIN AND LEARN ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LEARN ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FOUR TOWNS THAT ARE GONE FOREVER FOUR TOWNS THAT ARE GONE FOREVER THAT THERE WAS A MAN NAMED LES THAT THERE WAS A MAN NAMED LES CAMPBELL AND HIS WIFE TERRY CAMPBELL AND HIS WIFE TERRY CAMPBELL AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF CAMPBELL AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF THEM THAT HAD VISITERS CENTER IS THEM THAT HAD VISITERS CENTER IS HERE.

HERE.

>> OVER THE YEARS LES'S WORK HAS >> OVER THE YEARS LES'S WORK HAS BEEN IN MANY MAJOR MAGAZINES BEEN IN MANY MAJOR MAGAZINES INCLUDING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHY.

INCLUDING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHY.

HE RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS FROM HE RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS FROM ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNORS, ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNORS, SENATORS AND MORE.

SENATORS AND MORE.

BUT HIS PASSION FOR THE LAST 40 BUT HIS PASSION FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS AND WHAT HE MAY BE YEARS AND WHAT HE MAY BE REMEMBERED MOST IMPORTANT IS HIS REMEMBERED MOST IMPORTANT IS HIS LOVE OF TEACHING OTHER PEOPLE LOVE OF TEACHING OTHER PEOPLE HIS SKILLS.

HIS SKILLS.

>> SEEMS LIKE I GOT HUNDREDS OF >> SEEMS LIKE I GOT HUNDREDS OF CARDS OR CALLS AFTER HE PASSED CARDS OR CALLS AFTER HE PASSED AWAY.

AWAY.

AND THEY ALL USED THE SIMILAR AND THEY ALL USED THE SIMILAR ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE HIM LIKE ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE HIM LIKE KIND, GENTLE, COMPASSIONATE, KIND, GENTLE, COMPASSIONATE, GIVING, GENEROUS, SO HELPFUL.

GIVING, GENEROUS, SO HELPFUL.

SO MANY PEOPLE WROTE HOW, OH, I SO MANY PEOPLE WROTE HOW, OH, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE MAN AND HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE MAN AND HE SAID, COME ON UP, I'LL SHOW YOU SAID, COME ON UP, I'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO TAKE THAT PHOTO.

HOW TO TAKE THAT PHOTO.

HE JUST WANTED PEOPLE TO GET THE HE JUST WANTED PEOPLE TO GET THE ENJOYMENT OUT OF IT THAT HE DID.

ENJOYMENT OUT OF IT THAT HE DID.

>> THE LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHIC >> THE LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHIC COMMUNITY LOST A GOOD FRIEND COMMUNITY LOST A GOOD FRIEND WHEN LES CAMPBELL PASSED AWAY WHEN LES CAMPBELL PASSED AWAY LAST SEPTEMBER.

LAST SEPTEMBER.

HE WILL BE REMEMBERED AS A HE WILL BE REMEMBERED AS A GENTLE SOUL WHO WAS GENTLE SOUL WHO WAS COMPASSIONATE, GENEROUS AND COMPASSIONATE, GENEROUS AND HUMBLE.

HUMBLE.

HUMBLE MAYBE THE REASON HE NEVER HUMBLE MAYBE THE REASON HE NEVER WANTED TO BE REFERRED TO AS A WANTED TO BE REFERRED TO AS A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER.

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER.

HE USED TO SAY I'M JUST AN HE USED TO SAY I'M JUST AN AMATEUR.

AMATEUR.

>> I TAKE PICTURES OF ANYTHING >> I TAKE PICTURES OF ANYTHING THAT APPEALS TO ME ESTHETICALLY THAT APPEALS TO ME ESTHETICALLY AND I HOPE PEOPLE LOOK AT IT.

AND I HOPE PEOPLE LOOK AT IT.

THEY FEEL A SENSE OF BEAUTY AND THEY FEEL A SENSE OF BEAUTY AND JOY IN LOOKING AT THESE IMAGES.

JOY IN LOOKING AT THESE IMAGES.

IT HAPPENS TO BE OF A SUBJECT, IT HAPPENS TO BE OF A SUBJECT, THE QUABBIN RESERVOIR, WHICH IS THE QUABBIN RESERVOIR, WHICH IS VERY SPECIAL.

VERY SPECIAL.

I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO COME HERE I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO COME HERE AND ENJOY THEM.

AND ENJOY THEM.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO BUY THEM BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BUY THEM BUT JUST COME AND LOOK IF THEY GET JUST COME AND LOOK IF THEY GET PLEASURE FROM THEM, THAT'S -- PLEASURE FROM THEM, THAT'S -- THAT'S A REWARD TO ME.

THAT'S A REWARD TO ME.

>>> THE MASSACHUSETTS POETRY >>> THE MASSACHUSETTS POETRY FESTIVAL WAS HELD LAST WEEK AND FESTIVAL WAS HELD LAST WEEK AND AMONG THE HEADLINERS WAS FORMER AMONG THE HEADLINERS WAS FORMER BOSTON TENANT LAWYER TURNED BOSTON TENANT LAWYER TURNED ACCLAIMED POET MARTIN ESPADA.

ACCLAIMED POET MARTIN ESPADA.

A RESIDENT OF WESTERN MASS AND A A RESIDENT OF WESTERN MASS AND A PROFESSOR AT YOU MASS AMHERST PROFESSOR AT YOU MASS AMHERST HE'S PUBLISHED OVER 20 BOOKS.

HE'S PUBLISHED OVER 20 BOOKS.

HIS RECENT COLLECTION IS HIS RECENT COLLECTION IS "FLOATERS" AND INCLUDES POETS "FLOATERS" AND INCLUDES POETS ABOUT SONGS OF LOVE AS WELL AS ABOUT SONGS OF LOVE AS WELL AS TACKLING THE DIFFICULT ISSUE OF TACKLING THE DIFFICULT ISSUE OF RACE AND PROTEST.

RACE AND PROTEST.

I SPOKE WITH ESPADA RECENTLY TO I SPOKE WITH ESPADA RECENTLY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS WORK AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS WORK AND THE BOOK.

THE BOOK.

>> I HAD FOR A LONG TIME LIVED >> I HAD FOR A LONG TIME LIVED THIS DOUBLE LIFE AS POET LAWYER.

THIS DOUBLE LIFE AS POET LAWYER.

POET ALWAYS CAME FIRST, BY THE POET ALWAYS CAME FIRST, BY THE WAY.

WAY.

AND I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A AND I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A POSITION OPEN IN THE ENGLISH POSITION OPEN IN THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST.

MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST.

AND I BEGAN TEACHING AT UMASS AND I BEGAN TEACHING AT UMASS AMHERST IN THE FALL OF 1993, AND AMHERST IN THE FALL OF 1993, AND I HAVE BEEN THERE EVER SINCE.

I HAVE BEEN THERE EVER SINCE.

NOW, DOES MY LIFE AS A LEGAL NOW, DOES MY LIFE AS A LEGAL SERVICES LAWYER INFLUENCE MY SERVICES LAWYER INFLUENCE MY WORK AS A POET?

WORK AS A POET?

ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

THE COMMON DENOMINATOR IS THE COMMON DENOMINATOR IS ADVOCACY.

ADVOCACY.

ADVOCACY, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ADVOCACY, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FOR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

THEMSELVES.

I DID THAT AS A LAWYER IN I DID THAT AS A LAWYER IN CHELSEA DISTRICT COURT WITH MY CHELSEA DISTRICT COURT WITH MY CLIENTS, WHO CAME FROM PUERTO CLIENTS, WHO CAME FROM PUERTO RICO OR THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC RICO OR THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC OR GUATEMALA.

OR GUATEMALA.

AND I DO IT AS A POET.

AND I DO IT AS A POET.

AND I AM DOING IT WITH THIS NEW AND I AM DOING IT WITH THIS NEW BOOK CALLED "FLOATERS."

BOOK CALLED "FLOATERS."

>> YOU HAVE PUBLISHED MORE THAN >> YOU HAVE PUBLISHED MORE THAN 20 BOOKS AS A POET, EDITOR, 20 BOOKS AS A POET, EDITOR, ESSAYIST, TRANSLATOR AND AS YOU ESSAYIST, TRANSLATOR AND AS YOU MENTIONED YOUR CURRENT MENTIONED YOUR CURRENT POPULATION IS CALLED "FLOATERS."

POPULATION IS CALLED "FLOATERS."

WHAT IS THE MEANINGS BEHIND THE WHAT IS THE MEANINGS BEHIND THE TITLE?

TITLE?

>> THE TITLE COMES FROM A TERM >> THE TITLE COMES FROM A TERM "USED BY CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE "USED BY CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE BORDER PATROL TO DESCRIBE THOSE BORDER PATROL TO DESCRIBE THOSE WHO DROWN CROSSING OVER.

WHO DROWN CROSSING OVER.

THE THE BORDER.

BORDER.

IN PARTICULAR THE TITLEM IN PARTICULAR THE TITLEM DEALS WITH A FATHER AND DEALS WITH A FATHER AND DAUGHTER.

DAUGHTER.

THEY DROWNED IN THIS SPARKED THEY DROWNED IN THIS SPARKED OUTRAGE AND GRIEF BUT IT ALSO OUTRAGE AND GRIEF BUT IT ALSO SPARKED TRUTHERRISM.

SPARKED TRUTHERRISM.

AND THERE WAS A POST, AN AND THERE WAS A POST, AN ANONYMOUS POST ON THE PAGE OF ANONYMOUS POST ON THE PAGE OF THE 1015 BORDER PROTOCOL THE 1015 BORDER PROTOCOL ALLEGING THAT THE PHOTO WAS A ALLEGING THAT THE PHOTO WAS A FAKE.

FAKE.

TRUTHERISM.

TRUTHERISM.

SOME POEMS BEGIN AS AN ARGUMENT.

SOME POEMS BEGIN AS AN ARGUMENT.

THIS POEM BEGAN WITH AN ARGUMENT THIS POEM BEGAN WITH AN ARGUMENT BOTH WITH THAT FACEBOOK POST BOTH WITH THAT FACEBOOK POST REALLYING THAT THIS PHILADELPHIA REALLYING THAT THIS PHILADELPHIA WAS A FAKE AND AN ARGUMENT WITH WAS A FAKE AND AN ARGUMENT WITH THE SURE, THE WORD "FLOATERS."

THE SURE, THE WORD "FLOATERS."

POETS, OF COURSE, HAVE TO BE POETS, OF COURSE, HAVE TO BE ATTUNED TO LANGUAGE AND ATTUNED TO LANGUAGE AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS ABUSED IN ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS ABUSED IN THE SERVICE OF POWER.

THE SERVICE OF POWER.

>> NOW, IN A REVIEW OF FLOATERS >> NOW, IN A REVIEW OF FLOATERS BY THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW IT BY THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW IT SAYS THAT INSTEAD OF BEING SAYS THAT INSTEAD OF BEING OVERWHELMED BY THE DELUSIONAL OVERWHELMED BY THE DELUSIONAL PAST OF AMERICANIST NARRATIVES, PAST OF AMERICANIST NARRATIVES, YOU FACE ITS UGLY TRUTHS AND YOU FACE ITS UGLY TRUTHS AND REQUIRE READERS TO DO SO, TOO.

REQUIRE READERS TO DO SO, TOO.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT?

ASSESSMENT?

AND IF SO, WHAT ARE SOME OF AND IF SO, WHAT ARE SOME OF THESE UGLY TRUTHS THAT READERS THESE UGLY TRUTHS THAT READERS WILL UNCOVER IN THIS BOOK?

WILL UNCOVER IN THIS BOOK?

>> THE UGLY TRUTH IS THAT WE DO >> THE UGLY TRUTH IS THAT WE DO NOT LIVE UP TO OUR HIGH IDEALS.

NOT LIVE UP TO OUR HIGH IDEALS.

THE UGLY TRUTH IS THAT MILLIONS THE UGLY TRUTH IS THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY LIVE OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY LIVE WITH RACISM, NOT AS AN WITH RACISM, NOT AS AN ABSTRACTION OR DEBATABLE ABSTRACTION OR DEBATABLE POLITICAL PHENOMENON BUT AS A POLITICAL PHENOMENON BUT AS A LIVED REALITY.

LIVED REALITY.

AND CONCRETE TERMS, THAT AND CONCRETE TERMS, THAT DIMINISH THEM OR EVEN DESTROY DIMINISH THEM OR EVEN DESTROY THEM.

THEM.

AND SO WE SEE THIS IN POEM AFTER AND SO WE SEE THIS IN POEM AFTER POEM, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO POEM, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT, TOO, THAT IT'S NOT POINT OUT, TOO, THAT IT'S NOT MERELY A CATALOG OF MERELY A CATALOG OF VICTIMIZATION.

VICTIMIZATION.

AND THAT I DO WHATEVER I CAN AS AND THAT I DO WHATEVER I CAN AS A POET TO CHRONICLE RESISTANCE A POET TO CHRONICLE RESISTANCE AS WELL.

AS WELL.

>> AND I WANT TO ALSO NOTE THAT >> AND I WANT TO ALSO NOTE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL THROUGH YOU HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL THROUGH YOUR POETRY RESPONDING TO MANY YOUR POETRY RESPONDING TO MANY OF THE POLICIES AND OF THE POLICIES AND CONTROVERSIES OF THE FORMER CONTROVERSIES OF THE FORMER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

AND ONE OF YOUR POEMS TITLED AND ONE OF YOUR POEMS TITLED "NOT FOR HIM," THE FIERY LAKE OF "NOT FOR HIM," THE FIERY LAKE OF THE FALSE PROPHET, TOUCHED ABOUT THE FALSE PROPHET, TOUCHED ABOUT A HATE CRIME HERE IN A HATE CRIME HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS SHORTLY AFTER MASSACHUSETTS SHORTLY AFTER FORMER TRUMP ANNOUNCED HIS RUN FORMER TRUMP ANNOUNCED HIS RUN FOR OFFICE.

FOR OFFICE.

WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IN WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IN OFFICE AND A NATIONAL RECKONING OFFICE AND A NATIONAL RECKONING ON RACIAL JUSTICE, WHAT DO YOU ON RACIAL JUSTICE, WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SEE?

HOPE TO SEE?

>> I HOPE TO SEE SOMETHING >> I HOPE TO SEE SOMETHING BETTER.

BETTER.

I HOPE TO SEE THE RHETORIC MATCH I HOPE TO SEE THE RHETORIC MATCH THE REALITY.

THE REALITY.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE MANY OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE MANY PROGRESSIVE INITIATIVES PUT PROGRESSIVE INITIATIVES PUT FORWARD NOW BY THE BIDEN FORWARD NOW BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

ADMINISTRATION.

IT CERTAIN IS A BIG STEP FORWARD IT CERTAIN IS A BIG STEP FORWARD FROM THE MONSTROSITY THAT FROM THE MONSTROSITY THAT PROCEEDED IT, THE TRUMP PROCEEDED IT, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

ADMINISTRATION.

AND, YES, DONALD TRUMP, EVEN IN AND, YES, DONALD TRUMP, EVEN IN THE SPEECH WE ANNOUNCED HIS THE SPEECH WE ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY, CALLED MEXICAN CANDIDACY, CALLED MEXICAN MIGRANTS CRIMINALS AND RAPISTS MIGRANTS CRIMINALS AND RAPISTS AND THAT WAS THE, IN TURN, THE AND THAT WAS THE, IN TURN, THE CATALYST FOR THE HATE CRIME CATALYST FOR THE HATE CRIME COMMITTED IN BOSTON BY TWO COMMITTED IN BOSTON BY TWO BROTHERS FROM SOUTH BOSTON BROTHERS FROM SOUTH BOSTON AGAINST A HOMELESS MEXICAN AGAINST A HOMELESS MEXICAN IMMIGRANT SLEEPING OUTSIDE A IMMIGRANT SLEEPING OUTSIDE A STATION ON THE RED LINE.

STATION ON THE RED LINE.

AS FAR AS THE PRESENT DAY IS AS FAR AS THE PRESENT DAY IS CONCERNED, THE ONE AREA WHERE I CONCERNED, THE ONE AREA WHERE I THINK WE ARE STILL SEEING A THINK WE ARE STILL SEEING A GLARING CONTRADICTION IS IN GLARING CONTRADICTION IS IN TERMS OF OUR TREATMENT OF TERMS OF OUR TREATMENT OF MIGRANTS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

MIGRANTS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

THERE IS A CONTINUATION OF TRUMP THERE IS A CONTINUATION OF TRUMP POLICIES RATHER THAN A POLICIES RATHER THAN A CONTRADICTION OF TRUMP POLICIES CONTRADICTION OF TRUMP POLICIES IN CERTAIN AREAS, PARTICULARLY IN CERTAIN AREAS, PARTICULARLY THE FAILURE TO LIFT THE THE FAILURE TO LIFT THE PROHIBITEDDIONS OF TITLE 42, THE PROHIBITEDDIONS OF TITLE 42, THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY MEASURE, PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY MEASURE, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY SHUTTING WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY SHUTTING DOWN MIGRATION AT THE SOUTHERN DOWN MIGRATION AT THE SOUTHERN BOARD, BUT ESPECIALLY BOARD, BUT ESPECIALLY APPLICATION FOR ASYLUM.

APPLICATION FOR ASYLUM.

AND ASYLUM, OF COURSE, IS A AND ASYLUM, OF COURSE, IS A HUMAN RIGHT.

HUMAN RIGHT.

>> YOU DESCRIBE YOUR COLLECTION >> YOU DESCRIBE YOUR COLLECTION AS REFLECTING ON THE PRESENT IN AS REFLECTING ON THE PRESENT IN THE LIGHT OF THE PAST.

THE LIGHT OF THE PAST.

IN DOING SO, DO YOU SO HOPE FOR IN DOING SO, DO YOU SO HOPE FOR THE FUTURE?

THE FUTURE?

OR DO YOU TAKE MORE OF A OR DO YOU TAKE MORE OF A PESSIMISTIC OUTLOOK ON LOOKING PESSIMISTIC OUTLOOK ON LOOKING AHEAD?

AHEAD?

>> DO I SEE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE?

>> DO I SEE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE?

CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVE.

CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVE.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN GIVE IN TO I DON'T THINK WE CAN GIVE IN TO DESPAIR.

DESPAIR.

I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK IN THE I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK IN THE COLLECTIVE MIRROR AND ASK COLLECTIVE MIRROR AND ASK OURSELVES ONE FUNDAMENTAL OURSELVES ONE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION: WHO ARE WE?

QUESTION: WHO ARE WE?

WHO ARE WE AS A NATION?

WHO ARE WE AS A NATION?

WHO ARE WE AS A COMMUNITY?

WHO ARE WE AS A COMMUNITY?

WHO ARE WE AS INDIVIDUALS?

WHO ARE WE AS INDIVIDUALS?

AND CAN WE FIND IT IN OURSELVES AND CAN WE FIND IT IN OURSELVES TO EXERCISE THAT EMPATHY WHICH TO EXERCISE THAT EMPATHY WHICH GOES HAND IN HAND WITH DEMOCRACY GOES HAND IN HAND WITH DEMOCRACY WHEN IT IS TRULY DEMOCRACY?

>>> EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

NEW ENGLAND.

BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANY TIME YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANY TIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

CONTENT.

IN OUR DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE THIS IN OUR DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE THIS WEEK WE FEATURE AN EXTENDED WEEK WE FEATURE AN EXTENDED INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN ESPADA.

INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN ESPADA.

ONE OF HIS GREATEST INFLUENCES ONE OF HIS GREATEST INFLUENCES HAS BEEN HIS FATHER, THE LATE HAS BEEN HIS FATHER, THE LATE FRANK ESPADA WHO WAS A CIVIL FRANK ESPADA WHO WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY RIGHTS ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND DOCUMENTARY ORGANIZER AND DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHER.

PHOTOGRAPHER.

IN THIS DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE MARTIN IN THIS DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE MARTIN DISCUSSES HIS FATHER'S INFLUENCE DISCUSSES HIS FATHER'S INFLUENCE AND WHAT HE LEARNS FROM HIM.

AND WHAT HE LEARNS FROM HIM.

>> THERE WAS NO DISTINCTION >> THERE WAS NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN ART AND POLITICS.

BETWEEN ART AND POLITICS.

THAT ART AND POLITICS INDEED THAT ART AND POLITICS INDEED COULD BE ONE.

COULD BE ONE.

MY FATHER NEVER MADE THAT MY FATHER NEVER MADE THAT DISTINCTION.

DISTINCTION.

HE WAS AN ACTIVIST.

HE WAS AN ACTIVIST.

HE WAS AN ARTIST.

HE WAS AN ARTIST.

THEY WERE INSEPARABLE.

THEY WERE INSEPARABLE.

AND SO I WATCHED HIM EVERY DAY.

AND SO I WATCHED HIM EVERY DAY.

AND I INTERNALIZED THAT.

AND I INTERNALIZED THAT.

I GREW WITH AN ETHOS OF I GREW WITH AN ETHOS OF RESISTANCE ALL AROUND ME.

RESISTANCE ALL AROUND ME.

AND THAT RESISTANCE IS ITSELF A AND THAT RESISTANCE IS ITSELF A FORM OF HOPE.

FORM OF HOPE.

>> DON'T MISS THIS DIGITAL >> DON'T MISS THIS DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE AVAILABLE ONLINE RIGHT EXCLUSIVE AVAILABLE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> INSIDE THE LEDERLE GRADUATE >>> INSIDE THE LEDERLE GRADUATE RESEARCH CENTER ON THE CAMPUS OF RESEARCH CENTER ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT AMHERST, YOU WOULD EXPECT TO AT AMHERST, YOU WOULD EXPECT TO FIND RESEARCH LABORATORIES, FIND RESEARCH LABORATORIES, CONFERENCE ROOMS, CLASSES AND CONFERENCE ROOMS, CLASSES AND OFFICES, ALL SUPPORT, THE MANY OFFICES, ALL SUPPORT, THE MANY DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COLLEGE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES.

OF NATURAL SCIENCES.

BUT WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT EXPECT TO BUT WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT EXPECT TO FIND IS A GLASS BLOWING STUDIO.

FIND IS A GLASS BLOWING STUDIO.

AS PRODUCER DAVE FRASER AS PRODUCER DAVE FRASER EXPLAINS, THIS GLASS STUDIO EXPLAINS, THIS GLASS STUDIO PLAYS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PLAYS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE RESEARCH WORK BEING DONE ON RESEARCH WORK BEING DONE ON CAMPUS.

CAMPUS.

>> HERE ON THE SCIENTIFIC GLASS >> HERE ON THE SCIENTIFIC GLASS BLOWER.

BLOWER.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS I CREATE AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS I CREATE THINGS LIKE YOU SEE ON LATE THINGS LIKE YOU SEE ON LATE NIGHT TV, THE MAD SCIENTISTS AND NIGHT TV, THE MAD SCIENTISTS AND ALL THE LITTLE THINGS GOING UP ALL THE LITTLE THINGS GOING UP AND DOWN.

AND DOWN.

THOSE SCIENTISTS NEED CERTAIN THOSE SCIENTISTS NEED CERTAIN THINGS MADE.

THINGS MADE.

SOME THINGS YOU CAN BUY OUT OF SOME THINGS YOU CAN BUY OUT OF THE A CATALOG.

THE A CATALOG.

SOME THINGS HAVE NEVER BEEN MADE SOME THINGS HAVE NEVER BEEN MADE BEFORE.

BEFORE.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR IS SO THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR IS TO CREATE THOSE THINGS FOR THEM TO CREATE THOSE THINGS FOR THEM AND ALSO TO REPAIR THINGS THAT AND ALSO TO REPAIR THINGS THAT THEY HAVE BROKEN.

THEY HAVE BROKEN.

SCIENTIFIC GLASS BLOWER, WE ARE SCIENTIFIC GLASS BLOWER, WE ARE WORKING WITH SPECIFIC TYPES OF WORKING WITH SPECIFIC TYPES OF GLASSES AND MAKING SPECIFIC GLASSES AND MAKING SPECIFIC THINGS.

THINGS.

AND TO GET IT REALLY PRECISE.

AND TO GET IT REALLY PRECISE.

SO I USUALLY TELL PEOPLE, YOU SO I USUALLY TELL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, PLUS/MINUS 5 MILLIMETERS.

KNOW, PLUS/MINUS 5 MILLIMETERS.

I DON'T DESIGN.

I DON'T DESIGN.

THEY DESIGN IT PRETTY MUCH.

THEY DESIGN IT PRETTY MUCH.

I MIGHT HAVE SOME INFLUENCE ON I MIGHT HAVE SOME INFLUENCE ON THEIR DESIGN BUT IT'S THEIR THEIR DESIGN BUT IT'S THEIR DESIGN.

DESIGN.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT SIZES OF WE HAVE DIFFERENT SIZES OF TORCHES DEPENDING ON WHAT WE ARE TORCHES DEPENDING ON WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON.

WORKING ON.

WE ALSO HAVE GLASS BLOWING WE ALSO HAVE GLASS BLOWING LATHES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO A LATHES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO A WOOD LATHE OR A METTLE LATHE WOOD LATHE OR A METTLE LATHE THAT ROTATE THE GLASS FOR US.

THAT ROTATE THE GLASS FOR US.

WE HAVE GRINDING WHEELS.

WE HAVE GRINDING WHEELS.

WE HAVE CUTOFF SAWS SO WE CAN WE HAVE CUTOFF SAWS SO WE CAN DRILL HOLES IN GLASS.

DRILL HOLES IN GLASS.

ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO WITH GLASS HERE.

THAT WE CAN DO WITH GLASS HERE.

SO YOU THINK OF GLASS AS A VERY SO YOU THINK OF GLASS AS A VERY STIFF, HARD SUBSTANCE.

STIFF, HARD SUBSTANCE.

BUT IT CAN ALSO BE FLEXIBLE.

BUT IT CAN ALSO BE FLEXIBLE.

WE HAVE THIS COIL HERE WHICH YOU WE HAVE THIS COIL HERE WHICH YOU CAN SEE, IT'S PRETTY FLEXIBLE TO CAN SEE, IT'S PRETTY FLEXIBLE TO SHOW THAT, HOW GLASS IS SHOW THAT, HOW GLASS IS FLEXIBLE.

FLEXIBLE.

NOW, WIELD USE THAT IN MAYBE NOW, WIELD USE THAT IN MAYBE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

THIS IS A CERTAIN TYPE OF THIS IS A CERTAIN TYPE OF CONDENSER.

CONDENSER.

THIS COIL INSIDE.

THIS COIL INSIDE.

HERE WILL ACTUALLY FLEX JUST HERE WILL ACTUALLY FLEX JUST SLIGHTLY INSIDE OF THIS.

SLIGHTLY INSIDE OF THIS.

SO WE HAVE SOME INDEPENDENT SO WE HAVE SOME INDEPENDENT STUDIES THIS SEMESTER THAT ARE STUDIES THIS SEMESTER THAT ARE COMING IN.

COMING IN.

WE HAVE AN ART STUDENT COMING WE HAVE AN ART STUDENT COMING IN.

IN.

AND ALSO A SCIENCE STUDENT AND ALSO A SCIENCE STUDENT COMING IN.

COMING IN.

>> RIGHTER NOW I'M WORKING ON >> RIGHTER NOW I'M WORKING ON MAKING A GLASS TO METAL SEAL.

MAKING A GLASS TO METAL SEAL.

GLASS AND METAL ARE DIFFERENT GLASS AND METAL ARE DIFFERENT MATERIALS.

MATERIALS.

THEY HAVE DIFFERENT PROPERTIES.

THEY HAVE DIFFERENT PROPERTIES.

BUT BY HEATING THEM UP AND BUT BY HEATING THEM UP AND FUSING THEM TOGETHER YOU CAN FUSING THEM TOGETHER YOU CAN CREATE AIRTIGHT AND WATERTIGHT CREATE AIRTIGHT AND WATERTIGHT SEALS BETWEEN THE TWO MATERIALS.

SEALS BETWEEN THE TWO MATERIALS.

THE REASON I'M DOING THIS IS THE REASON I'M DOING THIS IS BECAUSE I'M DESIGNING AN BECAUSE I'M DESIGNING AN INSTRUMENT THAT EMPLOYS THE TUBE INSTRUMENT THAT EMPLOYS THE TUBE MATERIALS TO MAKE MEASUREMENTS MATERIALS TO MAKE MEASUREMENTS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN MADE BEFORE.

THAT HAVEN'T BEEN MADE BEFORE.

>> I WANTED TO LEARN GLASS FOR A >> I WANTED TO LEARN GLASS FOR A LONG TIME.

LONG TIME.

SO WHEN I ENROLLED IN THE SO WHEN I ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM, I ASKED IF I COULD TAKE PROGRAM, I ASKED IF I COULD TAKE GLASS.

GLASS.

AND THE CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT W AND THE CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT W WAS, AND SALE WERE KIND ENOUGH WAS, AND SALE WERE KIND ENOUGH TO LET ME DO AN INDEPENDENT TO LET ME DO AN INDEPENDENT STUDY.

STUDY.

IT HAS LED TO CREATING MY OWN IT HAS LED TO CREATING MY OWN GLASS CITY AND OTHER SHAPES.

GLASS CITY AND OTHER SHAPES.

AND THINKING OF GLASS IN A WHOLE AND THINKING OF GLASS IN A WHOLE NEW WAY.

NEW WAY.

I JUST CONTINUE TO LEARN HOW FAR I JUST CONTINUE TO LEARN HOW FAR I CAN GO WITH IT.

>>> WITH COLLEGE COMMENTMENTS UNDERWAY ONE LOCAL GRADUATE WILL UNDERWAY ONE LOCAL GRADUATE WILL BE HONORED WITH TWO EXCEPTIONAL BE HONORED WITH TWO EXCEPTIONAL DISTINCTIONS.

DISTINCTIONS.

ALEX SANTIAGO WILL BECOME THE ALEX SANTIAGO WILL BECOME THE FIRST HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FIRST HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WITH THE FIRST DEGREE IN LATINX WITH THE FIRST DEGREE IN LATINX STUDIES.

STUDIES.

SHE ALSO HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY SHE ALSO HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AS ONE OF OF HIGHER EDUCATION AS ONE OF THE 29 WHO SHINE, AN AWARD GIVEN THE 29 WHO SHINE, AN AWARD GIVEN TO ONE STUDENT FROM EACH OF THE TO ONE STUDENT FROM EACH OF THE 29 PUBLIC COLLEGES AND 29 PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE STATE BASED UNIVERSITIES IN THE STATE BASED ON THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, ON THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, LEADERSHIP, AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.

SERVICE.

I SPOKE WITH ALEX TO HEAR ABOUT I SPOKE WITH ALEX TO HEAR ABOUT HER JOURNEY TO HOLYOKE FROM HER JOURNEY TO HOLYOKE FROM PUERTO RICO, AFTER HURRICANE PUERTO RICO, AFTER HURRICANE MARIA DEVASTATED THE ISLAND AND MARIA DEVASTATED THE ISLAND AND WHAT HER PLANS ARE FOR AFTER WHAT HER PLANS ARE FOR AFTER GRADUATION.

GRADUATION.

>> LATINX STUDIES IS THE STUDY >> LATINX STUDIES IS THE STUDY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF LATINX OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF LATINX COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

STATES.

AND I PURSUED THIS DEGREE AND I PURSUED THIS DEGREE BECAUSE HOLYOKE COMMUNITY BECAUSE HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OFFERS AN COLLEGE OFFERS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY CURRICULUM.

INTERDISCIPLINARY CURRICULUM.

THAT PROVIDES A CRITICAL THAT PROVIDES A CRITICAL UNDERSTANDING OF LATINX AND UNDERSTANDING OF LATINX AND CARIBBEAN CULTURES, LITERATURE CARIBBEAN CULTURES, LITERATURE AND POLITICS.

AND POLITICS.

AND SO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO RELATE AND SO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO RELATE IT TO MY EXPERIENCE OF BEING IT TO MY EXPERIENCE OF BEING DISPLACED FROM PUERTO RICO BY A DISPLACED FROM PUERTO RICO BY A HURRICANE.

HURRICANE.

IT'S ALSO A FUN MAJOR BECAUSE IT IT'S ALSO A FUN MAJOR BECAUSE IT INCORPORATES CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, INCORPORATES CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, THEATER, MUSIC, AND POETRY, ET THEATER, MUSIC, AND POETRY, ET CETERA.

CETERA.

>> AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS >> AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WASN'T YOUR FIRST MAJOR THAT YOU WASN'T YOUR FIRST MAJOR THAT YOU CHOSE WHEN YOU FIRST ENTERED CHOSE WHEN YOU FIRST ENTERED COLLEGE.

COLLEGE.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT WERE YOU ORIGINALLY >> WHAT WERE YOU ORIGINALLY GOING TO COLLEGE FOR AND WHAT GOING TO COLLEGE FOR AND WHAT MADE YOU SWITCH MAJORS TO LATINX MADE YOU SWITCH MAJORS TO LATINX STUDIES?

STUDIES?

>> SO I MOVED HERE DECEMBER OF >> SO I MOVED HERE DECEMBER OF 2017.

2017.

SPECIFICALLY SO I WOULDN'T FALL SPECIFICALLY SO I WOULDN'T FALL BEHIND ON MY EDUCATION AFTER THE BEHIND ON MY EDUCATION AFTER THE HURRICANE.

HURRICANE.

I AM PRIVILEGED TO HAVE BEEN I AM PRIVILEGED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THAT MOVE.

ABLE TO MAKE THAT MOVE.

AND SO I HAD ENROLLED AT HCC FOR AND SO I HAD ENROLLED AT HCC FOR COMMUNICATIONS MAJOR.

COMMUNICATIONS MAJOR.

AND I ENDED UP ENROLLING IN A AND I ENDED UP ENROLLING IN A SELECTIVE LEARNING COMMUNITY SELECTIVE LEARNING COMMUNITY CALLED -- AND I REALIZED THAT I CALLED -- AND I REALIZED THAT I HAD TO CHANGE MAJORS BECAUSE HAD TO CHANGE MAJORS BECAUSE THIS LEARNING COMMUNITY COURSE THIS LEARNING COMMUNITY COURSE MADE ME FEEL SO DRIVEN.

MADE ME FEEL SO DRIVEN.

>> AS A PUERTO RICAN, WHAT DID >> AS A PUERTO RICAN, WHAT DID IT MEAN TO YOU TO SEE THE IT MEAN TO YOU TO SEE THE REPRESENTATION OF YOUR HISTORY, REPRESENTATION OF YOUR HISTORY, YOUR CULTURE, YOUR BACKGROUND IN YOUR CULTURE, YOUR BACKGROUND IN A COLLEGE MAJOR?

A COLLEGE MAJOR?

>> IT IS VERY EMPOWERING TO >> IT IS VERY EMPOWERING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MY CULTURE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT MY CULTURE AND OTHER LATINX AND CARIBBEAN OTHER LATINX AND CARIBBEAN CULTURES.

CULTURES.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE EXPERIENCES ONE OF MY FAVORITE EXPERIENCES AS A LATINX STUDIES MAJOR HAS AS A LATINX STUDIES MAJOR HAS BEEN MY HUMANITIES INTERNSHIP, BEEN MY HUMANITIES INTERNSHIP, WHICH IS A GRADUATION WHICH IS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT FOR THAT MAJOR.

REQUIREMENT FOR THAT MAJOR.

AND SO THIS SEMESTER FOR MY AND SO THIS SEMESTER FOR MY INTERNSHIP I RESEARCHED ARCHIVES INTERNSHIP I RESEARCHED ARCHIVES FROM THE COLLECTION OF LATINO FROM THE COLLECTION OF LATINO HISTORY IN HOLYOKE WHICH CAN BE HISTORY IN HOLYOKE WHICH CAN BE FOUND -- AND SO I CURATED TWO FOUND -- AND SO I CURATED TWO POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS IN POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH WHILE ALSO SPANISH AND ENGLISH WHILE ALSO CURATING A TRIVIA GAME ABOUT THE CURATING A TRIVIA GAME ABOUT THE COLLECTION IN BOTH LANGUAGES.

COLLECTION IN BOTH LANGUAGES.

AND I LEARNED ABOUT A LOT OF AND I LEARNED ABOUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACETS FROM THE DIFFERENT FACETS FROM THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND CULTURAL SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND CULTURAL LATINX HIT FORCE OF HOLYOKE.

LATINX HIT FORCE OF HOLYOKE.

>> NOW, WHEN HURRICANE MARIA HIT >> NOW, WHEN HURRICANE MARIA HIT PUERTO RICO IN 2017, MANY PUERTO PUERTO RICO IN 2017, MANY PUERTO RICANS WERE FORCED TO FLEE THE RICANS WERE FORCED TO FLEE THE ISLAND AFTER THE DEVASTATION.

ISLAND AFTER THE DEVASTATION.

IN A REPORT RELEASED BY THE IN A REPORT RELEASED BY THE GASTON INSTITUTE FOR LATINA GASTON INSTITUTE FOR LATINA PUBLIC POLICY MASSACHUSETTS WAS PUBLIC POLICY MASSACHUSETTS WAS THE THIRD MOST COMMON STATE FOR THE THIRD MOST COMMON STATE FOR PUERTO RICANS TO MIGRATE TO PUERTO RICANS TO MIGRATE TO AFTER THE HURRICANE.

AFTER THE HURRICANE.

YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WERE AMONG YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WERE AMONG THOUSANDS WHO HAD TO MOVE TO THE THOUSANDS WHO HAD TO MOVE TO THE U.S. AFTER THE HURRICANE.

U.S. AFTER THE HURRICANE.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY AND WHAT BROUGHT YOU JOURNEY AND WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE.

HERE.

>> THE WINTER WEATHER WAS >> THE WINTER WEATHER WAS DEFINITELY REALLY HARD TO GET DEFINITELY REALLY HARD TO GET USED TO.

USED TO.

BEING AWAY FROM HOME WAS ALSO BEING AWAY FROM HOME WAS ALSO VERY HARD.

VERY HARD.

BUT AS YOU SAID, THERE ARREST BUT AS YOU SAID, THERE ARREST LOT OF PUERTO RICANS IN HOLYOKE, LOT OF PUERTO RICANS IN HOLYOKE, SPECIFICALLY.

SPECIFICALLY.

IT REMINDS ME OF PUERTO RICO IT REMINDS ME OF PUERTO RICO BECAUSE ALMOST I THINK 45% OF BECAUSE ALMOST I THINK 45% OF THE POPULATION HERE IS PUERTO THE POPULATION HERE IS PUERTO RICANS AND SO I AM ALWAYS RICANS AND SO I AM ALWAYS HEARING THE LANGUAGE SPANISH IN HEARING THE LANGUAGE SPANISH IN CONVERSATIONS AND MUSIC.

CONVERSATIONS AND MUSIC.

AND SO BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST AND SO BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST PRO ABOUT MIGRATING HERE IS PRO ABOUT MIGRATING HERE IS FINDING A MAJOR THAT I AM TRULY FINDING A MAJOR THAT I AM TRULY PASSIONATE ABOUT.

PASSIONATE ABOUT.

>> IN ADDITION TO BECOMING THE >> IN ADDITION TO BECOMING THE FIRST LATINX STUDIES GRADUATE AT FIRST LATINX STUDIES GRADUATE AT HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, YOU HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, YOU ARE ALSO BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE ARE ALSO BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AS ONE OF OF HIGHER EDUCATION AS ONE OF THE 29 WHO SPINE.

THE 29 WHO SPINE.

HOW DOES ONE ACHIEVE -- HOW DOES ONE ACHIEVE -- RECOGNITION AND HOW DID IT FEEL RECOGNITION AND HOW DID IT FEEL TO RECEIVE IT?

TO RECEIVE IT?

>> THE AWARD RECOGNIZES 29 >> THE AWARD RECOGNIZES 29 STUDENT GRADUATES FROM PUBLIC STUDENT GRADUATES FROM PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS.

AND THEY ARE NOMINATED BY A AND THEY ARE NOMINATED BY A FACULTY OR STAFF MEMBER.

FACULTY OR STAFF MEMBER.

AND FOR ME, BEING ONE OF THIS AND FOR ME, BEING ONE OF THIS YEAR'S HONOR ES IS AN UPDATING YEAR'S HONOR ES IS AN UPDATING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE AS AN HONOR EXPERIENCE BECAUSE AS AN HONOR STUDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OR STUDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OR CO-PRESIDENT OF THE LATINX CO-PRESIDENT OF THE LATINX EMPOWERMENT ASSOCIATION, HDC I EMPOWERMENT ASSOCIATION, HDC I HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES IN MY HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES IN MY CLASSES IN THE COLLEGE AND THE CLASSES IN THE COLLEGE AND THE GREATER HOLYOKE COMMUNITY.

GREATER HOLYOKE COMMUNITY.

AND THESE EXPERIENCES HAVE AND THESE EXPERIENCES HAVE ALLOWED ME TO EXPAND MY ALLOWED ME TO EXPAND MY PROFESSIONAL SKILLS BUT MOST PROFESSIONAL SKILLS BUT MOST IMPORTANT FOR ME IS THEY HELP IMPORTANT FOR ME IS THEY HELP IMMEDIATE CREATE RELATIONSHIPS IMMEDIATE CREATE RELATIONSHIPS IN MY COMMUNITY, AND THE IN MY COMMUNITY, AND THE NOMINATION FROM MY PROFESSORS IS NOMINATION FROM MY PROFESSORS IS A REFLECTION OF THE IMPORTANCE A REFLECTION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPOWERING OUR SURROUNDING OF EMPOWERING OUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

COMMUNITIES.

>> NOW, YOU AS YOU SAID YOU ARE >> NOW, YOU AS YOU SAID YOU ARE THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THIS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THIS STUDENT-LED LATINX EMPOWERMENT STUDENT-LED LATINX EMPOWERMENT STUDENT ASSOCIATION AT HOLYOKE STUDENT ASSOCIATION AT HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHICH HAS MADE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHICH HAS MADE YOU BECOME ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN YOU BECOME ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE COMMUNITY.

WHY DOES COMMUNITY ACTIVISM WHY DOES COMMUNITY ACTIVISM INTEREST YOU SO MUCH?

INTEREST YOU SO MUCH?

AND TALK TO ME ABOUT SOME OF AND TALK TO ME ABOUT SOME OF THOSE INITIATIVES YOU MENTIONED.

THOSE INITIATIVES YOU MENTIONED.

>> WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT >> WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT COMMUNITY ACTIVISM IS THAT IT'S COMMUNITY ACTIVISM IS THAT IT'S MANIFESTED IN MANY DIFFERENT MANIFESTED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

WAYS.

LIKE PROTESTING, POETRY, LIKE PROTESTING, POETRY, THEATER, ART IN GENERAL, THEATER, ART IN GENERAL, COALITIONS.

COALITIONS.

I THINK THAT IT CONSISTS OF ANY I THINK THAT IT CONSISTS OF ANY ACTION TOWARDS SOCIAL JUSTICE, ACTION TOWARDS SOCIAL JUSTICE, BE IT IN A POLITICAL, ECONOMICAL BE IT IN A POLITICAL, ECONOMICAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT.

OR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT.

AND SO DURING THIS SEMESTER, I AND SO DURING THIS SEMESTER, I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CLUB HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CLUB MEMBERS, ONE HOLYOKE CDC STAFF MEMBERS, ONE HOLYOKE CDC STAFF MEMBERS AND KELLY.

MEMBERS AND KELLY.

KELLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE KELLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE FLATS TO SET UP AND OPEN A FLATS TO SET UP AND OPEN A LITTLE FREE COMMUNITY LIBRARY LITTLE FREE COMMUNITY LIBRARY FILLED WITH CHILDREN'S BOOKS.

FILLED WITH CHILDREN'S BOOKS.

TWO LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES HAVE TWO LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES HAVE ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED IN ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED IN HOLYOKE.

HOLYOKE.

BUT THEY ARE LOCATED IN THE BUT THEY ARE LOCATED IN THE HIGHLANDS AND THEY'RE NOT EASILY HIGHLANDS AND THEY'RE NOT EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN LIVING IN ACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN LIVING IN THE FLATS.

THE FLATS.

AND MY CLUB AND I BELIEVE IN THE AND MY CLUB AND I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF LITERACY, ESPECIALLY AT POWER OF LITERACY, ESPECIALLY AT A YOUNG AGE AND SO WE ARE A YOUNG AGE AND SO WE ARE PROMOTING THIS CAUSE.

PROMOTING THIS CAUSE.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING >>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR MAY 21st, 2021.

POINT" FOR MAY 21st, 2021.

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

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6:00, RIGHT HERE FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6:00, RIGHT HERE ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA FOR ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

GREAT EVENING.

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