FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.

>>> THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY: FIRST, FEMALE CANDIDATES USING MOTHERHOOD AS AN ASSET.

THEN, IS THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT IN JEOPARDY?

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: GIVING COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO FORMER GANG MEMBERS.

>> [MUSIC] >> BONNIE: HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO TO THE CONTRARY, A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

UP FIRST, MOM CANDIDATES.

THE SURGE OF WOMEN RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE THIS YEAR COMES WITH ANOTHER DISTINCTION, FEMALE CANDIDATES USING MOTHERHOOD AS AN ASSET IN THEIR CAMPAIGNS.

A NUMBER OF WOMEN CANDIDATES ARE HIGHLIGHTING THEIR STATUS AS A MOM IN ADS AND SPEECHES.

RESEARCH AS RECENTLY AS LAST YEAR FOUND VOTERS STILL UNCOMFORTABLE WITH WOMEN CANDIDATES WHO HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, FEARING THEY WERE NEGLECTING THEIR MATERNAL DUTIES.

BUT NOW YOUNG WOMEN ARE EMPHASIZING THEIR ABILITY TO MULTITASK AND RELATE TO FAMILY ISSUES.

ONE WOMAN LEADING THE WAY FOR THESE CANDIDATES IS ILLINOIS DEMOCRAT, SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH.

SHE'S THE FIRST SENATOR TO GIVE BIRTH WHILE IN OFFICE.

DUCKWORTH GAINED THE UNANIMOUS CONSENT OF HER COLLEAGUES', TO ALLOW BABIES UNDER THE AGE OF ONE YEAR ONTO THE SENATE FLOOR DURING VOTES.

>> MAKING THE SENATE FLOOR ACCESSIBLE TO BABIES THROUGH THE AGE OF ONE WAS CRITICAL REALLY GETTING SUPPORT FROM COLLEAGUES.

IT'S ALLOWING ME FOR STAFF.

>> Bonnie: SO CONGRESSWOMAN NORTON IS HAVING A CHILD WHILE RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

AN ASSET FOR OBSTACLE FOR WOMEN IN 2018.

>> Eleanor: BONNIE, COMMENDABLE BUT RISKY UNLESS YOU PAIR IT WITH UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE BECAUSE THE PUBLIC WILL SAY WHO IS TAKING CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN.

NOBODY IS TAKING CARE OF MINE.

>> Bonnie: I THINK IT'S A CHALLENGE, A BLESSING AND A JUGGLE.

WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

>> Eleanor: I THINK IT'S AN ASSET BUT ONCE THEY DO WIN THEY WILL FIND THEMSELVES IN ONE OF THE MOST HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENTS FOR WORKING FAMILIES, THE U.S. CONGRESS.

>> IT'S A BADGE OF AN HONOR MORE SO THAN THINKING OF IT ANY OTHER WAY BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT SHIFT.

>> WHAT I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT ALL THIS -- I MEAN, MORE POWER TO THESE WOMEN, ET CETERA.

HOWEVER, IN 2016 WE HAD POLLING DATA, NOT THAT -- AS YOU POINTED OUT, MEGAN, NOT THAT ANYONE BELIEVES POLLING DATA ANYMORE BUT VOTERS DIDN'T LIKE IT.

THEY THOUGHT, WHO IS TAKING CARE OF YOUR KID, LIKE ELEANOR SAID.

WHY THIS TURN AROUND IN 2018?

IS IT BECAUSE OF DONALD TRUMP AND WHAT HE'S DONE TO WOMEN'S RIGHTS?

>> LOOK, I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS PLAYS THAT PEOPLE ARE KIND OF LEANING IN ON THE FACT THAT THEY ARE MOTHERS.

WHAT I DO KNOW IS WHEN WE HAD OUR ELECTIONS IN VIRGINIA WE HAD A LOT OF WOMEN CANDIDATES AND WE ENDED UP -- WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO WIN ONE SEAT IN THE HOUSE.

WE WON 15 SEATS IN THE HOUSE, 11 OF THEM EVERY SEAT WHERE WE HAD A WOMAN RUNNING WON.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 62 NOMINEES FOR THESE CONGRESSIONAL RACES.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING.

I KNOW WOMEN ARE WINNING AND THEY'RE WINNING ON THESE MESSAGES.

>> I THINK IT'S GREAT.

LOOK, WOMEN -- WORKING MOTHERS ARE WORKING ALL OVER THE PLACE, WHETHER THEY ARE TEACHERS OR DOCTORS OR IN FACTORIES.

THEY ARE WORKING EVERYWHERE.

SO I THINK THIS IS JUST AN EXTENSION OF THAT THAT WE ARE SEEING WOMEN NOW RUN FOR CONGRESS WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING AND I THINK IT'S NOT A BAD THING TO SHAKE UP CONGRESS A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK THERE'S REALISTIC CHALLENGES.

IT'S HARD.

>> ARE MOST HOUSE SEATS GERRYMANDERED TO THE POINT WHERE IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT DEMOCRATS DO, THEY ARE JUST NOT GOING TO PICK BACK UP THE HOUSE?

>> I THINK THE GERRYMANDERING IS A HUGE ISSUE.

I THINK THE BIG ISSUE IN PART BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT PEOPLE -- LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE STAY NEAR LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE COME TOGETHER AND HAVE CIVIL DISCOURSE AND I THINK WOMEN ARE GOOD AT THAT.

I ACTUALLY AM HAPPY TO SEE MORE WOMEN RUNNING BECAUSE I THINK THEY ARE ABLE TO SET AT A TABLE LIKE THIS AND SAY WE MAY DISAGREE ON THINGS BUT WE CAN ALSO SORT OF GET THROUGH SOME OF THE NOISE.

>> I REALLY AGREE WITH THAT.

I CERTAINLY DO.

THIS POLICY MATTER SEEMS TO ME TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE NURSING ON CAMERA OR OTHER WISE HAVING YOUR KID PROP THERE, DON'T HAVE HER AS A PROP.

RELATED TO THE UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE FOR THE AVERAGE WOMAN OUT THERE, FOR THE AVERAGE FAMILY OUT THERE AND PERHAPS THEN THE CHILD WILL BE SEEN MORE THAN AS AN ADD PROP BUT AS SOMEONE WHO IS SPEAKING TO YOU WHO IS SITTING AT HOME.

I THINK IT IS VERY RISKY UNLESS IT IS POLICY ORIENTED.

>> MOST OF THESE CANDIDATES ARE FOR SOME KIND OF UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE.

NOW I'M TALKING ABOUT THE 62 DEMOCRATS.

THERE ARE 72 WOMEN RUNNING AND 10 OF THEM ARE -- >> LET ME ASK YOU THIS, CORTEZ, THE WOMAN UP IN NEW YORK WHO IS A BERNIE SANDERS PERSON, NOT A MAINSTREAM DEMOCRAT, ARE MOST OF THESE WOMEN WHO ARE RUNNING INCORPORATING THEIR CHILDREN, THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN, THEIR INFANTS INTO THEIR ADS AND INTO THEIR CAMPAIGN ALSO FOR BERNIE SANDERS?

>> OH, NO.

IN FACT, WE HAVE SEVERAL CANDIDATES -- THERE'S A WONDERFUL WOMAN, HAGEN IN TEXAS, WHO IS A VETERAN WHO WAS A HELICOPTER PILOT AND SHE TALKS ABOUT OPENING DOORS AND SHE HAS THIS WONDERFUL VIDEO.

IT INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, WOMEN -- TRADITIONAL WOMEN'S ISSUES BUT ALSO SHE'S A TOUGH VETERAN.

WE HAVE A SPECTRUM OF CANDIDATES THAT YOU COULDN'T IMAGINE IN ANY OTHER CYCLE.

THE REASON IS WE HAD A FEW ORGANIZATIONS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE THAT HAVE BEEN KIND OF GROOMING THESE WOMEN.

ONE IS CALLED EMERGE, ANOTHER IS CALLED OFF THE SIDELINES.

IT'S A GROUP THAT -- >> WHAT ABOUT SHE SHOULD RUN.

>> AND SHE SHOULD RUN.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF THEM.

>> WE ARE WATCHING UP A LITTLE.

>> TELL US -- >> WHAT I WOULD SAY IS I AGREE WITH SABRINA.

I THINK THAT WORKING MOTHERS HAVE SACRIFICED FOR MANY YEARS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

I DO THINK THAT THE ADVANCES AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN POLICIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR MY HOPE IS THAT ENORS TO THE GOVERNMENT AND TO CONGRESS, YOUNG MOTHERS ESPECIALLY WHO ARE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE AROUND UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE AND PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

>> CAN I SAY ONE THING?

>> YEAH.

>> ONCE THEY DO WIN THERE'S SOME THING PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, IMAGINE YOU HAD A JOB AND THEY SAID NOW ABOUT HALF OR MAYBE A THIRD OF THE TIME WE ARE GOING TO SEND YOU TO ANOTHER CITY AND YOU'RE GOING TO WORK IN ANOTHER PLACE WHERE YOUR COLLEAGUES WILL BE BUT WE WILL NOT PAY FOR YOUR HOUSING, WE WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY OF YOUR EXPENSES BUT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO GO AND BY THE WAY YOU CAN'T MOVE THERE BECAUSE YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR ADDRESS HERE IN THIS HOMETOWN.

CAN YOU IMAGINE EVER TAKING THAT JOB?

THAT IS THE JOB THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE.

THEY ARE NOT PAID.

THEN THEY MIGHT TELL YOU, BUT 100 -- IF YOU WONDER HOW YOU CAN HANDLE THIS, 100 MALE COLLEAGUES OF YOURS IN THIS OTHER LOCATION HAVE DECIDED TO LIVE IN THE BUILDING AND LIVE IN THE OFFICE.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO YOU'RE IMAGING WHAT DOES THAT OFFICE LOOK LIKE.

>> DORM LIFE.

>> THERE'S 100 OF THEM NOW AND IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK JUST LIKE YOU THINK IT'S LOOKING.

>> NONE OF THE WOMEN YET?

>> NONE OF THE WOMEN.

>> FOR MEN, I THINK -- >> A JUDGEMENT.

>> THAT SCHEDULE THAT YOU HAVE JUST SPOKEN OF IS A SCHEDULE FOR MEN AS WELL.

THEY HANDLE IT VERY WELL.

THEY HANDLE IT VERY WELL NOT ONLY BECAUSE -- >> BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS.

>> EXACTLY.

CHILDREN ARE AT THE CENTER OF THIS THIS.

MAINTAINING A HOME IS AT THE CENTER OF THIS.

UNLESS YOU GET SOMETHING THAT THE AVERAGE WOMEN CAN IDENTIFY WITH, WHICH IS THAT I GO TO WORK EVERY DAY AND I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT CHILDREN, YOU GO TO WORK EVERY DAY THEY THINK THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT CHILDREN AND THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.

THEY REALLY BELIEVE THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT HELPS YOU THAT THEY DON'T HAVE.

IF ANYTHING THEY WILL MAKE THEM IN IN INVIOUS AND RESENT YOU.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE DESCRIBING REPUBLICAN VOTERS, FULL TIME MOMS IN THE SUBURBS, WHITE REPUBLICAN, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BASE.

IS IT HAVING THAT SAME IMPACT ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN INNER CITY WOMEN?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT -- I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT DEMOCRATIC WOMEN ARE PROBABLY MORE OPEN TO THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE DEMOCRATS.

>> AREN'T THE DEMOCRATS ENERGIZED THIS YEAR?

>> TERRIBLY ENERGIZED.

THEY WON'T BE TURNED OFF BY THIS AND THEY WILL UNDERSTAND IT.

THEY WON'T SAY -- THEY WILL SAY UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE BUT I'M ASKING FOR THE WOMEN THEMSELVES TO DO MORE THAN SAY ISN'T THIS CUTE.

THIS IS MORE THAN CUTE.

>> OF COURSE.

THERE'S OTHER ISSUES.

>> THAT'S A PROBLEM.

>> BUT ARE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THESE WOMEN SAYING HERE'S MY BABY, I NEED UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE, I CAN'T AFFORD TWO HOUSES?

>> THAT'S NOT PART -- >> EVEN ON A CONGRESSIONAL SALARY.

PART OF THE ANSWER IS UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE.

>> EVERY TIME YOU BRING A CHILD ON SCREEN YOU SHOULD BE SAYING THAT OR WHAT ARE YOU BRINGING THE CHILD ON SCREEN FOR?

IT SHOULD BE RELATED TO WHILE THAT CHILD IS WITH YOU AT THAT MOMENT.

>> THERE'S STILL DISPARITY TO MEGAN'S POINT ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT 80/20, MAYBE 90/10 ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE OF THE LEDGER, NOT REPUBLICAN.

THAT'S STILL A PROBLEM FOR US AS A PARTY, ENSURING THAT WE HAVE EQUAL NUMBERS.

YOU'RE RIGHT, WE WILL FACE THE SAME CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING 80% OF THOSE FOLKS TALKING ABOUT UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE AND NO ONE ON OUR SIDE.

>> LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK AND FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AT @BONNIEERBE.

FROM MOMS IN POLITICS TO VAWA.

>> BONNIE: TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT, KNOW AS VAWA.

VAWA HELPS WOMEN FLEEING ABUSE.

IT FUNDS PROGRAMS TO HEAL TRAUMA FROM ABUSE AND PUNISHES ABUSERS.

THE LAW WAS FIRST APPROVED 1994, AND LAST RENEWED IN 2013 AFTER A LONG LEGISLATIVE BATTLE.

BUT, IT'S SET TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER IF IT IS NOT RENEWED WHEN LAWMAKERS COME BACK FROM AUGUST RECESS.

CONGRESS WILL ONLY HAVE 11 DAYS TO ACT.

AN EXTENSION BILL WAS INTRODUCED BY DEMOCRATS, BUT IT COULD HAVE TROUBLE PASSING BECAUSE IT EXPANDS PROTECTIONS, RATHER THAN SIMPLY EXTENDING CURRENT LAW.

IT ALSO LACKS SUPPORT FROM A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

THE BILL MAKES IT ILLEGAL FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF DOMESTIC ABUSE TO BUY OR OWN A FIREARM.

IT EXPANDS PROTECTIONS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN.

>> MEGAN, I ASK THE SAME QUESTION I ASKED WHEN IT WAS UP FOR RENEWAL LAST TIME, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY CONVICTED ABUSERS SHOULD NOT HAVE GUNS.

YOU KNOW, SHOULD NOT -- BECAUSE THE WOMAN IN MOST CASES WILL END UP DEAD.

IF THIS IS SUCH -- SO CRITICAL TO THE REPUBLICANS THAT THEY CAN'T LET GO OF OPPOSING THIS, WHY SACRIFICE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT VAWA DOES?

EXPLAIN THE DEMOCRATIC STRATEGY HERE.

>> Megan: I THINK IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT TIME.

THIS IS IN THE CROSS HAIRS OF TWO VERY STRONG MOVEMENTS, THE MARCH FOR OUR LIVES, THIS VERY PASSIONATE FEELING ABOUT GUN SAFETY AND ME TOO, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

YOU KNOW, TIME IS UP.

YOU KNOW, THIS CROSSES BOTH OF THOSE VERY STRONG NEW MOVEMENTS IN AMERICAN POLITICS.

THAT'S WHY I THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO HOLD THE LINE ON THIS.

>> Bonnie: DO YOU THINK SO THEY ARE GOING TO WIN?

DO YOU THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO WIN?

>> IS IT GOING TO GET RENEWED WITH THOSE TWO CONTROVERSIAL AMENDMENTS?

>> I THINK THE HARDEST PASSENGER IS OBJECTING -- ACKNOWLEDGING THAT REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE THE INTEREST IN REBOOTING THE WAR ON WOMEN.

WILL THERE BE AN EXTENSION, WILL WE WILL HAVE THIS ADDRESSED?

PROBABLY NOT.

IT WILL BE A SHORT-TERM EFFORT AND EXERCISE.

I THINK MY BIGGER THING IS WE ARE IN AN ENVIRONMENT AND I THINK CONGRESSWOMAN NORTON CAN SPEAK TO THIS MORE.

IT BECAME POLITICIZED BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE WANTED SOMETHING AND SOME PEOPLE WANTED SOMETHING AND WE COULDN'T FIND A WAY TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE SO REPUBLICANS DID THEIR THING AND DEMOCRATS DID THEIR THING.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE IT'S NOT ALL OR NOTHING BECAUSE IT'S THE FOUNDATION OF THE POLICY WHICH IS WE DON'T WANT TO SEE WOMEN ABUSED IN VIOLENT WAYS.

>> AND IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET THE FIRST VAWA WHICH IS INTERESTING ENOUGH.

I DIDN'T COME EASILY.

>> THE QUESTION TO YOU AGAIN, DROP THOSE TWO CLAUSES -- >> WELL, THEY MIGHT BE DROPPED.

THEY MIGHT BE DROPPED.

>> GET THE WHOLE BILL RENEWED AND THEN FIGHT LATER OVER THE GUN CONTROL -- >> NOT LATER.

IF IN FACT A GUN IS A DANGER TO A WOMAN WHO HAD AN ABUSER YOU SHOULDN'T DROP IT BEFORE YOU TRY.

SO WHAT WE HAVE NOW, IT SEEMS TO ME, IS -- WELL, IT'S ALREADY IN TROUBLE FOR THIS REASON THE SPONSOR IS A DEMOCRATIC WOMAN.

IT AUGHT TO BE -- WE ARE NOT IN CHARGE.

SO THE SPONSOR SHOULD BE -- >> WHY DIDN'T -- >> THAT'S EVERYTHING IT SEEMS TO ME.

>> WHY DIDN'T WHOEVER IS BEHIND THIS GET BIPARTISAN SUPPORT?

>> THAT'S MY POINT.

SHE OBVIOUSLY COULDN'T.

AT LEAST WITH THE BILL THAT WE HAVE NOW.

SO WHAT MAY HAPPEN IS THAT THOSE SECTIONS THAT ARE CONTROVERSIAL JUST AS YOU SAID MAY HAVE TO BE DROPPED FOR THE BILL TO MOVE FORWARD AT ALL.

BUT YOU CAN'T ASK PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD PEOPLE COME TO SEE THEM SAYING THE BILL NEEDS TO BE ENHANCED NOT TRY IT OUT, NOT PUT IT OUT THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> I DO THINK THERE'S AREAS WHERE, YOU KNOW, PROGRESSIVES AND CONSERVATIVES CAN COME TOGETHER.

IT'S A SHAME THAT SORT OF WOMEN HAVE BECOME THIS POLITICAL PAWN.

THERE'S A LOT OF WOMEN INVOLVED WITH THIS.

I THINK THERE'S SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT IN THE PAST.

AT THE SAME TIME WE JUST SPOKE A FEW MINUTES AGO FOR OUR ONLINE SEGMENT ABOUT FEMALE GENERAL MUTILATION AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE AUGHT TO INCLUDE IN VAWA.

FROM THIS TABLE I THINK THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF MUTUAL SUPPORT FOR THAT.

>> AND BANNING IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT BRINGING IN THE GUN ISSUE IS GOING TO MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> BUT ON THE OTHER HAND HOW CAN ANYBODY SAY I'M FOR LETTING CONVICTED ABUSERS GET GUNS?

I MEAN, COME ON.

>> WELL, WHAT -- >> I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU BUT I KNOW IT'S TRICKY BECAUSE OF ALL THE NRA SUPPORT.

THERE'S ALSO STATISTICS TO SHOW THAT THESE MASS SHOOTINGS THAT I THINK HAVE CREATED A REAL REACTION FROM EVERYONE ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM ARE PRIMARILY DONE BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD CHARGES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST THEM.

THAT'S ANOTHER PLACE WHERE THIS CROSSES.

SO IT COULD BE A GOOD ARGUMENT.

>> DO YOU THINK IT WILL PASS?

DO YOU THINK IT WILL -- I MEAN, AGAIN, HOW CAN REPUBLICANS -- IF THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A -- IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS IT'S SEEN AS A MINOR ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE DEFENSE BILL OR A TAX CUT BILL.

>> IF I WERE ADVISING REPUBLICANS I WOULD SAY THAT SEEPS LIKE A WINNING ARGUMENT TO MAKE IN THE ABSENCE OF HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT SIGNIFICANT GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION.

WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE ABOUT THE FACT IS IS ANYONE GOING TO SAY THEY SUPPORT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN?

THEY SHOULDN'T BUT THERE ARE APPOINTED REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED AGAINST THE EFFORT IN THE PAST BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD.

>> DO YOU EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE REPUBLICAN'S MINDS?

>> NOW IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE ELECTION.

SHE PUT IT FORWARD -- SHE HAD TO PUT IT FORWARD WITHOUT A REPUBLICAN COSPONSOR SO IT'S OUT THERE AND DEMOCRATS WOULD BE FOOLISH NOT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT REPUBLICANS WON'T EVEN LET MOVE A BILL THAT WOULD PROTECT WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE.

>> >> BONNIE: BEHIND THE HEADLINES: FROM PRISON TO COLLEGE.

A NEW INITIATIVE IS GIVING MONEY TO FORMER GANG MEMBERS, UP TO $32,000 A YEAR, TO GO TO COLLEGE.

>> I WAS IN AND OUT OF PRISON, I WAS STRIPPING, I WAS PROSTITUTING, I WAS DOING EVERYTHING BUT THE RIGHT THING.

>> TODAY, KISMAURI PENA IS A STUDENT AT BUNKER HILL COMMUNITY COLLEGE, BUT SHE SAYS SHE WOULDN'T BE WHERE SHE IS TODAY IF NOT FOR A PROGRAM SOME CALL RADICAL.

>> WE DID GET REACTIONS, WELL YOU KNOW, SORT OF "““WHY ARE YOU PAYING BAD KIDS TO GO TO COLLEGE?)

>> THE PROGRAM IS CALLED "““BOSTON UNCORNERED,"”” AND IT WAS CREATED BY THE NONPROFIT GROUP COLLEGE BOUND DORCHESTER.

>> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 50 STUDENTS THAT ARE RECEIVING THE STIPEND.

IT IS $400 A WEEK WHICH WORKS OUT TO VERY CLOSE TO LIVING WAGE AND THE WAY WE LOOK AT IS WE'RE NOT PAYING STUDENTS TO GO TO SCHOOL, WE ARE GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON THE PATH THAT'S RIGHT FOR THEM.

>> COLLEGE BOUND SAYS IT'S CHEAPER TO GIVE KIDS $32,000 A YEAR THAN SPENDING TAXPAYER MONEY FOR INCARCERATION, COURTROOM TIME, PROBATION, AND OTHER SUBSIDIES.

>> WE WERE SPENDING ABOUT $100,000 A YEAR ON HER, YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE HER.

AND SO THIS INVESTMENT FOR US, WHERE KISMAURI BECOMES A CONTRIBUTING CITIZEN RATHER THAN ONE WHERE WE'RE RECURRENTLY CONTRIBUTING TO SERVICES THAT GET HER NOWHERE, ESSENTIALLY, IS A MUCH BETTER DEAL.

>> MY BROTHER WENT TO PRISON FOR MURDER IN 2002 AND MY BROTHER WAS MY BEST FRIEND, MY PARENT, MY EVERYTHING.

LIKE MY MOM WAS GETTING ABUSED, SO SHE WASN'T AROUND, AND HE'S LIKE THE ONLY THING I HAD TO LOOK UP TO.

AROUND THAT TIME WHEN HE GOT ARRESTED.

I WENT AROUND TO TRY TO ROB PEOPLE.

I GOT PREGNANT AND I HAD A KID, I DIDN'T HAVE AN INCOME, I COULDN'T GET A JOB.

>> SHE WAS IN AND OUT OF TROUBLE FOR OTHER CRIMES SUCH AS FRAUD AND THEFT, BUT SHE SAYS THINGS CHANGED AS HER DAUGHTER GREW.

>> I'M TIRED OF BEING IN AND OUT OF PRISON, OF BEING A SELFISH MOTHER, A SELFISH PERSON AND NOT DOING BETTER FOR MY DAUGHTER, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SHE DESERVES BETTER.

THIS IS MY TURNING POINT.

I'M HER ROLE MODEL.

I'M HER EXAMPLE.

>> SHE TOLD US THAT SHE HAD HEARD OF THE PROGRAM BEFORE, BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL LATER THAT SHE REALIZED SHE SHOULD SIGN UP TO IMPROVE HER DAUGHTER'S LIFE.

>> EVERYTHING THAT THEY HELP YOU WITH HERE, IT COULD PUSH YOU, IF YOU WANT IT.

IF YOU DON'T WANT IT, THEN DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME, BUT IF YOU WANT IT AND YOU WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL AND YOU WANT A BETTER CAREER FOR YOUR CHILD, FOR YOU, OR WHATEVER THE SITUATION MAY BE, I FEEL LIKE COLLEGE BOUND IS THE PERFECT STEPPING-STONE.

>> COLLEGE BOUND HAS PLANS TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM TO OTHER CITIES.

>> THE ONES WHO ARE CLOSEST TO THE CYCLES OF VIOLENCE AND DISRUPTION IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, THEY REALLY ARE THE SOLUTION, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO CAN BE THE AGENTS OF CHANGE.

>> SO $100,000 A YEAR TO KEEP SOMEBODY IN PRISON.

WHY ISN'T EVERY PERSON IN GOVERNMENT FOR THIS PROGRAM SINCE IT'S CHEAPER AND IT HELPS PEOPLE PULL THEMSELVES UP?

>> I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING NEGATIVE YOU CAN SAY ABOUT IT.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION IN CONGRESS OVER THE PAST MANY YEARS ABOUT THE NEED FOR THIS REFORM, THE NEED FOR FINDING WAYS TO LOOK AT MANDATORY MINIMUMS, ET CETERA, FINDING WAYS TO GET PEOPLE WHO HAVE MISDEMEANORS, DRUG OFFENSES OUT OF PRISON AND INTO THE WORKFORCE AND GIVING THEM A SECOND CHANCE.

THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN AS WELL AS YOUNG MEN TO BE ROLE MODELS FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND GIVE THEM THE SKILLS THEY NEED.

THEY BIT BARRIERS BECAUSE OF THEIR PAST.

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO SUCCEED WE SHOULD GIVE IT TO THEM.

>> I THINK THIS IS TAILOR MADE FOR WOMEN.

THIS IS OPEN TO WOMEN AND MEN BUT WOMEN HAVE MOSTLY BEEN INVOLVED IN NON-VIOLENT OFFENSES AND ESSENTIALLY THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WERE ON THE OUT SKIRTS OF ANY KIND OF OPPORTUNITY, SO GIVING THEM AN AMOUNT OF MONEY SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT LOOKING FOR WORK OR LOOKING FOR ILLEGAL ACTIVITY DOES SEEM TO ME TO MAKE A LOT OF SENSE BUT IT MAKES PARTICULAR SENSE FOR WOMEN.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU'VE MADE THE POINT ABOUT $100,000 VERSES $32,000.

IT'S REALLY MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE EDUCATION HAS A MULTIGENERATIONAL ECO EFFECT ECONOMICALLY.

I LOVE LOOKING AT HER WITH HER DAUGHTER AND THINKING, SHE'S GOING THE SEE A MOTHER WHO IS A GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE, SHE'S GOING TO TRY TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE REVERBERATIONS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>> YOU MADE A GOOD POINT.

WE WERE DISCUSSING IT HUMOROUSLY BEFORE THE TAPING OF THE SHOW BUT, I MEAN, GANG MEMBERS DO HAVE SOME KIND OF ENTREPRENEUR SPIRIT.

IF THEY COULD TURN THAT -- YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW HOW TO MAKE MONEY, NOT LEGALLY OF COURSE, BUT IF THEY COULD TURN IT TO USING THOSE SKILLS LEGALLY -- >> RIGHT.

>> -- WHY NOT?

>> SOME OF THAT IS A FUNCTION OF A LACK OF EXPOSURE.

THEY WERE EXPOSED TO A CERTAIN ENVIRONMENT, THEY SHOWED LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN THAT ENVIRONMENT AND MAYBE WE COULD CHANNEL IT ANOTHER WAY.

>> I LOVE THE FACT THAT THIS IS PRIVATELY DRIVEN.

THE IDEA THAT A COMMUNITY GOT TOGETHER AND SAID WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEN WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN EXPAND IT.

NOT ONLY SAVES TAXPAYERS $100,000 EACH YEAR BUT THAT MONEY CAN BE REDISTRICTRECTED INTO THINGS THAT SOCIETY NEEDS.

>> $100,000 A YEAR FOR PRISON, I REMEMBER 10 YEARS AGO IT WAS 40 TO $50,000 BECAUSE THEY USED TO SAY WHEN HARVARD'S TUITION WAS $40,000 THAT YOU SPENT MORE TO SEND THE KID TO PRISON THAN HARVARD.

IS THAT PRIVATIZATION?

>> THEY CAN COUNTING MORE THAN YOUR ROOM AND BOARD IN PRISON.

THEY ARE COUNTING THE COURTS, THEY ARE COUNTING ALL THAT IT TAKES TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'VE LOCKED SOMEBODY UP.

WE'VE TRIED EVERYTHING ELSE.

THE NOTION OF TAKING -- REMEMBER THESE ARE TARGETED YOUNGSTERS, THE MEN HAVE BEEN GANG BANGERS AND THE WOMEN HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES LIKE FRAUD AND THE REST.

IT DOES MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM AND YOU'RE RIGHT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS STARTED IT BUT BECAUSE OF ITS SUCCESS AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S HAVING SOME SUCCESS THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SAY WE WANT IN.

>> I THINK THAT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT EDUCATION TOO.

I THINK FOR MANY PEOPLE, LOW INCOME PEOPLE, WHO HAVE THE IDEA OF GOING TO A FOUR YEAR COLLEGE AND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, WHETHER THEY COMMITTED CRIMES OR NOT I THINK THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT WE CREATED A PROGRAM THAT MAKES SCHOOL OBTAINABLE, EDUCATION OBTAINABLE, SKILLS OBTAINABLE IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT.

MAYBE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GO TO MED SCHOOL AND BE A BRAIN SURGEON BUT YOU HAVE A PATH TO PROVIDE THOSE SKILLS AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMY AND TO GIVE BACK TO YOUR OWN FAMILY AND TO CREATE INCOME IN AN LEGITIMATE WAY.

>> I WONDER WHAT THE FAILURE RATE IS.

WE HAVEN'T REPORTED ON THAT SO I DON'T HAVE A FIGURE.

>> BUT, YOU KNOW, BARE IN MIND SINCE I'VE BEEN IN CONGRESS THAT CONGRESS HAS WIPED OUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE COURSES AT LEAST IN THE BUREAU OF PRISONS.

>> RIGHT.

>> MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PREPARE YOURSELF ONCE YOU GET OUT SO INSTEAD OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE EDUCATION DOES FOR YOU, THEY ARE DEPRIVING PEOPLE OF THE RIGHT TO GO STRAIGHT I BELIEVE.

>> BUT A -- >> SO THEY STRIPPED FUNDING FOR COURSES FOR PEOPLE IN PRISON.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT IS -- >> NOW THEY WILL HAVE EXTRA MONEY AND THEY CAN APPLY IT BACK.

>> -- >> BONNIE: BEFORE WE GO, WE'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE WITH PRIDE THAT ONE OF THE WINNERS OF OUR ABOUT WOMEN AND GIRLS FILM FESTIVAL, TIES THAT BIND, WAS SELECTED TO BE PART OF THE PBS ONLINE FILM FESTIVAL ON THE PBS WEBSITE.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.

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