[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] ♪ MICHELLE: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SABINA MATOS MAKES RHODE ISLAND HISTORY AND HAS HIGH HOPES FOR HER OFFICE.

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GOVERNOR MATOS: I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO DO THE BEST POSSIBLE JOB THAT I CAN I ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT I WOULD GO OPEN -- I LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN.

MICHELLE: THIS IS IN JOURNALISM, THIS IS ADVOCACY, I JUST DECIDED I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY CALLS IT BECAUSE I JUST THINK WE ARE ALL TRYING ON SOME LEVEL, WE ALL HAVE THIS URGE TO REFLECT BACK WHAT WE ARE SEEING.

♪ >> WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

MICHELLE: I'M MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

DON LENNON WROTE LIFE IS BUSY WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU WHILE YOU ARE MAKING OTHER PLANS.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE THAT IN DIFFERENT AND EXCITING WAYS.

FIRST UP, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SABINA MATOS.

SHE IS A HEARTBEAT AWAY FROM GOVERNING THE OCEAN STATE.

SHE ROSE TO SECOND-IN-COMMAND EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN GOVERNOR DAN MCKEE HANDPICKED HER TO WORK ALONGSIDE HIM.

MATOS IS NO STRANGER TO POLITICS.

HER FATHER SERVED AS THE MAYOR OF HER HOMETOWN IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

pSHE DIDN'T ALWAYS HAVE HER EYES SET ON ELECTED OFFICE.

AS WE FIRST REPORTED IN JUNE, THE FORMER PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT SAYS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN UNDERESTIMATING HER FOR A LONG TIME.

SHE'S HAD HER OWN DOUBTS, TOO THAT ALMOST KEPT HER FROM RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

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GOVERNOR MATOS: AS THE FIRST AFRO-LATINA WOMAN ELECTED TO THIS POST I'M COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

MICHELLE: WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD FIRST ATTACHED TO YOUR NAME?

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GOVERNOR MATOS: IT IS MY JOB TO MAKE SURE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE.

THAT BEING THE FIRST ONE COMES WITH A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY.

THAT IS GOING TO BE REFLECTED.

I HAVE TO DO THE BEST POSSIBLE JOB I CAN BUT ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT I LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN FOR OTHERS TO COME AFTER ME.

MICHELLE: WHEN THE SABINA MATOS MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1994 SHE NEVER IMAGINED SHE WOULD RISE UP THE RANKS OF RHODE ISLAND POLITICS.

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GOVERNOR MATOS: I THOUGHT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOCIETY.

MICHELLE: SHE BECAME A U.S. CITIZEN AND 2005, SHE SAYS THE PROCESS TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES WAS NOT EASY.

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GOVERNOR MATOS: IT TOOK 10 YEARS FROM THE TIME THE ORIGINAL PETITION HAPPENED TO THE TIME WHEN WE FINALLY WERE GRANTED THE GREEN CARD TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES.

MICHELLE: LEAVING THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WAS BITTERSWEET.

SHE HAS FOND MEMORIES GROWING UP ON THE ISLAND.

MANY TIMES CLASSES WERE CANCELED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY.

IT ALL PREPARED HER FOR HER NEXT CHALLENGE, ARRIVING IN NEW YORK CITY AS A YOUNG WOMAN SPEAKING LITTLE ENGLISH.

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GOVERNOR MATOS: I ARRIVED ON A FRIDAY.

THEY ALREADY HAD A JOB LINED UP FOR ME MONDAY.

I WAS WORKING IN NEW YORK AND I STARTED WORKING IN A FACTORY IN QUEENS.

I ALWAYS HAVE THE MEMORIES OF THE LION KING.

THE LION KING MOVIE WAS JUST COMING OUT IN 1994.

THE FACTORY I WAS WORKING AT WERE PACKAGING A LOT OF CLOTHING AND EVERYTHING WAS THE LION KING.

MICHELLE: A FEW MONTHS LATER MATOS MOVED TO RHODE ISLAND AND BEGAN TAKING ENGLISH CLASSES.

SHE GRADUATED FROM RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE BT SAID SHE WAS SO SHY SHE DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY COLLEGE ACTIVITIES.

HOW DO YOU GO FROM BEING A SHY PERSON WHO IS LEARNING A LANGUAGE TO SEVERAL YEARS LATER DECIDING I'M GOING TO THROW MY NAME AND TO RUN FOR COUNCIL?

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GOVERNOR MATOS: IT IS THAT COMBINATION OF FACTORS.

THE SUPPORT I HAVE FOUND ALONG THE WAY.

I PARTICIPATED IN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTES.

ONE WAS THE LATINA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE THAT HELPED ME CONNECT WITH INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE.

WHAT WAS HAPPENING AROUND ME IN THE COMMUNITY.

MICHELLE: THAT COMMUNITY IS OLNEYVILLE, THE PROVIDENCE LABOR HOOD -- NEIGHBORHOOD SHE CALLS HOME.

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GOVERNOR MATOS: YOU HAVE A DOMINICAN RESTAURANT UP THE STREET.

YOU GET THE FLAVOR OF ALMOST LATIN AMERICA HERE.

MICHELLE: OLNEYVILLE IS WHERE SHE GOT HER FIRST TASTE OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

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GOVERNOR MATOS: I WAS APPROACHED BY TWO COUNCILMEMBERS TO RUN BECAUSE THEY SAW I WAS INVOLVED IN MY COMMUNITY.

I SAID NO BUT THEN I SAID IF I WIN I COULD DO A LOT TO HELP MY COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF ANTI-IMMIGRANT MOVEMENTS WERE HAPPENING AT THE TIME.

A LOT OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS COMING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THERE WAS STILL A FEAR THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS GOING TO BE GENTRIFIED.

MICHELLE: MATOS LOST HER FIRST CAMPAIGN BUT FUR YEARS LATER SHE RAN AGAIN FOR A SEAT ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND WON.

SHE WENT ON TO SERVE FOR 11 YEARS.

MICHELLE: WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FOR HAVING ACCOMPLISHED DURING YOUR TIME ON PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL?

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GOVERNOR MATOS: ONE I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IS PUSHING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TSA WERE MORE FAIR TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE.

MICHELLE: MATOS' INFULUENCE WILL BE FELT BEYOND THE CAPITAL CITY.

SHE PLANS ON VISITING ALL 39 CITIES AND TOWNS IN HER FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE.

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GOVERNOR MATOS: I'M ENJOYING IT.

A LOT OF WORK.

IT'S NOT THE SAME AS BEFORE WHEN I WAS JUST IN PROVIDENCE.

NOW I HAVE TO TRAVEL LONGER.

MICHELLE: YOU HAVE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 15 MINUTES.

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GOVERNOR MATOS: MORE THAN 15 MINUTES.

THIS IS A RHODE ISLAND THING.

MICHELLE: A FORMAL INAUGURATION WAS HELD ON MAY 2 AT THE RHODE ISLAND STATE CAP -- STATEHOUSE.

27 YEARS AFTER SHE STARTED HER FIRST JOB AT THAT FACTORY IN QUEENS.

>> I SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO BE TRUTH AND FAITHFUL ON THIS STAGE.

MICHELLE: SHE WAS SWORN IN AT A PRIVATE CEREMONY IN APRIL ALONGSIDE HER HUSBAND AND TWO CHILDREN.

WHAT WAS ON YOUR MIND AS YOU ARE BEING SWEAR -- SWORN IN?

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GOVERNOR MATOS: MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, I KNEW IT WAS SPECIAL TO A LOT OF YOUNG LITTLE GIRLS IN THE COMMUNITY.

THEY CAN SEE THEMSELVES IN ME.

THEY SAID IF SHE IS DOING THIS, I COULD ALSO DO IT.

MICHELLE: ONE OF HER GOALS IS TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

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GOVERNOR MATOS: WE WILL HAVE A COMBINATION OF WORKFORCE HOUSING AND ALSO COMMERCIAL SPACE ON THE FIRST FLOOR.

MICHELLE: SHE SHOWED US A FORMER MILL IN OLNEYVILLE BEING CONVERTED TO JUST THAT.

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GOVERNOR MATOS: THEY HAVE THE STRATEGY TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD BE REQUIRED WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING.

WE HAVE NOT HAD A DEDICATED REVENUE SOURCE FOR HOUSING IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

WE NEED SOMEONE WHO IS DEDICATED TO HOUSING AT THE STATE LEVEL AND MAKING SURE HOUSING AND BUILDING HOUSING IS A PRIORITY.

MICHELLE: ANOTHER PRIORITY IS MAKING SURE MORE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED.

RHODE ISLAND WAS THE EIGHT STATE TO HAVE ADMINISTERED AT LEAST ONE COVID-19 DOSE TO AT LEAST 70% OF ITS ADULT POPULATION.

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GOVERNOR MATOS: THE NEXT STEP IS CONVINCING THOSE WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN THE VACCINE.

THEY SHOULD DO IT THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF THE LOVED ONES IN THEIR LIVES.

MICHELLE: GETTING VACCINATED IS PERSONAL, HER FATHER CAME DOWN WITH COVID-19 AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

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GOVERNOR MATOS: HE WAS INTUBATED FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

HE STILL STRUGGLING WITH HIS RECOVERY BECAUSE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE LONG COVID.

HE IS IN THAT CATEGORY.

HE IS STILL HAVING HEALTH ISSUES.

MICHELLE: HER FATHER SURVIVED BUT SADLY TWO OF HIS BROTHERS DIED FROM THE VIRUS.

IN MANY WAYS COVID-19 WAS HIS GREAT REVEALER IN TERMS OF HIGHLIGHTING INEQUITIES THAT HAVE EXISTED LONG BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT MOST SURPRISED YOU ABOUT WHAT WAS MOST SHOWN DURING THAT TIME?

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GOVERNOR MATOS: THE CHALLENGES WERE THAT BIG, THE INEQUITY WAS THAT BIG.

MAYBE BECAUSE I EXPERIENCE IT MORE OFTEN.

MICHELLE: MATOS' APPOINTMENT COMES AT A HISTORIC TIME.

THIS YEAR'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS THE MOST DIVERSE IN THE STATE HISTORY.

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GOVERNOR MATOS: THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK TAKING PLACE.

EVENTUALLY ABOUT BUILDING NEW LEADERSHIP.

ALSO, I THINK THIS NEW GENERATION WITH MORE AWARENESS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DECISION-MAKING OR WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE CITIES, STATES, AND GOVERNMENT IN GENERAL.

I THINK IT IS REALLY GOOD.

IF I'M SITTING HERE RIGHT NOW, IT HAPPENS BECAUSE THERE WERE MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS TO BUILD THE LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

MICHELLE: MATOS ALSO WANTS TO SEE CHANGES IN HOW LEADERSHIP IS SELECTED.

BY VIRTUE OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION, THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MUST RUN INDIVIDUALLY.

MATOS SAID SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT AMENDED SO SHE AND GOVERNOR MCKEE COULD RUN AS A TEAM.

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GOVERNOR MATOS: WE THINK ABOUT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BEING THERE IN CASE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO THE GOVERNOR.

SOMETHING GOOD COULD HAPPEN TO THE GOVERNOR.

GOVERNOR RAIMONDO BEING ELEVATED TO THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE IS SOMETHING REALLY GOOD THAT HAPPENED.

AT THE SAME TIME IT BRINGS CHALLENGES IF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS NOT UP TO DATE ON EVERYTHING HAPPENING.

ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW DURING A PANDEMIC.

MICHELLE: YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE IN THE LOOP WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE?

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GOVERNOR MATOS: YES.

MICHELLE: SHE SAID SHE PLANS ON RUNNING FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, SHE IS NOT MAPPING OUT WHAT THE YEARS WILL LOOK LIKE.

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GOVERNOR MATOS: WHO THOUGHT I WOULD BE SITTING RIGHT NOW IN THIS POSITION?

SO MANY THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.

IN POLITICS YOU SHOULD MAKE LONG-TERM PLANS BECAUSE THINGS COULD CHANGE ONE DAY TO THE NEXT.

>> THROUGH A BLEND OF PHOTOJOURNALISM AND ART, PROVIDENCES MARYBETH MEEHAN'S CAREER HAS EVOLVED IN WAYS THAT EVEN SHE COULD NOT HAVE PREDICTED.

BILL BARTHOLOMEW SAT DOWN WITH HER IN JUNE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS, MOTIVATION, AND STRONG DESIRE TO GO BEHIND THE MIST AND EXPLORE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE SOCIETY SOMETIMES COMPLETELY IGNORES.

MARY BETH: IT HAS BEEN LIFE-CHANGING FROM DAY ONE.

JUST AN HONOR THAT SO MANY OF THESE AMAZING HUMAN BEINGS HAVE OPEN THEMSELVES TO ME.

BILL: PHOTOJOURNALIST AND ARTIST MARYBETH MEEHAN HAS OFTEN EXPLORED CULTURE AND VISIBILITY TELLING THE STORIES OF PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES MISREPRESENTED OR MISUNDERSTOOD.

MARY BETH: THERE ARE THOUSANDS, I THINK ABOUT THEM ALL.

WHAT IF I HAD GONE THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT THIS?

THERE'S A POVERTY OF SPIRIT THAT I'M SO GLAD I HAVE TO WALK A PATH.

BILL: FROM HER DAYS AS A NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST TO A SERIES OF LARGE-SCALE PHOTO INSTALLATIONS PRINTED ON BANNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MEEHAN HAS SOUGHT TO BUS THE MYTHS.

SHE GREW UP IN MASSACHUSETTS, IN A SMALL CITY LOCATED 40 MILES FROM PROVIDENCE.

BROCKTON WAS A TYPICAL NORTHEAST WORKING-CLASS COMMUNITY OF MOSTLY IRISH HERITAGE.

THE CITY WOULD PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN HER ARTISTIC IDENTITY.

MEEHAN SAYS IT WAS WHEN SHE WA IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL THAT AN UNCLE OF HERS HAD GONE TO NEW YORK CITY TO PURSUE A CAREER IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILM THAT SHE BEGAN TO SEE HER FUTURE.

MARY BETH: I REMEMBER BEING A KID AND BEING SO ENTRANCED.

TRYING TO INHABIT THESE WORLDS.

COULD BE FROM ANYWHERE.

IT DIDN'T CHANGE BUT YOU COULD ALWAYS SEE NEW ASPECTS.

BILL: IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE MEEHAN REALIZED THAT FOR TARGET FEE COULD BE MORE THAN A HOBBY.

-- PHOTOGRAPHY COULD MARY BETH: BE MORE THAN A HOBBY.

THIS -- COULD BE MORE THAN A HOBBY.

MARY BETH: I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ART SCHOOL OR JOURNALISM SCHOOL.

I ENROLLED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AND GOT INTRODUCED TO THE WORLD OF JOURNALISM.

THE WORLD OF PHOTOJOURNALISM ENTAILED BEING BOOTS ON THE GROUND, RINGING DOORBELLS, INTERVIEWING STRANGERS.

SEEING MYSELF AS THIS PORTAL THAT I CAN COLLABORATE WITH PEOPLE THAT I DID NOT KNOW TO TRY TO AMPLIFY STORIES THAT I THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT TO BE HEARD.

BILL: MEEHAN ENDED UP IN BOSTON WHERE SHE DID FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE BOSTON TIMES AND BOSTON GLOBE.

SHE FOCUSED ON HER OWN PROJECT INCLUDING ONE ON BOSTON RESIDENTS TRACKING THEIR HERITAGE BACK TO ITALY.

MARY BETH: IT IS NOT A ONE-WAY JOURNEY.

THIS BACK AND FORTH IN THIS CONSCIOUSNESS AND WHAT YOU CARRY WITH YOU.

BILL: MEEHAN BECAME A STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL.

LANDING HER OWN WEEKLY COLUMN.

MARY BETH: IF YOU TALKED ABOUT A PLACE LIKE CENTRAL FALLS IT WAS USUALLY ABOUT CRIME OR CORRUPTION.

IF REPORTERS WENT TO SOUTH PROVIDENCE IT WAS BECAUSE OF CRIME.

I UNDERSTOOD GROWING UP WITH IMMIGRANT PEOPLE AND THAT REALLY HAVING BEEN MY IDENTITY, THERE WERE OTHER STORIES THAT NEEDED TO BE TOLD.

BILL: AFTER A BREAK FROM WORK TO FOCUS ON RAISING CHILDREN, SHE DECIDED TO RETURN TO HER ROOTS IN A BIG WAY.

MARY BETH: AFTER I HAD LEFT WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS IT HAD BEEN 15-20 YEARS SINCE I LIVED THERE.

MY OLD WHITE IRISH UNCLES WERE SEEING THE CITY CHANGE.

IMMIGRANTS WERE STILL COMING.

BILL: MEEHAN FELT COMPELLED TO PHOTOGRAPH MEMBERS OF THE BROCKTON COMMUNITY.

MARY BETH: HOW DO I MAKE A BODY OF WORK THAT TRIES TO RECONCILE WHAT IS LEFT OF THE OLD AND WHAT IS HERE OF THE NEW?

IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WONDERFUL ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SHOW THAT WORK IN A MUSEUM OR GALLERY.

WHY DID I WANT TO TAKE THE WORK OUT OF THE CITY AND SHOW IT IN A SPACE WHICH BY NATURE WOULD BE NECESSARILY AN UPPER-MIDDLE-CLASS WHITE SPACE?

BROCKTON SINCE I LEFT BECAME A MAJORITY MINORITY CITY.

I GOT REALLY INTERESTED IN THIS IDEA OF ACTIVATING THE CITY ITSELF.

USING THE DOWNTOWN LANDSCAPE AS A GALLERY.

BILL: IN 2011, THESE IMAGES WERE BLOWN UP AND DISPLAYED AS VINYL PORTRAITS.

MEEHAN WAS APPROACHED BY A PROVIDENCE ARTIST AND FOUNDER OF THE ASKED TO 20 ART SPACE.

BY 2015, HER PROVIDENCE PORTRAITS WERE PART OF THE CITY'S FIRST ARTS FESTIVAL.

IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE MEEHAN WAS GETTING CALLS FROM PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO ONE OF HER TO COME TO THEIR CITY.

ONE OF THE FIRST INVITATIONS CAME FROM TWO GENTLEMEN IN A SMALL SOUTHERN TOWN ABOUT 40 MILES FROM ATLANTA.

MARY BETH: THAT WAS OVERWHELMING.

I WAS A WHITE LIBERAL NORTHERNER.

I WENT AND IT WAS HARD.

I WAS REALLY NERVOUS BECAUSE I HAD ONLY EVER REALLY WORKED IN NEW ENGLAND WHICH I FELT I KNEW.

I LIVED IT AND LOVED IT.

MARY BETH: SHORTLY -- BILL: SHORTLY AFTER SHE WAS APPROACHED BY STANFORD UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR.

THERE'S AN OVERLAP IN SERVING FOR A COMMUNITY.

YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO WALK IN BOTH OF THOSE STASIS.

MARY BETH: OLD COLLEAGUES AND PHOTOJOURNALISM HAVE SAID THIS ISN'T JOURNALISM, THIS IS ADVOCACY.

THIS IS IN FINE ART BECAUSE YOUR ROOTS ARE IN JOURNALISM.

DON'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY CALLS IT.

I JUST THINK WE ARE ALL TRYING ON SOME LEVEL, WE ALL HAVE THIS URGE TO REFLECT BACK.

BILL: SO MUCH OF WHAT YOUR WORK HAS BEEN ABOUT MYTH BUSTING SO TO SPEAK ABOUT THE HEALING CONDITION AND THE ENVIRONMENTS JUST STIGMA.

WHAT WE REALLY NAME.

MARY BETH: PEOPLE THAT HAVE MADE A CONCENTRATED CAMPAIGN TO DESCRIBE BLACK PEOPLE IN REALLY DEROGATORY WAYS AND DISTORTED IN HORRIBLE WAYS.

THAT HAS BEEN INTENTIONAL.

WE HAVE ALL INGESTED MESSAGES DISSEMINATED BY PEOPLE IN POWER IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY THE POWER OF HUGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED THROUGH IMAGERY -- THROUGH THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE CLAIMED THE RIGHT TO DEFINE THE NARRATIVES IT HAS NOT BEEN NEUTRAL.

IT HAS BEEN NEGATIVE IN MANY CASES.

HOW DO WE AS A WHITE PRACTITIONER PUSH AGAINST THOSE NARRATIVES WITHOUT RE-INFLICTING MORE DAMAGE?

THE SAME POWER DYNAMICS, GETTING IT WRONG EVEN WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS.

FOCUSING SOLELY ON THE SYMPTOMS.

THEY DESCRIBED THE SYMPTOMS AS CONDITIONS.

BILL: IN WHAT MEEHAN SAYS IS HER INSTINCTUAL PURSUIT OF AUTHENTICITY, SHE HAS TOUCHED THE LIVES OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

BILL: WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR BODY OF WORK?

MARY BETH: OH GOD, I HOPE THEY NOTICED WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO THINK.

HOW THOSE ASSUMPTIONS ARE HAVING AN IMPACT IN A DAY TO DAY WAY.

TAKE A CHANCE TO BUST THROUGH THOSE MYTHS, BUST THROUGH THOSE ASSUMPTIONS.

>> OUR THANKS TO BILL BARTHOLOMEW.

SINCE THE VERY FIRST DNA SEQUENCES WERE OBTAINED IN THE EARLY 1970'S, GENETICS, THE POWERFUL SCIENCE THAT EXPLORES THE VERY BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE HAS FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED THE WAY RESEARCHERS APPROACH TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF DISEASE.

HERE IN THE OCEAN STATE A THRIVING AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY HAS TURNED TO GENETIC RESEARCH IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE ANNUAL OYSTER CROP FROM DANGEROUS PATHOGENS THAT EXIST NATURALLY IN NARRAGANSETT BAY.

AS RHODE ISLAND PBS PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR JAMIE MCGUIRE FOUND WHEN WE FIRST DIRECTED THE STORY , OYSTERS AND GENETIC RESEARCH MAY GO A LONG WAY IN UNDERSTANDING AND EVEN PREVENTING DISEASES IN HUMANS AS WELL.

>> I AM A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND.

I WORK IN THE AREA OF AQUATIC PATHOLOGY.

I WAS HIRED TO HELP THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY AND ALSO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT MANAGING POPULATIONS OF ANIMALS IN THE BAY.

MY ROLE IS TO FOLLOW UP, DO MONITOR DISEASES AND SEE WHAT THE IMPACT IS AND FIGURE OUT WAYS TO MANAGE THOSE DISEASES.

DISEASES THAT AFFECT OYSTERS ARE DIFFERENT STAGES STARTING FROM THE LARVAE, ALL THE WAY TO THE ADULTS THAT GROW IN THE FARMS.

THE WAY WE ARE TRYING TO MANAGE THIS IN THE HATCHERY IS IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY TO PROVIDE SOMETHING IN THE WATER THAT MINIMIZES THE PROBABILITY OF THAT PATHOGEN.

>> MY NAME IS DAVID NELSON.

I'M A PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY.

WE GOT INTEREST IN THE PROJECT BECAUSE SHE SAID THERE IS THIS PROBLEM IN THE HATCHERY.

EVERY SUMMER A NUMBER OF THE HATCHERIES WILL BE INFECTED CAUSED BY PARTICULAR ORGANISMS THAT WIPE OUT THE OYSTER LARVAE.

WE BECAME INTERESTED IN USING SOME BACTERIA AS PROBIOTIC ORGANISMS.

CAN YOU PREVENT DISEASE?

NOT TREAT DISEASE BUT PREVENT DISEASE IN THE OYSTER LARVAE?

THE QUESTION WE WANT TO ANSWER REALLY IS CAN WE PREVENT INFECTIOUS DISEASE OUTBREAKS IN AQUACULTURE FACILITIES BY INTRODUCING BENEFICIAL BACTERIA?

MY NAME IS DAVID RALLY, I'M A PROFESSOR HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND.

WITH THESE JUVENILE AND LARVA OYSTERS, THEY SUCCUMB TO THOSE INFECTIONS VERY QUICKLY.

TREATMENT IS NOT AN OPTION.

IT IS REALLY WHERE WE NEED.

A LOT OF THOSE INFECTIOUS AGENTS ARE BACTERIA.

WE THOUGHT WE COULD BACK THEM WITH BENEFICIAL BACTERIA.

WE CAN'T.

WE FOUND THOSE BACTERIA THAT COULD PREVENT INFECTIONS.

>> WE HAVE OUR PATHOGENS THAT COULD KILL LARVA OYSTERS.

WE HAVE POTENTIAL MICROBES WE ISOLATE.

BASICALLY WE EXPOSE THE PROBIOTIC.

WE WILL SEE IF THE PROBIOTIC PROTECTS THE OYSTER FROM THAT.

WE HAVE BEEN TESTING THEM IN DIFFERENT HATCHERIES IN THE EAST COAST.

WE SEE THEY HAD A GREAT EFFECT.

SOMETIMES THEY DON'T PROVIDE THAT MUCH EFFECT.

WE WILL FIGURE OUT IF WE HAVE TO IMPROVE THE PROBIOTICS WE ARE USING.

COMBINE THAT WITH THE ONES WE HAVE TWO MAKE THEM BETTER.

>> IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE TYPES OF BENEFICIAL BACTERIA COULD PREVENT INFECTIOUS DISEASES, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE GENETICS OF THOSE ORGANISMS.

HOW DO THEY DO THIS?

WHAT ARE THE MECHANISMS?

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT WAYS BACTERIA WILL INTERACT?

>> WE KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE GENOMES OF THESE ORGANISMS.

WE COULD GO IN AND ASK QUESTIONS .

WE DON'T INFECT ANYTHING AT THEIR FACILITIES.

WE COULD THROW IN OUR PROBIOTICS AND MAKE SURE THEY PROTECT OR GET BETTER YIELDS.

THEY WEREN'T HURTING THEIR PRODUCTION.

IF ANYTHING, THEY ARE GETTING BETTER SURVIVAL.

WITHOUT ALL OF THE KNOWLEDGE, WE COULDN'T DO THAT EXCEPT VERY SLOWLY.

IT WOULD TAKE US DECADES TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.

NOW WE COULD DISCOVER THESE THINGS IN A MATTER OF YEARS.

>> WHILE WE ARE CREATING TOOLS FOR AQUACULTURE, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT INDUSTRY IN RHODE ISLAND.

AQUACULTURE IS ON THE RISE TO PROVIDE PROTEIN TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE EATING ON THIS PLANET TODAY.

THIS INTERPLAY BETWEEN BENEFICIAL BACTERIA, HARMFUL BACTERIA, THE HOSTS THAT THEY RESIDE IN.

THIS IS A MODEL YOU COULD IMAGINE INCLUDES EVERYTHING.

OTHER TYPES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.

>> OUR THANKS TO JAMIE MCGUIRE.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

MICHELLE: I MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF "RIDE ISLAND