♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A NEW MURAL GRACING INCLUDING A NEW MURAL GRACING THE BACK OF AN ICONIC THE BACK OF AN ICONIC NORTHAMPTON BUILDING.

NORTHAMPTON BUILDING.

>> THERE'S A WHOLE SPECTRUM OF >> THERE'S A WHOLE SPECTRUM OF ART AND A LOT OF MAKES YOU ART AND A LOT OF MAKES YOU THINK, MAKES YOU QUESTION THINK, MAKES YOU QUESTION YOURSELF AND YOUR THOUGHTS.

YOURSELF AND YOUR THOUGHTS.

>>> AN ORAL HISTORY PROJECT >>> AN ORAL HISTORY PROJECT DOCUMENTS THE LOCAL IMMIGRANT DOCUMENTS THE LOCAL IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE.

EXPERIENCE.

>> A FEW COMMON THEMES THAT >> A FEW COMMON THEMES THAT STAND OUT.

STAND OUT.

AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO ESCAPE VIOLENCE, MAKE TRYING TO ESCAPE VIOLENCE, MAKE A BETTER LIVES FOR THEMSELVES A BETTER LIVES FOR THEMSELVES AND THEY'RE -- THEIR FAMILIES.

AND THEY'RE -- THEIR FAMILIES.

>> AND WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO A >> AND WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO A MAN HANDCRAFTING A SAILBOAT, ONE MAN HANDCRAFTING A SAILBOAT, ONE BOARD AT A TIME.

BOARD AT A TIME.

>> IT'S HELPED THEM THROUGH SOME >> IT'S HELPED THEM THROUGH SOME CHAING TIME IN THEIR LIFE, CHAING TIME IN THEIR LIFE, THAT'S REALLY AMAZING.

THAT'S REALLY AMAZING.

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

"CONNECTING POINT."

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

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

I'M TONY DUNNE, IN FOR ZYDALIS I'M TONY DUNNE, IN FOR ZYDALIS BAUER.

BAUER.

EVERY WEEK WE EXPLORE ALL THAT EVERY WEEK WE EXPLORE ALL THAT WESTERN NEW ENGLAND HAS TO WESTERN NEW ENGLAND HAS TO OFFER, AND WIDE WE'RE COMING -- OFFER, AND WIDE WE'RE COMING -- AND TODAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU AND TODAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM OUR HOME BASE, THE CITY OF FROM OUR HOME BASE, THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

WE BEGIN WITH A STORY OUT OF HAM WE BEGIN WITH A STORY OUT OF HAM SHIRE COUNTY.

SHIRE COUNTY.

EVERYONE KNOWS THE STREET SIDE EVERYONE KNOWS THE STREET SIDE FACADE OF THORNES MARKETPLACE IN FACADE OF THORNES MARKETPLACE IN NORTH HAM THETON, BUT NOW THE NORTH HAM THETON, BUT NOW THE BACK IS GETTING SOME ATTENTION.

BACK IS GETTING SOME ATTENTION.

FLORIDIAN ARTIST ERNESTOE -- FLORIDIAN ARTIST ERNESTOE -- MURON HEY WAS CHOSEN OUT OF 87 MURON HEY WAS CHOSEN OUT OF 87 APPLICANTS TO CREATE A APPLICANTS TO CREATE A NATURE-INSPIRED MURAL AND HAD NATURE-INSPIRED MURAL AND HAD ROUGHLY TWO WEEKS TO COMPLETE ROUGHLY TWO WEEKS TO COMPLETE IT.

IT.

"CONNECTING POINT'S" BRINE "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRINE VISITED DOWNTOWN NORTH HAMPTON VISITED DOWNTOWN NORTH HAMPTON ON THE FIRST DAY THAT HIS PAINT ON THE FIRST DAY THAT HIS PAINT BRUSH TOUCHED THE BRICKS AND BRUSH TOUCHED THE BRICKS AND BRINGS US THE STORY.

BRINGS US THE STORY.

>> IT'S ONE OF THE MOST ARTSY >> IT'S ONE OF THE MOST ARTSY AREAS IN MASSACHUSETTS AND IT'S AREAS IN MASSACHUSETTS AND IT'S NOT JUST THE VISUAL ARTS, NOT JUST THE VISUAL ARTS, PAINTINGS AND MURALS.

PAINTINGS AND MURALS.

ALTHOUGH THERE ARE PLENTY OF ALTHOUGH THERE ARE PLENTY OF THOSE TO GO AROUND.

THOSE TO GO AROUND.

THERE'S ART ON THE WALKWAYS, THERE'S ART ON THE WALKWAYS, MUSICIANS SINGING AND PLAYING MUSICIANS SINGING AND PLAYING GUITAR, AND JUST AN ARTIST VIBE GUITAR, AND JUST AN ARTIST VIBE ABOUT THE PLACE.

ABOUT THE PLACE.

AND FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THIS AND FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THIS WAS A NEW -- THERE WAS A NEW KID WAS A NEW -- THERE WAS A NEW KID IN TOWN.

IN TOWN.

ERNESTO MURONHAY WAS TASKED WITH ERNESTO MURONHAY WAS TASKED WITH CONCERTING THIS BIG WALL INTO A CONCERTING THIS BIG WALL INTO A LUSH FOREST DREAMSCAPE, ON ONE LUSH FOREST DREAMSCAPE, ON ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC BUILDINGS IN OF THE MOST ICONIC BUILDINGS IN TOWN.

TOWN.

OF ALL THE RECOGNIZABLE OF ALL THE RECOGNIZABLE STOREFRONTS ON MAIN STREET, STOREFRONTS ON MAIN STREET, THORNES MARKETPLACE MAY BE THE THORNES MARKETPLACE MAY BE THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE.

AND WHEN THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETED, IT MAY NOT BE TOO COMPLETED, IT MAY NOT BE TOO LONG BEFORE THE BACK ENTRYWAY LONG BEFORE THE BACK ENTRYWAY IT'S BEEN A BUSY FEW MONTHS, WHO IT'S BEEN A BUSY FEW MONTHS, WHO ARRIVED HERE BY WAY OF FLORIDA ARRIVED HERE BY WAY OF FLORIDA WITH STOPS IN TENNESSEE AND WITH STOPS IN TENNESSEE AND NEW JERSEY ALONG THE WAY.

NEW JERSEY ALONG THE WAY.

WHERE HE DID PROJECTS SIMILAR TO WHERE HE DID PROJECTS SIMILAR TO THIS ONE.

THIS ONE.

WITH MUSIC IN HIS EARS, HE WITH MUSIC IN HIS EARS, HE APPROACHES HIS CANVAS WITH WHAT APPROACHES HIS CANVAS WITH WHAT HE CONSIDERS TO BE ORGANIC BRUSH HE CONSIDERS TO BE ORGANIC BRUSH STROKES THAT HE FEELS ARE STROKES THAT HE FEELS ARE CONDUCIVE TO CREATING HIS CONDUCIVE TO CREATING HIS NATURE-THEMED ART.

NATURE-THEMED ART.

TO WATCH HIM TACKLE A PROJECT TO WATCH HIM TACKLE A PROJECT LIKE THIS ONE WITH SUCH SKILL LIKE THIS ONE WITH SUCH SKILL AND PRECISION, IT'S HARD TO AND PRECISION, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT, HAD IT NOT BEEN BELIEVE THAT, HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR AN INJURY, HE MAY HAVE HAD A FOR AN INJURY, HE MAY HAVE HAD A CAREER PATROLLING THE WATERS IN CAREER PATROLLING THE WATERS IN THE COAST GUARD INSTEAD OF DOING THE COAST GUARD INSTEAD OF DOING THIS.

THIS.

>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW IT >> I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED.

HAPPENED.

IT HAPPENED TO ME INDIVIDUALLY.

IT HAPPENED TO ME INDIVIDUALLY.

I'M SURE THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN I'M SURE THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN TO -- TO PEOPLE, BUT I SAW TO -- TO PEOPLE, BUT I SAW SOMETHING THAT I ENJOYED DOING SOMETHING THAT I ENJOYED DOING AND I JUST KIND OF HONED IN ON AND I JUST KIND OF HONED IN ON THAT.

THAT.

AND I FOCUSED AND I REALLY -- I AND I FOCUSED AND I REALLY -- I REALLY PICKED OUT WHAT I ENJOYED REALLY PICKED OUT WHAT I ENJOYED FROM IT.

FROM IT.

AND THEN THAT JUST SNOWBALLED.

AND THEN THAT JUST SNOWBALLED.

SO MY LAST YEAR IN THE COAST SO MY LAST YEAR IN THE COAST GUARD, DUE TO AN INJURY, I GUARD, DUE TO AN INJURY, I WASN'T ABLE TO PERFORM TASKS.

WASN'T ABLE TO PERFORM TASKS.

AND THEN -- THEN I FELL ON TO AND THEN -- THEN I FELL ON TO THIS.

THIS.

AND THAT JUST -- EVERYTHING JUST AND THAT JUST -- EVERYTHING JUST STOPPED IN ONE DIRECTION AND STOPPED IN ONE DIRECTION AND THEN WENT IN ANOTHER.

THEN WENT IN ANOTHER.

>> IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE THIS >> IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE THIS ONCE BLANK WALL BEGAN TO FILL ONCE BLANK WALL BEGAN TO FILL UP.

UP.

IT APPEARED TO PROGRESS MUCH IT APPEARED TO PROGRESS MUCH FASTER THAN ONE MIGHT THINK FASTER THAN ONE MIGHT THINK POSSIBLE, BUT IN THIS MODERN POSSIBLE, BUT IN THIS MODERN ERA, EVEN ARTISTS HAVE HELP FROM ERA, EVEN ARTISTS HAVE HELP FROM REMARKABLE TECHNOLOGY FOR THESE REMARKABLE TECHNOLOGY FOR THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS.

TYPES OF SITUATIONS.

>> A LOT OF US USE TECHNOLOGY >> A LOT OF US USE TECHNOLOGY ON -- TO GET THESE PIECES DONE A ON -- TO GET THESE PIECES DONE A MIXTURE OF TRADITIONAL MIXTURE OF TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES, MIXED WITH PHOTOSHOP TECHNIQUES, MIXED WITH PHOTOSHOP OR CAMERA PHONES NOW HAVE OR CAMERA PHONES NOW HAVE CERTAIN APPS THAT DO LAYOVERS.

CERTAIN APPS THAT DO LAYOVERS.

AND THEN SO WE PUT OUR DRAWING AND THEN SO WE PUT OUR DRAWING ON TO THESE IMAGES THAT WE TAKE ON TO THESE IMAGES THAT WE TAKE FROM A LIFT OR FROM ANOTHER FROM A LIFT OR FROM ANOTHER BUILDING AND THAT JUST HELPS US BUILDING AND THAT JUST HELPS US FIND THE CORNER OF AN EYE, WHERE FIND THE CORNER OF AN EYE, WHERE IT RELATES TO THE NOSE AND HOW IT RELATES TO THE NOSE AND HOW FAR OF A DISTANCE.

FAR OF A DISTANCE.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE UP ON THE BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE UP ON THE WALL, THAT'S ABOUT 60 FEET, 70 WALL, THAT'S ABOUT 60 FEET, 70 FEET UP IN THE AIR, IT'S VERY FEET UP IN THE AIR, IT'S VERY EASY TO GET LOST WHERE EASY TO GET LOST WHERE EVERYTHING IS AT PROPORTIONALLY.

EVERYTHING IS AT PROPORTIONALLY.

SO THESE TOOLS ASSIST US AND WE SO THESE TOOLS ASSIST US AND WE CAN GET A SKETCH ON THE WALL IN CAN GET A SKETCH ON THE WALL IN A MATTER OF HOURS DEPENDING HOW A MATTER OF HOURS DEPENDING HOW BIG THE WALL IS.

BIG THE WALL IS.

>> TECHNOLOGY OR NOT, IT'S STILL >> TECHNOLOGY OR NOT, IT'S STILL HIS HANDS HOLDING THE BRUSH, HIS HANDS HOLDING THE BRUSH, MAKING HIS DESIGNS POSSIBLE FOR MAKING HIS DESIGNS POSSIBLE FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO SEE.

THE WHOLE WORLD TO SEE.

THE EXPERIENCE PEOPLE HAVE WHEN THE EXPERIENCE PEOPLE HAVE WHEN THEY SEE IT, WELL, THAT'S UP TO THEY SEE IT, WELL, THAT'S UP TO THEM.

THEM.

>> THERE'S A WHOLE SPECTRUM OF >> THERE'S A WHOLE SPECTRUM OF ART AND A LOT OF IT, I LOVE THAT ART AND A LOT OF IT, I LOVE THAT IS VERY -- MAKES YOU THINK, IS VERY -- MAKES YOU THINK, MAKES YOU QUESTION YOURSELF AND MAKES YOU QUESTION YOURSELF AND YOUR THOUGHTS.

YOUR THOUGHTS.

AND THEN THERE'S SOME THAT IS -- AND THEN THERE'S SOME THAT IS -- IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT TYPE OF IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT TYPE OF RIDE!

RIDE!

AND THAT'S THE ONE I LIKE TO PUT AND THAT'S THE ONE I LIKE TO PUT PEOPLE ON, YOU KNOW.

PEOPLE ON, YOU KNOW.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING >>> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY, THAT CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY, THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

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

CONTENT.

AND THIS WEEK'S DIM EXCLUSIVE, AND THIS WEEK'S DIM EXCLUSIVE, THORNES MARKETPLACE MURAL ARTIST THORNES MARKETPLACE MURAL ARTIST ERNESTO MURONHAY DISCUSSES HIS ERNESTO MURONHAY DISCUSSES HIS THOUGHT PROCESS IN APPROACHING THOUGHT PROCESS IN APPROACHING ANY ART PROJECT THAT HE TAKES ANY ART PROJECT THAT HE TAKES ON.

ON.

>> THE BEST WAY I CAN EXPLAIN IT >> THE BEST WAY I CAN EXPLAIN IT IS YOU KIND OF JUST HAVE TO GIVE IS YOU KIND OF JUST HAVE TO GIVE YOUR -- ALL YOUR ATTENTION TO YOUR -- ALL YOUR ATTENTION TO WHATEVER IT IS YOU'RE DOING AND WHATEVER IT IS YOU'RE DOING AND JUST COME AT IT WITH A VERY -- JUST COME AT IT WITH A VERY -- JUST ACCEPTING WAY, BECAUSE JUST ACCEPTING WAY, BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE CONFLICT THERE'S GOING TO BE CONFLICT BACK AND FORTH, YOU KNOW, BACK AND FORTH, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THINGS WORK, THEY DON'T WHETHER THINGS WORK, THEY DON'T WORK, WHETHER YOU NEED TO LEARN WORK, WHETHER YOU NEED TO LEARN SOMETHING ELSE OR NOT.

SOMETHING ELSE OR NOT.

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

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> THIS SEPTEMBER MARKED THE >>> THIS SEPTEMBER MARKED THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF A NATIONAL 10th ANNIVERSARY OF A NATIONAL OBSERVATION OF WELCOMING WEEK, OBSERVATION OF WELCOMING WEEK, WHICH IS A CELEBRATION OF THOSE WHICH IS A CELEBRATION OF THOSE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO WELCOMING WHO ARE COMMITTED TO WELCOMING NEWCOMERS INTO THE COUNTRY.

NEWCOMERS INTO THE COUNTRY.

FOR THIS MILESTONE EVENT, THE FOR THIS MILESTONE EVENT, THE CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS AND THE CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS AND THE FORBES LIBRARY, BOTH BASED IN FORBES LIBRARY, BOTH BASED IN NORTH NORTH NORTHAMPTON, HAVE LAUNCHED AN NORTHAMPTON, HAVE LAUNCHED AN ORAL HISTORY PROJECT DESIGNED TO ORAL HISTORY PROJECT DESIGNED TO RECORD AND ARCHIVE IMMIGRANT RECORD AND ARCHIVE IMMIGRANT STORIES.

STORIES.

ZYDALIS BAUER SPOKE WITH ZYDALIS BAUER SPOKE WITH ORGANIZERS AND PARTICIPANTS TO ORGANIZERS AND PARTICIPANTS TO LEARN MORE.

LEARN MORE.

>> WELCOMING WEEK IS A NATIONAL >> WELCOMING WEEK IS A NATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR CITIES AND INITIATIVE FOR CITIES AND COMMUNITIES TO SHOWCASE THEIR COMMUNITIES TO SHOWCASE THEIR COMMITMENT TO WELCOMING COMMITMENT TO WELCOMING IMMIGRANTS INTO THEIR IMMIGRANTS INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES BY HOLDING COMMUNITIES BY HOLDING COMMUNITY-WIDE EVENTS WHERE COMMUNITY-WIDE EVENTS WHERE NATIVE-BORNE AND NEWCOMER NATIVE-BORNE AND NEWCOMER RESIDENTS CAN BE TOGETHER.

RESIDENTS CAN BE TOGETHER.

>> YOU ARE ONE OF THE FORMER >> YOU ARE ONE OF THE FORMER CENTERS FOR -- STUDENTS FOR CENTERS FOR -- STUDENTS FOR CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS AND YOU CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS AND YOU PARTICIPATED IN THIS ORAL PARTICIPATED IN THIS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT.

HISTORY PROJECT.

SO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE SO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AND THE STORY THAT YOU SHARED AND THE STORY THAT YOU SHARED DURING THIS PROCESS.

DURING THIS PROCESS.

>> SO I MEET WITH LORI AND -- >> SO I MEET WITH LORI AND -- [INAUDIBLE] THE LIBRARY AND I [INAUDIBLE] THE LIBRARY AND I WENT THERE.

WENT THERE.

I TALK ABOUT MY STORY.

I TALK ABOUT MY STORY.

BECAUSE WHERE I GREW UP, NO BECAUSE WHERE I GREW UP, NO SCHOOL AND NO ROAD, NO -- SCHOOL AND NO ROAD, NO -- [INAUDIBLE] AND TODAY, SO WHEN I [INAUDIBLE] AND TODAY, SO WHEN I COME HERE, I FEEL LIKE IT'S GOOD COME HERE, I FEEL LIKE IT'S GOOD FOR ME TO GO TO SCHOOL.

FOR ME TO GO TO SCHOOL.

AND THEN GET US SOMETHING, I AND THEN GET US SOMETHING, I CANNOT -- I CAN DO WHATEVER I CANNOT -- I CAN DO WHATEVER I CAN, BUT WHAT I JUST NEED TO -- CAN, BUT WHAT I JUST NEED TO -- JUST TO SAY HERE IS, LIKE, JUST TO SAY HERE IS, LIKE, CENTER FOR NEW AMERICA IS SO CENTER FOR NEW AMERICA IS SO IMPORTANT FOR A MIGRANT.

IMPORTANT FOR A MIGRANT.

>> HOW DOES IT FEEL FOR YOU TO >> HOW DOES IT FEEL FOR YOU TO BE PART OF THIS PROJECT KNOWING BE PART OF THIS PROJECT KNOWING THAT YOUR VOICE WILL FOREVER BE THAT YOUR VOICE WILL FOREVER BE PART OF THIS AREA'S HISTORY?

PART OF THIS AREA'S HISTORY?

>> FOR ME, I'M FEELING SO >> FOR ME, I'M FEELING SO IMPORTANT FOR ME TO JOIN THIS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO JOIN THIS PROJECT, BECAUSE I -- LIKE MY PROJECT, BECAUSE I -- LIKE MY BOSS IS -- I GREW UP WITH NO BOSS IS -- I GREW UP WITH NO SCHOOL.

SCHOOL.

SO I NEED TO TELL PEOPLE, WE SO I NEED TO TELL PEOPLE, WE NEED TO HELP THE SCHOOL.

NEED TO HELP THE SCHOOL.

HAVING PENCIL OR BOOK IS NOT HAVING PENCIL OR BOOK IS NOT EASY.

EASY.

BUT COMING TO UNITED STATES LIKE BUT COMING TO UNITED STATES LIKE YOU LIVE WITH A BOOK AND PENCIL.

YOU LIVE WITH A BOOK AND PENCIL.

YOU WERE SURPRISED AND THINKING, YOU WERE SURPRISED AND THINKING, LIKE WHAT HAPPENED.

LIKE WHAT HAPPENED.

SO THAT IS LIKE -- I'M SO HAPPY SO THAT IS LIKE -- I'M SO HAPPY TO BE LIKE JOIN THIS PROJECT AND TO BE LIKE JOIN THIS PROJECT AND CONTINUE WHENEVER I CAN.

CONTINUE WHENEVER I CAN.

>> CAPTURING STORIES IS A >> CAPTURING STORIES IS A PROCESS, JUST KIND OF NARROWING PROCESS, JUST KIND OF NARROWING DOWN WHAT STORY YOU WANT TO TELL DOWN WHAT STORY YOU WANT TO TELL AND THE ART OF RECORDING IT AND AND THE ART OF RECORDING IT AND ALSO I WANT TO MENTION THAT SOME ALSO I WANT TO MENTION THAT SOME OF THESE PARTICIPANTS ARE OF THESE PARTICIPANTS ARE RECORDING IT IN THEIR SECOND RECORDING IT IN THEIR SECOND LANGUAGE.

LANGUAGE.

SO THAT'S ALSO A CHALLENGE AS SO THAT'S ALSO A CHALLENGE AS WELL.

WELL.

WHAT WAS THE PROCESS LIKE -- WHAT WAS THE PROCESS LIKE -- WHAT GOES INTO RECORDING THESE WHAT GOES INTO RECORDING THESE STORIES?

STORIES?

HOW HAS IT BEEN.

HOW HAS IT BEEN.

SOME SO THROUGH THIS GRANT WE SOME SO THROUGH THIS GRANT WE WERE ABLE TO GET AUDIO RECORDING WERE ABLE TO GET AUDIO RECORDING EQUIPMENT, CAMERA EQUIPMENT.

EQUIPMENT, CAMERA EQUIPMENT.

SO WE FILMED THESE INTERVIEWS AS SO WE FILMED THESE INTERVIEWS AS WELL AS HAVING AN ORAL WELL AS HAVING AN ORAL INTERVIEW.

INTERVIEW.

BUT WE'RE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE BUT WE'RE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE CHALLENGE.

CHALLENGE.

I MYSELF CANNOT SPEAK ANY I MYSELF CANNOT SPEAK ANY LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH.

LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH.

SO TO PUT MYSELF IN THE SHOES OF SO TO PUT MYSELF IN THE SHOES OF THE PERSON BEING INTERVIEWED, THE PERSON BEING INTERVIEWED, AND I KNOW IN KID'S CASE, HE AND I KNOW IN KID'S CASE, HE SPEAKS -- I BELIEVE FIVE SPEAKS -- I BELIEVE FIVE LANGUAGES.

LANGUAGES.

>> WOW.

>> WOW.

>> AND HIS LIVED EXPERIENCES >> AND HIS LIVED EXPERIENCES TRAVEL A MUCH BROADER AREA.

TRAVEL A MUCH BROADER AREA.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS SO I THINK WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUDE THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE INCLUDE THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO TELL THEIR STORY IN THEIR OWN TO TELL THEIR STORY IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.

LANGUAGE.

>> AND WHAT VALUE DOES HAVING >> AND WHAT VALUE DOES HAVING THIS ARCHIVE ADD TO THE THIS ARCHIVE ADD TO THE COMMUNITY?

COMMUNITY?

>> I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT >> I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK IT BUILDS EMPATH BECAUSE I THINK IT BUILDS EMPATH AND UNDERSTANDING.

AND UNDERSTANDING.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND -- EMPATHY WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND -- EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING.

AND UNDERSTANDING.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THERE'S A WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THERE'S A THEME THAT -- FOR THE INTERVIEWS THEME THAT -- FOR THE INTERVIEWS THAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR, THERE'S THAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR, THERE'S A FEW COMMON THEMES THAT STAND A FEW COMMON THEMES THAT STAND OUT.

OUT.

AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO ESCAPE VIOLENCE, MAKE TRYING TO ESCAPE VIOLENCE, MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES, A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES, FOR THEIR FAMILIES, PEOPLE ARE FOR THEIR FAMILIES, PEOPLE ARE SEEKING EDUCATION.

SEEKING EDUCATION.

PEOPLE HAVE COURAGE AND HAD TO PEOPLE HAVE COURAGE AND HAD TO WORK HARD JUST TO REACH THIS WORK HARD JUST TO REACH THIS POINT.

POINT.

AND I THINK IT'S UP TO US TO AND I THINK IT'S UP TO US TO LISTEN TO THEIR EXPERIENCES SO LISTEN TO THEIR EXPERIENCES SO THAT WE CAN GROW AND THAT WE CAN THAT WE CAN GROW AND THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

HAVE RIGHT NOW.

>> AS THE PROJECT CONTINUES AND >> AS THE PROJECT CONTINUES AND YOU LOOK FOR MORE PAWRP PANTS -- YOU LOOK FOR MORE PAWRP PANTS -- PARTICIPANTS, HOW WOULD YOU PARTICIPANTS, HOW WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO RECORD THEIR ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO RECORD THEIR STORIES AND BE PART OF THIS ORAL STORIES AND BE PART OF THIS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT?

HISTORY PROJECT?

>> WE'RE HOPING AFTER OUR >> WE'RE HOPING AFTER OUR PARTNERSHIP TO CREATE A REGULAR PARTNERSHIP TO CREATE A REGULAR TIME WHERE PEOPLE COULD COME IN, TIME WHERE PEOPLE COULD COME IN, WE WOULD HAVE THE EQUIPMENT SET WE WOULD HAVE THE EQUIPMENT SET UP, AND THEY CAN SHARE THEIR UP, AND THEY CAN SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND STORIES WITH US EXPERIENCES AND STORIES WITH US AND THEIR FAMILIES.

AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> AND QUIT, AS A PARTICIPANT OF >> AND QUIT, AS A PARTICIPANT OF THIS PROJECT, WHAT WOULD YOU THIS PROJECT, WHAT WOULD YOU SHARE WITH OTHERS WHO ARE SHARE WITH OTHERS WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT DOING THIS OR THINKING ABOUT DOING THIS OR MAYBE THEY'RE KIND OF HESITANT MAYBE THEY'RE KIND OF HESITANT ABOUT DOING THIS?

ABOUT DOING THIS?

WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO TELL WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO TELL THEM?

THEM?

>> WHAT I NEED TO TELL THE >> WHAT I NEED TO TELL THE PEOPLE, LIKE ESPECIALLY WHEN I PEOPLE, LIKE ESPECIALLY WHEN I NEED TO TALK, I TALK ABOUT NEED TO TALK, I TALK ABOUT LIKE -- US, WE -- [INAUDIBLE] LIKE -- US, WE -- [INAUDIBLE] WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WE NEED WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WE NEED TO -- TO GET LIKE THOSE PROJECT TO -- TO GET LIKE THOSE PROJECT LIKE -- [INAUDIBLE] SO YOU NEED LIKE -- [INAUDIBLE] SO YOU NEED TO LEARN ENGLISH.

TO LEARN ENGLISH.

AFTER YOU LEARN ENGLISH, AND -- AFTER YOU LEARN ENGLISH, AND -- BECAUSE THEY WILL TEACH YOU BECAUSE THEY WILL TEACH YOU ENGLISH, WRITE ENGLISH, AND FOR ENGLISH, WRITE ENGLISH, AND FOR AMERICA AND EVERYTHING.

AMERICA AND EVERYTHING.

SO IF YOU LEARN TO -- YOU WILL SO IF YOU LEARN TO -- YOU WILL BE GOOD FOR EVERYTHING ON -- BE GOOD FOR EVERYTHING ON -- JUST GET YOUR LIFE EASY.

JUST GET YOUR LIFE EASY.

BUT THE BIGGER THING I NEED TO BUT THE BIGGER THING I NEED TO LIKE TELL THE PEOPLE, YOU NEED LIKE TELL THE PEOPLE, YOU NEED TO GO OUT AND MEET WITH THE TO GO OUT AND MEET WITH THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO HELP PEOPLE.

PEOPLE WHO NEED TO HELP PEOPLE.

NO ONE CAN COME TO YOU IF YOU NO ONE CAN COME TO YOU IF YOU ARE AT HOME.

ARE AT HOME.

YOU NEED TO GO MEET OUR PEOPLE.

YOU NEED TO GO MEET OUR PEOPLE.

LIKE THE WAY I GO OUT AND MEET LIKE THE WAY I GO OUT AND MEET WITH CENTER FOR NEW AMERICA.

WITH CENTER FOR NEW AMERICA.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> BUILDING A SAILBOAT BY HAND >>> BUILDING A SAILBOAT BY HAND IS NO ASTASK, ESPECIALLY WHEN IS NO ASTASK, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'VE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE AND YOU'VE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE AND NEVER LEARNED TO SAIL.

NEVER LEARNED TO SAIL.

BUT STEPHEN DENETTE IS DOING BUT STEPHEN DENETTE IS DOING JUST THAT.

JUST THAT.

EVEN HAR -- HARVESTING TREES FOR EVEN HAR -- HARVESTING TREES FOR THE LUMBER THAT HE'S USING TO THE LUMBER THAT HE'S USING TO BUILD IT.

BUILD IT.

AND WHEN HE'S FINISHED HE PLANS AND WHEN HE'S FINISHED HE PLANS TO SAIL HIS BOAT AROUND THE TO SAIL HIS BOAT AROUND THE WORLD.

WORLD.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US HIS STORY.

HIS STORY.

>> IT STARTED WHEN I WAS 30.

>> IT STARTED WHEN I WAS 30.

I DID SOME REFLECTION AND I DID SOME REFLECTION AND THOUGHT ABOUT THE PATH I WAS ON THOUGHT ABOUT THE PATH I WAS ON AND IF I WAS ON TRACK TO DO THE AND IF I WAS ON TRACK TO DO THE THINGS I WANTED TO DO AND THE THINGS I WANTED TO DO AND THE PLACES I WANTED TO GO AND THE PLACES I WANTED TO GO AND THE PLANS TO THAT -- ANSWER WAS NO.

PLANS TO THAT -- ANSWER WAS NO.

SO THEN IT BECAME NOT SOMEDAY, SO THEN IT BECAME NOT SOMEDAY, BUT HOW DO I MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

BUT HOW DO I MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> UNDER THEY ARE CANOPY IN >> UNDER THEY ARE CANOPY IN GRANBY, MASSACHUSETTS, STEPHEN GRANBY, MASSACHUSETTS, STEPHEN DENETTE HAS BEEN ON A SIX-YEAR DENETTE HAS BEEN ON A SIX-YEAR JOURNEY TO BUILD A BOAT FROM JOURNEY TO BUILD A BOAT FROM WOOD, HARVESTED FROM HIS WOOD, HARVESTED FROM HIS FAMILY'S LAND.

FAMILY'S LAND.

HE PLANS TO SELL IT AROUND THE HE PLANS TO SELL IT AROUND THE WORLD -- SAIL AROUND THE WORLD, WORLD -- SAIL AROUND THE WORLD, SOMETHING HE'S NEVER DONE SOMETHING HE'S NEVER DONE BEFORE.

BEFORE.

HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO SAIL.

SAIL.

>> I'VE DONE A LOT OF PADDLING.

>> I'VE DONE A LOT OF PADDLING.

I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE WATER, BUT I HAVEN'T DONE ANY WATER, BUT I HAVEN'T DONE ANY SAILING.

SAILING.

I MAINTAIN THE FIRST BOAT I SAIL I MAINTAIN THE FIRST BOAT I SAIL ON WILL BE THE ONE I BUILT.

ON WILL BE THE ONE I BUILT.

>> THEY'VE BEEN BUILDING A >> THEY'VE BEEN BUILDING A 38-FOOT WOODEN SAILBOAT FROM 38-FOOT WOODEN SAILBOAT FROM SCRATCH.

SCRATCH.

THEY'LL CALL HER ARABELLA.

THEY'LL CALL HER ARABELLA.

ALMOST 100% OF THE LUMBER WILL ALMOST 100% OF THE LUMBER WILL BE HARVESTED FROM THE TREES THAT BE HARVESTED FROM THE TREES THAT HIS GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER HIS GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER PLANTED ON THEIR FAMILY'S PLANTED ON THEIR FAMILY'S PROPERTY GENERATIONS AGO.

PROPERTY GENERATIONS AGO.

>> MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE FOR >> MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE FOR FIVE GENERATIONS.

FIVE GENERATIONS.

THEY MANAGED IT WELL.

THEY MANAGED IT WELL.

SO THERE ARE TREES TO HARVEST.

SO THERE ARE TREES TO HARVEST.

>> SO AT THIS POINT IN THE >> SO AT THIS POINT IN THE STORY, YOU MAY BE ASKING STORY, YOU MAY BE ASKING YOURSELF, HOW DOES A 30-YEAR-OLD YOURSELF, HOW DOES A 30-YEAR-OLD AFFORD TO TAKE SIX YEARS OF HIS AFFORD TO TAKE SIX YEARS OF HIS LIFE AND DEVOTE IT TO BUILDING A LIFE AND DEVOTE IT TO BUILDING A BOAT?

BOAT?

THE ANSWER CAME FROM YOUTUBE.

THE ANSWER CAME FROM YOUTUBE.

>> WHEN YOU TAKE YOUTUBE AD >> WHEN YOU TAKE YOUTUBE AD RECEIVE VIEW AND MERCHANDISE RECEIVE VIEW AND MERCHANDISE SALES AND DONATIONS AND MAYBE A SALES AND DONATIONS AND MAYBE A SPONSORSHIP, NONE OF THEM IN SPONSORSHIP, NONE OF THEM IN THEMSELVES ARE TERRIBLY BIG THEMSELVES ARE TERRIBLY BIG MONEY.

MONEY.

BUT ALL COMBINED THEY CAN BE BUT ALL COMBINED THEY CAN BE ENOUGH TO GET BY ON.

ENOUGH TO GET BY ON.

>> HE WAS RIGHT, AIRBORNE TO >> HE WAS RIGHT, AIRBORNE TO ARABELLA HAS OVER 200,000 ARABELLA HAS OVER 200,000 YOUTUBE SUBSCRIBERS AND YOUTUBE SUBSCRIBERS AND COUNTING.

COUNTING.

PEOPLE LIKE GARY AND DIANE ON PEOPLE LIKE GARY AND DIANE ON THEIR WAY TO RIDE FROM WEST THEIR WAY TO RIDE FROM WEST VIRGINIA AND HAVE HOLD THE VIRGINIA AND HAVE HOLD THE PROGRESS ON YOUTUBE BUT WANTED PROGRESS ON YOUTUBE BUT WANTED TO SEE IN IT PERSON FOR TO SEE IN IT PERSON FOR THEMSELVES.

THEMSELVES.

>> BECAUSE OF YOUTUBE, I'VE >> BECAUSE OF YOUTUBE, I'VE WATCHED IT SO MANY YEARS, AND WATCHED IT SO MANY YEARS, AND THEY FASCINATE ME AND WHAT THEY FASCINATE ME AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY'RE DOING.

I'M ALSO -- I'VE GOT A WOODS I'M ALSO -- I'VE GOT A WOODS BACKGROUND FROM UNIVERSITY OF BACKGROUND FROM UNIVERSITY OF MAINE.

MAINE.

SO WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SO WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT CUTTING THE TREES DOWN AND CUTTING THE TREES DOWN AND STUFF, THAT HAD A REAL IMPACT TO STUFF, THAT HAD A REAL IMPACT TO ME.

ME.

>> OTHERS DID MORE THAN JUST >> OTHERS DID MORE THAN JUST SWRZ.

SWRZ.

-- VISIT.

-- VISIT.

LIKE CAMEN, WHO HAD ATTENDED LIKE CAMEN, WHO HAD ATTENDED BOAT BUILDING SCHOOL IN MAINE BOAT BUILDING SCHOOL IN MAINE AND WAS PREPARING TO MOVE ON TO AND WAS PREPARING TO MOVE ON TO GRADUATE SCHOOL TO BE A GRADUATE SCHOOL TO BE A PSYCHIATRIC PRACTITIONER.

PSYCHIATRIC PRACTITIONER.

HE HEARD ABOUT THE PROJECT LAST HE HEARD ABOUT THE PROJECT LAST FALL AND CAME TO TAKE A LOOK.

FALL AND CAME TO TAKE A LOOK.

>> I CAME TO VISIT IN JANUARY.

>> I CAME TO VISIT IN JANUARY.

I MET STEVE.

I MET STEVE.

I SAW THE BOAT AND I LOOKED I SAW THE BOAT AND I LOOKED AROUND AND I WAS LIKE, OH-OH, AROUND AND I WAS LIKE, OH-OH, THIS IS TROUBLE!

THIS IS TROUBLE!

SO I -- I CANCELED GRAD SCHOOL.

SO I -- I CANCELED GRAD SCHOOL.

I SUBLET MY APARTMENT IN I SUBLET MY APARTMENT IN PORTLAND, AND CAME ON IN MARCH.

PORTLAND, AND CAME ON IN MARCH.

AND I'VE BEEN REMINDED OF HOW AND I'VE BEEN REMINDED OF HOW MUCH I LOVE BOATS, BOAT MUCH I LOVE BOATS, BOAT BUILDING, WOODWORKING AND THE BUILDING, WOODWORKING AND THE COMMUNITY OF NOT JUST BOATS BUT COMMUNITY OF NOT JUST BOATS BUT THE COMMUNITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS, THE COMMUNITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS, THE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE COMING THE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO HAVE A COMMON GOAL.

TOGETHER TO HAVE A COMMON GOAL.

I NEEDED TO BE REMINDED OF THAT.

I NEEDED TO BE REMINDED OF THAT.

AFTER COVID, AFTER ALL THE STUFF AFTER COVID, AFTER ALL THE STUFF THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, I THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, I NEEDED A REMINDER THAT, LIKE NEEDED A REMINDER THAT, LIKE THERE ARE -- THERE ARE GOOD THERE ARE -- THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE DOING GOOD STUFF.

PEOPLE DOING GOOD STUFF.

>> DENETTE AND HIS CREW EXPECT >> DENETTE AND HIS CREW EXPECT TO FINISH THE BOAT NEXT YEAR AND TO FINISH THE BOAT NEXT YEAR AND HAVE A LAUNCH DAY IN JUNE AT HAVE A LAUNCH DAY IN JUNE AT MYSTIC SEA PORT IN CONNECTICUT.

MYSTIC SEA PORT IN CONNECTICUT.

THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT, THE THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT, THE FOLLOWING THEY'VE HAD ON SOCIAL FOLLOWING THEY'VE HAD ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS SOMETHING THEY NEVER MEDIA IS SOMETHING THEY NEVER ANTICIPATED AND HE SAYS THE ANTICIPATED AND HE SAYS THE IMPACT THEY'VE HAD ON PEOPLE'S IMPACT THEY'VE HAD ON PEOPLE'S LIVES HAS BEEN BIGGER THAN THE LIVES HAS BEEN BIGGER THAN THE BOAT ITSELF.

BOAT ITSELF.

>> WHEN WE INITIALLY STARTED, WE >> WHEN WE INITIALLY STARTED, WE KIND OF JOKED ABOUT THE MOVIE KIND OF JOKED ABOUT THE MOVIE "THE FIELD OF DREAMS" LIKE IF "THE FIELD OF DREAMS" LIKE IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.

YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.

AND THAT BASICALLY CAME TO AND THAT BASICALLY CAME TO FRUITION.

FRUITION.

THE GENEROSITY AND THE KINDNESS THE GENEROSITY AND THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS IS ABSOLUTELY BEEN OF STRANGERS IS ABSOLUTELY BEEN MY -- AT OF PEOPLE WHO SAID THAT MY -- AT OF PEOPLE WHO SAID THAT THAT THEY LEARNED THINGS OR THAT THEY LEARNED THINGS OR THEY'VE BEEN INSPIRED OR -- IT'S THEY'VE BEEN INSPIRED OR -- IT'S HELPED THEM THROUGH SOME HELPED THEM THROUGH SOME CHALLENGING TIME IN THEIR LIFE, CHALLENGING TIME IN THEIR LIFE, LIKE THAT'S REALLY AMAZING AND I LIKE THAT'S REALLY AMAZING AND I THINK -- YOU KNOW, BUILDING THE THINK -- YOU KNOW, BUILDING THE BOAT IS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT AND BOAT IS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT AND SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY PROUD SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF.

OF.

BUT THAT LIKE SMALL IMPACT ON BUT THAT LIKE SMALL IMPACT ON THE WORLD MEANS A LOT MORE.

THE WORLD MEANS A LOT MORE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT >>> AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT ONE OF THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE ONE OF THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CREATION OF THE SAILBOAT CREATION OF THE SAILBOAT ARABELLA IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL ARABELLA IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXTRA.

EXTRA.

>> BUT IT FELT IMPORTANT TO BE A >> BUT IT FELT IMPORTANT TO BE A QUEER NONBINARY PERSON DOING QUEER NONBINARY PERSON DOING THINGS IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.

THINGS IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.

SO OTHER PEOPLE LIKE ME COULD SO OTHER PEOPLE LIKE ME COULD SAY, WOW, THAT PERSON IS DOING SAY, WOW, THAT PERSON IS DOING IT.

IT.

MAYBE I COULD.

MAYBE I COULD.

BECAUSE I'VE NEVER MET ANYBODY BECAUSE I'VE NEVER MET ANYBODY LIKE ME DOING WHAT I'M DOING.

LIKE ME DOING WHAT I'M DOING.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL >> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXTRA OUT ON WEBSITE AT EXTRA OUT ON WEBSITE AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> FOR OVER THREE YEARS, THE >>> FOR OVER THREE YEARS, THE SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS PARTNERED WITH THE DISTRICT HAS PARTNERED WITH THE BARR FOUNDATION AND COMMUNITY BARR FOUNDATION AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON "TORE TRAIT OF -- MEMBERS ON "TORE TRAIT OF -- "PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE," WHICH "PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE," WHICH IS A VISION OF WHAT STUDENTS IS A VISION OF WHAT STUDENTS NEED TO SUCCEED BON GRADUATING NEED TO SUCCEED BON GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL.

HIGH SCHOOL.

LAST SCHOOL YEAR THE DISTRICT LAST SCHOOL YEAR THE DISTRICT LAUNCHED AN ART AND WRITING LAUNCHED AN ART AND WRITING CONTEST THAT GAVE STUDENTS THE CONTEST THAT GAVE STUDENTS THE CHANCE TO EXPRESS WHAT PORTRAIT CHANCE TO EXPRESS WHAT PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE MEANS TO THEM, AND OF A GRADUATE MEANS TO THEM, AND THE WINNERS OF THE CONTEST HAVE THE WINNERS OF THE CONTEST HAVE BEEN RECENTLY ANNOUNCED.

BEEN RECENTLY ANNOUNCED.

ZYDALIS BAUER SPOKE WITH ONE OF ZYDALIS BAUER SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE WINNERS ALONG WITH SOME OF THE WINNERS ALONG WITH SOME OF THE STAFF THAT HELPED LEAD THE THE STAFF THAT HELPED LEAD THE PROJECT TO LEARN MORE.

PROJECT TO LEARN MORE.

>> LAST YEAR FOR ONE OF MY >> LAST YEAR FOR ONE OF MY CLASSES, I TOOK A CREATIVE CLASSES, I TOOK A CREATIVE WRITING CLASS HERE AT CENTRAL WRITING CLASS HERE AT CENTRAL AND WE FOCUSED A LOT ON POETRY AND WE FOCUSED A LOT ON POETRY THROUGH THE CLASS.

THROUGH THE CLASS.

AND MY TEACHERS WAS TALKING AND MY TEACHERS WAS TALKING ABOUT THE CONTEST AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THE CONTEST AND I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SHOW OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SHOW MY WRITING SKILLS BUT ALSO TO MY WRITING SKILLS BUT ALSO TO CONNECT MORE WITH THE SCHOOL CONNECT MORE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE CITY OF DISTRICT AND THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD.

SPRINGFIELD.

>> YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US A >> YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR POEM?

LITTLE BIT OF YOUR POEM?

>> SURE.

>> SURE.

SO IT'S CALLED "KEY TO LIFE."

SO IT'S CALLED "KEY TO LIFE."

AND SAYS, COMMUNICATION.

AND SAYS, COMMUNICATION.

THE KEY TO LIFE, HEARING YOUR THE KEY TO LIFE, HEARING YOUR BEST FRIEND GIVE YOU ADVICE AS BEST FRIEND GIVE YOU ADVICE AS YOU CRY, SCREAM WHILE DRIVING YOU CRY, SCREAM WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN.

WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN.

AND COMMUNICATION MAKES AND COMMUNICATION MAKES CONNECTION, MAKES LIFE WORTH CONNECTION, MAKES LIFE WORTH LIVING.

LIVING.

>> WHEN YOU HEAR THOSE WORDS AND >> WHEN YOU HEAR THOSE WORDS AND YOU SEE THIS YOUNG WOMAN TAKE YOU SEE THIS YOUNG WOMAN TAKE THE INITIATIVE AND BE PART OF THE INITIATIVE AND BE PART OF THIS CONCEPT, HOW DOES IT MAKE THIS CONCEPT, HOW DOES IT MAKE BOTH OF YOU FEEL TO SEE YOUR BOTH OF YOU FEEL TO SEE YOUR STUDENTS XCEL AND SUCCEED IN STUDENTS XCEL AND SUCCEED IN THIS -- EXCEL AND SUCCEED IN THIS -- EXCEL AND SUCCEED IN THIS WAY?

THIS WAY?

>> I THINK WHEN WE HEAR DIRECTLY >> I THINK WHEN WE HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THEM AND ALLOW AN FROM THEM AND ALLOW AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND CREATE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND CREATE FROM THEIR HEARTS, IT'S ALWAYS FROM THEIR HEARTS, IT'S ALWAYS MIND-BLOWING.

MIND-BLOWING.

AND ZOE WAS BEING A LITTLE AND ZOE WAS BEING A LITTLE HUMBLE AND READ JUST A PORTION HUMBLE AND READ JUST A PORTION OF WHAT SHE WROTE.

OF WHAT SHE WROTE.

BUT YOU KNOW, SO THE PORTRAIT OF BUT YOU KNOW, SO THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE HAS COME DOWN TO A GRADUATE HAS COME DOWN TO SEVERAL PILLARS.

SEVERAL PILLARS.

AND ONE OF THE PILLARS, WHICH IS AND ONE OF THE PILLARS, WHICH IS A KEY POINT THAT THE COMMUNITY A KEY POINT THAT THE COMMUNITY MADE CLEAR, THEY WANTED OUR MADE CLEAR, THEY WANTED OUR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO DO WHEN STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO DO WHEN THEY GRADUATE, IS COMMUNICATE.

THEY GRADUATE, IS COMMUNICATE.

AND SO THAT'S HOW ZOE INTERPRETS AND SO THAT'S HOW ZOE INTERPRETS A PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE IN A PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION.

TERMS OF COMMUNICATION.

AND I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN ACROSS THE BOARD WITH THESE ACROSS THE BOARD WITH THESE PIECES OF ART AND THIS WRITTEN PIECES OF ART AND THIS WRITTEN WORK IS THAT THESE LESSONS, THEY WORK IS THAT THESE LESSONS, THEY TRANSFER ACROSS A WHOLE TRANSFER ACROSS A WHOLE LIFETIME.

LIFETIME.

IT'S NOT JUST ACADEMIC, YOU IT'S NOT JUST ACADEMIC, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU'RE KNOW, WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU'RE SITTING IN FRONT OF A TEACHER.

SITTING IN FRONT OF A TEACHER.

BUT WHAT IT MEANS IN LIFE AS YOU BUT WHAT IT MEANS IN LIFE AS YOU MOVE FORWARD.

MOVE FORWARD.

AND I THINK THAT ZOE'S PIECE AND I THINK THAT ZOE'S PIECE ILLUSTRATES THAT SO BEAUTIFULLY.

ILLUSTRATES THAT SO BEAUTIFULLY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND WHAT WERE THE CONTEST AND WHAT WERE THE CONTEST GUIDELINES AND WHAT DID THE GUIDELINES AND WHAT DID THE WINNERS RECEIVE FOR IT?

WINNERS RECEIVE FOR IT?

>> SO THE GUIDELINES WERE, THEY >> SO THE GUIDELINES WERE, THEY WERE VERY OPEN.

WERE VERY OPEN.

THEY COULD SUBMIT IN TERMS OF THEY COULD SUBMIT IN TERMS OF ART A MEDIUM THAT THEY WERE MOST ART A MEDIUM THAT THEY WERE MOST COMFORTABLE THERE.

COMFORTABLE THERE.

THEY NEEDED TO ADDRESS ONE OF THEY NEEDED TO ADDRESS ONE OF THE SIX PILLARS OF THE PORTRAIT THE SIX PILLARS OF THE PORTRAIT AND THE WRITING WORK WAS JUST AS AND THE WRITING WORK WAS JUST AS OPEN.

OPEN.

IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM A POEM IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM A POEM TO A STORY.

TO A STORY.

AND WE RECEIVED ALL OF THOSE AND WE RECEIVED ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF ENTRIES.

KINDS OF ENTRIES.

AND THE WINNERS RECEIVED AN AND THE WINNERS RECEIVED AN AMAZON GIFT CARD, A BEAUTIFUL AMAZON GIFT CARD, A BEAUTIFUL CERTIFICATE SIGNED BY THE CERTIFICATE SIGNED BY THE HONORABLE MAYOR, AND THE HONORABLE MAYOR, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, DAN SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, DAN WARWICK.

WARWICK.

ALL WERE INVITED AS SPECIAL ALL WERE INVITED AS SPECIAL GUESTS TO OUR SCHOOL OPENING GUESTS TO OUR SCHOOL OPENING EVENT, WHICH IS THE CONVOCATION.

EVENT, WHICH IS THE CONVOCATION.

AND SO THOSE WERE THE AWARDS AND SO THOSE WERE THE AWARDS THAT THEY ALL RECEIVED.

THAT THEY ALL RECEIVED.

>> AND ZOE, I KNOW THAT THEY >> AND ZOE, I KNOW THAT THEY CAME TO YOU IN PERSON TO CAME TO YOU IN PERSON TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS.

ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS.

HOW DID IT FEEL WHEN YOU FOUND HOW DID IT FEEL WHEN YOU FOUND OUT THAT YOU WERE ONE OF THE OUT THAT YOU WERE ONE OF THE SELECTED ONES?

SELECTED ONES?

>> I WAS ACTUALLY IN CREATIVE >> I WAS ACTUALLY IN CREATIVE WRITING CLASS WHEN THEY CAME TO WRITING CLASS WHEN THEY CAME TO THE SCHOOL.

THE SCHOOL.

AND THEY HAD CALLED ME DOWN TO AND THEY HAD CALLED ME DOWN TO THE OFFICE AND I'M NOT REALLY A THE OFFICE AND I'M NOT REALLY A STUDENT THAT EVER GETS CALLED TO STUDENT THAT EVER GETS CALLED TO THE OFFICE.

THE OFFICE.

SO I WAS NERVOUS BECAUSE THEY SO I WAS NERVOUS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T TELL ME WHAT IT WAS FOR.

DIDN'T TELL ME WHAT IT WAS FOR.

SO I THOUGHT I DID SOMETHING.

SO I THOUGHT I DID SOMETHING.

BUT WHEN I WENT DOWN THERE, THE BUT WHEN I WENT DOWN THERE, THE HEAD OF THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT HEAD OF THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY AWARDED ME MY AWARD FOR THE CITY AWARDED ME MY AWARD AND HE WALKED ME TO CLASS TO AND HE WALKED ME TO CLASS TO TELL MY TEACHER ABOUT IT.

TELL MY TEACHER ABOUT IT.

AND JUST SEEING HOW PROUD MY AND JUST SEEING HOW PROUD MY TEACHER WAS THAT I HAD WON THE TEACHER WAS THAT I HAD WON THE AWARD REALLY MADE ME, LIKE PROUD AWARD REALLY MADE ME, LIKE PROUD THAT I HAD PUT A LOT OF HARD THAT I HAD PUT A LOT OF HARD WORK INTO WHAT I WAS DOING AND WORK INTO WHAT I WAS DOING AND I -- ACTUALLY I'M GOING INTO I -- ACTUALLY I'M GOING INTO JOURNALISM FOR MY CAREER.

JOURNALISM FOR MY CAREER.

SO IT MADE ME EXCITED THAT I SO IT MADE ME EXCITED THAT I THINK THAT I'M GOING DOWN THE THINK THAT I'M GOING DOWN THE RIGHT PATH AND IT LIKE GAVE ME RIGHT PATH AND IT LIKE GAVE ME RECOGNITION FOR ALL MY HARD RECOGNITION FOR ALL MY HARD WORK.

WORK.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND YOU ALREADY HAVE A BRIGHT AND YOU ALREADY HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF YOU IN THAT FUTURE AHEAD OF YOU IN THAT FIELD OF STUDY.

FIELD OF STUDY.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE OTHER ARTWORK AND WRITTEN THE OTHER ARTWORK AND WRITTEN PIECES THAT WERE SUBMITTED, PIECES THAT WERE SUBMITTED, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY WERE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY WERE DESCRIBED AS BEING VERY DESCRIBED AS BEING VERY THOUGHTFUL AND THEY PASSED YOUR THOUGHTFUL AND THEY PASSED YOUR EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU HAD FOR EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU HAD FOR THE STUDENTS.

THE STUDENTS.

I KNOW THE STUDENTS PROBABLY I KNOW THE STUDENTS PROBABLY NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE YOU, BUT NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE YOU, BUT TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE OTHER TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE OTHER SUBMISSIONS THAT YOU RECEIVED SUBMISSIONS THAT YOU RECEIVED FOR THE CONTEST.

FOR THE CONTEST.

>> WELL, WE HAD LOTS OF >> WELL, WE HAD LOTS OF DIFFERENT WRITINGS.

DIFFERENT WRITINGS.

WE HAD POEMS, SOME OTHER POEMS.

WE HAD POEMS, SOME OTHER POEMS.

WE HAD SEVERAL STUDENTS WHO WERE WE HAD SEVERAL STUDENTS WHO WERE WINERS WROTE LETTERS TO THE WINERS WROTE LETTERS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.

SUPERINTENDENT.

TALKING ABOUT WHY THEY THOUGHT TALKING ABOUT WHY THEY THOUGHT CERTAIN PILLARS OF THE PORTRAIT CERTAIN PILLARS OF THE PORTRAIT WERE IMPORTANT.

WERE IMPORTANT.

IN THE CASE OF THE ARTWORK, WE IN THE CASE OF THE ARTWORK, WE HAD SOME DIGITAL ART, SOME HAD SOME DIGITAL ART, SOME PAINTINGS.

PAINTINGS.

I THINK WE HAD A CHARCOAL I THINK WE HAD A CHARCOAL DRAWING.

DRAWING.

WE HAD ONE STUDENT ILLUSTRATED WE HAD ONE STUDENT ILLUSTRATED BASICALLY A PICTURE OF FIGURES BASICALLY A PICTURE OF FIGURES CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN.

CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN.

AND THEY WERE CONVEYING FOR AND THEY WERE CONVEYING FOR THEM, WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO THEM, WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.

ACHIEVE.

FOR EACH OF OUR ARTWORK, THEY FOR EACH OF OUR ARTWORK, THEY DID AN ARTIST STATEMENT, WHICH DID AN ARTIST STATEMENT, WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL TO READ DESCRIBING IS BEAUTIFUL TO READ DESCRIBING THE FEELING THAT IT'S HARD, THE FEELING THAT IT'S HARD, SCHOOL IS HARD AND THIS PROCESS SCHOOL IS HARD AND THIS PROCESS OF -- A A PROCESS OF GROWING UP OF -- A A PROCESS OF GROWING UP AND FIGURING OUT WHO YOU WANT TO AND FIGURING OUT WHO YOU WANT TO BE AND DEVELOPING THE SKILLS, BE AND DEVELOPING THE SKILLS, FOR THEM THAT WAS THAT VISUAL OF FOR THEM THAT WAS THAT VISUAL OF CLIMBING THIS MOUNTAIN.

CLIMBING THIS MOUNTAIN.

ANOTHER ONE I'LL DESCRIBE WAS A ANOTHER ONE I'LL DESCRIBE WAS A STUDENT WHO DID A DIGITAL PIECE STUDENT WHO DID A DIGITAL PIECE OF ART AND IT WAS A CHARACTER, OF ART AND IT WAS A CHARACTER, AND THE PART THAT STOOD OUT TO AND THE PART THAT STOOD OUT TO ME IS THE CHARACTER WAS ME IS THE CHARACTER WAS ILLUSTRATED WITH STARS IN THEIR ILLUSTRATED WITH STARS IN THEIR EYES.

EYES.

WHAT THE STUDENT SAID IS EVERY WHAT THE STUDENT SAID IS EVERY STUDENT AT SCHOOL SOMETHING LIKE STUDENT AT SCHOOL SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT.

EVERY STUDENT WHEN THEY'RE AT EVERY STUDENT WHEN THEY'RE AT SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE STARS IN SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE STARS IN THEIR EYES BECAUSE THEY'RE SO THEIR EYES BECAUSE THEY'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE LEARNING.

LEARNING.

I THINK THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL I THINK THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL DESCRIPTION OF WHAT WE HOPE TO DESCRIPTION OF WHAT WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE AT SCHOOL AND CREATING A ACHIEVE AT SCHOOL AND CREATING A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS ARE EXCITED PLACE WHERE STUDENTS ARE EXCITED TO KIND OF PURSUE THEIR DREAMS TO KIND OF PURSUE THEIR DREAMS AND FEEL EMPOWERED TO DO THAT.

AND FEEL EMPOWERED TO DO THAT.

>> WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS >> WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS CONTEST IS IT'S NOT LIKE THE CONTEST IS IT'S NOT LIKE THE STUDENTS JUST SUBMITTED THEIR STUDENTS JUST SUBMITTED THEIR WORK AND THAT'S IT.

WORK AND THAT'S IT.

YOU ALL HAVE PLANS TO DISPLAY IT YOU ALL HAVE PLANS TO DISPLAY IT AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A PODCAST FOR THE WRITTEN PIECES.

PODCAST FOR THE WRITTEN PIECES.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT HOW YOU PLAN TELL ME MORE ABOUT HOW YOU PLAN TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK THAT THE TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK THAT THE STUDENTS SUBMITTED.

STUDENTS SUBMITTED.

>> SO WE'VE CREATED ALL THE >> SO WE'VE CREATED ALL THE WINNING PIECES INTO TWO WINNING PIECES INTO TWO BEAUTIFUL POSTERS.

BEAUTIFUL POSTERS.

AND WE'VE DISSEMINATED THOSE TO AND WE'VE DISSEMINATED THOSE TO EVERY SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT.

EVERY SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT.

SO WHATEVER SCHOOL YOU WALK SO WHATEVER SCHOOL YOU WALK INTO, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE INTO, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THESE POSTERS.

THESE POSTERS.

AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS NOW OF AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS NOW OF ALSO SAYING -- SHARING THEM WITH ALSO SAYING -- SHARING THEM WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THINGS.

LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THINGS.

SO THAT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE SO THAT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE CAN SEE THEIR WORK AS WELL.

CAN SEE THEIR WORK AS WELL.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THE AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THE WRITTEN PIECES ARE AVAILABLE ON WRITTEN PIECES ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR SPSPOG THE PODCAST.

OUR SPSPOG THE PODCAST.

SO WE HOPE THAT PEOPLE AROUND SO WE HOPE THAT PEOPLE AROUND THE COMMUNITY VERY VERY FAMILIAR THE COMMUNITY VERY VERY FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF THESE WORKS.

WITH ALL OF THESE WORKS.

>> ZOE, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR >> ZOE, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU TO SEE THE ADMINISTRATION YOU TO SEE THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE DISTRICT REALLY VALUE AND THE DISTRICT REALLY VALUE AND APPRECIATE THE STUDENTS' AND APPRECIATE THE STUDENTS' VOICES?

VOICES?

I KNOW THAT YOU'RE A SENIOR, SO I KNOW THAT YOU'RE A SENIOR, SO HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE INCLUDED HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE INCLUDED IN SUCH AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE?

IN SUCH AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE?

>> I THINK THAT IT'S THE MOST >> I THINK THAT IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WITH THE IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WITH THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE, THEY PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE, THEY DON'T JUST HIGHLIGHT BEING LIKE DON'T JUST HIGHLIGHT BEING LIKE A GOOD STUDENT WITH GETTING GOOD A GOOD STUDENT WITH GETTING GOOD GRADES AND LIKE BEING THE TOP OF GRADES AND LIKE BEING THE TOP OF YOUR CLASS.

YOUR CLASS.

THEY'RE MORE FOCUSED ON WHO YOU THEY'RE MORE FOCUSED ON WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON, WHICH I THINK ARE AS A PERSON, WHICH I THINK IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING THAT YOU LEARN THROUGHOUT -- YOU LEARN THROUGHOUT -- ESPECIALLY HIGH SCHOOL.

ESPECIALLY HIGH SCHOOL.

I DEFINITELY KNOW THAT NOW AS A I DEFINITELY KNOW THAT NOW AS A SENIOR LOOKING BACK ON MY HIGH SENIOR LOOKING BACK ON MY HIGH SCHOOL CAREER, I NOTICED THE SCHOOL CAREER, I NOTICED THE THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED THROUGH THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND THE DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOL AND THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT I'VE CHANGED AND IT WAYS THAT I'VE CHANGED AND IT SHOWS ME THAT ALL THE DIFFERENT SHOWS ME THAT ALL THE DIFFERENT PILLARS THAT ARE PART OF A POUR PILLARS THAT ARE PART OF A POUR TWRAIT OF A GRADUATE ARE TWRAIT OF A GRADUATE ARE IMPORTANT IN MAKING THE STUDENTS IMPORTANT IN MAKING THE STUDENTS OF SPRINGFIELD BECOME READY FOR OF SPRINGFIELD BECOME READY FOR THE WORLD THAT THEY'RE GOING TO THE WORLD THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GO INTO AFTER GRADUATION.

GO INTO AFTER GRADUATION.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND ALL OF THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW ALL OF THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW IN THIS EPISODE, AS WELL AS IN THIS EPISODE, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE ANYTIME A.

ANYTIME A. NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

OUR THANKS TO THE CITY OF OUR THANKS TO THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD FOR HOSTING US SPRINGFIELD FOR HOSTING US TODAY.

TODAY.

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR AGAIN EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITYE, MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITYE, CULTURAL, AND COMMUNITY THAT CULTURAL, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M TONY DUNNE FOR ZYDALIS I'M TONY DUNNE FOR ZYDALIS BAUER.

BAUER.

THANKSTHANKS FOR WATCHING AND TE THANKSTHANKS FOR WATCHING AND TE CARE.

CARE.

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