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

WITNESS THE CREATION OF A POWERFUL ARTISTIC REFLECTION OF THE JANUARY 6TH ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL.

>> I REFUSE TO TAKE MYSELF OUT OF THIS STORY.

AND IF THAT MEANS THAT THE HURT, THE PAIN, AND BITTERNESS I HAVE FELT, ENTERS THESE IMAGES, SO BE IT.

>> THEY'RE KICKING OFF A NEW SEASON WITH AN ARRAY OF ART INSTALLATIONS.

>> WITH 165 PEOPLE IN THE MUSEUM, IT WAS CATHARTIC JUST TO THINK ABOUT HOW ART HAS TO BE EXPERIENCED IN PERSON.

>> AND MEET A HOLYOKE ENTREPRENEUR WHO SEIZED UP AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE UP TASTY CARIBBEAN INSPIRED QUIYEEN STREET-SIDE.

>> THE FOOD TRUCK GAME IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE YOU HAVE SO MANY VARIABLES THAT COME UP AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT.

>> 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."

>>> SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

>>> GOOD EVENING.

AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

I AM ZID.

-- I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

HOLYOKE BATHE ARTIST AND WESTFIELD STATE PROFESSOR IMOIMEH IS EMBARKING ON A NEW PROJECT CALLED "IN HIS NAME."

IT FEATURES -- EFLECTS A SERIES OF IMAGES ON THE ATTACK.

IT WILL DEBUT IN JANUARY 2022, THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE INSURRECTION.

ROSS LIPPMAN VISITED HIS STUDIO TO SEE THE EARLY STAGES AND TO LEARN HOW HE'S COLLABORATING WITH A LOCAL COMPOSER TO BRING MUSIC TO HIS ART I.

>> I LEARNED AT A VERY YOUNG AGE AND GROWING INTO ADULT TUD THAT THERE ARE FEW FORCES IN THIS NATION THAT ARE AS POWERFUL AS WHITE RAGE AND I SAW IT MANIFESTED THAT DAY.

THE SHEER VIOLENCE RAPPED -- WRAPPED IN THE AMERICAN FLAG, THE DELUSIONAL VIOLENCE, THIS GUY HERE, HE'S THE MAIN FIGURE THERE.

AND SO AS A CHRISTIAN, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THIS?

THEY'RE HOLDING UP CROSSES AND WEARING TRUMP 2020 FLAGS.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THAT?

IT'S -- WHOLE THING IS VERY ODD.

AND MILITARY GEAR, ALL OF THESE THINGS CAME TOGETHER THAT GUY.

IT WAS LIKE MY NIGHTMARE.

LIKE EVERYTHING THAT WE -- I KIND OF KNEW, BUT TO SEE IT REALIZED AND SO EASILY, SO EASILY REALIZED.

IT DIDN'T TAKE MUCH.

FOR ME I CAN'T LOOK AT WHAT I SAW ON JANUARY 6TH AS A SEPARATE EVENT OR ENTITY FROM WHO I AM AS A BLACK CHRISTIAN MAN.

AS A MAN OF FAITH, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS SUNG IN CHOIRS AND HAS LED WORSHIP, IN CHURCHES, AS -- AS SOMEONE WHO REALLY BELIEVES, WHO ISN'T JUST -- I'M NOT A CHRISTIAN IN NAME ONLY.

I'M A BELIEVER IN CHRIST AS MY SAVIOR.

SO HERE YOU HAVE THIS -- THESE TWO FIGURES AT THE CENTER, ONE IN FULL JESUS FACEMASK, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE CRACKS.

SO THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF CHRISTIAN REPRESENTATION THERE.

SO THE ROSARY WILL BE COMING DOWN, THE BEADS FLOWING INTO THIS PERSON'S HAND HERE.

THAT'S HIS SECOND HAND.

SO IT'S STILL DEVELOPING BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THESE WORKS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ [.

>> MY NAME IS HANIF NELSON.

I'M A SINGER, COMPOSURE, AND EDUCATOR.

THIS IS GOING TO CHALLENGE HOW PEOPLE REALLY THINK ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE CONTEXT OF THESE IMAGES REALLY ARE GOING TO BE ABOUT THE CONTEXT OF WHAT PEOPLE DISPLAYED THAT DAY.

AND THE CONTEXT OF THE MUSIC IS GOING TO BE VERY REFLECTIVE OF THE IMPRINT OF BOTH WHAT I SAW LIVE AS WELL AS THE IMAGES THAT ARE BEING CREATED.

SO THE FIRST THING THAT I REALLY DID, I WANT TO TAKE A HYMN THAT'S IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

AND I WANT TO ARRANGE IT.

AND I WANT TO TAKE THIS HYMN AND I WANT TO MAKE IT SO THAT THE BEGINNING OF IT IS RECOGNIZABLE TO JUST ABOUT ANYONE WHO'S EVER BEEN IN CHURCH BEFORE.

[TRUMPET PLAYING] >> AND THEN I'M GOING TO START MAKING IT A LITTLE UGLY.

¶ ¶ >> SO THIS HYMN IS GOING TO START FROM BEING THIS BEAUTIFUL RECOGNIZABLE THING, TO THIS UGLY, DISONNATE THING THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WANT TO FINISH LISTENING TO.

¶ ¶ >> BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT I SAW WHEN I SAW THIS.

AND I'M LIKE, IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT CHRISTIAN IMAGERY, THE FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO DO IS TAKE A WELL-KNOWN SONG AND ADD DISSONANCE AND CHAOS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WAS THERE.

>> BUT IT'S AS IF THEY'RE STANDING ON TOP OF THE ANGELS AS THEY'RE DOING THIS, RIGHT?

I REFUSE TO TAKE MYSELF OUT OF THIS STORY.

AND IF THAT MEANS THAT -- THAT THE HURT, THE PAIN, AND THE BITTERNESS THAT I HAVE FELT ENTERS THESE IMAGES, SO BE IT.

I WON'T APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

AND I'M NOT -- I'M NOT REWRITING -- I'M NOT A DOCUMENTTARIAN IN THE WAY -- DOCUMENTAIREIAN IN THE WAY I'M DOING THESE WORKS IN THAT I'M TRYING TO SAY THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6TH.

I'M REALLY DOCUMENTING AN ARRAY OF THINGS, INCLUDING HOW WHAT WE SAW ON JANUARY 6TH, HOW IT'S ECHOED IN HISTORY, BUT HOW I FEEL ABOUT WHAT I SAW.

AND HOW BLACK PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN.

AND I'M HOPING THAT THAT STILL ALLOWS FOR A CONVERSATION TO HAPPEN.

BUT I DON'T -- I JUST REFUSE TO EXIZE MY VOICE FROM THESE CONVERSATIONS ANYMORE.

AND SO I'M TRUSTING MY -- MY GUT INSTINCT WITH THIS.

AND HANIF IS TRUSTING HIS GUT WITH THE MUSIC ASK I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE RAW, UNEDITED, AND INSANE.

BUT I'M HOPING THAT SOMEWHERE IN THERE IS SPACE FOR A SERIOUS CONVERSATION TO HAPPEN.

[TRUMPET PLAYING] ¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> WHEN ROSS LIPTON VISITED IMO IMEH'S STUDIO THIS SUMMER, THE ARTIST SHARED AN IMAGE FROM THE SERIES ENTITLED "ON EARTH AS IT IS."

THIS SPECIFIC PIECE IS INSPIRED BY THE RAISING OF A CROSS DURING THE JACKSONth IS -- JANUARY 6TH INSURRECTION AT THE CAPITOL AND CONVEYS THE INTERSECTION OF DIVINE AND REALITY ON DISPLAY DURING THE ATTACK.

>> COMMUNION ELEMENTS ARE BEING FORCED ON HIM.

THERE'S THE BREAD OR THE BISCUIT THERE AND THIS IS THE BLOOD.

THE BLOOD IN THE GLASS, RIGHT?

AND THERE'S A NOOSE NEARBY.

I WANTED IT TO BE THERE BECAUSE OF WHAT WE SAW AT THE CAPITOL BUILDING, BUT THAT NOOSE ALSO REMINDED ME OF ALL THE THINGS WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> YOU CAN FIND THIS INTERVIEW AS WELL AS EXTRA FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONRIGHT RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT -- ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> THE UMASS HAM AMHERST'S FINE ARTS CENTER HAS OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF THEIR FALL SEASON AND WITH THAT COMES THE RE-OPENING OF THE UNIVERSITY'S ART GALLERIES.

THE AUGUSTA SAVAGE GALLERY, HAMPDEN GALLERY, AND THE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART ARE OPENING THEIR DOORS ONCE AGAIN AFTER BEING CLOSED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

I SPOKE WITH THE DIRECTORS OF THE GALLERIES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SEASON'S PROGRAMMING, THE FEATURED ARTISTS, AND HOW THE GALLERIES ADJUSTED DURING THE SHUTDOWN.

>> WITH 165 PEOPLE IN THE MUSEUM, IT WAS CA THARDIS JUST -- CA 3IC JUST TO BRING BACK FAMILIAR FACES FROM THE MASK UP AND UNFAMILIAR.

BUT ALSO TO THINK ABOUT HOW ART HAS TO BE EXPERIENCED IN PERSON.

WE'VE ALL DONE LOTS OF GREAT WORK VIRTUALLY, JUST TO BE ABLE TO HAVE PEOPLE IN THE MUSEUM AND LOOKING AT ART, THE EXPERIENTIAL ASPECT OF ART, IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> NOW THAT ALL THREE GALLERIES ARE RE-OPENED, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FOR UPCOMING FEATURED ARTISTS OR PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS HOW CAN PEOPLE ACCESS THESE EXHIBITS?

>> WE'RE GOING TO KEEP BOTH THE VIRTUAL AND THE LIVE GOING, BECAUSE WE'VE ACTUALLY FOUND THERE'S BEEN A SILVER LINING IN THE VIRTUAL CHATS WITH ARTISTS.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS -- PUBLIC CAN SPEAK TO THE ARTISTS THAT WAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THAT, AT THE SAME TIME HAVING IN-PERSON EVENTS.

SO FOR US IT WILL BE A HYBRID OF BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF THE VIRTUAL ONLINE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THE LIVE EVENTS.

>> A SILVER LINING, AND IT'S TRUE.

WE HAVE A GLASS SHOW UP RIGHT NOW AND IT'S INTERNATIONAL.

AND IF WE WERE TO SHIP THESE ITEMS, THEY MOST LIKELY WOULD BREAK OR BE VERY DIFFICULT.

IT'S BROADENED OUR SCOPE, TOO.

>> THE SAVAGE GALLERY IS ALSO EXHIBITING WORK BOTH ONLINE AND IN THE GALLERY.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A GROUP EXHIBITION BY PRINT MAKING WHICH IS A LOCAL PRINT STUDIO.

AND THAT'S UP UNTIL LATER THIS MONTH.

THAT ALSO INCLUDES A COUPLE OF HUMANITIES AND FINE ARTS STUDENTS CONTRIBUTED PIECES TO THAT EXHIBIT.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A PAINTING EXHIBIT LATE THIS MONTH OF PORTRAITURE BY AN ARTIST OUT OF NEW YORK AND CONTINUING WITH PROVIDING THINGS VIRTUALLY.

WE WILL HAVE A VIRTUAL WORKSHOP AND PERFORMANCE BY A LOCAL MULTIMEDIA ARTIST.

>> ALL THE GALLERIES MADE SPECIAL EFFORTS DURING THE SHUTDOWN TO STAY CONNECTED TO THE STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT VALUE DO THESE ART GALLERIES PROVIDE TO THE STUDENTS AND TO THE PUBLIC.

>> TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE THROUGH ART IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND HAMPDEN GALLERY HAS A SCULPTURE GARDEN, SO WE HAVE THE SCULPTURES UP RIGHT NOW BY ARTIST PETE DELLER.

THAT'S A NICE BRIDGE INTO THE SPACE.

NO MATTER WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE PANDEMIC, THEY CAN SEE ART OUTSIDE.

AND MAKE THAT CONNECTION.

>> WE'RE ACTUALLY TRAINING STUDENTS TO GIVE TOURS, SO WE'RE GOING TO OFFER STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT OUR EXHIBITIONS AND THEY'RE BEING TRAINED TO TALK ABOUT THE ART.

AND WE'LL BE OFFERING THESE TOURS IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL TOURS.

SO THAT'S OUR CONNECTION TO STUDENTS RIGHT NOW, THAT WE'RE -- GETTING CREDIT FOR IT, BUT THEY'RE LEARNING HOW TO BE SPOKESPEOPLE, AMBASSADORS FOR THE EXHIBITIONS AND THEY'RE LEARNING AS THEY GO ALONG.

SO IT'S KIND OF A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO GET THEIR HANDS ON -- INTO THE PROFESSION AND TO MEET WITH THE PUBLIC, WHATEVER PUBLIC WANTS TO COME BY FOR THE TOUR.

>> SPEAKING OF AMBASSADORS, MICHAEL J. BOBBITT WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MASS CULTURAL COUNCIL, RECENT TOURED DIFFERENT CULTURE SITES INCLUDING THE FINE ARTS CENTER.

IN AN ARTICLE FROM THE DAILY HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE, IT'S STATED THAT THE COUNCIL REPORTED THAT 900 ARTS ORGANIZATIONS STATEWIDE HAVE LOST AN ESTIMATED DR. 484 MILLION DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT SUPPORT DO YOU FEEL IS NECESSARY FOR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO RECOVER AND THRIVE POST-PANDEMIC?

>> THERE HAS BEEN SOME FUNDING THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.

SO THAT IS GOOD.

THERE HAS BEEN A CUT, BUT WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED FUNDING.

I THINK PEOPLE THAT CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE HOW IMPORTANT THE ARTS ARE TO THE UNIVERSITY AND TO KEEP IT IN MIND.

>> ALSO COMING TO -- IF ONE FEELS SAFE, COMING TO OUR EVENTS, VISITING THE SPACES, SEEING THE ARTWORK, AND EVEN JUST -- IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE OR YOU AREN'T ABLE TO, TO VIEW THE EXHIBITION THAT IS WE HAVE ONLINE, THE DIGITAL EXHIBITIONS AND SIGN THE GUEST BOOK, AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.

>> BEYOND THOSE WHO FEEL MAYBE NOT COMFORTABLE TO GO TO THE GALLERIES BUT MAYBE THEY ARE COMFORT BUT THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE ART IS FOR THEM OR THEIR THING.

WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE WITH THEM?

>> I SHOULD MAKE IT KNOWN THAT WE'RE FREE OF CHARGE.

NONE OF US CHARGE ENTRANCE TO THE MUSEUM OR GALLERIES.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WISH MORE PEOPLE KNEW.

CLEARLY, STUDENTS KNOW IT.

ALTHOUGH WE FIND PEOPLE COME IN.

THEY SAY WHERE IS YOUR ENTRANCE FEE AND WHERE DO WE PAY.

SO PEOPLE CAN JUST COME IN AND EXPLORE.

THAT'S WHAT WE LOVE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT.

JUST DROP IN!

AND SEE FOR YOURSELVES WHAT ART CAN OFFER.

¶ ¶ .

>>> WHILE 2020 WAS A DEVASTATING YEAR FOR MOST BUSINESSES, A SELECT FEW SAW A CHANCE TO SEIZE OPPORTUNITY.

AFTER FINISHING HER CULINARY DEGREE AT HOME YOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, HOLYOKE RESIDENT AND LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR NICHOL ORTIZ HAD HER SIGHTS SET ON OPENING A FOOD TRUCK.

BY AUGUST 2020, ORTIZ'S FOOD TRUCK WAS A REALITY AND THE SUCCESS OF THAT BUSINESS ALLOWED HER TO OPEN A STOREFRONT IN HOLYOKE SIX MONTHS LATER.

CPR'S BRIAN SUL VAP STOPPED BY TO SEE HOW THIS RESTAURANT IS SERVING UP TASTY CARIBBEAN-INSPIRED FARE IN THE PIONEER VALLEY.

>> BEFORE THERE WAS THIS -- THERE WAS THIS.

THE LITTLE FOOD TRUCK THAT COULD.

BORN OUT OF OPPORTUNITY, ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT, AND SOME HELP FROM A THOUSAND DOLLARS IN PRIZE MONEY WON IN A COLLEGE CONCEPT CONTEST, NICOLE ORTIZ'S CRAVE FOOD TRUCK MADE ITS DEBUT THIS SUMMER OF 2020.

AND WHILE THE RISK OF CHASING HER DREAMS REAPED SOME INSTANT REWARDS, THERE WERE STILL SOME BUMPS ON THE ROAD.

>> THE FOOD TRUCK GAME IS SUPER DIFFICUT.

I FIND IT'S EASIER TO RUN A RESTAURANT THAN IT IS A FOOD TRUCK.

JUST BECAUSE WITH THE FOOD TRUCK, YOU HAVE SO MANY VARIABLES THAT JUST COME UP EVERY DAY AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT BETWEEN LIKE THE GAS NOT WORKING, SOMETHING WEIRD HAPPENED WITH THE GAS, WITH THE WATER.

THERE'S MORE VARIABLES AT PLAY I FEEL LIKE WITH THE FOOD TRUCKS.

>> BY MARCH OF 2021, CRAVE THE FOOD TRUCK BECAME CRAVE THE RESTAURANT.

AND HERE IN THE CITY OF HOLYOKE, WHICH IS CONSIDERED A FOOD DESERT BECAUSE OF ITS LACK OF EASILY ACCESSIBLE NUTRITIOUS FOODS, THE OPPORTUNITY WAS TOO BIG TO IGNORE.

>> THIS COMMUNITY IS PREDOMINANTLY PUERTO RICO AND MY COMMUNITY SUFFERS FROM DIABETES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF FRIED FOODS, HEAVILY PROCESSED FOODS HERE.

SO I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

WE USE A LOT OF FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES.

WE SOUTHERN OUR INGREDIENTS -- WE SOURCE OUR INGREDIENTS LOCALLY WHEN IT'S IN SEASON.

IT'S NOT EASY AND YOU KNOW, BUT PEOPLE APPRECIATE QUALITY FOOD AND THEY APPRECIATE GOOD FOOD AND I THINK THEY APPRECIATE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

>> THE MAJORITY OF THE REVENUE GENERATION IS BEING DONE HERE IN THE BRICK AND MORTAR.

BUT THE FOOD TRUCK IS STILL MAKING -- MAKING THE ROUNDS, MOSTLY ON THE FARMERS' MARKET CIRCUIT.

AND FAR BE IT FOR ME TO NOT CHECK IT OUT AND SEE WHAT'S COOKING.

FOR ANYONE WONDERING IF THE TRUCK STILL COMES OUT EVEN IN THE RAIN T QUICK ANSWER IS YES.

NICE!

BUT IT STAY -- IT'S DAYS LIKE TODAY THAT MAKE IT HAND CRETHAT THEY HAVE A STOREFRONT AS WELL.

HAVING A HOME BASE THAT'S SECURED TO THE GROUND SEEMED LIKE THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP.

EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS BORN HERE IN THE PIONEER VALLEY, ORTIZ HAS POUNCED A -- BOUNCED AROUND THE MAP FROM THE SOUTH TO THE MIDWEST.

BUT NOW THAT SHE'S BACK HERE ON HOME TURF, OPENING UP SHOP GIVES A LOCAL KID MAKES GOOD FEEL TO HER STORY.

>> I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO HAVE A BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEUR.

BUT I FEEL LIKE WITH THIS BUSINESS, I'M MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND MY WHOLE FAMILY LIVES HERE.

MY WHOLE FAMILY HAS GROWN UP HERE.

SO I HAVE VERY STRONG ROOTS HERE.

SOATS IT'S GOOD -- SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE A DIFFERENCE I'M MAKING THE COMMUNITY AND I HAVE A TON OF FAMILY MEMBERS WORKING FOR ME AND A BUNCH OF LOCAL KIDS THAT I'M GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN A COOL, NEW, MODERN ENVIRONMENT.

>> THERE'S ONE THING THAT I ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW FROM ANY ENTREPRENEUR WITH THE LONE WOLF SPIRIT, AND THAT IS IN SPITE OF THE STRUGGLES INCURRED ALONG THE WAY, IS THE AMERICAN DREAM STILL ALIVE AND WELL.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY STILL ALIVE AND REAL AND I FEEL IT'S MORE LIFE AND REAL NOW THAN EVER.

YOU'RE SEEING MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LIKE HIGHER POSITIONS THAT YOU DIDN'T BEFORE.

WHICH IS GREAT.

AND IT MAKES -- YOU KNOW, MORE YOUNGER PEOPLE THAT ARE OF COLOR OR NOT, YOU KNOW, SEE THAT THEY CAN DO ANYTHING THEY WANT TO DO.

¶ ¶ >>> ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 9TH AT THE NORTH HAMPTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS, A SHORT FILM ENTITLED, "A MOTHER'S BOND," WILL PREMIERE TO THE PUBLIC.

THE LOCALLY PRODUCED FILM PRESENTS THE STORY OF CATHERINE LINDA, AN ENSLAVED WOMAN FROM GEORGIA WHO WAS BROUGHT TO MASSACHUSETTS IN 1844 BY HER ENSLAVERS.

IT'S PART OF A GROWING LIBRARY OF MULTIMEDIA MODULES CREATED BY SELF-EVIDENCE EVIDENT EDUCATION, A NONPROFIT THAT EQUIPS EDUCATORS WERE TOOLS -- WITH TOOLS TO RESPONSIBLY TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT THE HISTORY AND LEGACY OF SYSTEMIC RACISM IN THE U.S.

I SPOKE WITH MICHAEL LAWRENCE RIDDELL, CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND GAYLE TEMMER -- PEMBERTON, TO LEARN MORE.

>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS TO PUT TOGETHER HISTORY RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS TO USE THIS THEIR CLASSROOMS.

AND WE STARTED TELL SOMETHING STORIES THAT WERE NOT SO LOCALLY BATHE, THAT -- BASED, WE DIDN'T HAVE TULSA, CHICAGO AND ELAINE AND THE RED SUMMERS.

BUT THERE WAS A STORY LOCALLY THAT I HAD HEARD ABOUT BECAUSE MY FATHER WORKED FOR THE HISTORIC NORTHAMPTON, AND HISTORIC NORTHAMPTON HAD DONE SOME BRILLIANT RESEARCH.

A WOMAN NAMED EMMA DID A BUNCH OF RESEARCH ON THIS LITTLE-NO STORY OF CATHERINE LINDA.

SO THAT WAS THE GERM OF THE IDEA, WAS THIS FASCINATING STORY.

IT WAS A HYPER LOCAL STORY.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN ABOUT IN A HISTORY TEXTBOOK.

IT TOOK DIGGING INTO THE ARCHIVES OF OLD NEWSPAPERS TO FIND THIS STORY.

BUT IT'S A STORY THAT'S SO POWERFUL THAT REALLY CUTS TO SOME OF THE IMPORTANT MESSAGES ABOUT CENTERING THE HUMANITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE STUDYING THE HISTORY OF, THAT -- ARE THOSE BIGGER THEMES THAT WE WERE LOOKING TO DEVELOP.

AND I LOVED THE IDEA OF DOING THAT WITH A LOCAL PARTNER.

>> THE FILM PRESENTS THE STORY OF CATHERINE LINDA, AN ENSAVED WOMAN FROM GEORGIA, WHO WAS BROUGHT TO MASSACHUSETTS BY HER ENSLAVES IN 1845, I BELIEVE.

>> YES.

>> WHAT THEMES WILL THIS FILM TOUCH ON AND WHAT THEMES WILL WE LEARN LOCALLY ABOUT THE HISTORY IN THIS REGION IN THE FILM?

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT ARE HERE.

FIRST OF ALL, THE IDEA OF TRAVEL OF THE FACT THAT YOU HAD SOUTHERN PEOPLE, THOSE WHO OWNED OTHERS, THE ENSAFERS TRAVELING TO OTHER -- ENSLAVES, TRAVELING TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY FOR VARIOUS REASONS.

WE SO FREQUENTLY FORGET THE NATURE OF FAMILY AMONG THE ENSLAVED.

AND WHILE THERE WERE EFFORTS TO SEPARATE PARENTS FROM THEIR CHILDREN, CHILDREN FROM THEIR SIBLINGS, OFTEN -- OFTEN THEY KNEW EACH OTHER AND IN THIS CASE, PRESUMABLY KRATH LIN LINDA NEW OF -- CATHERINE LINDA KNEW OF HER CHILDREN WERE THERE.

THE FILM IS TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THIS -- I THINK TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS NOTION OF A HARD LINE BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH.

THIS IS A VERY PERMEABLE SET OF LINES.

AND THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED SLAVERY IN THE NORTH AND CONFEDERACY.

THERE WERE THOSE WERE ANTISLAVERY.

SO IT'S A MATTER OF -- AND ALSO OF COURSE, THE BIG QUESTION IS WHAT IS FREEDOM.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE FREEDOM?

THIS WOMAN SAYS, I WANT MY FREEDOM.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HER FAMILY?

>> ALONG WITH WORKING WITH LOCAL SCHOLARS AND ORGANIZATIONS, YOU ALSO WORKED WITH STUDENTS FROM THE NORTHAMPTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THIS PROJECT.

IML WAS IT IMPORTANT -- WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT TO ENGAGE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE?

>> I'VE BEEN ANN EDUCATOR FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I TAUGHT IN BROOKLYN, BOSTON, AND AM HERE'S, MASSACHUSETTS -- AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS.

SO I LEFT THE CLASSROOM ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.

SELFISHLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT EXCITES ME IS WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND SEEING THE WAY THEY WORK THROUGH COMPLICATED AND COMPLEX IDEAS.

SO I LOVED THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO PROFESSIONAL CURRICULUM WRITING WORK THAT I WAS DOING AND INVOLVE STUDENTS IN THE PROCESS.

AND THEN I HAD A GROUP OF MIDDLE SCHOOL I WILL TERRENCE, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADERS, WHO WERE JUST A PHENOMENAL GROUP OF OPPORTUNITIES.

A SMALL GROUP.

THERE WERE EIGHT OF THEM.

AND WE WORKED TOGETHER FIRST TO ANALYZE SOME OF THE MODULES THAT WE HAD BUILT, SO THEY WATCHED SOME OF OUR EPISODES, AND THEN THEY CREATED A LANGUAGE SYSTEM TO TALK ABOUT WHAT MAKES THE EPISODES WORK.

AND THESE ARE KIDS FOR WHOM OFTEN SCHOOL WAS NOT A PLACE THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL, RIGHT.

AND THEY CREATED CURRICULUM FOR THE MODULE, RIGHT?

SO ONE OF THE SEVENTH GRADERS WAS DONE WITH HIS WORK.

AND HE SAID, MISS, I'M GOING TO GO TO HIS TEACHER, DR. GRAHAM,ILIANT.

HE SAYS I'M GOING TO SIT OVER THERE AND WRITE A LETTER TO D. W. HODGESSON.

WHO BROUGHT CATHERINE TO MASSACHUSETTS.

THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT I'M GONNA TELL HIM.

AND THAT BECAME AN ACTIVITY THAT NOW TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE GONNA HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND THIS KID, MARCOS, A SEVENTH GRADE STUDENT, WROTE THAT PIECE OF CURRICULUM THAT'S NOW BEING USED IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S JUST SUCH A POWERFUL MODEL OF WHAT STUDENTS CAN WHAT WHEN YOU ENGAGE THEM AT THEIR LEVEL AND THEN ALLOW THEM TO RISE ABOVE THAT.

>> AND SPEAKING ABOUT WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO IN ENGAGELE THEM, GAYLE, YOU WERE MICHAEL'S PROFESSOR AT WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY AND YOU HAVE NOW COME FULL CIRCLE AND WERE WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS STORY.

WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE, COAUTHORING AND COHOSTING THE FILM WITH MICHAEL, WHO WAS ONCE YOUR STUDENT?

>> IT'S A DREAM COME TRUE.

ONCE FORMER STUDENT IS DOING SUCH EXCEPTIONAL AND IMPORTANT WORK.

MICHAEL WAS JUST ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY.

-- STUDENTS.

THE IDEA OF THOSE FRESH EYES OF THE YOUNG KIDS AND HOW THEY BRING A FRESHNESS AND THEY DON'T BRING BAGGAGE OF HAVING HEARD ALL SORT OF STEREOTYPICAL THINGS.

THEY COME AND THEY GO TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER.

>> YOU BOTH HAVE MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS EDUCATORS.

AND ARE AWARD-WINNING EDUCATORS.

I WANT TO NOTE THAT AS WELL.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE GET OUT OF THIS FILM AND THE OTHER MODULE UNIT?

>> I THINK THAT WITH STORYTELLING, AT ANY LEVEL, THE BEST STORYTELLING IS MICHAEL WAS SAYING, IT REACHES INTO YOU.

YOU HEAR A STORY AND YOU START FILTERING IT THROUGH YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS IT COMES OUT A DIFFERENT WAY.

IT COMMANDS -- YOU EXPAND IT IN YOUR MIND AND IN YOUR EXPERIENCE.

EVERYBODY HAS FAMILY STORIES.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THESE THINGS.

THIS IS HOW -- THIS IS HOW CULTURES ARE BUILT, ON STORYTELLING.

AND WHAT WE HOPE IS THAT THROUGH THIS PROCESS, PEOPLE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'VE MISSED AND HOW IMPORTANT WHAT THEY'VE MISSED HAS BEEN FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE PRESENT.

>> I FULLY BELIEVE THAT WORDS AND STORIES HAVE THE -- HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD AND THEY HAVE.

THEY'VE DONE IT.

SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO DO, IS TO USE THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AS A MODEL FOR HOW TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND TO TELL DIFFERENT STORIES AND TO HONOR THOSE STORIES IN WAYS THAT ARE AUTHENTIC AND MEANINGFUL AND ACCOUNT ONLY.

-- ACCOUNTABLE.

.

¶ .

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR OCTOBER 8TH, 2021.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW TONIGHT U AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 RIGHT HERE ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

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