♪ ♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY -- ♪ ♪ >>> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M JACK FORD.

IT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU TO LEARN THAT ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING POPULATIONS IS ITS OLDEST IN NEW YORK CITY.

OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS, THE NUMBER OF NEW YORKERS OVER THE AGE OF 65 HAS INCREASED A STAGGERING 12 TIMES FASTER THAN THE NUMBER OF NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS UNDER THE AGE OF 65.

THE GROWING NUMBER OF ELDERLY NEW YORKERS COME WITH INCREASED CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE CITY IS CARING FOR THEM, PARTICULARLY AS THE PANDEMIC, WHICH CAN BE ESPECIALLY DEADLY FOR OLDER PEOPLE, CONTINUES TO RAGE ON.

THE NEW YORK BRANCH OF THE AARP, THE NATION'S LEADING NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION ADVOCATING FOR THE RIGHTS OF OLDER AMERICANS, HAS RELEASED A NEW REPORT TITLED "WHAT NEW YORKERS 50 PLUS DESERVE."

WITH SOME 80 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NEW MAYORAL ADMINISTRATION ON HOW THEY CAN IMPROVE THE LIVES OF NEW YORK'S AGING POPULATION.

TO TALK ABOUT THIS NEW REPORT AND WHAT NEW YORK CITY SHOULD BE DOING TO CARE FOR THE ELDERS IS THE AARP NEW YORK STATE DIRECTOR BETH FRANKL.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, JACK.

>> LET ME START OFF TO GIVE A SENSE OF CONTEXT, I MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION HOW THE GROUP 65 AND OLDER IS GROWING DRAMATICALLY FASTER THAN THE YOUNGER GROUP.

GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT THE REAL NUMBERS ARE.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NEW YORK CITY CITIZENS OVER THE AGE OF 65.

>> WHAT'S OFTEN INTERESTING IS HOW MUCH FASTER IT'S GROWING THAN YOUNGER.

SO EVEN UNDER -- LIKE 15 OR 16 YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER, AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE FUTURE MAKEUP OF THE CITY?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE NUMBER OF WORKERS GOING FORWARD IN THE CITY?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE SERVICES THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO NEED IN THE CITY?

SO IT'S AN INTERESTING -- WE HAVE AN INTERESTING OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT HOW THINGS ARE BUDGETED, TO LOOK AT HOW PROGRAMS ARE OUT THERE.

AND TO THINK ABOUT 50 PLUS AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO NEED IN THE UPCOMING YEARS.

AS YOU STATED, THEY ARE THE FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION.

>> IT'S LIKE 1.2 MILLION 65 AND OLDER NEW YORKERS.

BEFORE I GET TO THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE REPORT, I MENTIONED COVID.

I KNOW THAT THE AARP HAS BEEN WORKING MIGHTILY TO HELP THE OLDER CITIZENS WITH REGARD TO THE IMPACT OF COVID.

GIVE ME A SENSE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN DOING.

>> SO YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING A LOT, LOOKING AT NURSING HOMES.

EVERYONE KNOWS THAT IN NEW YORK STATE, 15,000 NURSING HOME RESIDENTS DIED OF COVID, WHICH I THINK WE ARE ALL FINDING IS JUST ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC.

AND THANKFULLY, DUE TO AARP'S ED A SLOW -- ADVOCACY, PROTECTION HOWEVER, SOME OF THOSE LAWS WERE JUST PUT ON HOLD.

SO THE GOVERNOR DECIDED THAT BECAUSE COVID -- IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR NURSING HOMES TO COMPLY WITH ALL OF THE NEW REGULATIONS.

WE DO NOT AGREE WITH THAT.

WE THINK THAT HAVING THE RIGHT STAFFING RATIOS AND HAVING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT GOES INTO DIRECT SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NURSING HOMES, THERE IS NO TIME THAT IT'S MORE CRUCIAL THAN RIGHT NOW.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL KEEP IN MIND GOING FORWARD RIGHT NOW.

ON TOP OF THAT, I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN THAT WE'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT THETHE RENT MORATORIUM ENDING.

SO WHAT IS THAT GOING TO MEAN?

IT IMPACTS EVERYONE, BECAUSE WE WERE ALL COUNTING ON THAT MORATORIUM TO GO FORWARD.

OTHERWISE, PEOPLE WHO ARE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL, THEY'RE GOING TO BE FURTHER BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL.

IT JUST SEEMS THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST TIME TO TAKE THAT MORATORIUM AWAY.

>> YEAH.

SO LET'S LOOK AT THE REPORT AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER NOW.

LET'S START OFF WITH THE IDEA OF DOING THIS ITSELF.

WHAT WAS BEHIND THE IDEA OF COMPILING THIS REPORT?

>> I THINK VERY OFTEN WE FORGET ABOUT ELDERLY NEW YORKERS.

WE FORGET ABOUT THE 50 PLUS.

AND WE BELIEVE, AND I THINK MOST NEW YORKERS BELIEVE, THAT THE 50 PLUS REALLY DESERVE TO HAVE ATTENTION PAID TO THEM.

IT MAKES ME THINK OF THAT OLD LINE FROM "DEATH OF A SALESMAN," ATTENTION MUST BE PAID.

AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE KIND OF BEEN SLACKING OFF ON THAT.

NOW IS THE TIME TO RECONSIDER.

RELOOK, AND THINK ABOUT FIRST OF ALL WHO HAS BUILT OUR CITY?

TWO PAYS THE MOST TAXES IN THIS CITY FOR THE MOST PART AVERAGE, ROUX IT?

WHO SUPPORTS LOCAL BUSINESSES IN THIS CITY, RIGHT?

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ELDER NEW YORKERS STAY IN THE CITY.

DON'T TAKE THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY AND PENSION OUT TO ANOTHER STATE.

I DON'T WANT TO MENTION THOSE OTHER STATES.

WE WANT THEM TO KEEP IT RIGHT HERE.

>> RIGHT, ABSOLUTELY.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS REPORT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE STRUCK BY IMMEDIATELY IS THERE'S A COMMON THREAD THAT'S WOVEN THROUGH ALL OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THAT IS THE CONCEPT OF AGEISM AND THE DESTRUCTIVE IMPACT OF AGEISM.

WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AGEISM IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING?

>> AGEISM IS ALL AROUND US.

YOU CAN SEE IT IN CONVERSATIONS, OH, SHE CAN DANCE AND SING AT THAT AGE?

OH, SHE CAN -- HE CAN MAINTAIN A CAREER AT THAT AGE?

WE NEED TO GET THAT HER AGE OR AT HIS AGE OUT OF THE VERNACULAR.

AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WE DO THAT, BECAUSE WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT OVER 50% OF NEW YORKERS HAVE EXPERIENCED OR WITNESSED AGE DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE.

THAT'S A BIG NUMBER.

>> YEAH.

LET'S STAY WITH THIS WHOLE IDEA OF AGE AND AGE DISCRIMINATION.

WE WERE CHATTING ABOUT SOME THINGS WITH REGARD TO THIS.

I SAID I WANT TO CONFESS SOMETHING TO YOU.

I'M 61 YEARS OLD.

RECENTLY, I WENT TO BY BIO, AND I PULL OUT SOME DATES.

MY DATE OF GRADUATION FROM COLLEGE AND GRADUATION FROM LAW SCHOOL, SOME OTHER THINGS.

PART OF ME JUST SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I DON'T WANT ANYBODY WHO IS LOOKING AT THIS, FOR WHATEVER REASON, SAYING BOY, I DIDN'T REALIZE HE WAS THAT OLD.

AND I WAS A LITTLE BIT EMBARRASSED I HAD TO DO THAT, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS MAYBE NECESSARY.

TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE PARTICULARS THAT YOU HAVE HERE IN YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT THAT NOTION OF AGE AND ACCESS TO JOBS AND INTERVIEWS.

>> YOU HIT IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD.

ONE OF THE LAWS THAT WE GOT PASSED IN NEW YORK CITY IN THE LAST ADMINISTRATION WAS AROUND TAKING OFF AGE NOTATIONS, NOT REQUIRING THAT ON APPLICATIONS, WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

BECAUSE JUST WHAT YOU SAID, PEOPLE LOOK AT THE RESUMES AND TOSS THEM OUT AUTOMATICALLY, BECAUSE THERE'S A DATE SPECIFYING SOMETHING.

ACTUALLY, I'M GLAD YOU RAISE THAT, BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT ON OUR AGENDA, OUR STATE AGENDA THIS YEAR, SO THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT.

>> IS YOUR SENSE THAT THERE'S RESISTANCE TO THAT, OR IS THERE MOVEMENT THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL WITH THAT?

>> WE'RE ENCOURAGED BY IT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING AN AGEISM POLICY ROUNDTABLE IN FEBRUARY AND RAISE THAT AND A NUMBER OF OTHER AREAS THAT WE CAN DO BETTER.

HERE IN NEW YORK CITY, WE PASSED FIVE LAWS ON AGE DISCRIMINATION WHICH ARE GOOD LAWS.

NOW WE HAVE TO GET THE OTHER REGULATIONS THAT GO INTO MAKING IT HAPPEN.

WE HAVE TO GET THEM INTO PLACE, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO MAYOR ADAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THOSE LAWS ARE PUT INTO PLACE, ALL THE REGULATIONS ARE THERE, AND THEY'RE THE STRONGEST THAT THEY CAN BE.

>> HOW ABOUT RECOMMENDATIONS FOCUSING ON THE IDEA OF BETTER ONLINE ACCESS FOR OLDER CITIZENS?

>> YES.

WELL, OBVIOUSLY, EVERYBODY NEEDS BETTER ACCESS.

WE'VE SEEN IT WITH OUR STUDENTS.

WE SEE IT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE SEE IT WITH PEOPLE SEEKING WORK AND BEING ABLE TO KEEP THEIR JOBS GOING.

WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE GLAD TO SEE ADDITIONAL MONEY GOING TO THE STATE BUDGET, A HUGE AMOUNT GOING FROM GOVERNOR HOCHUL TO COVER MORE INTERNET ACCESS ACROSS THE STATE, BECAUSE IT IS KEY TO KEEPING THE ECONOMY GOING, AND TO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE SATISFIED LIVES.

BUT IT ALSO CONNECTS PEOPLE TO FIGHT ISOLATION, AND CONNECTIVENESS, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> ONE OF THE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I FOUND FASCINATING AND VERY COMPELLING IS THE IDEA WITH CREDIT FOR CAREGIVERS.

WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT?

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY THAT?

>> SO, RIGHT NOW CAREGIVERS, THE INFORMAL STRUCTURE OF CARING FOR YOUR MOTHER OR AUNT OR NEIGHBOR OR SPOUSE, THOSE CAREGIVERS IN NEW YORK STATE, THERE'S OVER 2 -- 2.6 MILLION OF THEM IN NEW YORK STATE.

THEY PROVIDE OVER $7,000 EVERY YEAR OUT OF POCKET TO MAINTAIN THEIR LOVED ONES IN THEIR HOMES, BECAUSE IT'S WHAT THE LOVED ONES WANT.

THEY WANT TO AGE WITH DIGNITY IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

WE ARE REALLY HOPING THAT THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL AND THE NEW MAYOR AND THE NEW SPEAKER WILL COME TOGETHER AND DO A CAREGIVER TAX CREDIT FOR NEW YORKERS, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR $3500 TO BE ATAX CREDIT FOR THEM IF THEY ARE HELPING WITH THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE.

IF THEY'RE INSTALLING RAMPS IN THE HOUSE.

IF THEY'RE PROVIDING CARE IN THE HOUSE.

ALL OF THESE THINGS REALLY THEY TAKE IT OUT OF THE CAREGIVER.

AND $7,000 OUT OF POCKET AFTER TAXES, THAT'S A BIG HIT.

AND WE KNOW THAT THIS PARTICULARLY HURTS COMMUNITIES OF CHLORINE MORE.

-- OF COLOR EVEN MORE.

THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS CAREGIVERS HAVE JOBS THEMSELVES.

WE NEED TO HAVE SUPPORTS IN PLACE SO THEY DON'T FALL DOWN ON THEIR OWN JOBS AND THEY END UP IN A REALLY BAD SPOT.

>> A VERY COMPELLING RECOMMENDATION, ONE THAT CAN BE HELPFUL FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.

WE TOUCHED BASE ON THIS BRIEFLY, BUT YOU ALSO TALK ABOUT IN THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, IDEAS THAT WILL HELP TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONCEPTS THAT YOU'RE OFFERING UP THAT YOU HOPE THE NEW ADMINISTRATION WILL BE ABLE TO EMBRACE?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK IT WILL SURPRISE ANYONE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE THINGS THAT PEOPLE 50 PLUS ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT, AND WE SEE IT AGAIN AND AGAIN.

THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE NOT EVEN AWARE THAT THEIR RENT -- THERE'S RENT HELP, WHICH IS THE SENIOR RENT HELP, AND SOMETHING FOR THE DISABLED.

VERY FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT.

THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE USING IT IS REALLY ABYSMAL.

SO THERE'S A BIG OPPORTUNITY.

THE MONEY IS ALREADY THERE.

IT'S BEING PROVIDED BY THE STATE.

IT JUST -- THE CITY NEEDS TO MAKE SURE WE DO A BETTER JOB EDUCATING.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WHEN OUR CITY SAYS THEY'RE GOING TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THEY THROW OUT THESE NUMBERS, 200,000 NEW UNITS, ET CETERA, THEY ACTUALLY DO IT.

AND WE FIND IT ACROSS ALL COMMUNITIES THAT WE FIND WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE UNITS ARE ACTUALLY THERE.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, WE NEED TO LOOK AT NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE QUALITY OF THE APARTMENTS THERE.

WE KNOW A REAL PERCENTAGE OF THOSE ARE OLDER RESIDENTS, AND WE KNOW THAT THE APARTMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN KEPT UP THE WAYS THEY SHOULD BE.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY HERE.

THERE'S ALSO COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, WHICH IS THE MECHANISM FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE LAND AND MAKE SURE IT'S USED IN THE COMMUNITY'S INTEREST.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF OPTIONS OUT THERE.

AND THEN WHEN YOU PUT THAT IN TANDEM WITH TRANSPORTATION, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF OPTIONS IN TRANSPORTATION TO MAKE -- >> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

I WAS GOING TO GET TO THAT, CONCEPTS OF IMPROVING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER CITIZENS.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO GET THERE?

>> I THINK IT'S UNDER 30% OF OUR SUBWAY STATIONS RIGHT NOW ARE HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE.

THE LAST TIME YOU WALKED UP AN OLD SUBWAY STATION TRACKS, I HAVEN'T DONE IT SINCE COVID, BUT I DID MANY TIMES BEFORE THAT.

BUT IT'S NOT EASY.

IT'S USUALLY THREE OR FOUR FLIGHTS UP.

IT'S USUALLY IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE FURTHER OUT IN THE SUBURBS, IN THE OUTER BURROUGHS.

IT'S ALSO USUALLY IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT ELDER NEW YORKERS, BUT 50 PLUS.

AGAIN, PEOPLE GETTING TO WORK.

>> I CAN TELL YOU, BETH, I HAD MY KNEE REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO.

IT BECAME APPARENT HOW DIFFICULT IT IS DIFFERENT PLACES IN NEW YORK CITY TO GET AROUND IF YOU'RE HOBBLING EITHER BECAUSE OF INJURY OR SURGERY, AS I WAS.

OR PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING OLDER AND HAVING PROBLEMS.

SO IT'S, AS YOU SAID, IT'S ALL ACROSS THE BOARD THERE.

FINISH UP YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT'S OKAY.

I THINK WHAT YOU SAID IS REALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST OLDER, IT'S EVERYWHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO GET TO WORK.

I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT CAREGIVERS.

WE TOUCHED ON THIS EARLIER, PROFESSIONAL PAID CAREGIVERS, GOING INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES.

FOR THE MOST PART, THEY ARE OLDER WOMEN, USUALLY OLDER WOMEN OF COLOR.

AND THEY ARE USUALLY LIVING OUT IN THE BURROUGHS, AND THEY MIGHT HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK, WHICH IS REALLY DIFFICULT, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE SUBWAYS.

>> SO WE'VE GOT ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF LEFT IN THE CONVERSATION.

I SAID 80 DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU HAVE OFFERED HERE.

AND THEY REALLY SPAN ALL THE AREAS OF LIFE.

NOT JUST FOR OLDER CITIZENS BUT IN MANY WAYS FOR EVERYONE.

YOU'RE GOING INTO A NEW ADMINISTRATION IN NEW YORK CITY.

A NEW ADMINISTRATION SORT OF, BECAUSE WE HAVE A NEW GOVERNOR, AND THERE WILL BE AN ELECTION COMING UP.

ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC THAT THOSE IN POWER SEE THIS FOR THE PROBLEM THAT IT IS, AND ARE WILLING TO HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL, NOT JUST TO SAY THINGS, BUT HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO GET THINGS DONE?

>> I TRULY BELIEVE SO.

I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR NEW MAYOR.

I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR NEW GOVERNOR, AND BOTH OF THEM HAVE MADE FIRM COMMITMENTS IN TERMS OF HOW DEDICATED THEY ARE TO OLDER NEW YORKERS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE THREW OUT TO THE NEW MAYOR COMING IN, MAYBE IT'S TIME TO RENAME THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT FOR THE AGING.

REALLY, THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF AGEING?

COULD THERE BE A MORE AGEIST NAME?

>> THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

THAT'S A FABULOUS SUGGESTION.

IF NOTHING ELSE COMES, AND I HOPE A LOT MORE COMES, BUT THAT WOULD BE A GREAT START TO GET THAT DONE.

BETH, ONCE AGAIN, IT'S A -- I LOVE THE TITLE OF THE REPORT "WHAT 50 PLUS DESERVE IN NEW YORK CITY."

BETH, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US.

TAKE CARE.

>> THANK YOU, JACK.

♪ ♪ ♪ MY COAT OF MANY COLORS THAT MY MOMMA MADE FOR ME ♪ ♪ MADE ONLY FROM RAGS BUT I WORE IT SO PROUDLY ♪ ♪ ALTHOUGH WE HAD NO MONEY, I WAS RICH ♪ ♪ IN MY COAT OF MANY COLORS MOMMA MADE FOR ME ♪ >>> DOLLY PARTON AND HER "COAT OF MANY COLORS" A SONG ABOUT A POOR GIRL FINDING HONOR IN THE LOVE OF FAMILY.

IT'S BECOME PART OF THE AMERICAN LEXICON.

AND IT WAS RECENTLY MADE INTO A TV MOVIE, JUST RELEASED THIS WEEK ON DVD.

OF COURSE, DOLLY HERSELF IS AN AMERICAN ICON.

BORN THE FOURTH CHILD IN A FAMILY OF 12, SHE HAS OFTEN TALKED ABOUT GROWING UP DIRT POOR AS A SHARECROPPER'S DAUGHTER.

IN FACT, HER FAMILY WAS SO POOR, THAT THE DOCTOR WHO DELIVERED HER HAD TO BE PAID WITH A BAG OF OATMEAL FOR BRINGING HER INTO THE WORLD.

AS IT TURNED OUT, IT WAS A GOOD INVESTMENT, GIVEN THAT SHE'S NOW THE MOST HONORED FEMALE COUNTRY SINGER OF ALL TIME.

SHE'S ALSO AN ACCOMPLISHED ACTRESS, PLAYWRIGHT, AND PHILANTHROPIST WHO HAS DELIVERED MILLIONS OF BOOKS AROUND THE WORLD.

A KENNEDY CENTER HONOREE, AND A RECIPIENT OF THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF ARTS.

DESPITE ALL HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SHE'S NEVER FORGOTTEN HER HUMBLE ROOTS OR HER FAMILY'S STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS EAT.

IT IS OUR GREAT HONOR TO HAVE HER WITH US TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO JOIN US HERE ON "METROFOCUS" AND FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR PBS AND LITERACY IN AMERICA.

>> WELL, I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE, AND I'M ALSO HAPPY THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE PART IN SOME WONDERFUL THINGS.

I'VE HAD A LOT OF HELP THROUGH THE YEARS.

I THINK WHEN YOU GET IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO HELP, YOU SHOULD DO ANYTHING YOU CAN.

>> NOW, DOLLY, YOU HAVE HAD AN AMAZING CAREER, BUT SOME PEOPLE WERE ASKING ME, WHY IS DOLLY PARTON THE QUEEN OF COUNTRY MUSIC APPEARING ON THE NEW YORK PROGRAM "METROFOCUS"?

MY ANSWER WAS SIMPLE, "THE COAT OF MANY COLORS."

I HAD NO DOUBT THAT EVEN AS WE SPEAK, THERE'S A MOM UP IN HARLEM OR IN THE SOUTH BRONX OR SOME OTHER POOR NEIGHBORHOOD MAKING SOMETHING JUST LIKE THAT COAT FOR HER KIDS.

POOR IS POOR, DON'T YOU AGREE?

>> I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK PEOPLE HAVE RELATED TO THE SONG "COAT OF MANY COLORS" FOR MANY, MANY REASONS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF POOR PEOPLE ALL OVER THIS WORLD.

IN FACT, "COAT OF MANY COLORS" WAS SO POPULAR IN EUROPE, AND ESPECIALLY IN ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE POOR.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, IT CAN BE RIGHT NEXT DOOR.

THERE'S PEOPLE POOR ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY AND WORLD.

AND PEOPLE DON'T RELATE TO IT, NOT IF IT'S ABOUT THEIR CLOTHES.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MADE FUN OF.

IT'S MORE ABOUT BULLYING AND MADE TO FEEL LESS ABOUT YOURSELF THAN YOU SHOULD HAVE TO FEEL.

WHETHER IT'S ABOUT A HANDICAP OR BEING OVERWEIGHT OR UNDERWEIGHT OR YOUR RELIGION OR YOUR SEXUAL PREFERENCE.

PEOPLE JUST GET HOUNDED AND BULLIED AND PUSHED AROUND FOR ALL SORTS OF REASONS.

THIS LITTLE SONG SPEAKS TO THAT.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THE MOMS MAKING CLOTHES FOR THEIR LITTLE KIDS.

I'M SURE THERE ARE LOTS OF COATS OF MANY COLORS.

>> DOLLY, PAINT A PICTURE OF YOUR MOM SEWING THAT COAT AND TALK ABOUT HER PASSION FOR HER KIDS?

>> MY MOM DID HAVE A WAY OF MAKING US ALL FEEL SPECIAL.

MOMMA RELIED ON GOD FOR EVERYTHING.

WE LIVED OUT OF THE BIBLE.

THAT WAS ABOUT THE ONLY BOOK IN OUR HOUSE.

WE HAD SO MANY KIDS, WE ARE TEAR THEM OUT AND CHEW THEM UP.

BUT NOBODY TOUCHED THE BIBLE EXCEPT MOMMA.

SHE WAS SERIOUS ABOUT THE READING.

BUT MOMMA HAD A WAY OF PUTTING A POSITIVE SPIN ON EVERYTHING, AND RELYING ON GOD FOR EVERYTHING AND MAKING IT, YOU KNOW, EVEN WHEN THINGS WERE THE WORST, SHE WOULD JUST SAY WELL, NOW, IT COULD BE A LOT WORSE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WORSE OFF THAN WE ARE, WHICH IS TRUE.

BUT MOMMA PUT THAT SPIN ON THE COAT OF MANY COLORS.

SHE KNEW IT WAS MADE OUT OF RAGS AND KNEW I WOULD BE MADE FUN OF.

SO SHE WANTED ME TO TAKE SOME PRIDE IN IT.

SO SHE TOLD ME THE STORY OF JOSEPH AND THE COAT OF MANY COLORS.

SO THAT MADE ME EXTRA PROUD OF IT, WHICH MADE IT EXTRA HARD WHEN THEY DID MAKE FUN, BECAUSE IN MY MIND I THOUGHT I LOOKED JUST LIKE JOSEPH.

EVIDENTLY, THE OTHER KIDS DIDN'T THINK SO.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS THEY DON'T MEAN TO BE CRUEL, THEY JUST ARE.

THAT'S JUST THE NATURE OF CHILDREN.

I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT A LOT THROUGH THE YEARS.

I'M JUST HAPPY THE SONG DID GREAT AND GLAD I HAVE THE MOM I DID HAVE.

>> DOLLY, IS "COAT OF MANY COLORS" THE MOST PERSONAL SONG YOU'VE EVER WRITTEN AND WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S BECOME PART OF AMERICA'S TREASURES?

>> WELL, "COAT OF MANY COLORS" IS ONE OF A -- THE MOST TENDER THINGS I'VE WRITTEN.

I'VE GOT A LOT OF SONGS THAT ARE VERY PERSONAL TO ME.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL NEVER HEAR OF THEM.

BUT "THE COAT OF MANY COLORS" OF THE OF ALL THE SONGS THAT PEOPLE KNOW ME FOR, OF ALL THE THOUSANDS OF SONGS REALLY THAT I'VE WRITTEN, THAT ONE SEEMS TO STAND OUT.

WHEN IT BECAME A HIT BACK IN THE LATE '60s, EARLY '70s, WHEN I SAW THE EFFECT IT HAD ON PEOPLE AND HOW IT'S EASED THE HURT IN ME, THAT I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH I WAS CARRYING AROUND, BUT WHEN THAT CAME OUT IT JUST REALLY EASED A LOT OF THINGS AND IT BECAME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, THE FACT THAT IT'S TOUCH SOD MANY PEOPLE FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT REASONS.

SO I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT IT IS MY FAVORITE TO SING ON STAGE, BECAUSE IT TAKES ME TO ANOTHER PLACE.

IT MAKES ME GRATEFUL.

IT MAKES ME SEE WHAT I AM AND WHERE I CAME FROM.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I WANTED TO DO THE MOVIE "COAT OF MANY COLORS" BECAUSE I WANTED PEOPLE TO SEE PEOPLE THAT I CAME FROM, TO SHOW THE FAITH IN GOD, THE FAITH IN FAMILY OR SOMEONE INSTILLING FAITH IN YOURSELF.

SO IT REALLY -- THAT IS MORE THAN A SONG, IT'S A PHILOSOPHY, AN ATTITUDE.

IT'S ABOUT OVERCOMING, IT'S ABOUT LOVE, HOPE, AND DREAMS, ACCEPTANCE.

SO IT'S PRETTY SPECIAL LITTLE SONG.

>> DID YOU EVER IMAGINE THAT A POOR GIRL FROM PIGEON FORGE, TENNESSEE, WOULD ONE DAY BECOME AN INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTAR?

>> WELL, I'VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT BEING A STAR EVER SENSE I WAS UP THERE ON LOCUST RIDGE WHERE I GREW UP.

WE LIVED IN DIFFERENT PLACES IN AND AROUND THE SAME AREA.

BUT IT WAS ALWAYS MY DREAM TO BE A STAR, EVER SINCE MY DADDY USED TO LISTENING TO THE GRAND OLE OPRY.

I USED TO PICTURE MYSELF STANDING ON THE STAGE.

I HAD AN UNCLE, BILL OWENS, ONE OF MY MOM'S BROTHERS, THAT TOOK AN INTEREST IN ME EARLY ON.

HE SAW HOW SERIOUS I WAS.

HE SAW ME PICKING THAT GUITAR, SINGING ALL THE TIME.

HE REALLY TOOK ME AROUND TO DIFFERENT PLACES.

HE WAS ALSO A GUITAR PLAYER AND SONGWRITER.

WE'VE WRITTEN MANY SONGS TOGETHER.

BUT I JUST ALWAYS WANTED TO DO IT.

I HAD AN OUTGOING PERSONALITY, AND WE WERE COUNTRY PEOPLE, BUT I NEVER MET A STRANGER.

AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO GET OUT AND SEE WHAT I COULD DO.

IT JUST SEEMED TO BE PART OF ME.

IT JUST SEEMED TO BE WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO.

AND OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS.

>> FINALLY, DOLLY, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO INNER CITY KIDS LIVING HERE IN THE NEW YORK METRO AREA ABOUT RISING UP FROM POVERTY AND ACHIEVING YOUR DREAMS?

>> WELL, I JUST THINK THAT A LOT OF OLD SAYINGS THAT IT'S GOOD TO REMEMBER.

SAYINGS LIKE, TO THY OWN SELF BE TRUE.

YOU HEAR THOSE SAYINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THROUGH THE YEARS, AND YOU DON'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION.

AS YOU GET OLDER YOU DO PAY ATTENTION.

JUST REALLY YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT IT CAN BE DONE.

WE LIVE IN AMERICA.

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

WE LIVE IN A FREE COUNTRY WHERE WE'RE ALLOWED TO GET OUT AND DO STUFF.

YOU JUST NEED TO BELIEVE IN WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO, AND YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO KNOW YOU MAY HAVE TO SACRIFICE FOR WHATEVER YOU WANT.

BUT IT IS POSSIBLE THROUGH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

BUT IN AMERICA, MOST THINGS ARE POSSIBLE, TOO.

SO IF YOU HAVE THE DESIRE AND TALENT AND YOU'VE GOT THE, YOU KNOW, THE DESIRE TO DO IT, ENOUGH TO WHERE YOU'LL GET OUT AND WORK.

DREAMS CONTINUE JUST COME TRUE BECAUSE YOU WANT THEM TO.

YOU HAVE TO PUT LEGS AND FEET AND WINGS AND HANDS INTO IT.

THEY HAVE TO TAKE FLIGHT.

BUT YOU GOT TO GET TO THAT PLACE.

BUT IT CAN BE DONE.

SO STAY WITH IT.

>> WELL, DOLLY, AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

AND I HOPE YOU COME VISIT US HERE IN OUR STUDIO NEXT TIME YOU'RE IN NEW YORK CITY.

>> HEY, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU WHENEVER I CAN, AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT LISTEN TO YOU AND WATCH YOU AND WHATEVER I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF YOU SOMETIME SOON.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY --