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

BRINGING LOCAL PRODUCE TO SENIORS IN NEED.

>> SOCIAL SECURITY DOESN'T PROVIDE ENOUGH FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR BILLS.

IT'S NOT RIGHT FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN FOOD AND PAYING OTHER BILLS.

>> SPRINGFIELD NATIVE AND AWARD-WINNING PERFORMANCE ARTIST AND PLAYWRIGHT DANIEL ALEXANDER JONES DISCUSSES HIS LATEST PROJECTS.

>> YOU HAVE TO REACH BIGGER, YOU HAVE TO DREAM BIGGER, AND YOU HAVE TO LEARN, ASK MORE QUESTIONS.

SO ALL OF THIS WORK WAS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ASKING MYSELF WHAT IF.

>> AND WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH WITH A LITTLE TASTE OF COLOMBIA.

>> WE WERE LIKE THE HOUSE ON THE BLOCK, WHAT WAS ALL FULL OF ALL THE FRIENDS AND THERE -- THEY'LL COME TO OUR HOUSE TO EAT.

WE DECIDED TO MAKE IT A BUSINESS.

>> WE'LL BRING YOU THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

>> Announcer: SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" PROVIDING BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> GOOD EVENING.

AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR CONSIDER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

SINCE 2004 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND SUSTAINING AGRICULTURE OR CISA HAS RUN THEIR SENIOR FARM SHARE PROGRAM, WHICH HELPS PROVIDE FRESH, LOCAL PRODUCE TO LOW-INCOME SENIORS.

WITH ADDITIONAL GRANT MONEY THIS YEAR FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ELDER AFFAIRS, THEY WERE ABLE TO INVITE MORE FARMS INTO THE FOLD, AND CPR'S BRIAN SULLIVAN VISITED ONE LOCAL FARM WHO TOOK PART IN THE 10-WEEK PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR.

>> DRIVERS PASSING BY MAY ONLY SEE THIS QUAINT STORM STAND -- FARM STAND.

A QICIAL STAPLE HERE IN NEW ENGLAND.

WHAT THEY DON'T SEE ARE THE 25 ACRES OF LAND STRETCHED OUT WHERE THERE ARE FIELDS AND GREENHOUSES LOADED WITH ORGANICALLY GROWN PRODUCE AND FLOWERS.

WHAT THEY MAY NOT KNOW ASK WHILE THE OWNER UNLOADS SOME LEAFY GREENS AND THREE GEESE A LITTLE AFTER 7:00 A.M., THE TWO OF THEM HAVE BEEN ON THE JOB FOR OVER TWO HOURS AND WILL LIKELY BE AT IT FOR ANOTHER 11 OR 12 HOURS.

NOW, 25 ACRES MAY SOUND LIKE A LOT OF LAND TO THE AVERAGE CITY DWELLER LIKE ME, BUT IT'S A SMALL FARM.

AND THIS IS THE EARLY PART TO A TYPICAL 14-HOUR DAY TOILING THE SOIL.

>> WE ARE A SMALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE FIELD ALL THE WORK IN THE WASHROOM.

THEY ALSO PLANT STUFF.

THEY WEED STUFF.

PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY DOES EVERYTHING AROUND HERE.

AND WE DO ALL THE PLANTING, THE PICKING, AND ALL THAT STUFF.

DAVE AND I WORK ALONG WITH WHOEVER IS WORKING FOR US AT THE TIME.

WE DON'T HAVE -- YOU KNOW, DON'T SEND OUR EMPLOYEES OUT TO DO WORK AND HANG BACK HERE.

IT'S KIND OF A HANDS-ON JOB FOR EVERYONE.

>> REGARDLESS OF THE SIZED OF THE FARM, IT'S THE REPUNATION THAT WAS BIG ENOUGH FOR IT TO BE CHOSEN IN 2021 AS ONE OF 13 LOCAL FARMS ACROSS HAMPTON, HAMP SHIRE AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.

IT'S A PROGRAM THAT'S HELPED PROVIDE FRESH PRODUCE FOR LOW-INCOME SENIORS AND IS RUN BY IF CISA ORGANIZATION, OR COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN SUSTAINING AGRICULTURE.

THIS YEAR THEIR GRANT MONEY WAS INCREASED TO $75,000, WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO EXPAND THEIR OUTREACH.

>> THEY CHOSE HADLEY.

THEY APPLIED AND ASKED TO BE PART OF THE PROGRAM AND THEY CHOSE SOUTH HADLEY AS ONE OF THE EXPANSION SITES.

WHEN THEY ASKED THE COUNCIL ON AGE FIGURE THERE WERE ANY FARMS THEY WANTED TO WORK WITH, THEY -- AGING IF THERE WERE ANY FARMS THAT WANTED TO WORK WITH, THERE WEREN'T ANY AGING FARMS, BUT SEVERAL OF THE SOUTH HADLEY COUNCIL ON ACHING -- AGING PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT OUR FARM AND SAID THEY'D BE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH US.

>> THE PROGRAM WHICH RUNS FOR 10 WEEKS HAD JUST WRAPPED UP ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE OUR VISIT THERE.

BUT IT WAS NICE GETTING A CHANCE TO SEE THAT EVEN A SMALL OPERATION LIKE THIS FARM CAN HAVE SUCH A BIG IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, THE IDEA THAT MY GRANDPARENTS OR PEOPLE MY GRANS PARENTS' AGE -- GRANDPARENTS' AGE COULD BE IN NEED OF BASIC NECESSITIES BUT NEVER A THOUGHT IN MY HEAD.

BUT WITH THIS PROGRAM AND HELP FROM LOCAL FARMS LIKE DAVE'S NATURAL GARDEN, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE.

>> YOU KNOW, I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT THAT MY GRANDPARENTS WOULD BE PEOPLE WHO WOULD NEED HELP BUYING TOED EITHER.

AND -- BUYING FOOD EITHER.

AND THEY WEREN'T.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF SENIORS IN THE AREA, THEY HAVE A REALLY LIMITED INCOME.

SOCIAL SECURITY DOESN'T PROVIDE ENOUGH FOR THEM TO PAY THEIR BILLS.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT RIGHT FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN FOOD AND PAYING OTHER BILLS.

>> WHILE 2021 WAS THE FIRST YEAR OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROGRAM T FOLKS HERE ARE NO STRANGERS TO COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE.

AND IT WAS A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

SO NOW THEY CAN SET THEIR SIGHTS ON MAKING THIS AN ANNUAL TRADITION.

>> IT WAS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND WE REALLY ENJOYED PARTICIPATING IN IT.

IT WAS AWESOME TO BE ABLE TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE PEOPLE WHO WERE A PART OF IT AND TO SEE HOW MUCH THEY ENJOYED PARTICIPATING WHEN THEY CAME HERE AT THE FARM.

THEY REALLY HAD GREAT THINGS TO SAY ABOUT IT.

SO IT WAS AWESOME FOR US.

WE'RE TOTALLY HOPING TO DO IT NEXT YEAR.

¶ ¶ >>> EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT CPR EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

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

ON THIS WEEK IN 1964, THE REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., RECEIVED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FOR HIS NONVIOLENT PROTEST OF RACIAL FLEDGE DOES IN AMERICA.

AND DURING THAT SAME YEAR, HE DELIVERED THE SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE DIMENSIONMENT SPEECH.

BUT THE SPEECH ALMOST DIDN'T HAPPEN, AND CPR'S DAVE FRASER BRINGS US THE STORY IN THIS DIGITAL EXTRA.

>> THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO GET THE COLLEGE PRESIDENT GLEN OLDS TO RENEGE ON THIS INVITATION, AN EFFORT THAT CAME FROM A NUMBER OF PLACES, MOST NOTABLY THE FBI.

THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT KING, TO LIMIT HIS INFLUENCE.

IT DID EXTEND EVEN TO A SMALL CAMPUS LIKE SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE.

AND THIS BECAME I THINK A REAL MOMENT OF TRUTH FOR THE COLLEGE PRESIDENT, GLEN OLDS.

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

>>> AWARD-WINNING PERFORMANCE ARTIST, PLAYWRIGHT, AND SPRINGFIELD NATIVE DANIEL ALEXANDER JONES HAS RELEASED SEVERAL PROJECTS THIS FALL INCLUDING TWO NEW BOOKS, AN ALBUM, MUSIC VIDEOS, AND A PODCAST SERIES.

JONES, WHO IS WIDELY RESPECTED AND CELEBRATED NATIONWIDE FOR HIS TRANSFORMATIONAL AND TRANSSEN DEN TALPERFORMANCE IN -- TRANSCENDENTAL PERFORMANCE AND WRITING, EXPLORES HIS PAST WORK AS WELL AS EXPANDS HIS DIGITAL PRESENCE IN THIS NEW SERIES OF PROJECTS.

I SPOKE WITH JONES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS NEW BODIES OF WORK.

>> I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO BE COMING UP DURING AN ERA WHERE SPIENGFIELD HAD SOME OF THE -- SPRINGFIELD HAD SOME OF THE BEST PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE NATION AND THE TEACHERS WERE SO INTERESTED AND SO LOVING AND -- AND I FEEL LIKE I WAS ABLE -- THROUGH THEIR -- THEIR TEACHERS AND -- TEACHERS AND FLEW THEIR GUIDANCE FIND OUT I WAS AN ARTIST AND TO THEN LEARN THAT COULD BE A PATH I COULD TAKE.

AND WE CAME FROM A WORKING-CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NO SENSE THAT YOU KNOW, A CAREER IN THE ARTS WAS SOMETHING THAT I HAD SEEN BEFORE.

-- NECESSARILY.

BUT THEY JUST BELIEVED IN US.

AND THEY'RE LIKE, YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT THING U YOU KNOW.

SO I ALWAYS THINK OF MY TEACHERS, MY FOURTH GRADE TEACHER, MISDAVID IN PARTICULAR, WHO PUT IN US THAT SINCE -- YOU CAN BE WHO YOU WANT TO BE.

AND YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO -- DISCIPLINE AND THE WORK ETHIC TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS.

I FELT WHEN I LEFT TO GO EMBARK ON MY VENTURE OF MY CAREER, THAT I WAS COMING FROM A PLACE THAT HAD TAUGHT ME HOW TO BE AND HAD SHOWN ME THE VALUE THAT RELATIONSHIPS AND PEOPLE MATTER MOST.

>> AND SPEAKING OF YOUR CAREER, YOU HAVE A LOT TO CELEBRATE THIS FALL WITH TWO NEW BOOKS, AN ALBUM, MUSIC VIDEOS, A PODCAST CONVERSATION SERIES.

I SAID THIS TO YOU EARLIER.

WHILE WE'RE ALL FEELING BURNT OUT FROM THIS PANDEMIC, YOU SOMEHOW HAVE MANAGED TO FIND THE MOTIVATION TO CREATE SO MANY DIFFERENT BODIES OF WORK.

WHERE DID THAT INSPIRATION COME FROM?

>> NUMBER ONE, I FEEL LIKE WHENEVER I'VE HAD A CHALLENGE IN MY LIFE, I BRING THAT TO MY ART.

LIKE IT'S THE PLACE THAT I CAN WORK THINGS OUT AND I CAN ASK BIG QUESTIONS.

AND LAST YEAR NOT ONLY WERE WE DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC, BUT IN MY FAMILY WE WERE ALSO DEALING WITH THE SUDDEN DECLINE IN THE DEATH OF MY MOTHER.

AND THE EXPERIENCE OF GOING THROUGH THAT, YOU KNOW, REALLY BROUGHT ME BACK, YOU KNOW, A, I CAME BACK TO SPRINGFIELD FOR THAT EXPERIENCE.

AND THEN B, I CAME BACK TO THOSE CORE VALUES THAT MY FAMILY INSTILLED IN ME.

AND ONE OF THEM IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING.

LIKE PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO SOMETHING.

AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS, YOU KNOW, THAT IF YOU -- IF YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY CHALLENGING, THEN THE THINGS THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE AT YOUR DISPOSAL AREN'T GONNA HELP YOU GET OUT OF IT.

YOU HAVE TO REACH BIGGER.

YOU HAVE TO DREAM BIGGER.

AND YOU HAVE TO LEARN, ASK MORE QUESTIONS.

SO ALL OF THIS WORK WAS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ASKING MYSELF WHAT IF, YOU KNOW.

AND THE MUSIC AND THE VIDEOS CAME OUT OF LIKE THINKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE, BECAUSE MY MOM WAS ON HER WAY TOWARD PASSING.

AND IT LED ME TO A MEDITATION ON THE SOLAR SYSTEM AND THE UNIVERSE.

AND SO ALL OF THAT WORK CAME OUT OF SITTING WITH MY OWN GRIEF AND SITTING WITH MY OWN WONDER ABOUT -- ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH.

AND THEN THE BOOK WAS, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE WORKS THAT I MADE AND BEING INVITED BY THIS PUBLISHER TO COLLECT THEM AND TO HAVE A CHANCE TO GO BACK.

AND A COUPLE OF THE PIECES ARE ACTUALLY SET IN SPRINGFIELD.

SO IT'S LIKE, IT WAS DEEP TO KIND OF COME BACK AND SAY, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN DIALOGUE WITH THIS PLACE FOR DECADES, YOU KNOW!

>> RIGHT.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> HOW WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU TO REVISIT ALL OF THESE PAST PIECES OF WORK, BECAUSE THE BOOK, "LOVE LIKE LIGHT,"" A COLLECT OF 25 YEARS WOSHTDZ OF YOUR PIECES.

-- YEARS' WORTH OF YOUR PIECES.

HOW WAS IT FEELING HAVING TO REMINISCE ON THOSE PIECES?

>> YEAH.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL QUESTION.

IT WAS HARD TO CHOOSE, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE -- YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE CHILDREN BUT I IMAGINE IT'S LIKE THAT THING OF -- YOU CAN'T PICK A FAVORITE.

EVERYBODY GETS IN TROUBLE, RIGHT?

[LAUGHTER] BUT I REALLY -- I LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO -- TO SAY, YO, THESE ARE QUESTIONS I HAD IN THE 1990s.

IN THE 2000s.

THESE ARE QUESTIONS I HAD IN THE 2010s.

AND TO SAY THAT I REED I WAS -- REEMS I'M A CREATURE THAT IS RELATED TO HISTORY.

WE'RE ALL IN A HISTORICAL MOMENT.

AND SO FOR ME, THE JOY WAS TO GO BACK AND SAY, WOW, I REMEMBER THAT COMMUNITY-MINDEDNESS AND THAT ENERGY OF TOGETHERNESS AND UPLIFTED THAT WAS IN THE '70S FROM THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

I REMEMBER WHAT THAT FELT LIKE.

SO THE WORK THAT I WROTE ABOUT THAT TESTIFIES TO THAT.

AND THEN I REMEMBER THE HARDSHIP THAT CAME DURING THE REAGAN YEARS, ECONOMICALLY AND POLITICALLY, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND I WAS ABLE TO WRITE ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN ALSO WRITING ABOUT IDENTITY AND YOU KNOW -- I WROTE A LOT ABOUT GENDER AND SEXUALITY AND MULTIPLICITY AND IDENTITY BEFORE WE HAD THAT LANGUAGE.

FOR NOW THERE'S A LOT MORE FREEDOM AND SPACE.

AND SO IT WAS REALLY POWERFUL TO LOOK BACK AND SAY, I WROTE ABOUT THOSE THINGS EVEN BEFORE A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE WRITING ABOUT THEM.

>> THAT'S AMAZING.

AND THE PANDEMIC PRESENTED YOU WITH A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THE DIGITAL UNIVERSE WITH YOUR SERIES, WHICH WERE YOU REFERENCING BEFORE, WHICH FEATURES HERSELF AND YOUR ALTER EGO -- >> YES, JONES -- >> WHAT WAS IT LIKE TRANSFORMING THIS LIVE PRODUCTION INTO NOW A DIGITAL PRODUCTION?

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I HAD THE BEST TIME!

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE ANYONE WHO DOES THEATER OR DOES LIVE PERFORMANCE ANYWHERE, LIKE IF YOU SING IN CHURCH OR COMMUNITIES, WHATEVER YOU DO, YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S SO MUCH WORK THAT GOES INTO IT AND THEN YOU DO IT AND IT'S GONE.

BUT DOING THIS WORK WHERE IT LIVES NOW IN THESE VIDEOS AND YOU CAN KEEP COMING BACK TO IT AND YOU CAN SHARE IT ACROSS VAST DISTANCES, EVERYBODY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN THAT ROOM, WAS A REVELATION.

>> ONE.

STATEMENTS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME -- ONE OF THE STATEMENTS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME WHEN YOU SAY YOUR WORK IS CONTINUOUS BUT IT'S NOT YOUR WORK ALONE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WHY IS COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE ARTS AND DIFFERENT ARTISTS SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU AND IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY AS WELL?

>> I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ALWAYS SMARTER, MORE LOVING, AND MORE CAPABLE WHEN WE FIND WAYS TO COME TOGETHER.

PERIOD.

AND I KNOW THAT I KNOW CERTAIN THINGS VERY WELL.

I KNOW I HAVE CERTAIN TALENTS AND ABILITIES.

BUT I ALSO KNOW WHAT I DON'T KNOW AND WHAT I CAN'T DO.

AND SO WHEN I DREAM OF A PIECE OR HAVE A BIG QUESTION I WANT TO EXPLORE IN ART, I AUTOMATICALLY SAY, WHO ARE GOING TO BE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BRING IF CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WILL MAKE -- CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WILL MAKE IT HOLE, -- WHOLE, BECAUSE I CAN'T DO THAT BY MYSELF.

AND YOU FIND NOT ONLY DO THEY BRING OUT YOUR BEST, BUT YOU CAN -- AND IT'S NOT EASY BECAUSE PEOPLE GOT PENALTIES AND -- PERSONALITIES AND PEOPLE HAVE HISTORIES AND STUFF, YOU KNOW, DRAMA OCCURS FOR SURE.

BUT IF YOU'RE COMMITTED TO THE IDEA, THEN YOU CAN FIND A WAY TO INSPIRE OTHERS AS WELL TO BRING OUT THE BEST OF THEMSELVES.

>> NOW, THE LAST QUESTION THAT I HAVE TO ASK.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT JOE MAMA JONES REALLY QUICK BECAUSE SHE CAME TO YOU IN 1995.

>> YES.

>> AND AS A MESSENGER COMING FROM THE FUTURE, WHAT WOULD JO MAMA JONES WANT US -- WANT TO SHARE WITH US ABOUT THE FUTURE?

>> WITHOUT QUESTION, SHE WOULD SAY THAT THE FUTURE AND IN OUR HANDS AND WE MUST TAKE ACTION IN THE SERVICE OF THOSE THINGS I'M TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT COMMUNITY, ABOUT GENEROSITY.

THE GREATEST TRAGEDY OF MY LIFETIME WAS WATCHING THAT MOVEMENT FROM THAT COMMUNITY-MINDED CIVIL RIGHTS ERA INTO THE ME GENERATION OF REAGAN.

AND THE WAY THAT AS INDIVIDUALS WE'RE LED TO BELIEVE WE'RE IN IT ALONE, WE SHOULD ONLY GO FOR OUR OWN, AND THAT HELPING OTHER PEOPLE IS WEAKNESS.

SO WHAT SHE WOULD SAY IS, THE TIME IS COMING WHERE WE'RE GONNA NEED ONE ANOTHER.

AND SO YOU BETTER START PRACTICING NOW.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> ALL MONTH LONG NEPM AND CPR CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE THE RICH DIVERSITY OF LATINO CULTURE RIGHT HERE IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

THAT DIVERSE CULTURE INCLUDES SOME INCREDIBLE FOOD, AND WE'VE GOT A TASTY TREAT FOR YOU THIS EVENING.

JUAN URIBE HAS FOND MEMORIES GROWING UP IN HOLYOKE AND HAVING PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO HIS FAMILY'S HOUSE TO ENJOY SOME GOOD COLOMBIAN FOOD.

WHEN HE GOT OLDER, HE AND HIS BROTHER OPENED UP ELPARACEO COLOMBIANO, A FAMILY-RUN RESTAURANT ON HIGH STREET AND PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US THE STORY.

>> IT WAS A FRIDAY NIGHT IN HOLYOKE.

AS FOOD ITEMS WERE BEING PREPARED ON THE GRILL, OTHER MEALS WERE BEING PACKAGED AND READY FOR PICK-UP.

THE BUSINESS IS THE ONLY COLOMBIAN RESTAURANT IN THE PAPER CITY ACCORDING TO OWNERS JUAN AND GILBERTO URIBE.

>> WE LOVE FOOD.

WE LOVE ENTERTAINING PEOPLE.

WE LOVE HOSTING PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN LIKE SINCE KIDS.

WE WERE LIKE THE HOUSE ON THE BLOCK THAT WAS ALWAYS FULL OF ALL THE FRIENDS AND THEY ALWAYS WILL COME TO OUR HOUSE TO EAT.

SO -- WE TURNED THAT INTO A BUSINESS.

>> THE TWO BROTHERS STARTED THE RESTAURANT IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR.

THEY GREW UP IN HOLYOKE AND RELY ON FAMILY TO HELP COOK, CLEAN, AND SERVE.

>> PARENTS CAME FROM COLOMBIA.

AND THEY WERE IN NEW YORK AND THEY CAME OVER HERE IN 1987.

THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE IS FAMILY.

FAMILY, THAT'S IT.

BROTHERS, AUNTS, UNCLES, COUSINS.

EVERYBODY.

>> SO I HAVE MY COUSIN MAD THROUGH, MY FATHER AS THE HEAD CHEF OVER HERE, JUAN URIBE.

SENIOR.

WE HAVE ROADIE, AND WE HAVE STELLA.

YOU KNOW, THEY ALL HAVE THEIR SPOTS THEY WORK WITH.

YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY TIGHT IN HERE, BUT WE WORK AS A TEAM WHEN WE MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> WE DECIDED TO DO IT IN HOLYOKE BECAUSE HOCKSLY WE WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE AND WE SEE THE POTENTIAL HOLYOKE HAS.

IT'S AN AWESOME PLACE TO START A BUSINESS.

IT'S -- AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO DO IT ANYWHERE ELSE, TO BE HONEST.

>> COLOMBIAN FOOD HAS SOME DEGREE OF SPANISH INFLUENCE, ALONG WITH AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND THAT OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

MOST COLOMBIAN MEALS INCLUDE MEAT, RICE, AND A VEGETABLE, REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OF DAY THEY ARE SERVED.

ONE OF THE MORE POPULAR ITEMS ON THE MENU BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF FOOD PRESENTED WITH EACH SERVING.

>> IT'S RICE, BEANS, PORK, STEAK, SWEET PLANTAINS.

CORN CAKE, SAUSAGE.

>> JUAN URIBE SENIOR IS THE MAIN CHEF IN THE KITCHEN.

HE LEARNED HOW TO COOK FROM HIS MOTHER WHILE GROWING UP IN COLOMBIA.

HIS BOYS ARE THE FIRST ONES IN THE FAMILY TO OPEN THEIR OWN BUSINESS.

>> I'M VERY VOWED.

IT'SING IN -- VERY PROUD.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALWAYS WANT TO DO.

AND I -- I'VE BEEN PROUD YOU KNOW, WE FINALLY GOT IT DONE.

AND IT'S HARD BUT WE JUST DO IT.

>> THE DINING ROOM HAS TRADITION COLOMBIAN DECOR AND THE BROTHERS SAY THAT MANY OF THEIR REGULARS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE BACK HOME WHEN THEY COME IN.

>> WE HEAR A LOT WHEN WE HAVE OUR COLOMBIAN CUSTOMERS COME IN, LIKE I FEEL LIKE I'M BACK AT HOME.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

WE'RE STANDING BACK THERE AND WE LOOK OVER HERE AND WE SEE A FULL HOUSE, IT'S LIKE -- IT'S LIKE WE REALLY MADE IT HAPPEN.

IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE.

¶ ¶ .

¶ ¶ >>> AND YOU CAN FIND MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE UP THE LATINO EXPERIENCE IN OUR REGION ONLINE AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT, INCLUDING OUR NEXT STORY.

A COMMUNITY FIRST AND AN ORGANIZATION SECOND IS THE GOAL OF THE NATIONAL LATINX-LED INITIATIVE "LATINO OUTDOORS."

INSPIRING, CONNECTING, AND ENGAGING LATINO COMMUNITIES TO CRAZY LEADERS IN CONSERVATION AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION IS THEIR MISSION.

WITH CHAPTERS NATIONWIDE, LATINO OUTDOORS CONNECTS AND SUPPORTS PARTICIPANTS THROUGH A NETWORK OF PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS, AND I SPOKE WITH LEADERS FROM LATINO OUTDOORS WESTERN MASS TO LEARN MORE.

>> OUR CHAPTER ACTUALLY JUST BEGAN ABOUT A YEAR AGO IN OCTOBER OF 2020, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND A LOT OF US WERE ALREADY DOING WORK IN OUTDOOR EQUITY AND CONSERVATION AND DOING RESEARCH AND LOOKING FOR SOME COMPANY AND SOME COMMUNITY THAT WE COULD RELATE TO.

AND WE FELT THAT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE REPRESENTATION IN OUR NATURAL SPACES AND IN THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CONSERVATION AND LAND MANAGEMENT HERE.

AND WE WANTED TO REALLY LEVERAGE ALL THE RESOURCES THAT THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION HAS TO OFFER.

>> SPEAKING ABOUT THAT REPRESENTATION, THIS ORGANIZATION IS CREATING A NATIONAL COMMUNITY OF LATINO LEADERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSERVATION.

WHY IS THERE AN EMPHASIS ON SERVING THIS PARTICULAR DEMOGRAPHIC?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE OUTDOORS, IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONVERSATIONS, THE LATINO COMMUNITY HAS LARGELY BEEN LEFT OUT.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE CREATING EQUITY IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

WE'RE CREATING A PLACE 4 OUR PEOPLE TO BE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.

>> LUCAS AND SARAH, YOU BOTH ARE INVOLVED AS OUTINGS LEADERS AND SAUR YOU A AS AN -- SARAH, AS AN AMBASSADOR.

WHEN DID YOUR PASSION FOR THE OUTDOORS BEGIN AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF ROAM?

>> I'VE ALWAYS LOVED BEING OUTDOORS.

I THINK MY FAMILY AND CERTAINLY OUR CULTURE HAS ALWAYS EMGRACED CONSERVATION -- EMBRACED CONSERVATION AND I FIND THIS COMMUNITY HAS GIVEN ME FAMILY AWAY FROM FAMILY, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK MOST OF US ARE TRANSPLANTS HERE TO THIS WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AREA.

AND SO IT'S JUST BEEN INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT I COULD CONNECT WITH ON BOTH OF THOSE PLAINS, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES OPERATING WITHIN THESE NATURAL SPACES IN SCIENCE AND SCIENCE EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION HAS OFTENTIMES MADE ME FEEL LIKE I HAD TO CHECK MY CULTURE AT THE TRAILHEAD OR AT THE DOOR.

SO IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE IN A SPACE WHERE I CAN BRING THOSE TWO TOGETHER.

>> ASIDE FROM EXPLORING AND APPRECIATING THE OUTDOORS AND NATURE, TALK TO ME ABOUT THE OTHER LIFE SKILLS THAT PEOPLE ARE GAINING FROM BEING A PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

>> WELL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING DEEP CONVERSATIONS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR CULTURE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE TABLE TO LEARN ABOUT WHO THEY ARE AND EXPLORING HOW THAT APPLIES TO THE OUTDOORS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INTERACTING WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

WE'VE WORKED IN THE PAST WITH HOLYOKE BIKE PED.

WE'VE WORKED WITH APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN TRAIL.

MOUNTAIN GRACE HAS BEEN A CRITICAL PARTNER -- CRITICAL PARTNER DURING LATINIO CONSERVATION WEEK.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES THAT ARE MEANT TO PROMOTE SELF-GROWTH AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT.

>> YOU'RE HOSTING A BIRD WALK AT FREP.

TALK TO ME -- FOREST PARK.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT EVENT.

>> OUR BIRDING EVENT IS MEANT TO KICK OFF -- IT'S OUR CELEBRATION FOR HISPANIC LATINO HERITAGE MONTH.

ONE OF OUR MEMBERS, OUR PROGRAM COORDINATOR, IS A -- AN ECOLOGIST, BIRD ECOLOGIST, AND SHE'S VERY ENTHUSIASTIC.

HE'S RUNNING A BIRD BANNING PROGRAMMED -- BIRD BANDING PROGRAM.

SO WE'RE HELPING THE PUBLIC INTERACT WITH BIRDS, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPECIES THAT ARE HERE, ACTUALLY IN FOREST PARK IN THE SPRINGFIELD AND HOLYOKE AREA.

>> IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE YOU'VE BEEN A CHAPTER.

WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS OR EVENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE?

>> WHEN IT COMES TO MY MIND IS OUR VERY FIRST EVENT, IT WAS A VIRTUAL EVENT.

JUST TO TRY AND HONOR SAFETY AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WAS CALLING IN FROM A SPAIF SPACE -- SAFE SPACE.

BUT WERE PARTNERED WITH THE HARVARD FOREST IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND PETER AND OFFER A VIRTUAL TOUR.

AND WE HAD PEOPLE CALLING IN FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND HIGHLIGHTING SOME WONDERFUL EFFORTS THAT ARE GOING ON HERE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

AND BEING ABLE TO REPRESENT A PRESENCE THERE AND REALLY CONNECT WITH THE SPACE HERE AND IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE AND GREAT, GREAT INFORMATION ABOUT THE HARVARD FOREST.

WE ALL GOT TO LEARN TOGETHER.

>> WET OUR BIG WEEK CELEBRATION AND WE HELD THAT AT SCOTT TOWER.

WE LED GUIDED TOURS UP TO THE TOWER WHICH WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

THAT WAS MY FIRST LATINO OUTDOORS EVENT AS WELL.

I HAD JUMPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PLANNING OF THAT AS A NEWER MEMBER.

AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEE ALL THE FOLKS, ALL THE DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS THAT CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE THE EVENT HAPPEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US.

BUT ALSO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT CAME, TOO, TO SEE -- SOME OF THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME A GEM, RIGHT, IN THEIR OWN CITY N THEIR BACKYARD.

>> FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE CURIOUS OR ARE UNSURE IF THE OUTDOORS IS FOR THEM, WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE WITH THEM?

>> WELL, THE OUTDOORS IS FOR EVERYBODY.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY THE MESSAGE HERE.

THE OUTDOORS IS FOR EVERYBODY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN EXPERT CLIMBER.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN EXPERT HIKER.

THERE ARE ALL SORT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE OUTDOORS AROUND YOU.

THERE'S HIKING, THERE'S KAYAKING, THERE'S CANOEING.

THERE ARE SMALL TRAILINGS, A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE CONSERVATION LANDS THAT ARE PRETTY WELL MANAGED THAT HAVE SOME EASIER TRAILS.

AND YOU HAVE THE HARDER HIKES LIKE MT.

TOM.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO OFFER AN OPEN INVITATION, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE, FOR PEOPLE TO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND TRY SOME NEW EXPERIENCES AND SEE HOW IT FITS YOU.

THERE'S A LOT THAT WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS HAS TO OFFER IN TERMS OF ACCESS POINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH NATURE.

AND I KNOW ALL OF US IN THE WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS REGION HAVE REALLY BENEFITED FROM THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND WE JUST WANT TO SHARE THEM WITH FOLKS.

SO IT'S OUR JOB AND OUR PRIVILEGE AND OUR HONOR TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CREATE A WELCOMING AND SAFE SPACE FOR FOLKS TO COME OUT AND SEE WHAT WORKS FOR THEM.

¶ ¶ .

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR OCTOBER 15TH, 2021.

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I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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