¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> COMING UP, WE'RE QEBILITYING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING AN ILLUSTRATOR WHO'S MAKING A MARK ON THE CRAFT BEER INDUSTRY.

>> THERE'S A THOUSAND DIFFERENT IPAs TO CHOOSE FROM AND YOU GOT TO PIG SOMEHOW.

SO I LIKE -- PICK SOMEHOW.

SO I LIKE TO HELP THINK MY ARTWORK HELPS THE CUSTOMER DECIDE.

>>> AND AN EXTRAVAGANZA.

>> COMMUNITY HAS FAILED TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT AND WE HAD TO LEAVE AND MOVE OFF PLANET TO DIFFERENT SETTLEMENTS.

>>> AND AN ARTIST WITH A DEDICATED FOLLOWING SHARES HER LOVE OF PAINTING.

>> I WANTED A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN FEEL WELCOME AND SAFE.

I WANTED PEOPLE TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES AND BE PRODUCTIVE.

>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CRETTIVEE -- CREATIVEE, THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

>>> SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> WELCOME.

AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

I'M TONY DUNIN FOR ZYDALIS BAUER.

EVERY WEEK WE EXPLORE ALL THAT WESTERN NEW ENGLAND HAS TO OFFER, AND ON THE RAINY DAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM ZOT PARK, A BEAUTIFUL GREEN SPACE IN THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

BUT WE START OFF OUR SHOW TODAY IN THE TOWN OF EAST LONG MEADOW.

DEAN McKIEFER IS A FREELANCE ILLUSTRATOR WHO SPECIALIZES IN EYE-CATCHING, COLORFUL ILLUSTRATIONS AND DESIGNS.

HE'S WORKED ON CUSTOM COMMISSIONS, DESIGNED SKATEBOARDS, AND GLASSWARE.

BUT HE'S PERHAPS BEST KNOWN FOR CREATING SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC PACKAGING IN THE CRAFT BEER INDUSTRY.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US HIS STORY.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MYRIAD OF CRAFT BEERS AVAILABLE ON THE SHELVES THESE DAYS, WHAT SETS ONE APART FROM THE OTHER?

IF YOU ASK ILLUSTRATOR DEAN McKYIVER, IT'S THE LABEL.

>> BRIGHT, COLOR, POPS OFF THE SHELF TO CATCH THE CUSTOMER'S EYE IN THE STORE, BECAUSE NOWADAYS YOU WALK INTO ANY STORE, ESPECIALLY LIKE A CRAFT BEER STORE, AND THERE'S A THOUSAND DIFFERENT IPAS TO CHOOSE FROM AND YOU GOT TO PICK SOMEHOW.

SO I LIKE TO THING MY ARTWORK HELPS THE CUSTOMER DECIDE.

THIS WAS MY FIRST LABEL.

>> HE'S THE MAN BEHIND KYIVER ART AND IS THE ILLUSTRATORRER FOR SOUGHT-AFTER BEER BASEBALL -- LABELS.

HE SAID HE WAS ALWAYS KNOWN AS THE ARTISTIC KID IN CLASS WHILE GROWING UP.

TODAY HE WORKS OUT OF A CONVERTED BEDROOM TURNED STUDIO.

>> THIS IS MY HAVEN.

I'M SURROUNDED MY COLLECTION OF -- I COLLECT ODDITIES AND VINTAGE STUFF.

IT'S JUST -- I LIKE TO SURROUND MYSELF WITH MY COLLECTION AND YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO SAY, I SORT OF TAKE THE ENERGY FROM THOSE OBJECTS AND INFUSE THEM INTO MY WORK, BUT THAT MIGHT BE JUST A COPOUT SO I CAN COLLECT MORE COOL STUFF!

>> HIS ILLUSTRATIONS CAN BE FOUND ON THE LABELS OF CRAFT BREWERIES THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND, BUT HE SAYS IT ALL STARTED BACK IN 2015 WITH AN EMAIL HE SENT THE TREEHOUSE BREWING, OFFERING HIS SERVICES.

>> IT WAS GREAT TO START WITH THEM, YOU KNOW, WHILE THEY WERE KIND OF STILL IN THEIR EARLY STAGES, KIND OF LIKE I WAS IN MY CAREER.

OF COURSE THEY'VE EXPLODED TO CRAZY HEIGHTS NOW.

BUT IT REALLY OPENED UP MY CAREER TO OTHER BRUCERIES AND INDUSTRIES AND IT -- BREWERIES AND INDUSTRIES.

I HAVE A MILLION AND ONE BRUSHES I CAN USE.

>> WHAT START AS A SIMPLE IDEA ON THE iPAD BECOMES THE FACE OF THE BEER THAT HELPS ATTRACT NEW CUSTOMERS AND HELPS SEPARATE ONE BRAND FROM THE REST OF THE MARKET.

>> THE BREWERY WILL USUALLY GIVE ME A BASIC GUIDELINE.

IF IT IS A DARKER BEER, THEY WANT SOME MONOCHROMATIC COLORS.

A DRIVER, HOPPY BEER, SOME MORE COLOR POPS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

THIS WAS MORE VANISH VALLEY.

IT SAYS LOOK TO THE VALLEY.

YOU CAN SEE THE GUY UP HERE LOOKING AT THE MISTY VALLEY AND GOT THE FALL FOLIAGE AND JUST REALLY WANTED TO CAPTURE THAT SORT OF NEW ENGLAND VIBE IN THE FALL.

I'D LIKE TO THINK I ACHIEVED THAT.

JUST MAKE SURE YOU HAND WASH THEM.

THEY'LL LAST FOREVER.

THEY STARTED MAKING A LINE OF GLASSWARE WITH HIS UNIQUE ARTWORK CALLED KYIVER -- KIEVER GLASS.

>> IT'S A NICE SIDE CREATIVE OUTLET FOR ME BECAUSE I LOVE WORKING WITH NEW BREWERIES AND CLIENTING AND GETTING ART DIRECTED BY THE HIGHER UPS.

BUT THIS IS GREAT BECAUSE MY WIFE AND I ARE IN CONTROL OF IT.

WE BRAINSTORM ALL THE IMAGERY AND THE IDEAS AND IT'S SUPPER FUN TO SHIP OS -- SUPER FUN TO SHIP OUR GLASSWARE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

IT'S A USEABLE PIECE OF ART.

AND IT'S RIGHT IN THE CRAFT BEER INDUSTRY THAT I'M COMFORTABLE WITH.

>> HE HAS DONE HUNDREDS OF LABELS OVER THE YEARS AND EACH ONE IS UNIQUE.

BUT ONE THING HE DIDN'T EXPECT IS AFTER THE BEER HAS BEEN CONSUMED, SOME OF THE LABELS LIVE ON.

>> PEOPLE TURN IT INTO COASTERS, KEY CHAINS, LIKE LIGHT SWITCH COVERS.

PEOPLE WILL CUT THE TOP OFF THE CAN AND PLANT SUCK UBENT LETS IN THEM.

-- SUCKULENTS IN THEM.

IT'S ABOUT MY HARTWORK AT THAT POINT AND IT -- ARTWORK AND IT GIVES IT A NEW LIFE, WHICH IS PRETTY NEAT TO SEE.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVEE -- CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY, THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

AND YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

ALONG WITH CREATING LABELS FOR THE CRAFT BEER INDUSTRY, DEAN ALSO CREATED TWO MIEWRLTS ON THE WALLS OF A LOCAL BREWERY.

THE MURALS PAY HOMAGE TO THE FOUR SOWNS THAT WERE DISINCORPORATED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE RESERVOIR.

>> WHEN YOU GOING DOWN -- DOWNSTAIRS, IT'S MY WATERSHED LABEL FOR THEM, WHICH IS ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR PALE ALES AND IT HAS AN UNDERWATER SCENE LIKE CABINS AND FISH.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> MICHELLE A. BARRY HAS RELEASED HER DEBUT NOVEL, ENTITLED, "PLOTTING THE STARS ONE, MOON GOODEN -- GARDEN."

THIS TAKES PLACE IN SPACE AS EARTH HAS BECOME UNINHABITABLE AND FOLLOWS A 12-YEAR-OLD AS SHE UNCOVERS GOVERNMENT COMPUTERIES.

ZYDALIS BAUER SPOKE WITH BARRY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOOK.

>> THE BOOK IS A SCIENCE FICTION FANTASY RETELLING OF THE SECRET GARDEN.

SO THE GARDEN ELEMENT WAS THERE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING BUT I WANTED TO SEE HOW I COULD MAKE IT MY OWN AND OBVIOUSLY CLIMATE CHANGE AND YOU KNOW, PRESSURES ON THE ENVIRONMENT ARE REALLY REAL CONCERN THESE DAYS, SO IT SEEMED NATURAL THAT -- TO CREATE A SPACE WHERE A GARDEN, YOU KNOW, COULDN'T BE, LIKE WHY DID THAT HAPPEN, LINED OF LIKE -- KIND OF LIKE BACKUP, WHY ARE THEY LIVING ON THE MOON, AND IT'S BECAUSE HUMANITY HAS FAILED IN ITS ATTEMPTS TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT AND WE HAD TO LEAVE AND MOVE OFF PLANET TO SIRCHT DIFFERENT SETTLEMENTS.

AND EVENLY THOUGH -- EVEN THOUGH THE CHARACTERS HAVE MOVED, THEY HAVE THIS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY.

THEY EVEN HAVE SOME MAGIC.

IT'S STILL NOT A REAL SOLUTION FOR THEM.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH COME WITH THAT AS THE CHARACTERS START TO SEE.

IT'S NOT A PERMANENT SOLUTION, NOT A REAL SOLUTION.

SO I THINK KIND OF THE UNDERLYING MESSAGE IN THE BOOK IS THAT WE HAVE ONE EARTH.

WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

WE DON'T HAVE MAGIC THAT I KNOW OF THAT'S REAL TO KIND OF SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS.

SO IT'S SOMETHING I HOPE KIND OF COMMUNICATES THROUGH THE STORIES.

>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME TOPICS SUCH AS SUPPRESSION, YOUR PRATT CORRUPTION, CLIMATE CHANGE.

SO WHAT TYPE OF RESEARCH DID YOU DO TO PREPARE YOURSELF TO WRITE AN ACCURATE NOVEL, EVEN THOUGH IT'S FICTIONAL?

>> I TOOK A LOT OF LIBERTIES WITH THE SCIENCE, THOUGH I DID TRY TO DO SOME RESEARCH LIKE COULD THIS ONE DAY BE FEASIBLE.

ONE ELEMENT IS IN THE BOOK, THE CHARACTERS ARE SURVIVING OFF OF CLONED PLANTING MATERIALS SO THEY DON'T HAVE ANY GARDENS ON THE MOON OR SO THEY THINK.

SO THEY USE -- SO A BIT OF MAGIC AND TECHNOLOGY TO CLONE THE PLANTS IN ORDER TO CREATE FOOD.

AND THAT KIND OF BREAKS DOWN AND THAT CREATES THE CONFLICT FOR THE NOVEL.

SO I DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH INTO THAT AND THERE IS REAL-LIFE PLANT CLONING THAT DOES HAPPEN.

SO I LEARNED ABOUT THAT AND THE FUN ASIDE, MY EDITOR POINTED TOUT ME BECAUSE SOME OF THE CHARACTERS HAVE MAGIC, THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH ELECTRICITY.

AND SHE DISCOVERED FLEW HER OWN RESEARCHING -- THROUGH HER OWN RESEARCHING AND LOOKING AROUND THAT PLANTS GIVE OFF AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE.

SO I DID RESEARCH INTO THAT AND ENDED UP INCORPORATING THAT AS A PLOT LINE IN THE NOVEL WHICH WAS A COOL THING TO SEE.

>> THAT'S SUPER COOL.

I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE NOW BEING AN ADULT I'LL WATCH SCIENCE FICTION THINGS THAT I SAW YOUNGER AND IT AMAZES ME, THEY CAN ACTUALLY REPLICATE REAL-LIFE PRETTY CLOSELY, SO THAT'S REALLY COOL THAT YOU FOUND OUT THE SAME.

>> IT'S TRUE.

IT'S FUNNY HOW WE'RE NOT THAT FAR OFF THAT THINGS THAT ARE IN SCI-FI MOVIES 20 YEARS AGO.

>> EXACTLY.

YOU MENTIONED ALSO THAT IT'S INSPIRED BY THE SECRET GARDEN.

I COMPLETELY LOVEDT THAT MOVIE AND BOOK -- LOVED THAT MOVIE AND BOOK AS A CHILD.

BUT YOU DESCRIBE IT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

SO WHAT WAS YOUR PROCESS LIKE TO PUT YOURSELF IN THAT MINDSET TO WRITE AND CATER TO THESE FUTURE GENERATIONS?

>> I JUST WANTED TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT WAS RELEVANT TO KIDS TODAY.

LUCKY I HAVE A GOOD SOURCE MATERIAL IN MY HOUSEHOLD.

I HAVE AN 8-YEAR-OLD AND A 10-YEAR-OLD.

SO JUST HEARING THE THINGS THAT THEY TALK ABOUT AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AND KID TODAY I THINK, EVEN REALLY YOUNG KIDS, ARE VERY AWARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THAT SORT OF THING.

SO WHEN WRITING A BOOK, A NEW BOOK ABOUT THE SECRET GARDEN, I WANTED TO BRING IN THAT WHOLE CLIMATE CHANGE ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENT BECAUSE I THINK KIDS REALLY ARE DIALED INTO THAT.

AND IT RESONATES WITH THEM AND THEY SEE THE DANGER THAT'S APPROACHING WITH IF WE DON'T MAKE CHANGES, WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO US.

SO I FELT THAT WAS A REALLY RELEVANT TOPIC FOR KIDS TODAY.

SO THAT'S THE DIRECTION I LOOK WITH THAT.

>> ANOTHER TOPIC THAT THIS BOOK TOUCHES ON IS THE PRESSURES OF GROWING UP AND WE ALL CAN RELATE TO THAT.

TILL ME ABOUT THE PAIN CHARACTER AND THE ADVENTURES AND THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS THAT SHE GOES THROUGH.

>> WITH MOON GARDEN, IT'S A HUGE DRAMATIC WHACK DROP IN OUTER SPACE WITH MAGIC AND THIS HUGE GALACTIC CONSPIRACY.

I FELT LIKE IT WAS VERY MUCH A STORY OF SELF-DISCOVERY AND YOU KNOW, MYRA IS A TYPICAL 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL, EVEN THOUGH SHE GOES TO SCHOOL ON THE MOON, SHE STILL GOES TO SCHOOL AND THE SAME STRUGGLES THAT KIDS HAVE TODAY.

SHE'S STILL HAVING HUNDREDS OF YEARS INTO THE FUTURE WHERE SHE'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO SHE IS AND WHAT FRIENDS SHE WANTS TO HAVE AND HOW TO MAKE THOSE FRIENDS AND KEEP THOSE KINDS OF FRIENDS AND HOW TO DEAL WITH PRESSURES FROM, YOU KNOW, HER TEACHERS AND ALSO HER PARENTS AND WHAT THEY EXPECT HER TO GROW INTO.

AND WHEN THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS ALIGN, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT AND HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT AND HOW DO YOU VALUE WHAT YOU KNOW YOU HAVE INSIDE OF YOU THAT'S SPECIAL, WHATEVER YOUR INDIVIDUAL MAGIC IS, AND MAKE THAT ALIGN WITH WHAT OTHER PEOPLE EXPECT OF YOU AND HOW TO, YOU KNOW, GROW YOUR VOICE AND FIND YOUR PLACE IN THE GALAXY.

>> THIS BOOK IS THE BEGINNING OF A SERIES.

SO HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHERE ONE STORY END AND THE NEXT ONE BEGINS TO SET IT UP FOR SEQUELS?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO IT'S KIND OF TRICKY BECAUSE YOU -- YOU KNOW, I STARTED WITH KIND OF AN ENDGAME OF WHEN ARE I WANTED TO STORY TO ULTIMATELY GO, BUT YOU HAVE TO DIAL BACK AND FIGURE OUT WHAT -- [INAUDIBLE] THE ACT OF THE STORY AND THEN THE MIDDLE ACT AND THEN THE FINAL ACT.

AND HOW TO TELL A COMPLETE STORY WITHIN EACH BOOK BUT STILL HAVE IT PLAY INTO THE GREATER THREE-ACT YOU KNOW, THEME OF THE OVERALL STORY.

>> THIS BOOK IS DESCRIBED AS A DYSTOPIAN SERIES.

AFTER WRITING THE FIRST ONE OF THE SERIES, WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS?

WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE REALLY BE MINDFUL OF WHEN WE'RE READING THIS BOOK?

>> I THINK MAYBE JUST NOT TAKING EVERYTHING AT FACE VALUE.

LIKE IT'S OKAY TO QUESTION IF THEY DON'T SEEM TO MAKE SENSE.

IF SOMETHING DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT, MAKE IT'S NOT RIGHT.

TRUSTING YOUR OWN JUDGMENT AND YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE ABLE TO TOE IF SOMETHING IS WRONG, MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN HELP FIX AS WELL AND HAVING SOME KIND OF A VOICE AND POWER THAT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE YOUNGER GENERATION COMING UP AND EVENTUALLY WILL BE THE ONES RUNNING THE SHOW.

IT'S OKAY TO QUESTION THINGS AND MAYBE FIND BETTER WAYS TO DO THINGS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> AN AUTHOR MICHELLE BARRY READS AN EXCERPT FOR US FROM HER DEBUT NOVEL N. A DIGITAL EXTRA.

>> I PAUSED NEXT TO A SECTION OF WALL OPPOSITE THE ENTRANCE TO THE CLASSROOM AND LAID BOTH HANDS ON IT THEN PRESSED MY EAR AGAINST THE COOL MIAMI HEAT.

I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING IN HERE, SOMETHING I CAN'T SEE.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE FEELING A HEARTBEAT EXCEPT WITHOUT THE PULSE OR SOUND.

I KNOW IT'S STRANGE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING ALIVE IN HERE.

I SHRUG.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT.

A BLUE LIGHT FLASHES SLOWLY FROM SOMEWHERE IN HER METAL SHELL AND THEN SHE TAKES OFF LIKE A ROCKET.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXTRA AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS, THE BLOCK OF RAY STREET AND HOLYOKE HAS BECOME THE HUB FOR ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT IN THE AREA.

THIS IS IN NO SMALL PART DUE TO THE ADDITION OF THE GATEWAY CITY ARTS COMPLEX.

BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER ARTISTS CONTRIBUTING IN THEIR OWN UNIQUE WAY AS BRINE FOUND TOUT WHEN HE CAME ACROSS A PAINTING CLASS WITH STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO THEIR INSTRUCTOR FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS.

>> IT'S LATE MORNING, EARLY AFTERNOON O A WEDNESDAY AT -- ON A WEDNESDAY AT 80 RAY STREET AND HOLYOKE.

WHILE MARYANNE PUTS THE FINAL COAT OF GLAZE, NEXT DOOR IT SOUNDS LIKE A PARTY.

THE UNITS ARE HOME TO SEVERAL LOCAL ARTISTS WHO TEND TO KEEP TO THEMSELVES, BUT HERE AT THE ART STUDIO AND GALLERY, IT'S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE NOT ONLY LEARN TO PAINT OR LEARN TO PAINT BETTER, BUT ALSO HAVE FUN AND ENJOY THE CAMARADERIE IN THE PROCESS.

>> WANTED A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN FEEL WELCOME AND SAFE AND YOU KNOW, I WANTED PEOPLE TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES AND BE PRODUCTIVE.

YOU KNOW, HAVE FUN, MEET PEOPLE, AND LEARN SOMETHING.

>> IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY FROM HER DAYS OF WORKING IN THE FISHING INDUSTRY BACK IN NEW BEDFORD TO ESTABLISHING HERSELF AS THE KIND OF ARTIST WITH A WAITING LIST OF PEOPLE WANTING TO TAKE HER QLASES.

AND SO FAR THE RETENTION RATE IS PRETTY HIGH.

>> I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT SEVEN YEARS.

WE'VE BEEN -- FOUND DEBRA AT THE WINDSOR PALACE WHEN SHE DID A DEMO FOR US.

AND WE LIKED WHAT SHE DID AT THE CLUB, SO WE DECIDED WE WOULD SIGN UP FOR PAINTING LESSONS.

>> WHILE BETTY AND HER HUSBAND HAVE BEEN REGULARS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, DUNFEE DOESHAM NO -- DOES ALMOST NO ADVERTISING.

SO IF THERE ARE ANY NEW MEMBERS, IT IS USUALLY THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH OR HAPPENSTANCE.

>> THIS IS A FRAMING SHOP IN WEST SPRINGFIELD.

AND HE HAD -- PAINTS ANIMALS AND THEY HAD A COUPLE OF PORTRAITS OF DOGS UP THERE.

WE STARTED TALKING AND YOU KNOW, HE SAID, YEAH, SHE'S VERY GOOD.

SHE HAS CLASSES AND THAT'S WHERE I -- I HEARD ABOUT HER.

>> THE WORK SPACE MAY BE ELBOW TO ELBOW THESE DAYS, BUT THERE WAS A WINDOW OF TIME WHEN THINGS LOOKED BLEAK.

IT WAS DURING THIS TIME THAT THESE STUDENTS SHOWED THAT THIS IS MORE THAN JUST SOME CLASS.

THIS IS THEIR COMMUNITY, AND DEBRA IS THE REASON THAT THEY KEEP COMING BACK.

>> YOU CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT.

THEY'VE BEEN SO GREAT.

THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO ME DURING THE -- THE PANDEMIC.

BECAUSE THAT CLOSED MY GROUP FOR A WHILE.

SO THAT WAS REALLY TOUGH.

BUT THEY WERE RIGHT THERE FOR ME.

THEY WERE STILL SENDING ME CHECKS, YOU KNOW, TO KEEP THE CLASSES GOING, BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS STILL HERE.

AND I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S JUST -- YOU KNOW, I LOVE THEM ALL.

AND I'VE HAD THEM HERE FOR YEARS.

MY OLDEST ONE, NOT OLDEST PERSON, BUT THE ONE THAT'S BEEN WITH ME THE LONGEST IS BERNADETTE AND SHE WAS WITH ME FOR 20 YEARS.

>> AND THAT 20-YEAR RUN IN WESTERN MASSES STARTED RIGHT HERE IN THIS SECTION OF HOLYOKE FOR DUNFEE.

JUST NOT ON THIS SIDE OF THE WATER.

FOR THE LONGEST TIME THE BUILDING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CANAL HERE SERVED AS THE ARTS HUB.

DEBBY WAS THERE FOR 10 YEARS BEFORE COMING HERE IN 2019.

-- 2013.

THIS LITTLE STRETCH OF BUILDINGS ON RAY STREET HAS BECOME THE NEW HOT SPOT.

>> THIS IS THE BEST CLASS WE'VE HAD IN A LONG -- THAT I'VE HAD IN A LONG TIME.

I MEAN, IT'S VERY FRIENDLY.

WE LEARN A LOT.

TAKES INTEREST IN EACH STUDENT.

AND HOW THEY PROGRESS.

AND SHE'S KEYED INTO EVERY STUDENT, NO MATTER WHAT LEVEL YOU ARE.

>> THERE DOES APPEAR TO BE ONE ELEMENT SERVING AS THE THREAD THAT TIES THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND IT'S NOT BRUSH STOKES OR USE OF NEGATIVE SPACE.

ITS SOUNDS EMANATE FROM THIS LITTLE GUYS AND IT OFTEN SETS -- DEVICE HERE AND IT OFTEN SETS THE TONE FOR THE CLASS.

>> DEBRA ALWAYS HAS MUSIC ON, SO IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT ALL THE SAME RAGE, BUT ROUGHLY, WITHIN A SEN TRAY OR TWO, YOU KNOW.

SO WHEN SOMETHING COMES DOWN AND THE HEADS START NODDING, THEY RECOGNIZE THE TUNE RIGHT AWAY.

THEY BELT OUT THE CHORUS.

SO IT'S FUN.

>> IF YOU COME IN AND YOU'RE ALL WORKED UP AND TIGHT, IT JUST -- BY THE TIME YOU LEAVE HERE, YOU'RE FEELING GOOD.

>> I WANT TO FEEL FULFILLED LIKE THEY CAME AND THEY GOT SOMETHING OUT OF IT.

I WANT THEM TO WALK OUT HALF AN HOUR LATER AND STILL FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT AND NOT FEEL ANY BAD VIBES.

I JUST WANT GOOD VIBES.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PASSION -- HER PASSION FOR ART IN A DIGITAL EXTRA.

>>> BUT YOU KNOW, YOU GOT THAT STEREOTYPE, YOU KNOW, THAT CRAZY ARTIST OR, YOU KNOW, AMASS A GREAT LITTLE VOCATION, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO REALLY DO.

SO I TRIED OTHER THINGS.

I DIDN'T LIKE IT.

I LIVED IN NEW BEDFORD, WORKED IN THE FISH HOUSE.

>> THAT DIGITAL EXTRA IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> SINCE 2018 PARIN VILLAGES HAS BEEN ON A MISSION FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

THROUGH MONTHLY MEETUPS, SPECIAL PROGRAMMING, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THE ORGANIZATION BUILDS BRIDGES TO ENSURE THAT THEIR NEED ARE MET AND EXCEEDED.

ZYDALIS BAUER SPOKE WITH THE PRESIDENT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN AND THE RESOURCES THAT IT OFFERS.

>> I TRIED NOT TO CRY WHEN I TOLD THE STORY, BUT WHEN I WAS FIRST INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE, I WAS -- I WAS SITTING IN A MEETING AND THERE WAS A REPORT DONE.

AND ONE OF THE LADIES TALKED ABOUT KINDERGARTEN READINESS AND PREPAREDNESS AND SHE SAID 7% OF OUR KIDS WERE READY FOR KINDERGARTEN.

AND I WAITED AND WAITED AND WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON THAT FOR THE WHOLE ENTIRE TIME SHE WAS DOING HER REPORT.

AND AT THE END I ASKED, YOU KNOW, DID YOU SAY SEVEN OR 70.

AND SHE SAID SEVEN.

AND I SAID SO 93% OF OUR KIDS ARE NOT READY FOR KINDERGARTEN.

AND SHE SAID YEAH.

I COULDN'T WRAP MY MIND AROUND THAT AND WHY THAT WAS THE CASE.

AND SO WHEN I WENT BACK AND TALKED TO THE OTHER WOMEN THAT CO-FOUNDED PARENT VILLAGES WITH ME, CINDY, HARPER, PAGE, AND IANA, I TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND I SAID WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

AND WE THOUGHT ABOUT ALL THESE IDEAS AND THEN I SAID, WHY DON'T WE NAME IT PARENT VINYLS.

AND THAT'S -- VIG -- VILLAGES.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED, GOING OUT, EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY, DOING OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE WE CAN BRING RESOURCES THAT DON'T KNOW HOW TO ACCESS THEM OR WHERE TO GO.

>> YOUR MOTTO IS IT STILL TAKES A VILLAGE.

WHAT ARE THE SOME OF THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE THAT FORM YOUR VILLAGE AND WHAT ARE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY OFFER?

>> SO THEY SAY HEALTH IS ONE OF OUR LARGER PARENTS.

SPRINGFIELD WORKS IS ANOTHER PARTNER.

THE SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS ALWAYS INTERACTING WITH US AND WORKING ALONG SIDE US.

STATEWIDE, WE ARE INVOLVED IN MEEK, WHICH IS MASS EDUCATION FOR -- STRATEGIES FOR CHILDREN.

THE LIST GOES ON.

THERE ARE JUST SO MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT WE WORK WITH, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE ISSUE AND CONCERN IS.

THE REALITY IS THAT EDUCATION ISN'T JUST ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CLASSROOM FOR OUR CHILDREN.

GESTION EXTENDS -- EDUCATION EXTENDS BEYOND THAT.

SO IN ORDER TO SUPPORT OUR KIDS, WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THE PARENTS.

SO PROVIDING TWO-GENERATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ACCESS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

>> THAT BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION, BECAUSE I LOVE THAT ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM.

IT REALLY SUPPORTS THE STUDENTS, BUT THE ADULTS AND THE CAREGIVERS.

TELL ME ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT FAMILY ENGAGEMENT HAS.

>> FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IS HUGE, RIGHT?

IF YOU FIND A SCHOOL THAT'S A LEVEL 1 SCHOOL, A SCHOOL THAT'S SUCCEEDING, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND A SCHOOL THAT HIGHLY ENGAGES THEIR FAMILIES.

STATISTICS SHOW IT AND PROVE IT.

THE DAVIS FOUNDATION WAS INVOLVED IN READING SUCCESS BY FOURTH GRADE AND FOUNDED THAT.

SO WE WORKED ALONGSIDE THEM AS WELL AND STILL DO CONTINUE TO WORK ALONGSIDE WITH THEM, TRYING TO NOT ONLY SAY, LET'S GET A BOOK IN THE HAND OF A CHILD, BUT LET'S ENCOURAGE THE PARENT TO READ TO THE CHILD AND UNDERSTAND WHY THAT'S NECESSARY.

SO THAT'S A VERY CLEAR EXAMPLE OF WHY ENGAGEMENT WITH FAMILIES IS IMPORTANT AND NOT JUST IN A CLASSROOM.

OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM.

>> LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT THE STUDENTS.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A LOT OF THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO.

SO FROM WORKSHOPS TO SCHOLARSHIPS, YOU HAVE SHOWN UP FOR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS IN MANY WAYS.

I KNOW LAST YEAR YOU WERE GIVING OUT FREE LAPTOPS TO FAMILIES.

YOUR EDUCATION MATTERS PROGRAM GIVES OUT SCHOLARSHIPS TO MANY STUDENTS.

SO TELL ME ANOTHER MOMENT OF IMPACT THAT HAS REALLY STUCK WITH YOU AND REMINDED YOU OF WHY YOU DO THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

>> WE HAD A STUDENT WHO CAME INTO OUR PROGRAM AND HE WAS -- HE'S ON THE SPECTRUM.

I'M NOT SURE WHERE BECAUSE I'M NOT A DOCTOR.

BUT HE WAS ON THE SPECTRUM AND HIS MOTHER WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HE'D BE ABLE TO STAY IN A PROGRAM.

HE CAME IN AND THE FIRST DAY WAS KIND OF TRYING BECAUSE WE WERE LIKE, OKAY, WE GOT TO BE PATIENT WITH HIM.

WE WANT HIM TO GET THE FEEL -- SURROUNDING.

BUT I TELL YOU, BY THE THIRD TIME HE CAME IN, HE WAS TALKING TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

BY THE TIME WE ENDED THE PROGRAM, HE WAS JUST SO OUTSPOKEN.

HE WAS SO WELL LOVED.

THE KID WERE TALKING TO HIM.

HE WAS TALKING TO THE KIDS.

HE WASN'T HIDING IN THE BACKGROUND.

HE WAS ENGAGED AND HIS MOTHER CONTACTED ME.

SHE'S LIKE I DIDN'T BELIEVE MY SON WAS GONNA LAST YEAR BECAUSE I WAS NERVOUS, YOU KNOW.

HE'D BEEN IN COVID FOR TWO YEARS AND ISOLATED.

BUT HE DID SO WELL.

AND HE'S EXCITED TO BE HERE AND HE WANTS TO COME BACK WHEN YOU HAVE THIS PROGRAM AGAIN.

AND IT'S LIKE, THAT WAS SO AWESOME.

AND I SEEN HIM IN THE COMMUNITY AND HE'S LIKE, HI, MRS. ELLER.

AND I WAS LIKE -- THIS KID THAT WOULDN'T TALK TO ANYBODY!

AND NOW HE FEELS LIKE HE HAS A VILLAGE AND HE HAS FRIENDS THAT HE MADE THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

SO THAT WAS ONE OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND THEN FOR OUR ADULT VILLAGE, WE HAD A LADY, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY.

SORRY.

>> THAT'S OKAY.

>> I TRY NOT TO GET EMOTIONAL.

BUT WE HAD A LADY AND SHE WENT THROUGH A LOT.

SHE HAD BEEN IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION.

SHE HAD A CHILD.

AND SHE'S TRYING TO GET HERSELF TOGETHER AND DO BETTER.

SO SHE SAID TO ME, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T GONNA COME BACK BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I -- I DIDN'T KNOW IF I FELT MOTIVATED TO BE HERE.

BUT SOMETHING IN ME KEPT DRIVING ME TO COME EVERY TIME.

SHE SAID, AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT I LISTENED TO THAT VOICE IN ME THAT KEPT SAYING COME BACK.

AND NOW I'M A CHANGED WOMAN.

NOW I HAVE A DIFFERENT MINDSET.

IRUNDERSTAND WHAT I NEED TO DO AND I'M READY TO DO IT.

AND I WAS LIKE, YAY!

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

YOU KNOW.

AND SO HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND SEEING THE CHANGE AND REALLY CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE ON THE LEVEL THAT'S AUTHENTIC, IT'S POWERFUL, IT'S INVALUABLE.

THERE'S NO AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU CAN PUT ON IT TO PRICE THAT.

THERE'S NOTHING I CAN SAY REALLY CAN MAKE ME FEEL ANY HAPPIER SEEING THAT KIND OF TRANSITION FOR PEOPLE.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR 0E EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

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