DAVID: TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> HUGE AMOUNTS OF WATER ARE USED TO PRODUCE A SINGLE YARD OF FABRIC.

>> FASHION USE HAS A BIG ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT AND GENERATION Z IS TURNING TO THRIFT SHOPS AS THE ANSWER.

SO YOU DID NOT BUY NEW CLOTHES FOR A WHOLE YEAR?

>> YEAH, A YEAR PLUS NOW.

>> AT SOME POINT IN MY LIFE IT IS ABOUT SURVIVING.

>> YOU ARE HOMELESS AT ONE POINT?

>> YES, A FEW YEARS IN ICICLE.

>> IS IT TRUE THAT YOU SLEPT UNDER A TREE AT THE PARK?

>> OH, YES.

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

CRY ABOUT IT?

IT MADE ME THE PERSON I NEED TO BE.

♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

DAVID: I'M DAVID WRIGHT.

WHEN IT COMES TO TRENDS, FASHION SEEMS CYCLICAL.

THAT IS TRUE OF HER FIRST STORY TONIGHT, WHICH IS ALL ABOUT HOW GENERATION Z AND MILLENNIALS HAVE EMBRACED THRIFT SHOPPING.

FOR SOME, IT IS MORE THAN JUST A FASHION STATEMENT, IT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL BLUE.

AIMED AT REDUCING RELIANCE ON FAST, CHEAP MANUFACTURING.

ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, AMERICANS GENERATED 13 MILLION TONS OF CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR WASTE IN 2018 ALONE.

THIS REPORT IS PART OF OUR CONTINUING SERIES, GREEN SEEKER.

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER ISABELLA HAS THE STORY.

ISABELLA: BLACK FRIDAY DEALS, A REVOLVING DOOR OF TRENDS.

>> DON'T YOU JUST LOVE IT?

>> LOVE WHAT?

>> TIFFANY IS.

ISABELLA: SHOPPING HAS BEEN IMMORTALIZED AS A GREAT AMERICAN PAST TIME.

>> YOU WORK ON COMMISSION RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> BIG MISTAKE.

BIG, HUGE.

I HAVE TO GO SHOPPING NOW.

ISABELLA: IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO GO WITHOUT BUYING NEW CLOTHES.

>> AND 2017, I GOT A STRIPED SHIRT AND I SAID THIS IS MY LAST NEW THING I AM EVER GOING TO GET.

ISABELLA: THAT WAS THE GOAL FOR A FURNITURE DESIGN STUDENT AT THE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN.

HE WENT NEARLY TWO YEARS WITHOUT BUYING A SINGLE NEW ITEM OF CLOTHING.

ISABELLA: WHAT DID YOU DO INSTEAD?

>> BUYING USED, SO GOING THROUGH THRIFT STORES, FINDING THINGS AND IF YOU ALSO -- NOT CONSUMING IN THE SAME WAY, NOT BEING LIKE OH, THIS WOULD BE SO MUCH FUN TO BUY.

BEFORE BEING LIKE OH, I NEED A PAIR OF PANTS.

IT IS MORE BASED ON NEED RATHER THAN WALK, SO BUYING LESS AND GETTING LESS.

ISABELLA: HE ALSO LEARNED HOW TO SEW HIS OWN CLOTHES, MAKE SOCKS, AND DO HIS OWN REPAIRS.

>> NOT MUCH GOING ON IN MY BRAIN, JUST KIND OF A LOT OF DOING AND LETTING MY HANDS DO THE WORK THEY NEED TO DO.

I'M A WOODWORKER AND SO, LIKE A LOT OF MY WORK CLOTHES, I TEND TO WEAR OUT OF THIS AREA PRETTY FAST.

PUTTING IN PANELS HERE TO REPAIR THAT, SO PANTS, I THINK YOU CAN SEE IN THE POCKET HERE, ORIGINALLY, THERE WAS NO BOTTOM OF THE POCKET.

ISABELLA: HE SAYS HIS NEW APPROACH TO SHOPPING BEGAN WHEN HE SAW HOW CLOTHES WERE MADE.

AND HOW IT AFFECTS THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> HUGE AMOUNTS OF WATER ARE USED TO PRODUCE A SINGLE YARD OF FABRIC, ESPECIALLY IN DYES AND PROCESSING AND AGRICULTURE TWO.

COTTON IS A PRETTY WATER HUNGRY PLANT.

ISABELLA: AND HE SAYS NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT POLYESTER COMES FROM DRILLING OIL.

AND SYNTHETICS SHED.

>> FABRICS MAKE FUZZ, IT IS THE LINK THAT COMES OUT IN YOUR DRYER, AND FROM SYNTHETIC FABRICS, THAT IS MICRO PLASTICS.

ISABELLA: ONE STUDY FOUND A POLYESTER GARMENT CAN CAST OFF WHICH MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH SEWERS AND INTO WATERWAYS.

>> IT IS A HUGE SOURCE OF MICRO PLASTICS IN THE OCEAN IS SYNTHETIC FABRICS, WHICH IS HAVING A HUGE EFFECT ON ECOSYSTEMS.

ISABELLA: AND HE REALLY REACHED A TIPPING POINT AFTER SEEING REPORTS ABOUT THE DESTRUCTIVE IMPACTS OF MAKING FAST, CHEAP CLOTHES.

>> THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER HORRIFIC INCIDENT AT A GARMENT FACTORY IN BANGLADESH.

AN EIGHT STORY BUILDING COLLAPSED TODAY, KILLING AT LEAST 145 PEOPLE.

>> IT WAS SHORT CHAOS.

DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR, IT SIBLEY COLLAPSED.

-- IT SIMPLY COLLAPSE.

ISABELLA: IN BANGLADESH, ENVIRONMENTAL AND LABOR LAWS ARE IGNORED.

IN THE ONE BILLION DOLLAR EXPORT LEATHER INDUSTRY.

WASTEWATER WITH HARMFUL CHEMICALS IS DUMPED INTO NEIGHBORHOOD STREAMS.

THIS WATER IS ACTUALLY DIED BLUE BECAUSE OF THE PROCESS.

IN WORKERS PROCESS SKINS WITHOUT PROTECTIVE GEAR.

EXPOSING THEM TO KNOWN CANCER-CAUSING AGENTS LIKE CHROMIUM.

AND CHILD WORKERS ARE FREQUENTLY SEEN OPERATING HEAVY MACHINERY.

FAST FASHION ALSO CAUSES PROBLEMS LONG AFTER IT IS USED.

ADAM IS A JOURNALIST AND EXPERT ON THE GLOBAL RECYCLING INDUSTRY.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS REALLY IS THAT GARMENTS HAVE BECOME MORE DIFFICULT TO RECYCLE.

YOU HAVE MANUFACTURERS IN APPAREL CREATING WHAT ARE CALLED POLY BLENDS.

SO COTTON AND POLYESTER BLENDED TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, THAT IS A PROBLEM IF YOU ARE A CLOTHING RECYCLER, BECAUSE COTTON HAS PROPERTIES, POLYESTER HAS PROPERTIES, AND ONCE YOU MIX THEM, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEPARATE THEM.

AND THAT IS WHERE YOU START SEEING LARGE AMOUNTS OF TEXTILE WASTE.

ISABELLA: AND HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE OPTING OUT OF THIS PROCESS.

>> DRIFTING IS A HUGE TREND RIGHT NOW IN THE GLOBAL APPAREL INDUSTRY AND IT IS NOT JUST DRIFTING AT THEIR STORES OF COURSE, BUT DRIFTING ONLINE.

BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF APPS, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS OTHER APPS, EBAY.

PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO HOST MORE SALES.

THEY WILL PULL GARMENTS OUT OF THE CLOSET AND PEOPLE WILL PURCHASE THEM.

>> IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE LOVE, WE WILL WEAR IT A COUPLE TIMES AND THEN WE WILL SELL IT.

ISABELLA: JACQUELINE AND OLIVIA USE DEPOP, A FAVORITE AMONG GENERATION C. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE SELLING CLOSE ONLINE STARTS WITH THE CLOSET CLEANOUT.

THAT'S WHERE IT STARTS AND YOU GIVE A BAG OF CLOTHES TO YOUR FRIENDS TO GO THROUGH, BUT AS YOU GET OLDER, YOU START TO HAVE THESE PIECES OF MAY BE YOU DO NOT WEAR ANYMORE THAT ARE ACTUALLY WORTH SOMETHING.

>> YOU CAN PUT A TOWEL OVER IT AND IRON IT QUICKLY.

ISABELLA: SHE RECENTLY MADE HER SEVEN HUNDREDTHS SALE ON THE PLATFORM.

>> I KNOW PEOPLE WHO WILL USE APPS LIKE THAT TO LIST SOME OF THEIR CLOTHES AND WHATEVER THEY MAKE, THEY BASICALLY IMMEDIATELY TURN AROUND AND ARE PURCHASING NEW CLOTHES FROM THE APP, SO AGAIN, IT JUST ALL STAYS IN A LITTLE ECONOMY OF ITS OWN.

>> THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

AND AGAIN, IT IS VERY SUSTAINABLE.

IT'S ALL BEING PURCHASED SECONDHAND.

ISABELLA: SHE HAD HER FRIENDS FELT SO MUCH SUCCESS ONLINE THAT THEY TOOK THEIR BUSINESS TO RHODE ISLAND SIDEWALKS.

>> IT'S HOT OUT HERE, THEY MIGHT SHRINK WHEN YOU GET HOME.

>> IT'S A GROUP OF FIVE OF US.

AND WE ALL GO THROUGH THING.

WE STORE THE CLOTHING IN OUR APARTMENTS, AND THEN WE EITHER POPPED UP IN OUR DRIVEWAY OR AT A LOCAL BUSINESS, WE BRING ALL OF OUR RACKS, ALL OF OUR HANGERS, TANG -- TABLES.

EVERYTHING IS TAGGED.

WE LIKE TO CALL OURSELVES IT'S IN OUR INSTAGRAM BIO, A TRAVELING THRIFT SHOP COMING TO A SIDEWALK NEAR YOU.

ISABELLA: THEY CALL THEMSELVES POP UP DVD.

>> MY DAD IS A CAREER CARPENTER.

HE CANNOT BELIEVE THAT WE WANT TO WEAR DICKIES AND CARGO PANTS.

HE'S LIKE WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, THESE ARE MY WORK PANTS.

I THINK THEY ARE COOL BECAUSE THEY ARE STAINED UP.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

ISABELLA: THE GROUP SELLS ABOUT 250 PIECES.

REPLENISHING THEIR STOCK HAS GOTTEN MORE COSTLY, AS DRIFTING HAS BECOME MORE POPULAR.

>> THERE HAS DEFINITELY BEEN OVER ALL PRICE INCREASES, TO THE POINT WHERE YOU GO TO PICK UP A TOP THAT A FEW YEARS AGO WOULD HAVE BEEN A SUPER AFFORDABLE $6.99 IS NOW 12 OR $13.

ISABELLA: ONE PLACE TO GO FOR DEALS IS THE GOODWILL OUTLET IN HAMDEN, CONNECTICUT.

THEY CALL IT THE BINS.

HERE THEY SELL BY THE POUND AND THE MORE YOU BUY, THE CHEAPER IT IS.

EVERY HALF-HOUR OR SO, DO BINS ROLL OUT ONTO THE FLOOR.

IT IS SERIOUS BUSINESS FOR THEIR MAIN CLIENTELE, PICKERS, PEOPLE WHO BIBLE AND RESELL.

-- WHO BUY IN BULK AND RESELL.

THE STORE MANAGER RUNS THE SHOW HERE.

>> NO ONE ON THE TABLE UNTIL THE ROTATION IS COMPLETE.

ISABELLA: EVERYONE HAS TO WAIT FOR THEIR SIGNAL BEFORE THEY CAN COMPETE FOR THE BEST STUFF AND THEN THE FREE-FOR-ALL STARTS.

SOME PICKERS SPECIALIZE IN DENIM, OTHER VINTAGE T-SHIRTS.

SOME SUPPLY LOCAL THRIFT SHOPS, OTHERS SPEND MONTHS OF THE YEAR HERE IN HAMDEN, STOCKING UP BEFORE TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY TO SELL THEIR FINES.

YOU CAN TELL WHO IS WHO, THOSE EXPORTING TO AFRICA AND SOUTH AMERICA ONLY CHOOSE WARM WEATHER CLOTHES, LIKE T-SHIRTS AND FLIP-FLOPS.

THE STUFF THEY LEAVE BEHIND ED'S THROUGH THE DOORS TO GOODWILL'S RECYCLING CENTER -- HEADS THROUGH THE DOORS.

SPECIALIZED BUYERS PURCHASE IN BULK.

ONE WILL BY HALF, ANOTHER, WIRES TO BE STRIPPED OF THEIR COPPER.

THERE IS EVEN A STUFFED ANIMAL BUYER WHO SHAVES TEDDY BEARS OF THEIR DIRTY FUR AND SETS THEM UP FOR RESALE IN ARCADE CLAW MACHINES.

THE LEFT CLOTHES ARE PUT ON A CONVEYOR BELT AND COMPRESSED INTO THOUSAND POUND BALES AND THEN STACKED.

THEY MIGHT BE SHREDDED AND USED TO STUFF CUSHIONS, CUT INTO RAGS, OR GET EXPORTED ABROAD.

IT IS JUST A SMALL SLICE OF A GLOBAL SECONDHAND MARKET.

ONE THAT ADAM SAYS YOUNG AMERICANS ARE INCREASINGLY PARTICIPATING IN.

>> THERE IS NO QUESTION THERE IS A GENERATIONAL SHIFT AND THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF CONSUMER SURVEY DATA WAS SHOWING THAT YOUNGER CONSUMER DACHSHUND OR CONSUMERS STARRING WITH KENZIE PRIMARILY ARE OPEN TO THIS IDEA OF USE AND REUSE.

ISABELLA: THAT IS A BIG CHANGE FROM THE STIGMA OF THE PAST.

>> MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A DEPRESSION BABY.

SHE WOULD SHOP AT GOODWILL, EVEN WHEN SHE HAD ENOUGH IN HER POCKET.

BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WOULD TELL PEOPLE THAT I WAS GOING TO GOODWILL WITH MY GRANDMOTHER, YOU COULD SEE THE SIDE EYES GLANCE, THAT IS A PLACE WHERE POOR PEOPLE SHOP.

POOR PEOPLE GO TO THE THRIFT SHOP.

ISABELLA: IS THIS NEWFOUND INTEREST OR RECENT UPTICK INTERESTING, IS IT ACTUALLY MAKING A DENT AT ALL IN TERMS OF CONSUMPTION OF NEW THINGS IN AMERICA?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS MAKING MUCH OF A DENT IN THE CONSUMPTION OF NEW THINGS.

WHAT PEOPLE WANT WHEN THEY GO SHOPPING IS THEY WANT TO SEE THAT THERE 10 OF THAT BLUE BLOUSE IN VARIOUS SIZES THAT YOU CAN TRY ON.

IT IS FUN TO GO TO THE THRIFT SHOP AND TO SEE ONLY ONE AND MAYBE IF IT'S YOU.

BUT IT IS NOT WHAT MOST PEOPLE ULTIMATELY ARE LOOKING FOR.

ISABELLA: THRIFT STORES ARE NOT THE ONLY OPTION ANYMORE.

BIG BRANDS LIKE PATAGONIA AND SUPER STORES LIKE WALMART HAVE BEGUN OFFERING SECONDHAND OPTIONS ON THEIR WEBSITES.

>> THIS IS PART OF A MASSIVE CONSUMER SHIFT THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT I DO THINK WE ARE SEEING A CHANGE, WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SECONDHAND.

IT'LL BE A BIGGER PART OF THE OVERALL APPAREL RETAIL CHAIN.

ISABELLA: I CAN IMAGINE THEN THAT INCENTIVIZES MANUFACTURERS OR BRANDS TO MAKE THINGS THAT ARE MADE TO LAST, BECAUSE THEY CAN PROFIT FROM IT LASTING LONGER.

>> WELL, THAT IS WHAT IS SO EXCITING ABOUT THIS.

ONCE THESE BRANDS RECOGNIZE THAT PEOPLE ARE BUYING AND SELLING AND INTERESTED IN BUYING AND SELLING THEIR USED GARMENTS, THEY NOT ONLY WANT TO GET INVOLVED, BUT THEY WANT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT THEY CAN MONETIZE THAT BETTER.

ULTIMATELY, IT IS GOOD FOR BUSINESSES BUT IT IS ULTIMATELY GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

WE WANT MORE DURABLE CLOSE, BUT THE MORE CLOSE, THE LESS IMPACT THEY WILL HAVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

ISABELLA: THEY CONTINUE TO SEW AND THRIFT, BUT AFTER NEARLY TWO YEARS, THE NO NEW CLOTHES STREAK CAME TO AN END.

>> I THINK I BROKE IT FOR DRESS SOCKS ACTUALLY.

SO I HAVE TO GET SOME NEW DRESS SOCKS, BUT YEAH, JUST SHY OF ABOUT A YEAR AND THREE QUARTERS.

ISABELLA: SOCKS WERE NOT THE ONLY CHALLENGE.

>> UNDERWEAR, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DID AND THE BUYING NEW CLOSE THINGS WAS GETTING NEW UNDERWEAR.

I DID EXPERIMENTS WITH BUYING T-SHIRTS AND SEWING NEW UNDERWEAR, BUT I NEVER GOT QUITE THE HANG OF IT, SO UNDERWEAR, ESPECIALLY WITH THINGS LIKE ELASTIC WHICH IS REALLY TRICKY DO SO RIGHT FOR ME, I THINK I JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME AND PRACTICE.

ISABELLA: I DON'T THINK ANYONE BLAMES YOU FOR THAT ONE.

SO FOR THOSE OF US WHO PREFER NOT TO PICK UP A NEEDLE AND THREAD, ADAM HAS SOME SUGGESTIONS.

WHAT IS YOUR SHORT TAKE ON WHAT IS THE MOST RESPONSIBLE WAY TO BE A CONSUMER OF CLOTHES?

>> THE MOST RESPONSIBLE WAY TO BE A CONSUMER OF QUOTES IS BY SECONDHAND.

LET'S ALL RECOGNIZE IT SOONER OR LATER THAT YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO BUY NEW STUFF.

DO NOT FEEL BAD ABOUT THAT, BUT WHEN YOU BUY NEW STUFF, BY QUALITY.

STUFF THAT IN YOUR MIND CAN BE HANDED DOWN TO SOMEONE ELSE'S KID OR DONATED TO THE GOODWILL OR SOLD ON EBAY.

BUY STUFF THAT CAN BE REUSED AND CAN FEED THE SECONDHAND ECONOMY.

>> A LITTLE DIRTY IN SOME SPOTS, BUT I THINK I MAY HAVE JUST DARNED ONE OF THESE SLEEVES.

ISABELLA: IT IS A CONCEPT THAT HE IS TRYING TO WARM UP TO.

>> SO I'M DEFINITELY NOT SO STRICT ANYMORE.

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IF I NEED SOMETHING AND I CANNOT MAKE IT OR I DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO MAKE IT AND CANNOT FIND IT AND PREPARE IT, THEN I WILL GOING GET SOMETHING NEW.

SO IT IS KIND OF LIKE GETTING SOMETHING NEW IS THE LAST RESORT , IF ALL OF MY OTHER THINGS DO NOT WORK OUT.

PAMELA: POP-UP IS HOLDING AN EVENT IN FOX POINT.

UP NEXT, WE MEET THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF PROVIDENCE BELEAGUERED SCHOOL SYSTEM.

DR. JAVIER ROSE THROUGH THE LOCAL RANKS FROM STUDENT TO TEACHER TO PRINCIPAL.

HE IS A FOURTH HEAD OF PROVIDENCE SCHOOLS IN JUST THREE YEARS, IN CHARGE OF TURNING AROUND A SCHOOL SYSTEM AS BROKEN AS HIS LIFE ONCE WAS.

>> THIS IS WHERE I STARTED, IT IS SO SURREAL.

I REMEMBER COMING IN, THE FIRST DAY I CAME AND I HAD 26 STUDENTS LOOKING AT ME.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> THERE IS NOTHING IN THE WORLD THAT GIVES YOU SATISFACTION WHEN THAT LIGHT TURNS ON.

PAMELA: NEARLY THREE DECADES AGO, DR. JAVIER STARTED HIS CAREER AS A SECOND GRADE BILINGUAL TEACHER HERE AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

NOW HE HAS GONE TO THE HEAD OF THE CLASS AS NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF PROVIDENCE SCHOOLS.

HE WAS APPOINTED IN APRIL AFTER THE LAST SUPERINTENDENT RESIGNED AMID SCANDAL IN HIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> THE PROVIDENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE A NEW INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATION OF THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT, HARRISON PETERS.

PETERS WAS PUSHED OUT IN A CONTROVERSY OVER A HIRING DECISION HE MADE.

NOW STATE LEADERS HAVE ANNOUNCED DR. JAVIER WILL LEAD THE DISTRICT TEMPORARILY.

PAMELA: HE HAS BEGUN HIS TENURE BY VISITING AT LEAST TWO OF THE 40 SCHOOLS IN HIS DISTRICT EVERY DAY.

>> EVERY STUDENT THAT I HAVE KNOWN THAT OF GONE THROUGH THIS CLASS HAS DONE FANTASTIC IN SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW WHY?

SHE CARES.

THIS IS A FRIENDSHIP, A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING FRIENDSHIP.

PAMELA: YOU ARE A HANDS-ON AND MINISTER TO.

>> IF I EXPECT YOU TO BE ABLE TO DO A JOB, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT AS WELL.

IF I EXPECT YOU TO WORK WITH STUDENTS I SHOULD BE ABLE TO.

IF I EXPECTED TO RUN A BUILDING, I SHOULD GO TO THE BUILDING AND SEE HOW THE BUILDING IS RUNNING, GIVE YOU FEEDBACK AND THEN HELP THE INDIVIDUALS GROW.

IT'S A TEAM.

EVERY TIME GO TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL AT ME WITH THE PRINCIPLES, I STOP BY AND SPEAK WITH TEACHERS, I SPEAK WITH STUDENTS.

I WAS AT ONE SCHOOL WHERE A PARENT SAYS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN A SUPERINTENDENT IN THE BUILDING.

VISITING THE BUILDING.

WHY IS THAT THE EXCEPTION WHEN IT SHOULD BE THE NORM?

THIS IS HOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET FEEDBACK AND YOU CAN COACH INDIVIDUALS AND THEN, THE STUDENTS GET TO SEE THAT YOU'RE GOING INTO THE CLASSROOM TO SEE WHAT THEIR LEARNING AND YOU ACTUALLY SIT DOWN AND LEARN WITH THE STUDENTS.

PAMELA: HIS ENTHUSIASM FOR EDUCATING STUDENTS IS OBVIOUS, HOWEVER THE ASSIGNMENT IS IN MS, TURNING AROUND THE MOST CHALLENGING SCHOOL DISTRICT IN RHODE ISLAND.

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO TAKE ON THIS JOB?

>> WHY NOT?

THIS IS MY BACKGROUND, THIS IS MY BACKYARD.

SO IF I'M GOING TO GIVE MY ALL, I'M GOING TO GIVE IT ALL FOR MY COMMUNITY, OUR KIDS.

I HAVE BEEN HERE.

PROVIDENCE GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE PERSON I AM TODAY.

THIS IS TEACHING YOU A LIFE LESSON.

PAMELA: LIFE WAS NOT ALWAYS EASY.

HE DID NOT LIKE SCHOOL AS A YOUNGSTER BECAUSE HE SUFFERED FROM UNDIAGNOSED DYSLEXIA.

IT MADE PARTICIPATING IN CLASS PAINFUL.

>> I WAS TRYING TO READ BUT I REALLY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO, SO I WAS THINKING LOOKING AT THE PICTURES AND MAKING MY OWN STORY.

THEY WERE ALL LAUGHING AT ME BUT ONE I WOULD SUPPORT THE CLASSROOM TEACHER, IT LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS ALSO LAUGHING AT ME.

PAMELA: HE ONLY WENT TO SCHOOL TO GET FOOD.

>> I WENT TO SCHOOL BECAUSE I WAS HUNGRY.

THAT WAS THE REASON I WENT TO SCHOOL.

PAMELA: YOU WENT TO GET FREE MEALS?

IN HIS FRESHMAN YEAR, HE SAYS HIS THEATER TEACHER HELPED HIM OVERCOME HIS READING DISABILITY.

STILL, AT 16, HE SAYS HOME LIFE BECAME SO DYSFUNCTIONAL AND DANGEROUS HE DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL.

>> A LOT OF STUFF HAPPENED IN BETWEEN.

PAMELA: WERE YOU ABUSED?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT I WAS JUST A YOUNG MAN WITH CIRCUMSTANCES IN MY LIFE.

PAMELA: THEY WERE TOUGH.

>> A LITTLE TOUGH, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ABOUT SCHOOL.

AT SOME POINT IN MY LIFE, IT WAS ABOUT SURVIVAL.

PAMELA: YOU WERE HOME WAS AT ONE POINT?

>> A FEW YEARS DURING HIGH SCHOOL.

PAMELA: WAS IT TRUE YOU SLEPT UNDER A TREE AT ROGER WILLIAMS PARK?

>> OH, YES.

PAMELA: YOU SMILE WHEN YOU SAY THAT.

IT HAD TO BE.

>> WHAT AM I GOING TO DO, CRY ABOUT IT?

IT MAY BE THE PERSON I AM TODAY.

MAYBE APPRECIATE THE SMALL THINGS IN LIFE.

PAMELA: HE SAYS HIS TURNING POINT CAME AS HE WAS STARTING HIS OWN FAMILY.

THAT IS WHEN HE DECIDED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, EARNING HIS GED, BACHELORS DEGREE, MASTERS AND PHD.

WHAT WAS IT INSIDE OF YOU THAT CHANGED, THAT MADE YOU TAKE THE PATH THAT YOU DID THROUGH EDUCATION?

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY I TELL INDIVIDUALS THERE'S CHOICES.

THERE IS NO GUARANTEE WHEN YOU MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE THAT THERE WILL NOT BE BUMPS IN THE ROAD, BUT YOU'RE GIVING YOURSELF A BETTER OPPORTUNITY.

PAMELA: THAT OPPORTUNITY HAS TAKEN HIM FROM PROVIDENCE SCHOOL STUDENT TO TEACHER, PRINCIPAL, AND NOW, SUPERINTENDENT.

>> AFTER A YEAR OF UNCERTAINTY WE NOW KNOW THAT DR. JAVIER WILL STAY ON AUGUST PROVIDENCE SUPERINTENDENT.

PAMELA: BEFORE BEING APPOINTED HE HAD BEEN ACTING SUPERINTENDENT.

SOME PARENTS AND POLITICIANS, WHO THOUGH THEY APPROVE, OR CORTICAL OF THE SELECTION PROCESS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CANDIDATE SEARCH ALLOWING COMMUNITY INPUT.

HE DISMISSES THE ISSUE.

>> I DON'T FOCUS ON THAT.

I FOCUS AT THE WORK I HAVE AHEAD OF ME AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, OUR STUDENTS.

I MAKE SURE THAT WE STARTED WORKING EXTREMELY HARD WITH COMMUNICATING.

I RECONNECTED WITH THE COMMUNITY.

THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

PAMELA: A COMMUNITY THAT IS UNDERSTANDABLY SKEPTICAL, A SHOCKING REPORT IN 2019 BY EXPERTS AT JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY FOUND 90% OF PROVIDENCE STUDENTS ARE NOT PROFICIENT IN MATH AND NEARLY AS MANY IN LANGUAGE ARTS.

WHEN THE ASSESSORS VISITED THE DISTRICT'S CLASSROOMS, THEY NOTED REAL LEARNING WAS NOT TAKING PLACE.

THE STATE STEPPED IN AND TOOK OVER THAT SAME YEAR.

>> I DON'T SEE IT AS A STATE TAKEOVER.

I SEE IT AS AN INTERVENTION.

WE HAVE A TURNAROUND ACTION PLAN, CREATED WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT IS SETTING THE TONE.

THAT IS MY NORTHERN STAR.

PAMELA: HE IS STILL NOT GETTING SPECIFIC OF THE METRICS HAVING JUST TAKEN THE HOME FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC.

HE IS CURRENTLY FOCUSING ON WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR ALL OF THE DISTRICTS 24,000 STUDENTS, 84% OF LEDGE LIVE IN LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.

>> IF INDIVIDUALS HAVE STRUGGLES, HOW DO WE HELP THAT INDIVIDUAL?

HOW DO WE HELP THE FAMILY?

THE UNIFIED CURRICULUM THAT WE HAVE IN PROVIDENCE NOW, IT WAS NOT THERE BEFORE.

SO WE ARE ABLE TO TRACK STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN PROVIDENCE OR THEY MOVE A LOT.

SO THEY MOVED TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

AT LEAST NOW, BECAUSE WERE USING THE SAME CURRICULUM, BECAUSE WE ARE USING THE DATA, THE DATA IS PUT INTO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM, NO MATTER WHERE THAT CHILD GOES IT GETS THE CHILD'S NAME, BRINGS IT UP AND TELLS YOU EXACTLY WHAT READING LEVEL THEY ARE.

PAMELA: TURNING THE SCHOOLS AROUND IS NOT JUST A PROFESSIONAL GOAL FOR YOU.

IT IS PERSONAL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PAMELA: BECAUSE OF ALL THAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IF I CAN SAVE -- I CANNOT EVEN USE THE WORD SAVE, IF I CAN HELP OR DIRECT OR PUT INDIVIDUALS ON THE TRACK TO SUCCESS, THAT IS WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY.

PAMELA: HE SAYS REAL HAPPINESS WILL COME WHEN HE ACHIEVES HIS GREATEST GOAL, GETTING ALL OF RHODE ISLAND TO RESPECT HIS SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> THE MINDSET OF INDIVIDUALS, BUT PARADIGM SHIFT FROM PROVIDENCE TO PROVIDENCE.

I THINK IT IS JUST A MINDSET RIGHT NOW THAT WE ARE BATTLING WITH BECAUSE THE YEARS AND DECADES OF NEGLECT.

SO IT IS HARD FOR PEOPLE TO BEGIN TO TRUST AND BELIEVE, WHEN YOU HAVE HOPE, WHEN YOU HAVE A DREAM, AND YOU HAVE THE TENACITY TO SEE IT THROUGH, WE WILL GET IT DONE.

DAVID: HE IS AN ADVOCATE FOR A YEAR-ROUND SCHOOL AND SCHOOLS THAT TAKE A STUDENT FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE.

FINALLY TONIGHT, LILA ALFONSE OFFERS COMMENTARY ON ROE V. WADE.

LILA: THE LATEST DRAFT SUIT -- UP IN COURT OPINION SHOWING THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO STRIKE DOWN ROE V. WADE SPARKED ANGER ON THE LEFT, JUBILATION ON THE RIGHT AND CONCERNS ABOUT BODILY AT TOMMY ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM.

THE LANDMARK 1970 THREE DECISION PROTECTS WOMEN'S RIGHTS TO AN ABORTION AND OVERTURNING THAT DECISION WOULD NEARLY IMMEDIATELY BAN ABORTION IN ABOUT HALF OF THE COUNTRY.

THANKS TO TRIGGER LAWS IN PLACE IN MANY REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED STATES.

IN RHODE ISLAND, THE 2019 REPRODUCTIVE PRIVACY ACT CODIFIED ROE V. WADE INTO STATE LAW, PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO AN ABORTION AT THE STATE.

BUT WHILE ACCESS TO ABORTION IS A RIGHT IN RHODE ISLAND, EXERCISING THAT RIGHT MAY BE DIFFICULT.

THERE IS NO MANDATORY COUNSELING REQUIRED BEFORE HAND, BUT THE NUMBER OF ABORTION PROVIDERS IN THE STATE HAS DWINDLED.

THOSE THAT REMAIN ARE IN THE PROVIDENCE AREA, WHICH MAKES ACCESS DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.

THE HYDE AMENDMENT OF 1977 PROHIBITS THE USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO PAY FOR ABORTIONS.

WHICH MEANS THAT STATE EMPLOYEES AND PEOPLE WHO RELY ON MEDICAID IN RHODE ISLAND WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET FOR THE PROCEDURE.

THAT CAN RUN ANYWHERE FROM $600 TO $5,000 OR MORE.

AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE LOST WAGES OR PAYING FOR TRANSPORTATION OR CHILDCARE OR OTHER COSTS.

WHEN RHODE ISLAND'S REPRODUCTIVE PRIVACY ACT WAS BEING DISCUSSED, PRO-CHOICE ACTIVISTS AND LAWMAKERS WERE CRITICIZED FOR OVERREACTING AND HAVING A QUOTE ALARMIST MENTALITY ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ROE V. WADE BEING OVERTURNED.

IN 2018, THEN HOUSE SPEAKER NICHOLAS CALLED IT QUOTE A CONCERN THAT IS NOT ROOTED IN REALITY.

IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE LINK TO SUPREME COURT DRAFT IS ACTUALLY THE HIGH COURT'S FINAL DECISION, BUT THE REALITY IS NOW STARK.

THE DRAFT LANGUAGE REFERENCES TEXTS FROM THE 1700S I JUSTIFY MARITAL RAPE AND IGNORES THE FACT THAT WOMEN HAD NO LEGAL STATUS OF THEIR OWN AT THE TIME THE CONSTITUTION IS WRITTEN.

THEY WERE LEGAL WORDS OF THEIR HUSBANDS.

IT ALSO CRACKS OPEN THE DOOR TO ROLLING BACK THE RIGHTS TO PRIVACY ON WHICH THE DECISION WAS BASED.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR OTHER RIGHTS, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN OFTEN TAKE FOR GRANTED?

WELL, SINCE ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTION, HIPPER RIGHTS, LGBTQIA RIGHTS, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND EVEN INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE ARE ALSO BASED ON RIGHTS TO PRIVACY, THEY COULD BE PUT AT RISK AS WELL.

ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF AMERICANS SUPPORT ABORTION RIGHTS ACCORDING TO A RECENT WASHINGTON POST ABC POLL.

BUT EVERYONE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT A DECISION THAT STRIPS RIGHTS AWAY FROM OTHERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE RIGHT IT IS BASED ON, PRIVACY, IS ONE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.

DAVID: OUR THANKS TO LILA ALFONSE.

pTHAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M DAVID WRIGHT.

PAMELA: I'M PAMELA WATTS.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER ADDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN VISIT US ONLINE TO SEE ALL OF OUR STORIES AND PAST EPISODES AT RIPBS.ORG/ WEEKLY OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST AVAILABLE ON ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

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