>> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PPS WEEKLY.

>> WHEN THEY INVADED GARY, I HAD TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL.

THEY DIDN'T WANT ANY JEWS ANYMORE.

>> PAINFUL PARTS OF HISTORY REVEAL MAN'S INHUMANITY TO MAN.

>> YOUR LUCKY IF ONE DAY YOU GET THREE GRAINS OF RICE AND A BOWL OF SOUP WHICH IS JUST BOILED WATER.

JUST TO MAKE ENOUGH FOR YOU TO SURVIVE THE NEXT DAY.

>> SPRING IS IN THE AIR AS TO LIPS LIGHT UP THIS LANDSCAPE.

>> EVERYBODY LOVES TULIPS.

>> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I'M MICHELE SAN MIGUEL.

>> I'M PAMELA WATTS.

WE BEGIN WITH SOME IMPORTANT NEWS.

ON THE 20 FOURTH OF APRIL, PRESIDENT BIDEN DECLARED THE MASSACRE OF ARMENIANS MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO AS GENOCIDE, MAKING HIM THE FIRST SITTING U.S. PRESIDENT TO FORMALLY DO SO.

>> IT'S A LARGELY SYMBOLIC MOVE.

IT DOES NOT CARRY ANY LEGAL REPERCUSSIONS FOR TURKEY.

BUT THE ADMINISTRATION SAID, WE AFFIRM THAT HISTORY.

WE DO THIS NOT TO CAST BLAME TO ENSURE THAT WHAT HAPPENED IS NEVER REPEATED.

FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN RHODE ISLAND, EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO TEACH ABOUT GENOCIDES INCLUDING THE HOLOCAUST.

MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO FACED UNFATHOMABLE ATROCITIES IN THEIR HOME COUNTRIES.

TEACHING THESE DARK PARTS OF HISTORY IS NOT AN EASY ENDEAVOR.

COMMUNITY LEADERS WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PAST IS NEVER FORGOTTEN.

SOME IMAGES IN THIS REPORT MAY BE DISTURBING.

>> I GREW UP IN BULGARIA.

HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE WEST.

WHEN THE GERMAN TROOPS MARCHED INTO BULGARIA IN 1941, THAT'S WHEN WE REALIZED WHAT WAS GOING ON.

>> 93-YEAR-OLD HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR ALICE WAS ATTENDING A GERMAN SCHOOL WHEN BULGARIA ALLIED ITSELF WITH NAZI GERMANY.

MEDIALLY SHE NOTICED HER CLASSMATES BEGAN TREATING HER DIFFERENTLY.

>> I WAS WITH THESE KIDS SINCE KINDERGARTEN TOGETHER.

THEN WHEN THAT ALL HAPPENED WITH THE SWASTIKA AND EVERYTHING, THEY WOULDN'T PLAY WITH ME ANYMORE.

AT RECESS I WOULD STAND BY MYSELF.

AND THEY DIDN'T INVITE ME ANYMORE TO THEIR BIRTHDAY PARTIES.

IT'S NO BIG DEAL, BUT IT MEANT A LOT TO AN 11-YEAR-OLD.

>> SHE WENT TO A FRENCH CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN BULGARIA THAT ACCEPTED JEWISH STUDENTS.

A FEW YEARS LATER, SHE AND HER PARENTS WERE FORCED TO LIVE NEAR THE TURKISH AND BULGARIAN BORDER IN A GHETTO WHERE JEWS WERE SEGREGATED FROM THE REST OF THE POPULATION.

>> I WENT TO BED MANY TIMES HUNGRY.

MANY TIMES.

AND NOT KNOWING WHAT TOMORROW WILL BRING.

MY MOTHER CAME DOWN WITH MALARIA.

FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS SHE WAS SICK.

VERY SICK.

I CAME DOWN WITH WHOOPING COUGH.

VERY SEVERE.

NO DOCTORS WERE ALLOWED IN JEWISH HOMES.

NO MEDICATION.

SO A FEW MONTHS WE WERE SICK.

AND THE PLACE WHERE WE WERE, THERE WAS NO PLUMBING.

NO RUNNING WATER.

I HAD TO GO TO THE WELL AND BRING BUCKETS OF WATER SO WE HAD SOMETHING TO DRINK AND FOOD.

>> HER LATE HUSBAND RAYMOND WAS ALSO A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR.

HE WAS SENT TO AUSCHWITZ, THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION CAMP.

>> HE ALWAYS SAID HE COULD NEVER FORGET THE SCREAM AND THE SMELL OF BURNING FLESH.

IT WAS HELL ON EARTH.

>> IN 2016 AND EFFORT TO MAKE SURE STORIES LIKE HERS AND OTHER VICTIMS OF ATROCITIES DO NOT FADE FROM HISTORY, GINA RAIMONDO SIGNED INTO LAW A REQUIREMENT THAT PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BE TAUGHT ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST AND OTHER GENOCIDES.

BUT TODAY SUPPORTERS OF THE LEGISLATION ARE CONCERNED THAT MANY EDUCATORS IN THE STATE AREN'T AWARE OF THE REQUIREMENT.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEING TAUGHT AND WHAT SCHOOLS.

-- AND NOW SHE'S COSPONSORING A BILL THAT WOULD CREATE A COMMISSION TO OVERSEE HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE EDUCATION IN THE STATE AND MAKE SURE IT'S BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS.

>> WHY IS HAVING THAT COMMISSION IMPORTANT FOR EDUCATION?

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TEACHERS ARE TEACHING ABOUT THESE MATERIALS PROPERLY AND THAT WE HAVE THIS COMMISSION TO ENABLE THAT.

>> BARBARA WAHLBERG WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING AND GATHERING HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE CURRICULA FOR THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

SHE'S A TEACHER AT CRANSTON HIGH SCHOOL EAST.

SHE WANTS EDUCATORS TO KNOW THERE ARE FREE RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND BELIEFS THE COMMISSION WILL HELP TEACHERS SPREAD THE WORD.

>> I THINK THE COMMISSION GIVES US A LITTLE MORE CLOUT AND INFLUENCE AND IT HELPS US -- IT'S ALMOST LEGITIMIZING US AS EDUCATORS TO SAY WE REALLY CAN HELP YOU AND WE CAN PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO YOUR TEACHERS.

>> WAHLBERG HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY HER PEERS FOR HER WORK ON GENOCIDE EDUCATION.

SHE HAS MADE IT HER MISSION TO ENSURE STUDENTS KNOW THEIR HISTORY.

>> THEY HAVE A NEW SENSE OF HOW VALUABLE LIFE IS.

THEIR HOME, THEIR BED, THE FOOD ON THEIR TABLE.

THEY REALLY DO RIGHT JOURNAL ENTRIES THAT MENTION HOW FORTUNATE THEY REALLY ARE AND THAT NOTHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN TO THEM.

BUT THEY DO REALIZE IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS.

>> EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORM TO ERASE SYSTEMIC RACISM.

>> THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR SOUTHEAST ASIANS LOCATED IN PROVIDENCE.

SHE'S ALSO A SURVIVOR OF THE CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE.

>> MY MOM, MY AUNT AND I SURVIVED THIS WAR.

IN THIS WAR IS TREMENDOUS IMPACT BECAUSE WE WERE STARVED.

WE WERE ATTEMPTED TO BE MURDERED.

>> SHE WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD WHEN THE MURDEROUS REGIME KNOWN AS THE KHMER ROUGE TOOK OVER CAMBODIA.

AT LEAST 1.7 MILLION CAMBODIANS DIED FROM TORTURE, FORCED LABOR AND STARVATION.

FOR YEARS SHE LIVED IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP DESPERATELY TRYING TO SURVIVE.

>> PICTURE 125 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND YOU HAVE TO CARRY LOADS OF ROCKS OR WATER.

WHATEVER IT IS OR DIG AND THEN DUMP IT SOMEWHERE BECAUSE THEY TOLD YOU AND YOU DON'T DO IT THE RIGHT PLACE, YOU WILL GET BEATEN.

AND YOU ARE NOT GETTING FED.

YOU'RE LUCKY IF ONE DAY YOU GET THREE GRAINS OF RICE AND A BOWL OF SOUP WHICH IS JUST BOILED WATER.

JUST TO MAKE ENOUGH FOR YOU TO SURVIVE TO THE NEXT DAY.

>> HOW DID YOU SURVIVE LIVING IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP?

>> IT TAKES A LOT OF STAMINA.

STAMINA IS THE KEY IN MAINTAINING YOUR COMPOSURE.

FOR ME WHAT WAS IN MY PSYCHE IS THAT I WILL NOT GIVEN AND I WILL NOT GIVE UP IT'S NOT MY TIME YET.

THAT'S FOR ME.

NOT ANYONE ELSE, BUT FOR ME.

IT'S NOT MY TIME.

>> WHEN THE VIETNAMESE MILITARY INVADED CAMBODIA IN 1978, SHE SAYS THE CHAOS THAT ENSUED ALLOWED HER TO LATER LEAVE HER CAMP AND FIND HER MOM AND AUNT IN NEARBY CAMPS.

>> FROM THERE, WE PLANNED TO STAY TO SEE IF MY FATHER WERE ALIVE.

BECAUSE THE PROMISE TO MY MOM WAS TO STAY HERE FOR THREE MONTHS.

IF I DON'T SHOW UP, THAT MEANS I'M NO LONGER HERE.

SO THAT PROMISE.

WE WAITED FOR THREE MONTHS.

AND THEN WE DECIDED THAT WE HAD TO ESCAPE OUT OF CAMBODIA.

SO ALL MY FAMILY WERE VANISHED.

I HAD TWO BROTHERS COME TWO SISTERS.

I'M THE SECOND OLDEST OF FIVE CHILDREN AND THEY WERE ALL MOTIVED AND KILLED THROUGH FAMINE AND STARVATION.

>> EDUCATORS HOPE HER STORY AND THOSE OF OTHER SURVIVORS EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE TO WORK FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.

>> WHEN WE TEACH ANNE FRANK OR ELIE WIESEL'S NIGHT, THE QUESTION IS WHAT DOES THE STORY HAVE TO DO WITH ME?

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO GET TO THE ROOT OF.

>> NEWMAN'S FATHER AND MOTHER SURVIVED THE HOLOCAUST.

HE SAYS TEACHING ABOUT THOSE WHO SUFFERED AND PERISHED AT THE HANDS OF THE NAZIS IS CRITICAL.

>> THAT STUDENTS REALIZE THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS TO SOMEBODY ELSE A REALLY LONG TIME AGO.

WE ARE PART OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY AND WHAT HAPPENS TO ONE OF US HAPPENS TO ALL OF US.

>> MAKING SURE STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST AND OTHER GENOCIDES IS ALSO ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGING HER ROOTS AND THE VICTIMS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE.

>> I HAVE A GREAT GRANDPARENTS THAT ESCAPED THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE.

THEIR STORIES ARE HORRIFIC AND INCREDIBLE.

I THINK IN THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY, SOMETHING THAT IS ALWAYS A CONCERN OF OURS IS THAT OUR HISTORY WILL BE FORGOTTEN.

>> INSIDE OF NORTH BURIAL GROUND'S IN PROVIDENCE STANDS A MONUMENT FOR VICTIMS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT 1.5 MILLION ARMENIANS WERE KILLED THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE.

TO THIS DAY, THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEATHS AS A GENOCIDE.

SHE BELIEVES THAT EDUCATORS MUST RECOGNIZE AND TEACH THAT IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE BRUTALITY, THERE WERE ALSO HEROES.

>> THAT'S WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO TEACH ABOUT THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE.

IT'S MORE ABOUT THEIR GOVERNMENT THAT PERPETRATED THIS MOST HEINOUS CRIME.

MANY TURKISH PEOPLE ACTUALLY HELPED THEIR ARMENIAN NEIGHBORS HIDE AND ESCAPE FROM THE GENOCIDE.

>> ALICE REMEMBERS WHEN SHE WAS LIBERATED IN 1944 THE RUSSIAN ARMY.

MONTHS LATER, SHE SAYS THE AMERICANS RESCUED HER HUSBAND.

DESPITE WHAT SHE'S LIVED THROUGH , SHE SAYS SHE NEVER LOST HER FAITH AND DOESN'T DWELL ON THE HARDSHIPS.

>> I ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES.

I DON'T FIGHT JUST ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES.

I ACCEPT THINGS AND MOVE ON.

GOOD OR BAD.

I MOVE ON.

>> SHE BELIEVES IT IS HER MISSION TO GET THE TRUTH OUT.

AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE UNSPEAKABLE MADE ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT BY THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO DENY THE REALITY OF WHAT HAPPENED.

>> SOME PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS A HOLOCAUST.

THAT IT WAS JUST A MYTH.

SO I WANT TO TELL THEM IT WAS TRUE.

I WENT THROUGH IT.

MAYBE I WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES BECAUSE I WAS IN BULGARIA AND IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T TELL AND EDUCATE THE PEOPLE, IT COULD VERY EASILY HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> SCENES FROM THE CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH HER.

SO WILL THE STORY OF HER RESILIENCE.

>> I WANT MY CHILDREN AND GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES AND THE STRENGTH TO LOOK AT A MURDERER IN THE EYE AND SAY NOT TONIGHT.

TONIGHT IS MY NIGHT.

TOMORROW MORNING I WILL WALK OUT ALONE.

AND I DID.

AND I'M HERE TODAY.

>> IF HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL, OUR NEXT STORY IS A CELEBRATION OF BOTH.

SPRINGTIME BRINGS RENEWAL AND A FRESH CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM.

EVEN IN THE AGE OF COVID-19 THERE IS EXCITEMENT OVER THAT FIRST PITCH THAT BEGINS THE BASEBALL SEASON.

IN RHODE ISLAND, A HUSBAND AND WIFE OWNED TULIP BUSINESS HAS BECOME A FAVORITE DESTINATION.

BUSINESS LOOKS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

FEWER GUESTS ARE ALLOWED ON THE PROPERTY AND MASKS ARE REQUIRED VISITORS CAN MEANDER THROUGH THE TULIP FIELDS, TAKE PICTURES AND CREATE THEIR OWN ARRANGEMENTS.

BEING TULIP FARMERS IS A DREAM JOB AND THEY OFFER UP SOME WICKEDLY BEAUTIFUL TULIPS FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY.

>> WE REALLY WANT IT TO BE ABOUT BEING IN NATURE AND SLOWING DOWN, TAKING A BREATH AND SMELLING THE TULIPS.

>> HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TULIPS POKED THROUGH THE FIELDS OF SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND.

HUES OF PINK, RED, YELLOW, PURPLE.

>> TULIPS MIGHT BE THE ONLY FLOWER THAT BRING THIS MUCH HAPPINESS.

IT'S AN EARLY SPRING AND IT IS SO COLORFUL.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK FOR MONTHS TURNING THIS FARM IN EXETER INTO A TULIP MECCA.

THEY STARTED PLANTING THEIR DUTCH IMPORTED TULIP BULBS IN NOVEMBER.

IT TOOK ABOUT TWO MONTHS TO GET 800,000 BULBS IN THE GROUND.

THE PROCESS IS METICULOUS.

>> WE WANT THEM TO BE VERY PRETTY.

WE WANT THEM TO HAVE CONSECUTIVE BLOOMING SO THAT IT LOOKS GORGEOUS ALL THE TIME.

LET'S DO THIS DEEP PINK AND WHITE AND DARK PURPLE THAT WILL POP.

>> SHE DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THESE COLORFUL FLOWERS UNTIL 2000 EIGHT.

SHE WAS LIVING IN VIRGINIA WORKING AS A MORTGAGE BROKER WHEN HE RESPONDED TO HER AT AS A ROOMMATE.

IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE MORE THAN TWO LIPS WERE IN BLOOM.

>> WHAT WAS THE CONVERSATION LIKE WHEN HE TOLD YOU, I'M A TULIP FARMER?

>> I WAS LIKE, WHAT DO YOU DO?

HE WAS LIKE, DON'T LAUGH.

>> AT THE TIME YOU DIDN'T KNOW ANY TULIP FARMERS.

>> I BARELY DID ANY GARDENING.

>> HE COMES FROM A LARGE DUTCH FAMILY OF TULIP FARMERS.

THIS VIDEO SHOWS HIS FATHER WORKING AT THEIR FAMILY FARM IN HOLLAND.

TWO OF HIS BROTHERS NOW RUN THE FAMILY'S 150 ACRE OPERATION.

HIS OTHER BROTHER RUNS A YUPIK FARM IN ITALY.

>> WE ALL WORKED A LOT ON THE FARM.

IT WAS LIKE NO WAY, I WILL NEVER DO THIS TYPE OF STUFF BECAUSE AS A TEENAGER THAT JUST SEEMED LIKE A LOT OF WORK FOR NOT THAT MUCH RETURN.

>> EVENTUALLY HE FOUND HIS WAY BACK TO THESE SPRING BLOOMS.

WHEN HE BROUGHT CARRIE AND TO HOLLAND TO MEET HIS FAMILY, SHE WAS AWESTRUCK WHEN SHE SAW THE TULIP FARM.

AS FAR AS THE EYE COULD SEE, THERE WERE FLOWERS.

SHE ASKED IF SHE COULD PICK ONE.

>> I SAID YOU CAN PICK AS MANY YOU WANT.

>> I LITERALLY SWOONED.

REALLY?

AS MANY AS I WANT?

I JUST STARTED PICKING.

I HAD THEM IN MY BACK POCKET.

IT BROUGHT ME SUCH JOY.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHEN WE STARTED TALKING BUT IN THE YOU PICK -- TALKING ABOUT DOING THE YOU PICK.

>> THEY OPENED THEIR FIRST YOU PICK TULIP FARM THEY OPENED A FLOWER FARM, A PLACE FOR GUESTS TO STROLL THROUGH ROWS OF TULIPS AND PLUCK THE ONES THEY WANT.

IT WAS A BUSINESS MODEL HE HAD NOT SEEN PLAY OUT IN HOLLAND.

>> IT IS NOT A VIABLE OPTION IN HOLLAND BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY TULIPS THAT IT'S NOT THAT INTERESTING.

>> WHEN WE STARTED, EVERYBODY SAID THERE IS NO WAY YOU ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING FROM THIS, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SURVIVE.

NO ONE IS GOING TO COME.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PAY.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

>> THEY HAVE AMASSED A LARGE FOLLOWING.

FAMILIES THAT COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR.

>> IT'S REALLY SPECIAL.

I LOVE SEEING THE PICTURES OF THE KIDS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING SINCE WE OPENED.

>> TWO PEOPLE SAY, YOU AR THE TULIP FARMERS?

>> SOMETIMES.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK THIS BUSINESS MODEL HAS BECOME SO SUCCESSFUL?

>> IT BRINGS HAPPINESS.

THEY GET TO PICK.

WHEN YOU GO TO ANY GARDEN, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO PICK.

HAPPY HORMONES JUST START FLOWING.

ALSO IT IS JUST SO CALM OUT HERE AND GETTING BACK TO NATURE IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL WAY.

>> YOU WILL FIND ABOUT 100 VARIETIES OF TULIPS HERE.

FLOWERS WITH NAMES LIKE RED EMPEROR AND WHITE PRINTS.

>> THEY ARE LEASING 20 ACRES BUT ONLY GROWING TULIPS ON FIVE OF THEM.

ONCE TULIP SEASON IS OVER, THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE BULBS OUT OF THE GROUND AND LET THE SOIL REST FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS TO PREVENT THE ATTACK OF A FAST SPREADING FUNGUS.

>> YOU CAN HAVE A COMPLETE CROP FAILURE IF YOU GET THIS DISEASE.

THEY CALL IT IN HOLLAND TULIP FIRE.

BECAUSE IT SPREADS LIKE FIRE.

>> YOU WILL SEE DOTS ON THE PETALS AND LEAVES AND THEY DIE SOONER.

>> RHODE ISLAND'S CLIMATE MAKES IT IDEAL FOR GROWING TULIPS.

WHAT THEY WEREN'T EXPECTING OR ALL OF THE ROCKS THEY DUG UP WHEN THEY WENT TO PLANT BULBS.

>> IF YOU HIT THESE TYPES OF ROCKS.

>> THE ROCKS WERE NOTHING COMPARED TO THEIR BIGGEST OBSTACLE YET, THE CORONAVIRUS.

THEIR BUSINESS RELIES ON VISITORS COMING TO THE TULIP FARM.

THE PANDEMIC HIT LAST YEAR, THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO OPEN THE FOLLOWING MONTH.

>> WE STARTED JUST BRAINSTORMING LIKE HOW CAN WE SAVE THIS AND THEN CROSS YOUR FINGERS HOPING THE GUIDELINES WILL CHANGE BY THE TIME YOU'RE READY TO OPEN BECAUSE WE ARE ONE OF THE FIRST -- NOTHING ELSE IS BLOOMING.

>> CURBSIDE PICKUP GAVE NEW MEANING TO IF YOU PLANT IT THEY WILL COME.

>> SOME PEOPLE CAME BACK FIVE TIMES TO GET NUMEROUS BOUQUETS.

THEY DIDN'T NEED TO DO THAT.

THEY DID IT TO BE SUPPORTIVE.

>> THEY DONATED TULIPS TO NURSING HOMES DURING THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

NOW THEY ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO SPREAD THE TULIP LOVE YEAR-ROUND.

HE'S CONSIDERING SETTING UP GREEN HOUSES WHERE HE CAN TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO GROW TULIPS.

>> IT IS VERY HARD TO THREE WEEKS OF THE YEAR THE HAPPIEST PLACE OF RHODE ISLAND AND THEN THE OTHER 50 WEEKS BE CLOSED AND JUST PREPARE.

I WANT TO GIVE MORE TULIP LOVE TO PEOPLE I THINK.

>> THEY ALSO SELL A VARIETY OF BULBS WANT TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO GROW THEIR OWN TULIPS.

>> DO YOU GUYS HAVE MOMENTS WHERE YOU LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND JUST SAY I CAN'T BELIEVE WE GET TO DO THIS TOGETHER?

IT CAN'T BE EASY BEING A HUSBAND AND WIFE WORKING TOGETHER ALL THE TIME.

>> WHEN YOU ARE MAKING DECISIONS , IT GETS REAL PERSONAL REAL QUICKLY.

>> ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE PARTS OF THE BUSINESS IS SHARING THEIR LOVE OF TULIPS WITH THEIR SON.

HE'S QUICKLY GETTING THE HANG OF THE FAMILY BUSINESS.

>> WHAT DOES YOUR SON THINK ABOUT ALL OF THIS?

>> HE WANTS TO BE A TULIP FARMER.

>> THEY WANT THEIR SON AND EVERYONE WHO COMES TO THEIR FARM TO TAKE AWAY ONE SIMPLE THING.

>> JUST HOPE THAT WHEN THEY COME THEY CAN LET OUT THAT BREATH AND PUT ON A SMILE AND REALLY JUST FEEL THE HAPPINESS AND FEEL HAPPY WITHIN THEMSELVES AND JUST FORGET ABOUT EVERYTHING FOR A WHILE.

>> THE TULIP FARM IS EXPECTED TO OPEN IN EARLY MAY.

VISITORS NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ON WICKED TULIPS WEBSITE BEFORE VISITING EITHER LOCATION.

THEY ARE LOOKING INTO ADDING A THIRD LOCATION IN MASSACHUSETTS.

>> THIS MONTH IN RHODE ISLAND HISTORY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY EXPLAINS THE OCEAN STATES HISTORY OF PUSHING FOR FAIR HOUSING LAWS.

>> ON APRIL 12 19 65, GOVERNOR JOHN CHAFEE SIGNS THE FAIR HOUSING ACT FOR THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

THIS WAS NOT THE END OF FAIR HOUSING ACCESS IN RHODE ISLAND.

IN MANY WAYS THE CONVERSATION OF FAIR HOUSING WAS JUST BEGINNING.

IT IS PART OF THE CIVIL-RIGHTS STORY.

IT'S PART OF THE STORY OF THE NEW DEAL.

IT'S PART OF THE STORY OF OUR CONCEPT OF AN AMERICAN DREAM.

IN APRIL OF 1965, CHAFEE SAYS THAT DREAM SHOULD BE AFFORDED TO EVERYONE.

FOR MANY YEARS OF COURSE THAT WAS NOT THE CASE IN THIS ACT WOULD GO SOME DISTANCE BUT MANY WOULD ARGUE STILL NOT FAR ENOUGH IN CREATING A WORLD IN WHICH EVERYONE HAD ACCESS EQUALLY TO SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

HOUSING HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE IN PROVIDENCE AND IN THE 19TH CENTURY WE STILL SEE IMAGES OF WHAT'S NOW FEDERAL HILL THAT ARE LARGELY DIRT ROADS AND POOR QUALITY HOUSING, SOME OF WHICH WAS BUILT IN THE EARLY 18TH CENTURY AND NOT FOR LONGEVITY.

ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER AND GOOD HOUSING IS A REAL CHALLENGE.

BY THE 1950'S, WE START HAVING BIGGER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT IS FREQUENTLY CALLED SLUM CLEARANCE.

MUNICIPALITIES BEGIN TO TARGET THESE AREAS AND SAY THE HOUSING IS REALLY POOR.

WE SHOULD JUST CLEAR THIS AREA.

LITERALLY BULLDOZE THESE AREAS AND CREATE NICE NEW HOUSING WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO LIVE.

AND WE SEE THAT IN PROVIDENCE AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE HAPPENING AROUND THE SAME TIME THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS FAST -- PASSING THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ACT.

THE OUTCOME OF THAT IS THE CREATION OF HIGHWAYS THAT GO RIGHT THROUGH THE HEARTS OF CITIES, OFTEN THROUGH THOSE SAME ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREAS THAT ARE POPULATED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR.

SO WE CAN SEE WHY AS THE CIVIL-RIGHTS MOVEMENT IS TAKING HOLD AND WE ARE STARTING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO DEPRIVE PEOPLE OF THEIR BASIC RIGHTS, HOUSING IS ONE OF THESE BASIC RIGHTS.

IN THE 1960'S, WE SEE A LOT OF MOVEMENT FOR THE CIVIL-RIGHTS EFFORTS.

WE SEE NOT JUST ON TELEVISION EVERY NIGHT THE COVERAGE AND THE GROTESQUE TREATMENT OF PROTESTERS AROUND THE NATION AND IN PARTICULAR IN THE SOUTH BUT NOT ONLY.

WE ALSO SEE THE PASSAGE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

THERE IS MOVEMENT BEING MADE AT THESE NATIONAL LEVELS.

FROM THE 50'S ON WE ARE SEEING CIVIL-RIGHTS CASES CALLING FOR EQUAL ACCESS.

SO THERE IS A GROWING MOVEMENT AND ACCEPTANCE THAT'S COMING AND THEY KEEP PUTTING FORWARD THESE LAWS.

>> THIS ACT GIVES ALL OUR CITIZENS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN HOUSING.

SECONDLY, IT SHOWS ONCE AGAIN THE CONCERN OF THE STATE THAT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY BE A FACT IN RHODE ISLAND.

NOT JUST IN HOUSING BUT IN ALL AREAS.

>> THE LAW THAT HE SIGNS IN 1965 IS REALLY JUST THE BEGINNING.

HOWEVER, THE WORLD IS CHANGING AND THAT TO MALT KEEPS GROWING.

BY 1968, ONE OF THE MOST UNSETTLED YEARS IN AMERICAN HISTORY, WE ALSO HAD THE ASSASSINATION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING.

THIS CHANGES SOMETHING IN THE NATIONAL DISCOURSE AND RECEIPT OF FEDERAL HOUSING LAW BEING PASSED AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN RHODE ISLAND PASSES AN ADDITIONAL LAW THAT REMOVES THOSE EXEMPTIONS FROM 1965.

THAT 1968 WAS NOT AN END.

THAT SETS THE STAGE THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONTINUING TO FIGHT FOR AND BUILD FROM SINCE THAT PERIOD BUILDING EVEN IN 2021.

THANKS TO THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

>> I'M MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

FROM ALL OF US HERE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.