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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL HEAR ABOUT LEGISLATION THAT AIMS TO ADDRESS THE STATE'S MIDDLE HOUSING SHORTAGE, WHILE PROTECTING HISTORIC DISTRICTS.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, DETAILS ON A NEW LOW-IMPACT MEDICAL PROCEDURE TO FIX LEAKY HEART VALVES.

>>> AND THE SECOND ANNUAL BLACK CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK CELEBRATES BLACK AUTHORS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO CHILDREN'S LITERATURE.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON," I'M TED SIMONS.

A BIPARTISAN HOUSING BILL AIMS TO PROTECT HISTORIC DISTRICTS FROM LEGISLATION PASSED IN 2024 THAT ALLOWED THE CONSTRUCTION OF MIDDLE HOUSING IN AREAS ZONED FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, INCLUDING HISTORIC DISTRICTS.

JOINING US NOW IS BOB CANNON WITH SAVE HISTORIC ARIZONA TO PROTECT HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE STATE.

BOB, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TED: THIS IS HB2375, CAN'T GET MUCH MORE BIPARTISAN THAN THAT.

>> WE'RE SET UP FOR SUCCESS, WE HOPE.

TED: WHAT DOES THE BILL DO?

>> THE BILL PROTECTS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS FROM DEMOLITION OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THIS BILL WOULD PROTECT HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS TO HAVE A COMMUNITY OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES AND PREPARE OUR HOMES FOR THE CHARACTER FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

TED: AGAIN, THE FOCUS IS ON MIDDLE HOUSING BECAUSE THE IDEA IS TO GET MORE MIDDLE HOUSING AND GET MORE HOUSING.

WHEN WE SAY MIDDLE HOUSING, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> DOESN'T MEAN APARTMENT COMPLEXES BUT DOESN'T MEAN SINGLE HOUSES.

WE HAVE SOME IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS AS WE HAVE IN WILLO.

WE HAVE THE BARRE PROJECT WHICH HAS 28 DIFFERENT TOWNHOMES THAT WAS RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED, BUT THE BILL WILL PROTECT THE DEMOLITION OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

FOR EXAMPLE, MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE COULD BE DEMOLISHED IN A YEAR WITH A HOUSING PERMIT AND A FOURPLEX OR TRIPLEX COULD REPLACE, IT LOSING HISTORIC VALUE OF THE CHAIRMAN OR COMMUNITY.

TED: WHAT IS A HISTORIC DISTRICT, WHAT QUALIFIES AS HISTORIC?

.

>> THE WILLO HAS A 1986 CONSERVATION PLAN WHICH PROVIDES THE NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORIC CHARACTER, ARCHITECTURAL PRESERVATION AND TAX CREDITS.

MY HOME WAS ON THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AS A HISTORIC HOME.

WE GET CERTAIN TAX CREDITS AS WELL AS PROVIDING A COMMUNITY OF COHERENCE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF FAMILIES THAT WANT TO LIVE IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT, PEDESTRIANS AND LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE YOU KNOW EACH OTHER'S NEIGHBORS.

TED: YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE EFFORT TO CALL YOUR DISTRICT TO DESIGNATE YOUR DISTRICT HISTORIC THERE.

ARE A LOT OF COMMUNITIES WITH BIKE PATHS THAT ARE GREAT, BUT NOT HISTORIC, WHAT SEPARATES IT?

>> WHAT SEPARATES IT IS A PROCESS FROM THE CITY AND THE STATE AND EVEN IN OUR CASE, FROM HISTORIC PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION TO MAKE SURE HOMES ARE BUILT IN A CERTAIN ERA, CERTAIN CHARACTER, WILLO HISTORIC DISTRICT.

TED: WHAT CAN AND CANNOT BE DONE IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT?

>> WHAT YOU CANNOT DO IS DEMOLISH YOUR HOME.

YOU CANNOT REPLACE IT WITH A FOURPLEX AT THE CURRENT TIME, BUT THE NEW LAW WILL PREVENT THAT.

IF YOU BUY A HISTORIC HOME, YOU'RE BUYING CHARACTER, BUYING A COMMUNITY, YOU ARE ALSO LIVING IN A PLACE WHERE YOU KNOW YOU MAY NOT HAVE A GARAGE, MAY NOT HAVE MULTIPLE STORAGE UNITS, BUT IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT, YOU CAN WALK TO LIGHT RAIL AND VALUE YOUR NEIGHBORS AND INVEST IN YOUR HOME AND INVEST IN THE CITY OF PHOENIX AND THE STATE OF ARIZONA'S HISTORY.

TED: WITH THIS EXEMPTION, WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE?

>> VERY GOOD QUESTION.

THAT IS THE QUESTION AT STAKE TODAY IS AFFORDABILITY.

THAT IS AN ISSUE, WE UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE, IT IS A CHALLENGING ISSUE NOT ONLY FOR THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS BUT EVERYBODY IN GENERAL.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS TYPICALLY CAN GARNER VERY EXPENSIVE REAL ESTATE, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION TO INVEST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BUT A FINANCIAL STRUCTURE, A FINANCIAL PLAN SHOULD BE INHERENT IN EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO BUY A HOME TODAY.

TED: YOU HAVE A HISTORIC DISTRICT, SAY THIS LEGISLATION PASSES.

WHAT IF SOMEONE IS IN THE PROCESS OF CONVERTING THEIR HOME TO SOMETHING ELSE.

WHAT IF THERE'S AN INDIVIDUAL HOUSE THAT WANTS TO BE DISTINCT FROM THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

HOW DOES THAT ALL WORK OUT?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

YOU HAVE TO APPLY FOR A DEMOLITION PERMIT.

YOU MUST WAIT A YEAR AND THE CITY OF PHOENIX CAN ISSUE THE DEMOLITION PERMIT, BUT THIS NEW LAW WILL PREVENT THE STRUCTURE FROM BEING DEMOLISHED AND THE HISTORIC CHARACTER AND THE INTEGRITY THAT WE ALL INVESTED IN OUR HOMES, NOT ONLY RECENTLY BUT MANY OF US A LIFETIME SUCH AS MYSELF CAN BE PROTECTED.

TED: ALL RIGHT, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR YOU.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU.

WHY IS PRESERVING HISTORIC DISTRICTS IN ARIZONA?

WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT?

>> IT GIVES CHARACTER TO THE STATE, TO THE CITY.

WE'RE A NEW STATE FOR THE MOST PART, AND WE HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS WEEKEND IS THE 37th WILLO ANNUAL HOME TOUR.

WE WILL HAVE MANY VISITORS THAT COME IN FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

THEY WILL ALWAYS MENTION TO ME, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL AREA, I DIDN'T KNOW SUCH CHARACTER EXISTED IN ARIZONA, AND MANY TIMES YOUNGER PEOPLE THAT VISIT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WILL END UP BUYING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEIR HOW ELSE BE ON THE HOME TOUR IN YEARS TO COME.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS WEEKEND TO SHOWCASE HISTORY OF PHOENIX.

>> THE PHOENIX CITY COUNCIL.

WHAT KIND OF IMPRESSIONS ARE YOU GETTING THERE?

>> SO FAR, SO GOOD.

WE'VE HAD GREAT DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT THIS ISSUE NOW RESTS AT THE STATE SKWLEEFL DO SEE LEADERS SUPPORT THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR AS WELL THAT SUPPORT ON RECORD AND PRESS RELEASE SUPPORTING US.

TED: WHAT IS THE SCHEDULEING?

>> THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING IS THIS WEDNESDAY AT 9:00 A.M.

THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE.

AND WE HAVE BROAD-BASED SUPPORT SO FAR.

AS YOU MENTIONED, BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

WE'RE HOPING FOR GREAT RESULTS ON WEDNESDAY.

TED: OBVIOUSLY, I WOULD THINK MOST FOLKS IN WILLO WOULD SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO FOLKS WHO SAY THIS IS MINE.

I WANT TO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH MY PROPERTY, AND THE STATE LAW PASSED IN 2024 SAYS I CAN.

DO YOU HAVE MANY OF THOSE FOLKS AND WHAT DO YOU HEAR FROM THEM?

>> WE HAVE SOME OF THOSE FOLKS AND THAT'S THE SPIRIT OF ARIZONA.

A LITTLE INDEPENDENCE.

MANY OF US BOUGHT INTO HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD KNOWING WE TOO HAD AN INVESTMENT, AND MANY OF US HAVE REMODELLED OUR HOUSE MORE THAN ONCE INCLUDING YOURS TRULY.

WE HAVE INVESTED IN THE CHARACTER OF OUR HOMES AND WITH DUE RESPECT TO THEM, WE UNDERSTAND THEIR PERSPECTIVE, BUT SHARING GOVERNANCE, PARTICIPATING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD IS CERTAINLY THE ULTIMATE GOAL.

TED: ALL RIGHT, LAST QUESTION HERE.

BECAUSE THIS AFFECTS THE 2024 LAW THAT WAS PASSED AND SIGNED.

I ASKED THIS EARLIER, BUT CAN YOU CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN EXEMPTION HERE AND THERE, AND ARE WE IN JEOPARDY OF TOO MANY EXEMPTIONS?

>> AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A MAJOR ISSUE NATIONALLY AND STATEWIDE.

IT IS A COMPLEX ISSUE BUT THE SOLUTION SHOULD NOT BE BOUND ABACK WITH A HISTORIC DISTRICT.

IT'S UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT OUT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INVESTED IN THEIR HOMES.

TED: ALL RIGHT, BOB CANNON, SAVE HISTORIC ARIZONA BOARD MEMBER, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: A NEW MEDICAL PROCEDURE IS OFFERING HOPE FOR PATIENTS WITH LEAKY HEART VALVES, A CONDITION THAT CAN REQUIRE OPEN-HEART SURGERY.

THIS NEW PROCEDURE IS MINIMALLY INVASIVE, SO MUCH SO, IT ALLOWS PATIENTS TO GO HOME AS QUICKLY AS ONE DAY AFTER SURGERY.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME DR.

PAUL SORAJJA WITH BANNER UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER-PHOENIX.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: THIS DEALS WITH THE MILE RAL VALVE OF THE HEART, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

SITS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HEART AND DESIGNED TO CARRY BLOOD FROM THE LUNGS TO THE HEART WHERE IT CAN BE PUMPED OUT TO THE BODY.

TED: OKAY, PUMPED OUT TO THE BODY, BUT IF THERE'S A LEAK, IT'S NOT TOTALLY GETTING PUMPED OUT, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

WHEN THERE'S A LEAK IN THE MITRAL VALVE, IT IS PUMPED OUT FROM THE ATRIUM THE CHAMBER OF THE LUNG AND PATIENTS FEEL SHORT OF BREATH BECAUSE THE LUNGS CAN'T EMPTY.

TED: THE BLOOD BACKS UP A LITTLE BIT?

IT DOESN'T GO OUT?

IT HANGS AROUND?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS SLOSHING, IT'S SLOSHING BACK AND FORTH INSTEAD OF GOING FORWARD.

TED: WOW.

BASICALLY THE HEART HAS TO WORK HARDER TO GET THE BASIC JOB DONE?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THE HEART EXPECTS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FLOW WITH EACH BEAST THE HEART, WHEN THERE'S A LEAK, THE HEART HAS TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO HELP MOVE BLOOD TO MEET THE BODY'S DEMANDS.

TED: ARE THOSE THE THINGS, EXHAUSTION, THOSE THINGS?

>> PATIENT CAN FEEL TIRED.

HEART RATE CAN PICK UP.

TED: TREATMENT FOR THAT, IS OFTEN OPEN-HEART SURGERY?

>> TYPICALLY A SURGEON WILL MAKE SMALL INCISIONS IN THE CHEST AND GO IN AND TRY TO REPAIR THE MITRAL VALVE.

TED: BUT YOU HAD A BETTER IDEA.

>> SO WE DO.

AND SO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO MOST RECENTLY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE UNITED STATES IS A PROCEDURE IN WHICH WE CAN DO A SURGICAL-LIKE REPAIR GOING THROUGH A SMALL INCISION IN THE GROIN WITH AN INCISION ABOUT A CENTIMETER OR SO.

TED: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET IN THERE, IT'S A RING, CORRECT?

>> IT'S A RING.

THE STANDARD OF CARE IS SURGICAL RING PLACEMENT.

THE RING TAKES A LARGE VALVE AND MAKES IT SMALLER AND SO WHAT THAT DOES IS THE VALVE, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A PAIR OF DOORS, THE DOORS COME CLOSER TOGETHER AND THEY'RE ABLE TO SHUT.

THIS RING IS A STRAIGHT SEGMENT, WHEN WE INSERT IT AS A TUBE THROUGH THE LEG, AND WHEN WE GO UP TO THE HEART, WE FORM A RING WITH THAT STRAIGHT SEGMENT WHICH YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE AND IMPLANT IT LIKE A SURGEON WOULD.

TED: DOES IT CONSTRICT?

IS IT A PATCH?

HOW DOES IT KEEP THE BLOOD FROM NOT HANGING AROUND?

>> YEAH, SO WHAT IT DOES IS ESSENTIALLY MAKES THE OPENING OF THE VALVE SMALLER BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE WAY THE LEAKY VALVES HAPPEN IS THAT THE LEAFLETS CAN TEAR OR THE VALVE CAN BECOME ENLARGED, AND MOST OFTEN BOTH CAN HAPPEN, BUT A LOT OF PATIENTS HAVE SIMPLE ENLARGEMENT OF THE SUPPORTING SEGMENT, AND THIS RING TAKES IT AND MAKES IT SMALLER.

TED: INTERESTING, LESS OF AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BLOOD TO BE BACKED UP.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

TED: IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S CORRECTIVE BUT MIGHT NEED UPDATING.

HOW LONG DOES THIS LAST?

>> FOR SELECTED PATIENTS, WE KNOW THAT THE INNER PLASTIC CAN LAST MONTHS, EVEN YEARS, SOMETIMES PATIENTS MAY NEED ADDITIONAL THERAPY, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT IS IT'S A PLATFORM FOR THERAPIES FOR ALL SURGICAL REPAIR.

TED: MAYBE THE MITRAL VALVE IS NOT THE ONLY THING USED WITH THIS?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THE FOCUS IS ON THE MITRAL SIDE.

TED: NO OPEN-HEART SURGERY?

>> NO OPEN-HEART SURGERY.

TED: HOSPITAL STAY, YOU COULD BE THERE FOR TWO WEEKS, COULDN'T YOU?

>> DEPENDING ON A PATIENT'S HEALTH.

SOMETIMES PATIENTS MAY TAKE LONGER TO RECOVER.

MAY TAKE A FEW DAYS OR A WEEK OR TWO, BUT THIS PROCEDURE, BECAUSE IT'S MINIMALLY INVASIVE, THE HEART NEVER STOPS DURING THE PROCEDURE, PATIENTS DON'T REQUIRE A HEART-LUNG MACHINE, AND BECAUSE THE INCISION IS SMALL, THEY CAN GO HOME THE NEXT DAY.

TED: WHAT ABOUT OUTCOMES?

STUDIES AND CLINICAL TRIALS AND SUCH?

>> WE'RE STILL EARLY IN THE STUDIES BUT THE STUDIES ARE VERY PROMISING WITH NEARLY ALL PATIENTS GETTING IMPROVEMENT IN THE LEAKY VALVE.

TED: AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU COULD GO HOME THE NEXT DAY?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SO FOR PATIENTS WHO MAY BE MORE FRAIL OR FRAGILE, HAVING THIS IS AN OPTION FOR THEM OPENS UP DOORS.

TED: HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT?

WERE THERE STEPS ALONG THE WAY, SOMEONE SAID HEY, LET'S USE A RING, HOW DID THAT WORK?

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF TRYING TO PUT RINGS LIKE THIS IN A PATIENT HAS BEEN JUST OVER TWO DECADES, BUT THE TECHNOLOGY IS SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT TO DEVELOP, OUR ABILITY TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE PROCEDURES HAS ALSO TAKEN TIME TO DEVELOP, SO THE TECHNOLOGIES AND INNOVATIONS HAVE COME TOGETHER JUST IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.

TED: WHAT IS THE ADVANCEMENT AS FAR AS SEEING WHAT YOU'RE DOING?

>> SO IN TERMS OF SEEING, WE USE TRADITIONAL X-RAY EQUIPMENT TO LOOK AT HOW THINGS ARE FORMED IN THE X-RAY AS THEY'RE BEING PUT IN THE HEART, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS ACTUALLY AN ECHOCARDIOGRAM, WHERE A PROBE IS PASSED INTO THE PATIENT AND LOOKS AT THE HEART FROM THE INSIDE TO HELP GUIDE THE PROCEDURE, AND THAT IMAGING CAPABILITY HAS IMPROVED DRAMATICALLY IN THE PAST FIVE TO TEN YEARS.

>> YOU GOT ALL SORTS OF STUFF GOING ON IN THERE.

>> ALL KINDS OF TOOLS.

>> STILL IN CLINICAL TRIAL STAGE?

>> STILL IN CLINICAL TRIAL.

TED: HOW LONG WILL THAT LAST?

>> PROBABLY A FEW YEARS.

THE FORMAL PROCESS FOR THE TRIALS TAKES PLACE OVER A PERIOD OF TWO TO THREE YEARS AND USUALLY THREE YEARS AFTER THEY START IS THE TIME THEY ARE APPROVED.

TED: I WOULD IMAGINE FOR TRIALS LIKE THIS, IT IS PRETTY QUICK?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF PATIENTS THAT NEED THIS, WE EXPECT PATIENTS TO COME OUT AND GET TREATED AND HOPEFULLY THE TRIAL WILL BE COMPLETED SOON.

TED: DR.

PAUL SORAJJA, THANKS FOR SHARING, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THANK YOU.

.

TED: ARIZONA SECOND ANNUAL BLACK CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK KICKS OFF LATER THIS MONTH, THE EVENT SHOWCASES BLACK AUTHORS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO CHILDREN'S LITERATURE WITH THE FOCUS ON EARLY LITERACY AND REPRESENTATION.

WE WELCOME DR.

NEAL LESTER AND ERICA MAXWELL, THE CHAIR OF BLACK CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK PHOENIX.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH BACK.

WE HAD YOU LAST YEAR FOR THE DEBUT.

NOW IT'S NUMBER TWO.

DOCTOR, START WITH YOU, WHAT IS BLACK CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK?

>> BLACK CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK IS PRECISELY A CELEBRATION OF LITERACY AND STORIES ABOUT AND BY BLACK PEOPLE, BUT THEY'RE STORIES NOT JUST ABOUT AND FOR BLACK PEOPLE, THEY COME FROM A SPECIFIC PLACE CULTURALLY, LINGUISTICALLY AND TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT DIVERSITY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A BAD WORD.

TED: AS FAR AS WHERE YOU STAND AND WHERE YOU SIT, WHAT DO YOU SEE THE MAIN FOCUS OF BLACK CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THE FIRST ONE LAST YEAR?

>> THE INAUGURAL ONE WAS LAST YEAR, I LEARNED ABOUT THE LEVEL OF LITERACY, ABOUT THE COMMUNITY OF AUTHORS AND EXPOSING THE AUTHORS TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY HERE IN PHOENIX AND IN ARIZONA, AND IT WILL HAVE A CELEBRATION.

A CELEBRATION OF LITERACY, LOVE OF LITERACY, BOOKS.

IT MAKES PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE BOOKS THAT IMPACTED THEM AS A CHILD OR YOUNG ADULT.

>> I CITY CELEBRATES BLACK JOY AND LITERARY EMPOWERMENT.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> LITERARY EMPOWERMENT, LITERACY AND BEING ALLOWED TO READ IS ALLOWING PEOPLE TO DREAM, TO DISCOVER, AND SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT READING, IT'S ABOUT THE READINESS, ENGAGING, ACTIVITIES, AND AGAIN, HOW DO WE DISCUSS AND ENGAGE THROUGH LITERACY.

>> AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE.

WE SOMETIMES THINK IF IT'S ABOUT WOMEN, IF IT'S ABOUT GIRLS, IT'S NOT ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE.

ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT STORYTELLING, NARRATIVE, THE COMMUNITY, IT STARTS IN A SPECIFIC PLACE.

TED: BUT BLACK REPRESENTATION IS A FACTOR HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

JUST LIKE DISABILITY, RACE, CLASS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS GET WRAPPED UP IN A GOOD STORY BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE SPECIFICITY OF THE AUTHOR OR THE STORY.

IT TELLS A MORE HUMAN STORY.

TED: RIGHT, RIGHT.

BUT HAVING THE BLACK REPRESENTATION IN THE STORY IS A BIG DEAL.

>> IT IS, IT'S A REFLECTION OF THE NARRATIVES, THE NARRATIVES PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BLACK EXPERIENCE, BUT ALL THE EXPERIENCES THAT PEOPLE MAY EXPERIENCE FROM OUR PERSPECTIVES.

>> AND LEARN FROM IT, SO WHETHER YOU IDENTIFY WITH IT OR NOT, THAT'S THE WAY WHICH WE EDUCATE, TEACH EMPATHY.

MAY BE MY STORY BUT SOMETHING YOU SAID RESONATES WITH ME.

THAT'S HOW WE GET ALONG AND DEMONSTRATE THE HUMANITY.

TED: PROJECT HUMANITY IS COMING OUT HERE.

>> IT'S THE CENTER OF JOY.

IT CAN BE.

TED: LET'S TALK ABOUT READING, LET'S TALK ABOUT KIDS AND THE LOVE OF READING.

IT JUST SEEMS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF US GREW UP, YOU ALMOST WORSHIP BOOKS, WORSHIP A HARD-COVER BOOK.

IS THAT GETTING LOST?

>> I THINK IT CAN, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF SOCIAL MEDIA BUT SOME OF THE BOOKS CAN TRANSFER TO OTHER FORMATS.

AT THE HEART OF THAT IS GOOD STORY TELLING.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T PRIVILEGE AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE CELEBRATING.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMING TOGETHER AND TELLING STORIES, WHETHER IT'S ABOUT THE COOKOUT, A CHURCH, GATHERING OR FISH FRY.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT BOOKS ARE PART OF THAT WAY WE TRANSFER KNOWLEDGE.

TED: PART OF THAT WAY, ERICA.

IF YOU LOVE BOOKS AND READING, YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER.

>> YOU CAN'T.

THEY ARE NOT SEPARATE.

THEY DO GO TOGETHER, AND AGAIN, IT'S REALLY A CHANCE TO BRING COMMUNITY TOGETHER, AND WE'VE ALSO HAD ADDITIONS THIS YEAR.

WE'LL HAVE BOOK BAGS FOR FREE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

HAIR CUTS.

STUDENTS THAT WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO WRITE ABOUT A BOOK THEY MAY HAVE PURCHASED OR LIKE, AND TAKE IT ON AND HAVE A KIDS CUT.

ONE OF OUR AUTHORS ALSO SELLS LEMONADE.

TED: A CHILD AUTHOR.

>> A CHILD AUTHOR.

IT'S GOING TO BE AMAZING, I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

TED: YOU MENTIONED STORYTELLING IS A BIG PART.

IT'S A BIG ASPECT OF ALL THIS, ISN'T IT?

>> HUMAN CONNECTION COMES THROUGH STORIES.

EVEN QUESTIONS LIKE HOW DID YOUR DAY GO TODAY?

THAT'S AN INVITATION TO TELL A STORY.

WHY ARE YOU IN A BAD MOOD TODAY?

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOUR HAIR TODAY?

THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL A STORY.

WHAT WE HAVEN'T DONE IS CELEBRATED CHILDREN AT NEXUS OF THAT ADULT WORLD.

IT'S THE ADULTS TELLING THE STORY BUT OFTEN THE CHILDREN'S LIVES OR THE EXPERIENCES WHICH THE STORIES ARE WRITTEN.

WE WANT TO CELEBRATE BOTH OF THOSE.

TED: AT THE EVENT THERE ARE STORY HOURS.

>> STORY TIMES THROUGHOUT.

WE ARE CELEBRATING AND FOCUSING ON 12 AUTHORS THIS YEAR.

EACH WILL READ THEIR BOOK TO THE AUDIENCE AND PARTICIPANTS THAT ARE THERE, AND THEY WILL RAFFLE OFF THE BOOK AS WELL.

THERE WILL BE FREE BOOKS, GAMES, A LITERACY WHEEL.

THE WHOLE DAY IS FULL OF ACTIVITIES.

>> WHAT'S THE LITERACY WHEEL?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> ONE OF THE VENDORS, WE WILL HAVE THE PUBLIC LIBRARY THERE AS WELL, AND WE'LL HAVE AZREADS THROUGH ARIZONA HUMANITIES AND KIDS NEED TO READ, THEY HAVE A LITERACY WHEEL.

THEY GET TO SPIN THE WHEEL AND WIN SOMETHING.

>> AND WE HAVE A NEW PARTNER.

THE GREAT ARIZONA PUPPET THEATER.

SO THE FINALE OF THIS.

TED: I SAW THAT.

>> THE FINALE OF THIS IS THAT ONE OF THE BOOKS FROM ONE OF THE ADULT AUTHORS WILL BE PUPPETIZED -- GOING TO MAKE THAT WORD UP -- PUPPETIZED IN A PRODUCTION ON MARCH 1, AND WE ALSO HAVE A COMPETITION GOING NOW WHERE CHILDREN ARE ACTUALLY WRITING STORIES, AND ONE OF THE STORIES WILL BECOME PART OF PUPPETRY AS WELL.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

TED: WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, BUT REAL QUICKLY, IT MUST BE SO JOYFUL TO SEE KIDS HAPPY WITH BOOKS.

>> IT IS BECAUSE WHEN YOU START ENGAGING THEM, EVEN IN THE WOMB, YOU CAN ENGAGE CHILDREN IN LITERACY, THEY CARRY THAT THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.

WE WANT THEM TO START THEIR OWN HOME LIBRARIES.

>> BECAUSE WE'RE GIVING AWAY FREE BOOKS, AND BANNED BOOKS TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE TO THOSE WHO WANT THEM.

TED: ALL RIGHT, GOT TO STOP YOU THERE.

CONGRATULATIONS, ERICA MAXWELL AND DR.

NEAL LESTER.

THE BLACK CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK FEBRUARY 22.

>> AND MARCH 1.

TED: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.