COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF RISING GAS PRICES AND PERSISTENT INFLATION.

ALSO TONIGHT, AN ARIZONA CLINIC ADDRESSES THE INCREASE IN CASES OF EARLY ON-SET COLON CANCER.

AND, WE'LL LEARN ABOUT A CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP FOR VETERANS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

ANNOUNCER: ARIZONA IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MEMBERS OF YOUR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

TED: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

GAS PRICES AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE NOW MORE THAN A DOLLAR A GALLON HIGHER THAN IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE IRAN WAR.

THIS AS INFLATION CONTINUES TO RISE, WITH THE LATEST PROJECTIONS SUGGESTING INFLATION FOR THE YEAR INCREASING TO 4.2 PERCENT JOINING US NOW IS ASU ECONOMIST DENNIS HOFFMAN.

DENNIS, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

FOOD YOU HAVE.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE, TED.

TED: HOW MUCH IS THE WAR IMPACTING THE OVERALL ECONOMY?

>> WELL, IN SEVERAL WAYS.

IT IS A LOT.

FUEL PRICES, NUMBER ONE.

YOU KNOW, THAT CONGESTION IN THE STRAITS, THAT MEANS FERTILIZER FOR GRAINS, FUEL PRICES, FUEL PRICES, AND FUEL IS AN INPUT IN THE PRODUCTION OF FERTILIZER, SO ALL OF THIS JUST RIPPLES THROUGH, YOU KNOW, FOLKS ARE JUST FRUSTRATED AT THE PUMP, BUT THAT IS JUST THE BEGINNING, YOU KNOW?

I FEEL REALLY BAD FOR MOST PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, YOU KNOW, DRIVING ACROSS TOWN, TRYING TO MAKE IT ALL WORK, BUT LOOK OUT.

FOOD PRICES ARE GOING UP.

DOES ALE IS, VIRTUALLY A RECORD HIGH FROM WHAT I CAN TELL IN ARIZONA LOOKING AT THAT PEAK IN WHEN RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE, WE ARE JUSTS ABOUT THERE.

>> YOU MENTIONED DOES ALE BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT DOES ALE.

I TALK ABOUT A BMW.

THAT IS WHERE THE TRACKS, THEY ARE TRUCKING EVERYTHING, THAT PRICE IS INCREASING.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THAT IS RIGHT.

>> THE IMPACT AGAIN ON THE OVERALL ECONOMY, THE IMPACT ON SPENDING.

THE IMPACT ON JUST THE PESSIMISM THAT PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND HOW THAT AFFECT THINGS.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

RIGHT.

>> NO, IT IS, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ALL LAST YEAR ABOUT UNCERTAINTY.

IT WAS UNCERTAINTY, YOU KNOW INBROUGHT TO US BY THE TARIFF UNCERTAINTY.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS UNCERTAINTY ON STEROIDS NOW?

YOU KNOW, THE GOOD NEWS, IF THERE IS GOOD NEWS.

PHYSICAL SOMEHOW THIS COULD MAGICALLY GO AWAY, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

BUT IF IT COULD, YOU KNOW?

IT COULD SNAP BACK.

OIL PRICES ARE VERY VOLATILE.

SO WHAT GOES UP COULD COME DOWN REALLY, REALLY QUICKLY.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS JUST HARD TO SEE THAT PATH RIGHT NOW.

>> WAY, IT IS INTERESTING.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT AND HEARD, THAT OIL PRICES, GAS PRICES SPIKED PRETTY FAST, BUT THEY TAKE THE TIME COMING ON DOWN.

YOU SEE THAT NOT NECESSARILY THE GAS.

>> DUST OFF GAS BUDDY.

ONE OF THE FAVORITE LITTLE CHARTS HERE.

YOU CAN GET PHOENIX GASES, THE GAS PRICES HISTORICALLY.

YOU CAN GET IT ANOTHER NATION, OR ANY, YOU KNOW, THE HOMETOWN, WHATEVER YOU WANT.

IT REALLY IS, THERE IS A LOT, YOU KNOW, UPS AND DOWNS THERE.

AND I REMEMBER VIVIDLY, ACTUALLY, TED, IN THE SPRING OF 2008.

WE HAD SPIKE IN FUEL PRICES IN 2008 AND THE ECONOMY WAS KIND OF SLUGGISH, COMING OFF THE HOUSING BULB, I KEPT THINKING, WOW, WE NEED TO GET BEYOND THE FUEL THING, AND THINGS WILL LOOK UP.

WELL, YEAH.

>> IF YOU HAD 200, YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE WORST RECESSION, YOU KNOW, IN ANYONE'S MEMORY.

I WILL BRING UP THE R WORD HERE IN A SECOND.

>> YEAH.

TED: BEFORE YOU GET THAT, YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW THINGSES COULD CLICK BACK, ABOUT IT TAKES TIME, DOESN'T IT?

DOESN'T IT TAKE TIME FOR THE ECONOMY OVERALL THAT HAS BEEN HIT THIS HARD IN SO MANY WAYS, AGAIN, IS THAT NOT NECESSARILY TRUE?

>> WELL, IT DOES TAKE TIME.

AND WHAT, BE WHAT IS CLEAR TO ME IS THAT, THE SEWED IS REVEALING HOW MUCH LEVERAGE IRAN HAS, ACTUALLY, ON THE STRAITS, AND HOW IT CAN BRING THAT TRANSPORT TO A GRINDING HALT WITH PRET TIN SOPHISTICATED WEAPONS, YOU KNOW, A FEW $400 DRONES, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD KEEP THOSE SHIPSES FROM CROSSING.

TED: LIKE THE DEFINITION OF ASYMMETRICAL WARFARE.

>> UNFORTUNATELY.

TED: TARIFFS.

WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT TARIFFS.

THEY ARE STILL THERE.

>> WELL, WE ARE TRYING TO LOSE TRACK.

THE SUPREME COURT SAID NO WAY AND TRUMP, MR.

TRUMP SAID, NO, NO, THEY ARE COMING BACK.

I CAN NEVER KEEP TRACK NOW OF WHAT IS EX ENT AND WHAT IS NOT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH CHINA.

THAT KEEPS GETTING PUSHED OFF, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO MEET WITH CHINA.

NOW WE ARE NOT GOING TO MEET WITH CHINA.

LOOK, TARIFFS ARE ATTACKS AS LONG AS THEY ARE IN PLACE, AS LONG AS THEY ARE IN PLACE ON GOODS.

I WORRY ABOUT THE STEAL AND ALUMINUM AS MUCH AS ANYTHING PURCHASE BUT I THINK THAT IS WHAT ARE REALLY CREATED FRICTIONS IN MANUFACTURING IN THE COUNTRY.

>> WHAT IS ALL OF THIS DOG THE LABOR MARKET?

WOW, THE LABOR MARKET?

YOU KNOW, ON A NORMAL HEALTHY LABOR MARKET, TED, THERE IS A NATURAL CHURN, PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR JOBS, THEY WILL QUIT A JOB, THEY WILL SEARCH FOR ANOTHER, THEY WILL BE CONFIDENT, THEY CAN FIND ANOTHER, EMPLOYERS ARE, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE TALENT, WE CAN EXPAND BUSINESS.

WE CAN SEE OUR WAY FORWARD.

THAT IS JUST REALLY SLOWED TO A STOP.

IN FAIRNESS, IT STARTEDDED ABOUT MID 2024 SO WE ARE ALMOST IN ARIZONA AND REALLY HIT THIS HIGHER, YOU KNOW, AND INSURANCE CLAIM CAME IN PRETTY SOFT AGAIN TODAY, SO WE ARE NOT SEEING THAT MASSIVE LAY OFF, THANK GOODNESS.

AND, AND UNTIL WE GET THAT MASSIVE LAYOFF, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE, WE WILL NOT SLIP INTO RECESSION.

>> BUT WE ARE ON THE EDGE.

THE IDEA, THOUGH, OF ARIZONA AND COMPARED TO THE U.S.

ECONOMY, OVERALL, IN GENERAL, ANY PARTICULAR SECTORS.

HOW ARE WE DOING COMPARED TO EVERYONE ELSE?

WELL, THEY ARE COMING FROM SEMICONDUCTORS, SOME OF THE MANUFACTURING FACILITIES THAT WERE OPENED OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, WE HAD A LOT OF BUSINESSES IN HERE KICKING THE TIRES.

THEY CONTINUE TO BE IN TESTED IN COMING TO ARIZONA.

WE HAVE DATA CENTER IN VEST PRESIDENTS THAT DIDN'T CREATE MANY JOBS BUT CREATES A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION.

IN THE ECONOMY.

SO WE HAVE GOT, THAT IN TERMS OF BRIGHT SPOTS.

UNFORTUNATELY, FOR WHATEVER REASON, YOU KNOW, THIS PEOPLE MAG NISM THAT WE HAD HISTORICALLY.

PEOPLE WANT TO MOVE HERE.

THAT KEEPS THE REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION LEASING ALL OF THAT BUSINESS VIBRANT AND THAT HAS REALLY SLOWED.

NET DOMESTIC IMMIGRATION HAS REALLY SLOWED IN.

WE KEEP WAITING FOR MORTGAGE RATES TO FALL.

MORT GATE RAGE RATES ARE HIGHER TODAY THAN THEY PRN THE FALL OF 2024.

HIGHER TODAY.

WE HAD, YOU KNOW, ABOUT OVER A POINT CUT IN THE POLICY RATE, AND MORT DATE RATES HAVE NOT BUDGED.

IT IS INFLATION.

>> INTERESTING.

>> THE LONG TERM RATES ARE DRIVEN BY INFLATION FEARS?

AMOUNT OF SO LAST QUESTION.

YOU REFERRED TO IT A COUPLE OF TIMES?

WE HEARD THE R WORD.

IT IS RECESSION NOW A REAL POSSIBILITY?

>> IT HAS PERKED UP AGAIN.

YOU KNOW?

WE WERE, WE WERE ABOUT 50% CHANCE A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK WHEN THE FED WAS ON THE TIGHTENING CYCLE, THE ECONOMISTS GOT REALLY WORRIED BECAUSE WE HAD NEVER DONE THAT MUCH TIGHTENING WITHOUT SEEING A RECESSION BUT WE AVOIDED IT.

WE WERE ON THE GLIDE PATH DOWN, YOU KNOW?

INFLATION WERE REALLY PLUMMETING IN.

WE WERE WELL BELOW 2% IN THE PHOENIX CPI.

THAT IS WHERE WE WERE A YEAR AGO.

NOW WE ARE COMING BACK.

MORTGAGE RATES OVER THE LAST MONTH ARE GOING BACK UP.

I MEAN, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT, YOU KNOW?

IF WE ARE LOOKING FOR REBOUND IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRIES INTO LAST QEZ HERE QUICKLY.

THE PESSIMISM THAT SO MANY PEOPLE FEEL BILLION THE ECONOMY.

THAT IN OF ITSELF IS AN INDICATORS , YEAH, IT FEEDS ON ITSELF.

>> IT FEEDS ON ITSELF.

>> YEAH.

IT FEEDS ON ITSELF.

I DO WANT TO SAY, I THINK WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS TED.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW.

I WILL HAVE THE PRESCRIPTION.

I DON'T HAVE THE TIMELINE.

BUT, BUT, YOU KNOW, FOR INVESTORSES , INVEST FOR THE FUTURE, AND THIS IS IN THE STOCK MARKET FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, INVEST IN EDUCATION IN THE FUTURE.

YOU KNOW?

YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE GETTING BEAT OUT WITH STARTER JOBS BY AI, WELL, IF YOU DON'T ACQUIRE EDUCATION, AND SKILLS, THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NOTHING FOR YOU.

TED: ECONOMY DENNIS HOFMAN.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU, TED, BE WELL.

>> HI, I AM KEN BURNS.

YOU MAY KNOW DAVID AS THE MAN WHO LIVED AT WALDEN POND BUT THE STORY GOES BEYOND THAT SHAPING HOW WE THINK ABOUT NATURE, SOCIETY, OURSELVES.

WATCH THE NEWEST FILM BUYERIC AND CHRISTOPHER LAUREN HERE ON ARIZONA PBS.

TED: COLON CANCER IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER-RELATED DEATHS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS IN THE U.S.

MAYO CLINIC ARIZONA IS LOOKING TO FIGHT THAT TREND WITH ITS "EARLY ON-SET COLON CANCER CLINIC, ONE OF THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME THE CLINIC'S DIRECTOR, DR.

JEWEL SAMADDER.

GOODED TO YOU HAVE HERE.

A WELL, THANK YOU, TED, FOR HAVING ME.

TED: YEAH.

THERE IS SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE IDEA OF AN EARLY ONSET COLON CANCER CLINIC AS OPPOSED TO A COL ANN CANCER CLINIC.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MARCH IS A GREAT MONTH TO TALK ABOUT.

MARCH IS COLON CANCER SCREENING MONTH.

AN OPPORTUNITY MOMENT.

WE HAVE SEEN ON THE MEDIA, OBVIOUSLY, STORIES OF YOUNG ONSET COLORECKAR CANCER.

THERE HAVE BEEN ACTORS THAT HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED AND SADLY PASSED AWAY FROM IT AS WELL.

SO COLORECTOR CANCER USED TO BE THE FIFTH LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER RELATED DEATH IN YOUNG PEOPLE.

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE SIGN THE TICK UP.

IT HAS BECOME THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF CANCER RELATED DEATHS IN MEN AND WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES.

YOUNG ONSET COLORECTAL CANCER WHEN IT OH COARSE UNDER THE AGE OF 50.

IT IS NOT RARE ANY MORE.

THIS IS JUST 20,000 CASES ACROSS THE U.S.

AMONGST OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, OUR CHILDREN THAT ARE GETTING IT.

I AM IN MY 40'S MYSELF SO I CAN RELATE TO THIS INCREASED RISK AND THIS ANXIETY AROUND IT.

>> WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

WHY ARE THE NUMBERS CHANGING?

IT IS LIKE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DIAGNOSED MORE THAN DOUBLED SINCE THE MID 19 90'S.

WHAT IS GOING SON IN.

>> SIMPLE ANSWER, WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.

BUT WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE BORN IN THE 19 90'S HAVE A FIVE FOLD ELEVATED RISK OF DEVELOPING COLORECTAR CANCER COMPARED TO THE 190'S SO SOMETHING HAS CHANGED OVER THE 30 OR 40 YEAR SPAN OF TIMES SO THINGS WE THINK ABOUT, OBESITY, HORMONE EXPOSURE.

PESTICIDES, ANTIBIOTICS, PROCESSED MEATS, METABOLIC SYNDROME SUCH AS DIABETES.

ALCOHOL AND SMOKING EXPOSURE.

THESE ARE ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL SOMEWHAT MODIFIABLE THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED IN OUR DIET AND OUR LIFE-STYLE ALONG WITH WESTERNIZATION, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, FAST-FOOD, PROCESSED MEATS COMING IN.

MORE AND MORE COMPARED TO PEOPLE GROWING UP IN THE 60'S-70'S.

TED: BUT COULD IT ALSO BE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE WIND UP BEING DIAGNOSED WITH COLORECTAR CANCER ESPECIALLY YOUNG FOLKS IN THE HE LATE STAGES BECAUSE THEY NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE CLOSE TO THIS KIND OF THING.

>> YOU ARE SO RIGHTING WITH THAT OBSERVATION, TED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALL INCLUDING OUR FAMILY DOCTORS, CARE DOCTORS NEED TO THINK ABOUT IS THAT IF A PATIENT IS COMING IN OR IF ONE OF THE VIEWERS TODAY IS YOUNG IN THEIR 30'S 40'S BUT STARTS TO HAVE SYMPTOMS OF BLOOD IN THE STOOL, EITHER IN WIPING OR THE TOILET BOWL, UNEXPLAINED WEIGHT LOSS, UNEXPLAINED ABDOMINAL PAIN, NAUSEA, VOMITING THAT IS NOT GOING AWAY.

THEY NEED TO PUSH ON THE DOCTOR TO HAVE THOSE SYMPTOMS INVESTIGATED?

THAT COULD INCLUDE A COLLONNOSCOPY OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF SCHOOL TEST OAR CAT SCAN OR MRI TO LOOK AT THE BROUL THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE.

TED: THE RISK FACTORS FOR EARLY ONSET COLON CANCER.

IT IS IT MOSTLY HEREDITARY.

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE RISK FACTORS FOR THIS HAPPEN SOG YOUNG?

>> YEAH.

THERE IS MODIFYING RISK FACTOR WES TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF OBESITY.

CHANGE IN DIET, LIFE-STYLE.

SMOKING AND ALCOHOL BUT THEY DON'T EXPLAIN ALL THE RISK SO YOU HIT ON THE OTHER ASPECT HERE WHICH IS THE GENETIC OR FAMILIAR ASPECTS SO WE KNOW, THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DEVELOP COLON AND RECTAL CANCER.

A THIRD HAVE A STRONG FAMILY HISTORY OF COLORECKOR CAN SANE FIRST ROLETIVE LIKE THE MOM OR DEAD OR SECOND DEGREE RELATIVE LIKE AUNT, UNCLE, A COUSIN FOR EXAMPLE.

GENETIC FACTORS, A GENETIC BECAUSE OF COLORECTAL CANCER OCCURS IN 20 TO 25% OF YOUNG PEOPLE WITH CO LE RECTAL CANCER AND NOT JUST AT RISK OF THE SYNDROME THEY HAVE ELEVATED RISK OF UTERINE CANCER, SMALL BOWEL CANCER, STOMACH, BRAIN, KIN, A VARIETY OF OTHER CANCERS, BECAUSE IT TRANSMITS IN THE FAMILY SHALL SO IF ONE PERSON HAS LYNCH SYNDROMES THEIR RELATIVES WOULD HAVE A 50-50 CHANCE OF HAVING IT.

SO IT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO IDENTIFY A GENETIC CAUSE IF PRESENT THEN, THEN, TREAT BASED ON THAT CAUSE AS WELL AS CASCADE TESTING DOWN TO THEIR RELATIVES TO SEE WHO ELSE HAS IT SO WE CAN HOPEFULLY PREVENT CANCER BEFORE IT OH COARSE IN THAT PERSON.

JU MENTIONED TREATMENT HERE.

WHAT KIND OF TREATMENT IS THROUGHOUT?

HAS THE TREATMENT -- WE DO A LOT OF STORIES REGUARDING CANCERS IN.

SOME OF THE CANCERS THE CHANGES THE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN DRAMATIC.

ARE WE SEEING THE SAME THING WITH COLORECTAL INTO WE ARE.

AND REALLY YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD HERE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF DIAGNOSIS OF EARLY CANCER AT EARLIER STAGE WHEN IT IS HIGHLY CURABLE THEN, THEN, PRESENTATION TO EXPERT CLINICS LOOK THE ONE WE CREATED IN MAYO CLINIC ANOTHER CAUSE.

THE YOUNG WHERE ON SET COLORECKAR CLINIC WHERE WE SEE THEM DIAGNOSED UNDER 50 AND WE GET THEM WITHIN CARE WITHIN 7 DAYS TO SEE A GASTROLOGIST, SURGEON, ONCOLOGIST, SOCIAL WORKER WILL TELL YOU WHY THAT IS CRITICAL.

YOUNG PEOPLE, THEIR SIGNATURE OF THEIR COLON CANCER IS OFTEN DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE GENETIC BASIS OF THE CANCER AND THE ACHILLES HEEL OF THE CANCER WE ARE ABLE TO TARGET WITH IMMUNOTHERAPY INSTEAD OF USING CHEMOTHERAPY, USING IMMUNOTHERAPIES TURN UP THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO ATTACK THE CANCER FROM INSIDE.

>> FOR THE YOUNGER FOLKS IT MAY BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN OLDER FOL BEES IS THAT THE IDEA SNEER IT CAN BE EFFECTIVE IN PERSONS OLDER OR YOUNGER BUT BASED AROUND THE SIGNATURE OF THE COLON CANCER AND TURNS OUT YOUNG PEOPLE WITH COLORECKAR CANCER ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE THE SIGNATURE IN THE TIME INTO RESPONDS TO IMMUNOTHERAPY.

I MUNN KNOW THERAPY HAS BEEN A GAME-CHANGER IN THE COLORECTAL CANCERS THAT ALLOWED MANY PEOPLE WITH COLON CANCER TO AVOID SURGERY ALTOGETHER.

SO OREGON PRESERVATION WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED TO YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT IS OBVIOUSLY, NO ONE WANTS SURGERY OR A BAG IF THEY CAN AVOID IT.

TO THE USE OF MY UNION KNOW THERAPY FOR THOSE CANCERS THAT HAVE THAT SPECIFIC MOLECULAR SIGNATURE CAN ALLOW THEM TO AVOID SURGERY ALTOGETHER.

>> DR.

JEWEL SAMADD WE'RE SHALL IT IS EARLY ONSET COLON CANCER, SOMETHING WE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT.

IT IS IMPORTANT TOPIC NOW, THOUGH, FOOD HAVE YOU SHARING INFORMATION.

WE APPRECIATE.

THANKS SO MUCH.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ TEDL THE "VETERAN'S WRITING CIRCLE" IS A GROUP OF VETERANS THAT MEET TWICE A MONTH TO DEVELOP THEIR WRITING SKILLS, EXPRESS THEMSELVES CREATIVELY AND ENGAGE WITH EACH OTHER.

IT'S A WRITING GROUP CREATED "FOR" VETERANS, "BY" VETERANS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS.

U.S.

ARMY VETERAN MICHELLE LOPOSKY LEADS THE GROUP.

SHE'S THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AT ASU'S PAT TILLMAN VETERANS CENTER.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOODED TO YOU HAVE HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: THIS IS A GROUP OF VETERANS?

IS IT ALL VETERANS?

MOSTLY VETERANS HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> YEAH.

A PICKS MIXTURE OF VETERANS.

WE ONCE HAD AN ACTIVE DUTY MEMBER WHO JOINED US IN BETWEEN DEPLOYMENTS?

TED: WOW.

FOR ANY VETERAN MILITARY CONNECTED CONNECTED WHO HAVE HAS PASSION FOR WRITING OR IS EVEN PUBLISHED OR JUST THINKING ABOUT IT.

TED: WHAT KIND OF WRITE MING WE TALK FICTION, NONFICTION, POETRY ALL OF IT?

>> ALL OF IT.

TED: ALL OF IT?

>> WE PROVIDE A SPACE TWICE A MONTH ALL ON-LINE GIVING PROMPTS AND HAVING DISCUSSIONS ALLOWING THEM TIME TO ALSO SHARE ANY WORK THEY WOULD LOVE THE GROUP TALK ABOUT AND WHAT WE DO IS COLLECTIVELY TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT WORK LOOKS LIKE WHERE THEY CAN IMPROVE ON?

GIVING EACH OTHER KUDOS AND SO SHALL IT IS A GREAT TIME.

>> SUBJECTS FOR ALL THESE THINGS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE MILITARY SERVICE, CORRECT?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

IN FACT, WE DO THINGS VARIOUS THINGS THAT HAPPENS IN LIFE AND THAT IS REALLY WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL ABOUT IT.

IT IS A TIME FOR US WHO HAVE MISSED THAT CAMARADERIE IN THE MILITARY, CONNING TOGETHER, SHARING LIFE STORIES.

TED: WE HEAR THAT A LOT.

SOME FOLKS HAVE A LUV ROUGH TIME THERE.

THIS OBVIOUSLY HELPS SHARING THOSE KINDS OF EXPERIENCES I WOULD THINK WOULD HELP.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

FOR SURE.

AT THE SAME TIME, JUST TALKING ABOUT LIFE.

TED: YEAH.

>> WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

HOW MUCH IMPACT SERVICE DID FOR THEM AND THE IMPACT THEY ARE MAKING NOW.

>> WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR?

WHAT DOES, IF AN INSPIRING VETERAN COMES AND SAYS, I DON'T KNOW, I THINK I LIKE POETRY BUT NOT SURE.

WHAT TORIES ARE YOU HEARING?

>> WELL, I KNOW, IT SEEMS IM TIM DATING BECAUSE WE HAVE WRITERS POTTERS WITH VERY ONE IN HOUSTON, A SPONGE WORD, AMALLINGING POET AND CAN SEEM INTIMIDATING BUT WE INVITE ANYONE.

EVEN IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT IT.

SO REALLY ENCOURAGING THEM TO TAP INTO THEIR ARTISTRY AND THEN JUST SHARING IT WITH ALL OF US.

>> WHAT KIND OF WRITING HAVE YOU SEEN?

>> POETRY, FICTION, NONFICTION.

YOU NAME IT.

>> YEAH.

>> IT IS ACROSS THE BOARD F. WHEN YOU SEE THIS WRITING, DOES IT SURPRISE YOU SOMETIMES?

YEAH.

SOMETIMES.

YEAH.

IT CAN GET EMOTIONAL AND INSPIRING AT THE SAME TIME.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN IT GETS TOO EMOTIONAL?

HOW DO YOU TURN THE TEMPERATURE DOWN OR DO YOU?

ITE DEPENDS.

IT IS ORGAN UK?

AM THE CONVERSATION IS ALL ORGANIC HOW THE GROUP IS RESPONDING TO IT.

MYSELF AS A TEACHING ARTIST I FACILITATE THE CONVERSATION TO FLOW EASILY.

TED: IF A VETERAN COMES IN, THEY ARE NOT SURE, THEY SCRIBBLE THINGS, THEY ARE NOT SURE, HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH THAT.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THAT TO THAT VETERAN.

>> FOR ONE, IT IS FLEXIBLE.

WE DON'T FORCE THEM TO SPEAK.

IF THEY DON'T WANT TO SHARE, THEY CAN KEEP THEIR CAMERA OFF.

JUST LISTEN IN.

SOME PEOPLE WRITE THEIR PIECE ON THE CHAT.

TED: YEAH.

YOU MENTIONED CAMERA AND CHAT.

>> IS THIS ENTIRELY SCHOOL?

WELL IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR OVER TEN YEARS I THINK REALLY THE ZOOM WORLD HAPPENED BECAUSE OF COVID.

SO IT HAS BEEN SO MUCH EASIER.

WE HAD PEOPLE RIGHT NOW IN OUR GROUP.

FOLKS FROM MARYLAND, TEXAS, WISCONSIN AND SOMEONE FROM AUSTRALIA ONCE.

>> THEY ARE ALL OVER.

>> IT SMACKS IT EASIER.

YEAH.

>> SO MUCH FUN.

>> PEOPLE ARE WALK IN.

YOU TALK ABOUT INTIMIDATING NOW.

>> YEAH.

NO.

AND AGAIN, WE DO SOMETIMES HAVE THESE VETERANS WHO COME IN AND WHO ARE TOO SHY TO SHARE SO THEY KEEP THAT CALM ARE YOU HAVE.

THEN SOMETIMES THEY JUST TALK WITHOUT THEIR CAMERA ON.

WHAT GOT YOU INVOLVED IN THIS.

>> I WAS ASKED TO BE FACILITATOR.

THIS IS NOUR THE THIRD YEAR.

SOMEONE CAUGHT WINDS THAT I LOVE TO DO POEMS MYSELF.

JUST FOR PLEASURE, NOT I AM NOT PISH ARE PUBLISHED.

SO IT IS JUST, I HAVE AS LOVE FOR THAT.

JUST ENJOYING THAT WITH OTHER VETERANS.

UZ SERVE FOUR YEARS.

>> YES, I DID.

TED: DO YOU FIND THAT YOU GO BACK TO THOSE YEARS FOR INSPIRATION?

>> YES.

>> YES THE BEST DECISION EVER MADE.

THE SECOND BEST DECISION WORKING FOR THE VETERAN CENTER AND I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ALMOST 11 YEARS.

OH MY GOODNESS.

SHARING THIS EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER VETERANS ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGER ONES MAKING THEM SURE THEY FEEL THEY HAVE COMMUNITY.

TED: FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE WRITING PROGRAM, THE WRIGHT CIRCLE, HAS ANYONE BEEN PUBLISHED.

>> THEY HAVE.

YEAH.

>> WE HAVE QUITE A FEW, ACTUALLY.

WE HAVE ONE WHO SERVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR.

HE IS IN NEW MEXICO.

HE HAS BEEN PUBLISHED A FEW TIMES.

HE COURAGES VETERANS TO DO WRITING CIRCLES IN PERSON.

A YEAH.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

SO AS FAR AS REACTION, THOUGH, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN PUBLISHED.

JUST GENERAL REACTION, WHAT DO YOU SENATOR WELL, ONE, HAVING A COMMUNITY OUTLET FOR VETERAN THAT IS NOT ABOUT SERVICE.

AND IT IS ABOUT A PASSION WE ALL SHARE.

WRITING.

>> YES.

I ALSO, I ALSO, UP, CHALLENGE THEM.

I HAVE SOME WHO DON'T WANT TO DO PETRI AND DON'T WANT TO DO PROS.

I FORCE THEM TO DO IT BECAUSE IT ENHANCES THE WRITING AVAILABILITY AND NEW APPRECIATION FOR THAT TYPE OF GENRE.

TED: INDEED THE ARTS AND HEALING WE HAVE DONE STORE IS ARE ON THOSE.

>> IT MAKES ATIVE RENS.

YEAH.

I AM LIVING PROOF OF IT.

I FOUND FRET TOY THE BE THE THEIR PI, THE OUTLET.

IN THE CHAOS OF EVERYTHING.

IT IS WHERE I FEEL CENTERED.

>> CONGRATS ON THIS.

MICHELLE LOPOSKY.

I WOULD TO LOVE GO INSIDE AND SIT THERE FOR AWHILE.

>> ROCKING CHAIRS AND ALL.

TED: CONGRATS AND CONTINUED SUCCESS.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I AM TED SIMONS.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US?

AM YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪