♪.

>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL HEAR HOW INFLATION IS AFFECTING RETIREMENT PLANS AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," HOW PEOPLE ARE USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO BECOME FACE FAMOUS.

>> "ARIZONA HORIZON" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF -- >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON," I'M CHRISTINA ESTES IN FOR TED SIMONS.

A SMALL TOWN IN YUMA COUNTY HAS BECOME A TARGET FOR THOSE PROMOTING VOTER FRAUD IN ARIZONA.

ACCORDING TO THE "ARIZONA REPUBLIC," THE WARRANT ALLOWED OFFICERS TO TAKE THE PHONE AND SEARCH THE HOME OF GLORIA TORRES, EMPLOYEE OF NONPROFIT AND SAN LUIS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, INVESTIGATORS WERE LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE OF BALLOT HARVESTING WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP TURNS IN OTHER PEOPLE'S BALLOTS.

TONY REYES SAYS ATTORNEY GENERAL MARK BRNOVICH IS USING THE CASE FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES AND SAYS IT'S USED BY THE MAKER OF THE FILM 2000 MULES.

BRNOVICH'S OFFICE WILL NOT CONFIRM NOR DENY THE INVESTIGATION.

YUMA COUNTY VOTED FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

TRAVELERS COULD BE IN FOR A TURBULENT SUMMER SEASON.

OVER THE PAST FIVE DAYS, U.S. AIRLINES CANCELED CLOSE TO 300,000 FLIGHTS.

BAD WEATHER, CREWS CALLING IN SICK AND OTHER FACTORS SNARLED OPERATIONS.

DELTA AIR LINES AMONG THE TOP PERFORMERS HAD THE WORST RECORD WITH MORE THAN 800 FLIGHTS CANCELED BETWEEN THURSDAY AND MONDAY.

>>> NEW RESEARCH SHOWS SLOWER WALKING AS YOU GET OLDER COULD BE A SIGN OF FUTURE COGNITIVE DECLINE.

A STUDY PUBLISHED TODAY IN THE JOURNAL JAMA NETWORK WALKING SPEED SLOWED 5% ANNUALLY AND SHOWED SLOWER SIGNS OF COGNITIVE COGNITIVE ABILITIES DEVELOP DEMENTIA.

>>> WE'RE REMINDED OF INFLATION'S IMPACT ON DAILY LIVES.

INFLATION IMPACTS RETIREMENT ACCORDING TO A CNBC ARTICLE.

13% OF GEN X-ERS AND BABY BOOMERS CONSIDEREDLISQUE THE WORKFORCE DUE TO SOARING COSTS.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT INFLATION AND RETIREMENT IS WAYNE FROM THE ASSOCIATION FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP USA, THANKS FOR COMING IN, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

>> WHAT ARE YOU SEEING WHEN IT COMES TO GEN X-ERS AND BABY BOOMERS?

>> WELL, THE PRE-RETIREES, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT IS DEVASTATING.

EVERYTHING THEY BUY AND CONSUME IS COSTING MORE AND GOING INTO A FIXED INCOME ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE INCOME IS REDUCED BECAUSE THEY'RE ON PENSION PLAN AND SOCIAL SECURITY, AND IT'S REALLY AFFECTING THEM.

I MEAN, AFFECTING THEIR TRAVEL, WHAT FOOD THEY'RE EATING.

REALLY EVERYTHING, AND I THINK MANY OF THEM ARE LOOKING AT ENTREPRENEURSHIP OR GIG OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP SUPPLEMENT THE INCOME.

TYPICALLY GIG WORKERS ARE LOOKING TO MAKE BETWEEN 500 AND $2,000 A MONTH TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR INCOMES AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING MORE OF A TREND OF THAT.

IT'S BEEN GOING FOR A WHILE BUT WITH COVID AND INFLATION IT'S ACCELERATING.

>> HOW DO THEY KNOW WHEN IT'S THE RIGHT TIME TO RETIRE?

>> WHAT'S INTERESTING STATISTICALLY, 5% OF THE POPULATION AT RETIREMENT IS WEALTHY OR FINANCIALLY WELL OFF.

>> WAIT, 5%?

>> 5%.

>> THAT'S IT?

>> THE REST OF THEM HAVE A REASONABLE NEST EGG AND PENSION PLAN.

>> OKAY, I CAN DO REASONABLE, GO AHEAD.

>> AND TWO SCHOOLTEACHERS, GET TO RETIREMENT, THEY'RE HOPING INSURANCE IS IN GOOD SHAPE, LOOKING AT 6 AND $7 A GAS HERE SOON I THINK, AND FOOD GOING UP AND EVERYTHING AROUND THEM, IT'S PUTTING A STRAIN ON THE RETIREES.

THEY'RE HAVING TO CONTINUE WORKING.

I MEAN, HOW OFTEN DO WE GO INTO A COSTCO OR WALMART AND SEE PEOPLE IN THEIR 60s, 70s AND 80s CONTINUING TO WORK?

NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAYBE KEEP BUSY BUT ALSO TO HELP SUPPLEMENT THEIR INCOME.

>> BEFORE I GOT ALL EXCITED AND CUT YOU OFF, YOU SAID ABOUT 5% OF RETIREES ARE CONSIDERED WEALTHY.

THE REST, DO YOU HAVE A BREAKDOWN?

>> YOU KNOW, IT FALLS, EVERYTHING FROM THEM HAVING A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN THEIR RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR A LITTLE BIT MORE, DOWN TO JUST LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY ARE SAVING FOR THE FUTURE, AND MANY OF THEM HAVEN'T PREPARED VERY WELL, SO THEY FIND THEMSELVES CONTINUING TO WORK AND YOU THROW IN THIS INFLATION, BEING IN ARIZONA, I'VE BEEN HERE 55 YEARS, IT'S BEEN A VERY AFFORDABLE STATE, BUT LOOK AT THE COSTS GOING AROUND US.

IT'S AFFECTING PEOPLE AND THEIR RETIREMENT PLANS AND WAY OF LIFE, LIFESTYLE.

MAYBE THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT SELLING THEIR HOUSE NOW AND SCALING DOWN AND PUTTING THE EQUITY INTO THEIR BANK ACCOUNT SO THEY COULD INCREASE STANDARD OF LIVING.

>> WE'VE HEARD PEOPLE USE THE PHRASE GREAT RESIGNATION DURING THE PANDEMIC.

A LOT OF PEOPLE QUITTING OR NOT GOING BACK TO JOBS, IS THAT NOT HAPPENING WITH GEN X-ERS AND BABY BOOMERS?

>> I THINK THEY'RE FIGURING OUT HOW TO SURVIVE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

PEOPLE ARE SITTING THERE AND LOOKING AT COOKIE JAR, BANK ACCOUNTS, PENSION PLANS AND REALLY EVALUATING.

YOU TALK ABOUT THE GREAT RESIGNATION, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE SITTING DOWN IN 2020 IN MARCH, EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN, YOU START LOOKING AT YOUR SPOUSE OR LOOKING AT YOURSELF AND SAYING HOW AM I GOING TO MAKE A LIVING?

IS MY EMPLOYER GOING TO CALL ME BACK?

IS MY COMPANY GOING TO SHUT DOWN, THERE WAS A LOT OF MID-LIFE CRISIS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DECIDED NOT TO GO BACK TO WORK, OR USE THAT TIME WHILE WORKING FROM HOME TO CREATE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE THEM A BETTER FUTURE IN TERMS OF DOWN THE ROAD.

>> WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE YOU SEEING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE GEN-X AND BABY BOOMER AGE.

>> WE LOOK AT UBER AND LYFT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE WEBSITES, EPSY, eBAY, PEOPLE SELLING GOODS, SERVICES, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE YOU FIND ARE DOING OTHER THINGS TO SUPPLEMENT INCOME.

THE INTERNET AND THE SMARTPHONE CHANGED EVERYTHING.

I GREW UP, THERE WERE NO CELL PHONES, NOW YOU GOT KIDS GOING TO COLLEGE TODAY NOT THINKING ABOUT GETTING A JOB BUT STARTING THEIR OWN BUSINESS, AND THAT'S TRICKLED DOWN TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN PRERETIREMENT.

>> ANY ADVICE FOR PEOPLE AT THAT STAGE WHERE THEY'RE THINKING MY GOSH, MAYBE I CAN NEVER RETIRE.

CAN THEY TAKE THAT STEP IF THEY KNOW X IS THERE AND I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPLEMENT BY DOING SOME GIG WORK OR SOMETHING ELSE?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A BIG TREND BECAUSE REALLY SURVIVING, COSTS HAVE GONE UP SO MUCH AT THE GAS PUMP, AT THE GROCERY STORE.

REALLY EVERYTHING AROUND US, THAT REALLY THEY HAVE TO RETHINK THEIR RETIREMENT PLANS ALL THE WAY AROUND BECAUSE OTHERWISE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SURVIVE.

PEOPLE FILLING UP WITH SPENDING OVER $100 FOR FUEL.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE RE-EVALUATING EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING.

YOU KNOW THEY HAD THESE GRANDIOSE PLANS WE'RE GOING TO RETIRE AT 65 OR 67 AND DO A LITTLE TRAVELING BUT THAT'S COSTING MORE.

SO I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY RE-EVALUATING AND USING GIG OPPORTUNITIES AS A SIMPLE WAY TO SUPPLEMENT INCOME.

>> WAYNE WITH THE ASSOCIATION FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP USA.

I GOT IT OUT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND A LOT OF RE-EVALUATING GOING ON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT TO MAKE SOUTH PHOENIX HEALTHIER.

>> AN EFFORT IS UNDER WAY TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS IN SOUTH PHOENIX.

IT'S CALLED BLUE ZONES ACTIVATE AND USES EVIDENCE BASED APPROACH TO HELP PEOPLE THRIVE IN THE AREAS WHERE THEY SPEND THE MOST TIME.

BLUE ZONES WERE NAMED AFTER PLACES HOME TO THE LONGEST LIVING PEOPLE.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT IT IS TOMAS LEON PRESIDENT OF EQUALITY HEALTH FOUNDATION, DID I GET THAT RIGHT?

>> YOU DID.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND THANKS FOR COMING IN.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> BEFORE WE DIVE WHAT THIS MEANS, TELL US ABOUT WHY SOUTH PHOENIX WAS CHOSEEN.

>> EXPERIENCING THE PANDEMIC FOR THE LAST 2+ YEARS AND WHAT IT'S UNCOVERED IN THE DIVERSE UNDERRESOURCED COMMUNITY WAS THE UNDERLYING DISPARITIES AND INEQUALITIES IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WAS LEADING TO A LOT OF DISPARITY GAPS, AND FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THOSE IN ZIP CODES IN SOUTH PHOENIX, A 14 YEAR DISPARITY GAP COMPARED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE VALLEY IN GREATER PHOENIX.

>> IN 14 YEARS -- >> LIFE SPAN, LIFE EXPECTANCY AND THE PANDEMIC HAD ANOTHER IMPACT ON BLACK AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES BY THREE YEARS, ANOTHER THREE YEARS LOSS OF LIFE.

17-YEAR LIFE EXPECTANCY DISPARITY GAP.

THAT'S ONE INDICATOR AMONG OTHER ROOT CAUSE ISSUES AND DISPARITY AND EQUALITY ISSUES WE WANT TO GET BEHIND THE RESIDENTS OF GREATER SOUTH PHOENIX TO ADDRESS.

>> PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH SOUTH PHOENIX MAY NOT KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES AND LANDFILLS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS GOT TO PLAY A PRETTY BIG FACTOR.

ANYTHING ELSE?

POLLUTION?

WHAT ELSE WAS THERE THAT MADE YOU SAY SOUTH PHOENIX, WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS?

>> WE TOOK A LOOK AT A LOT OF HEALTH EDUCATION, WORKPLACE ISSUES, EMPLOYMENT, FOOD INSECURITIES, HEALTH CARE, ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE ISSUES, WE LOOKED AT A COMPREHENSIVE DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTING RESIDENTS THERE FOR DECADES, AND SO WITH THIS EVIDENCE-BASED INITIATIVE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPACT OUR SURROUNDINGS AND SYSTEMS THAT NUDGE PEOPLE IN THE DIRECTION THAT EITHER MAKING A HEALTHIER CHOICE, THE EASIEST CHOICE OR THE UNHEALTHIER CHOICE.

SO WE WANT TO SUPPORT ALL THE RESIDENTS IN SOUTH PHOENIX, IT'S COLLECTIVELY REPRESENTS ABOUT NINE ZIP CODES, ABOUT 230,000 RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA AND JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CREATE ACCESS TO WELL-BEING FOR EVERYONE EVERYWHERE IN THE ZIP CODES WE'RE FOCUSED ON.

>> ARE YOU IN THE READINESS ASSESSMENT PHASE NOW?

>> IT'S THE READINESS ASSESSIBILITY ASSESSIBILITY PHASE, WHERE THE NEEDS FOR OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPROVEMENT ARE.

NOT JUST ABOUT THE GAPS AND NEEDS AND STRENGTHS AND ASSETS TO MAKE IT GROW IN SCALE TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBILITY TO THE RESIDENTS WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON AND TALKING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, RESIDENTS, OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE THAT WOULD LEAD TO A PLAN FOR CHANGE IN THE NEXT PHASE OF IMPLEMENTATION, BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT HAVING THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW AND GETTING THE SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENT A MAJOR WELL-BEING TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE LIKE THIS.

>> SO THE BLUE ZONE PROGRAMS HAVE HAPPENED IN OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE U.S. DO YOU HAVE ONE EXAMPLE OR TWO?

ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT YOU THINK, WOW, THAT WAS IMPACTFUL AND YOU WANT TO SEE SOMETHING SIMILAR OR AN OUTCOME LIKE THAT HERE?

>> BLUE ZONES PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED IN 70+ COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND FORT WORTH, TEXAS IS ONE OF THE CLOSEST EXAMPLES WITH SIMILAR POPULATIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON.

AND ONE OF THE KEY INDICATORS WAS ADDRESSING THE OBESITY, IMPROVING DIABETES, SO THEY'VE HAD MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS SINCE THEY'VE IMPLEMENTED THAT INITIATIVE THERE, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT IMPROVING MEASURABLE IMPACT IN HEALTH, NOT JUST OVERALL WELL-BEING BUT HEALTH, BUSINESS, EDUCATION, HOUSING, FOOD ACCESS, MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> THAT IS A LOT.

THAT'S A LONG LIST.

WE SAID IT WAS A COMPREHENSIVE -- >> COMPREHENSIVE, ABSOLUTELY.

>> DO YOU TACKLE ONE AREA FIRST OR JUST GOING TO DO IT ALL?

HOW DO YOU APPROACH IT?

>> THE ASSESSMENT, READINESS AND FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IDENTIFIES WHERE THE PRIORITIES ARE AND WHERE THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO RALLY AROUND AFFECTING CHANGE.

THAT'S WHERE WE'LL START FIRST.

IT'S MORE THAN ONE PERSON OR ONE ORGANIZATION THAT CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT IN A COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHY THIS IS A COALITION THAT'S DEVELOPING AND BUILDING WITH SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS FROM THE ARIZONA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO UNITED HEALTHCARE, VALLEY OF THE SUN, UNITED WAY AS WELL AS THE FLYNN FOUNDATION, VITALIST FOUNDATION, PIPER TRUST, THE LIST GOES ON AND IT'S GROWING BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TOGETHER, WORKING TOGETHER COLLABORATING, SUPPORTING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND RESIDENTS TO IMPLEMENT CHANGE OVER A LONG PERIOD.

THIS IS A 5+-YEAR INITIATIVE AND NOT JUST ONE ACTIVITY, BUT WE'VE GOT A GREAT START AND LOCKING OUR ARMS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS AND RESIDENTS TO PUT A PLAN FOR CHANGE IN PLACE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROUD OF AND THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO SUPPORT.

>> OKAY, TOMAS, I WANT TO ASK HOW DO YOU CONVINCE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN SOUTH PHOENIX THIS IS A GOOD THING.

THIS CAN'T BE THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE ON KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND SAID I'M A DO-GOODER AND I WANT TO HELP YOU, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> HOW DO YOU CONVINCE PEOPLE THIS IS A SERIOUS THING AND WE'RE REALLY GOING TO MAKE CHANGE?

>> IT'S A REAL ISSUE OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN ORGANIZATIONS LIKE EQUALITY HEALTH FOUNDATION.

WE'RE THE LEAD CONVENER AND COORDINATOR BUT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, WE'RE CONVENING AND BRINGING EVERYONE TOGETHER TO LOOK AT POTENTIAL OF THIS WELL-BEING INITIATIVE AND WHAT KIND OF IMPACT IT CAN HAVE IN THEIR LIVES AND IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE THAT DIALOGUE AND BUILDING THAT TRUST AND THAT SUPPORT SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW WELL-BEING AND IMPROVING A BETTER, LONGER LIFE IS TIED TO HOUSING, FOOD ACCESS, EMPLOYMENT, TRANSPORTATION, THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, AND WHERE WE'RE STARTING IS ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.

IT'S NOT ABOUT COMING IN AND FILLING THE GAP.

IT'S ABOUT SUPPORTING AND GROWING AND WATERING SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE EMERGED FROM THE COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN GROW IN SCALE AND MAKE THEM MORE PERMANENT IN THE COMMUNITY TO AFFECT LONGER-TERM OUTCOMES LIKE LIVING A LONGER QUALITY LIFE.

WE ALL WANT TO DO THAT, AND WE'RE HERE TO RALLY AROUND GREATER SOUTH PHOENIX RESIDENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY AND THAT'S POSSIBLE.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM RESIDENTS?

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE HEARING MORE THAN ONCE OVER AND OVER?

>> ACCESS TO HEALTHY, FRESH FOODS IS A THEME THAT'S EMERGING, AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT ARE ADDRESSING THE FOOD INSECURITY THERE, AND LOCAL GROWERS AND FARMERS.

SO WE'RE HEARING FROM RESIDENTS THEY WANT MORE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FRESH FOODS AND VEGETABLES.

NOT JUST RESTAURANTS.

PLACES THEY CAN BUY HEALTHY AND FRESH FOODS AND LOCAL GROWERS AND FARMERS AND COLLABORATIVES THAT ARE WANTING TO MAKE THAT MORE ACCESSIBLE.

THERE'S EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE ONE ISSUE AND THE ONE OPPORTUNITY THAT'S GENERATING A LOT OF EXCITEMENT IN TERMS OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE AND WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH THE LOCAL RESIDENTS AND LEADERS.

>> ABOUT 20 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT?

>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT EMERGING FROM THIS PANDEMIC TO FOCUS ON HEALING, RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY, AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE SO TIRED OF THIS PANDEMIC, SO WE WANT TO PLACE OUR ENERGY IN RALLYING BEHIND THE RESIDENTS IN GREATER SOUTH PHOENIX TO IMPLEMENT AN INITIATIVE THAT'S ULTIMATELY GOING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND LONGEVITY OF LIFE, THAT HAS ME FIRED UP ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT THE EQUALITY HEALTH FOUNDATION.

>> IT'S CONTAGIOUS, YOU GOT ME EXCITED AND FIRED UP, TOO.

YOU SAID IT'S A FIVE-YEAR PROJECT, WE WILL DEFINITELY HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS IN THE FUTURE.

TOMAS LEONE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

>> MY PLEASURE, THANKS.

>> THE SCHOOL OF BALLET ARIZONA AND PHOENIX YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS ARE WORKING ON SLEEPING BEAUTY.

THE SHOW WILL TAKE PLACE AT MADISON CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN PHOENIX.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS UNIQUE COLLABORATION IS MARIA SIMONETTI, THE DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL OF BALLET ARIZONA AND MATTHEW KASPER IS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE PHOENIX YOUTH SYMPHONIES ORCHESTRA THERE.

PLURAL THERE.

THANK YOU FOR WAITING SO QUIETLY AND NICELY.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL, THIS IS YOUR SECOND PRODUCTION AND THE FIRST WAS A REALLY BIG DEAL BECAUSE IT WAS PRETTY HEAVY INTO EARLY, EARLY COVID.

HOW WAS THAT FIRST EXPERIENCE, AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THAT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BRING TO SLEEPING BEAUTY?

>> I THINK THE FIRST EXPERIENCE WAS KIND OF AN EXPERIMENT.

WE BOTH RUN STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND I USUALLY, THEY DO THE CONCERT, WE DO OUR PERFORMANCES, BUT I HEARD HIS ORCHESTRA AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD GET TOGETHER, AND I SENT AN E-MAIL AND SAID I THINK YOUR ORCHESTRA AND OUR SCHOOL SHOULD COLLABORATE AND THE PANDEMIC HIT AND WE -- EVERYBODY HAD TO STOP, BUT WE KEPT GOING AND MADE IT HAPPEN.

>> AND HOW DID THAT WORK?

>> SO, WE, ONCE THE PANDEMIC HIT, WE KNEW THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT THING TO DO, IN NORMAL TIMES, BUT DURING A PANDEMIC IT'S MORE DIFFICULT WITH ALL THE OTHER MOVING PARTS, BUT WE FELT SO MUCH HAD BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM THE KIDS DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT IT WAS NECESSARY FOR US TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN SOMEHOW, SOME WAY, SO WE ENLISTED SO MANY FRIENDS TO GIVE US FAVORS AND DO THINGS AND THE KIDS WERE AMAZING, THEY SO BOUGHT INTO IT.

FOR US GOING INTO THIS YEAR ALSO PRESENTED CHALLENGES BECAUSE WE'RE NOW KIND OF BACK TO -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY NORMAL, BUT KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL, ACTIVITIES ARE BACK ON, EVERYBODY IS A LOT BUSIER NOW.

SO TRAVERSING THAT WITH THE PRODUCTION SCHEDULE IS A BIT OF A CHALLENGE, BUT GOTTEN THROUGH THAT AS WELL.

THE IMPORTANT THING IS THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS, THE ORCHESTRA KIDS LEARNING WHAT'S GOING ON STAGE WHEN THEY'RE PLAYING BECAUSE IT MATTERS.

IT'S NOT JUST YOU PLAY YOUR PART AND NOBODY ELSE IS AFFECTED BY IT.

IT'S A TRUE COLLABORATION IN THAT SENSE AND ALSO FOR THE DANCERS TO HEAR A LIVE ORCHESTRA AND REACT TO THAT VERSUS A RECORDING WHICH IS THE SAME ALL THE TIME, WHICH IS DEFINITELY NOT THE CASE.

IT'S A GREAT EXERCISE IN COMMUNICATION AND EMPATHY FROM THE KIDS ON STAGE AND IN THE PIT.

>> AND ALSO THE HUMAN CONNECTION BECAUSE NORMALLY THE ORCHESTRA WILL BE HIDDEN IN THE ORCHESTRA PIT, AND WE HAVE BEEN -- LAST YEAR WE WERE LUCKY TO BE AT BOTANICAL GARDENS, THIS YEAR THE MADISON CENTER FOR THE ARTS.

THE BALLERINA DOES NOT KNOW WHO PLAYS THE VIOLIN SOLO IS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SEE THEM OR ANOTHER INSTRUMENT.

IT'S WONDERFUL FOR THE STUDENTS TO SEE THAT.

>> WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM THE STUDENTS LAST YEAR ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE?

>> THEY WERE OVER THE MOON ABOUT IT.

A LOT OF THEM SAID THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THEY'VE DONE ARTISTICALLY.

THE GREATEST EXPERIENCE THEY'VE HAD, AT LEAST AS FAR AS THE YOUTH ORCHESTRA IS CONCERNED, SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE ALSO SAW FOR BOTH OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SETS US APART FROM ANY OTHER YOUTH ORCHESTRA OR BALLET SCHOOL BECAUSE THIS COLLABORATION DOES NOT HAPPEN ANYWHERE ELSE.

THIS IS VERY PARTICULAR TO WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND IT IS A BIG TESTAMENT TO EVERYBODY IN OUR ORGANIZATIONS AND STUDENTS THAT THEY'VE BEEN SO INTO IT AND JUST COMMITTED TO IT.

OUR STUDENTS HAD THE MOST AMAZING TIME DOING THAT THE LAST YEAR.

>> MARIA, MATTHEW MENTIONED NOBODY ELSE DOES THIS?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> WHY DID YOU WANT TO DO IT?

>> WE WANT TO DO IT BECAUSE IT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE.

A PROFESSIONAL BALLET COMPANY WILL HAVE PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA IN THE PIT, SO THIS IS LIKE THE WAY TO TEACH THE NEW GENERATIONS OF ARTISTS HOW TO DO IT.

IT IS A LOT OF WORK.

WE HAVE OVER 100 KIDS PLAYING AND DANCING TOGETHER, SO IT'S A MONSTER, BUT I THINK IT JUST TEACHES EVERYBODY ABOUT MUSIC AND DANCE AND GETTING ALONG AND COMMUNICATING AND RESPECTING EACH OTHER, AND ALSO, A FUNNY STORY IS, THERE WAS A FOUR-YEAR-OLD THAT ASKED WHAT A VIOLIN WAS?

AND, OF COURSE, WE ALREADY KNOW THAT, BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE, YOU'RE TEACHING THE STUDENTS WHAT LIVE MUSIC IS ABOUT, AND WHAT A LIVE PERFORMANCE SHOULD BE ABOUT.

THAT'S WHY WE THINK IT'S TRULY IMPORTANT.

>> MATTHEW, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO AREN'T SURE WHETHER THEY WANT TO COME OUT TO SEE THE PERFORMANCE?

HOW WOULD YOU CONVINCE THEM?

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, DO YOU WANT TO HEAR SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED MUSICIANS AND WATCH SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED YOUNG BALLET DANCERS IN THE COUNTRY PERFORM ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING SCORES THAT WAS WRITTEN TO A BALLET?

I WOULD HOPE THE ANSWER IS YES, AND IT'S ALSO, I THINK, IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS, I THINK, THE FIRST STEP FOR US IN REALLY EXPANDING THE ACCESS TO ARTS FOR KIDS ACROSS THE VALLEY AND HOPEFULLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WITH THE PANDEMIC IT'S BEEN MAGNIFIED, A LOT OF THE TROUBLES THAT ARE HAMPERING KIDS RIGHT NOW.

THEY'VE LOT A LOT GOING ON, A LOT TO DEAL WITH.

THE ARTS BRINGS THEM TOGETHER, MAKES THEM COMMUNICATE, OPENS THEM UP EMOTIONALLY AND SO IF YOU WANT TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT JUST THESE KIDS, THAT'S A REASON THERE.

>> MATTHEW AND MARIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, SLEEPING BEAUTY.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, I'M CHRISTINE ESTES IN FOR TED SIMONS.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.