♪♪ >> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

OOH LOOK AT BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP AND CONGRESS MAPS AND ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS IN THE VALLEY AND THE MEN'S GAY CHORUS KICKING 0 OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

THOSE AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

>> Ted: AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON, I'M TED SIMONS.

THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT IS LOOKING AT SEVERAL HIGH PROFILE CASES ONE OF WAY INVOLVES PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ATTEMPT TO END BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP WITH EXECUTIVE ORDER, ANOTHER CASE TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR TEXAS TO USE A REPUBLICAN FRIENDLY CONGRESSIONAL MAP IN NEXT YEAR'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

JOINING US IS STEPHEN MONTOYA, WITH MONTOYA, LUCERO & PASTOR.

LET'S GET TO IT, THE BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP SHIP, FIRST THING IN OFFICE, HE HAS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, THE PRESIDENT DOES, ENDING BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 14TH AMENDMENT?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> IN MY OPINION AND A LOT OF PEOPLE'S OPINION, IT'S AN EASY CASE.

THE UNITED STATES ADOPTED THE ENGLISH COMMON-LAW WHEN IT BECAME A COUNTRY.

1608 CALVIN'S CASE, THE BRITISH CHANCELLORY COURT ADOPTED BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP.

IT INVOLVED A SCOT.

IN LYNCH VERSUS CLARK, THE NEW YORK SUPREME COURT IN 1844 RECOGNIZED THAT BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP WAS THE RULE IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND THEN WE HAD THE PASSAGE OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT IN 1868 SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZED BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP AS TO ANCESTERAL CITIZENSHIP IN THE UNITED STATES.

IF YOU'RE BORN IN THE UNITED STATES, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOUR ANCESTORS, INCLUDING YOUR PARENTS WERE BORN, YOU ARE A CITIZEN.

IN FACT, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT IN THE CASE OF POLIS VERSUS SHAUGHNESSY, A 1957 CASE RELATIVELY RECENTLY, THE COURT CONSIDERED TWO GREEK UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS AND WHETHER-- AND THEY WANTED TO STAY IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE CLAIM THEY MADE WAS THAT THEIR CHILD WAS BORN IN THE UNITED STATES AND THEY WANTED IT RAISE THE CHILD THERE AND THE COURT RECOGNIZED THE CITIZENSHIP OF THE CHILD, EVEN THOUGH BOTH OF HIS PARENTS WERE HERE ILLEGALLY, BUT SAID, HEY, YOU CAN'T STAY HERE BECAUSE YOU'VE OM BEEN HERE THREE YEARS, YOUR CHILD CAN STAY HERE, BUT YOU CAN'T.

SO, REALLY, THE DOCTRINE OF BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP IS WELL-ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES, IN BOTH THE NATIONALITY ACT OF 1940 AND THE NATIONALITY ACT OF 1952, CONGRESS PASSED LAWS RECOGNIZING BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP.

SO ACTUALLY, TED, THIS CASE IS NOT A CONSTITUTIONAL CASE, THIS CASE CAN BE DECIDED BY TWO STATUTES THAT ARE STILL IN FORCE ALONE AND YOU'RE REALLY SUPPOSED TO NOT CONSIDER CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS IF YOU CAN RESOLVE THE CASE STATUTORILY AND THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE THE COURT WILL DO.

AND YET, THE ADMINISTRATION ARGUES THAT THIS WAS ENTIRELY INTENDED FOR THE CHILDREN OF FORMER SLAVES.

THIS IS WHAT IT GOES BACK TO, IT'S, I THINK THE QUOTE NOW, IT'S BECOME PERVASIVE WITH DESTRUCTIVE CONSEQUENCES.

WILL THAT HOLD WITH THE COURT?

>> I DON'T THINK IT WILL, BECAUSE EVEN IF THAT WERE TRUE, AND IT'S NOT.

IN FACT, I'VE READ THE-- I'M SUPER INTERESTED IN THIS TOPIC.

I'VE READ THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE CONGRESS THAT ACTUALLY DRAFTED THE 14TH AMENDMENT AND THEY TALKED ABOUT GYPSIES.

UNDER THIS LAW, GYPSIES ARE GOING TO BE CITIZENS AND GUESS WHAT, THE OTHER SENATORS SAID, YEAH, THAT'S TRUE, SO WHAT?

THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT CHINESE IMMIGRANTS AT THE TIME AND THEY WERE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEIR CHILDREN WOULD BE CITIZENS, BUT ONCE AGAIN, NOTWITHSTANDING WITH THE LANGUAGE OF THIS-- OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT SAYS, THESE STATUTES HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED FIRST AND THEY BOTH -- AND THE STATUTORY HISTORY IS UNEQUIVOCAL THAT THE CHILDREN OF UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS WILL BE CITIZENS.

>> Ted: AND YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU THINK THE SUPREME COURT WILL RULE THAT THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS WERE UNCONSTITUTIONAL?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK THEY'LL REACH THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION BECAUSE YOU DON'T REACH CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS IF YOU CAN RESOLVE THE CASE BASED ON STATUTES.

>> Ted: OKAY.

THEY WILL RESOLVE THE CASE BASED ON STATUTES, BUT IT WILL GO AGAINST THE PRESIDENT'S EXECUTIVE ORDER.

>> YES.

>> Ted: DO YOU THINK THIS COURT IS GOING TO DO THAT?

>> I DO.

I ABSOLUTELY DO.

AND I DO THINK THE REASON WHY THEY TOOK THE CASE IS BECAUSE IT'S AN EASY CASE AND THEY'VE RULED SO MANY TIMES IN FAVOR OF TRUMP, THEY'VE TAKEN THIS ONE TO RULE AGAINST HIM, BUT IT'S HARD TO EVEN CONSERVATIVES OF MANY, MANY CONSERVATIVES HAVE COME OUT AGAINST THE EXECUTIVE ORDER AND IN FAVOR OF BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER CASE HERE, THESE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS IN TEXAS REDRAWN BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN TIME FOR THE ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR.

THE SUPREME COURT KIND OF CLEARED THE WAY FOR THOSE THINGS TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR THOSE ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR.

>> YEAH, IT DID AND IT'S VERY SURPRISING AND DISHEARTENING BECAUSE A THREE-JUDGE PANEL OF ONE APPELLATE JUDGE AND TWO DISTRICT COURT JUDGES ALL IN TEXAS, THE AUTHOR, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, OF THE ORDER WAS ACTUALLY A TRUMP APPOINTEE WHO CLERKED FOR THE GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR ABBOTT, VERY CONSERVATIVE, WHEN ABBOTT WAS A JUSTICE OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT IN TEXAS.

HE'S THE ONE THAT AUTHOR THE OPINION, 160 PAGES, NINE DAYS OF TRIAL TESTIMONY, 3,000 PAGES OF EXHIBITS, 24 HOURS OF WITNESS TESTIMONY, 23 TRIAL WITNESSES, TWO FEDERAL JUDGES RULED THAT IT WAS A CASE OF RACIAL GERRYMANDERING AND WITHOUT ANY HEARING OVER A HOLIDAY WEEKEND, THE SUPREME COURT REVERSED IT WITHOUT ANY REASON, WITH VERY -- FIVE PARAGRAPHS OF REASONING.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SHADOW DOCKET EMERGENCY KIND OF DEALS.

>> A ROCKET DOCKET.

>> WE SEE A LOT OF THAT IN THIS COURT.

>> YEAH, AND IT'S DISHEARTENING TO THE LOWER COURT JUDGES WHO SPEND DAYS AND WEEKS AND MONTHS RESOLVE, TRYING TO RESOLVE THESE CASES TO BE TURNED, TO BE REVERSED BY THE SUPREME COURT IN A WEEKEND.

>> YEAH, BUT WE SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT THIS IS, I THINK, THE ARGUMENT WAS THAT TEXAS WAS TOO BIG OF A DEAL FOR TEXAS TO CHANGE EVERYTHING AROUND COME THE ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR, BUT THIS COULD COME BACK TO THE SUPREME COURT, COULD IT NOT?

>> WELL, YEAH, BUT THE ELECTION WILL ALREADY BE RESOLVED.

>> INDEED, INDEED.

>> YEAH, BUT STILL THE ACTUAL CASE COULD COME BACK AND COULD THAT CASE AND COULD THIS AFFECT WHAT CALIFORNIA IS TRYING TO DO NOW AND OTHER STATES ARE TRYING TO DO?

>> WELL, IT COULD.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL THOUGH BECAUSE IN THE FIVE PARAGRAPH ORDER STAYING THE DISTRICT COURT'S JUDGMENT AND ALLOWING THE GERRYMANDERED REDISTRICTING PLAN TO GO FORWARD, THE COURT SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A PURELY POLITICAL GERRYMANDER, THAT'S OKAY.

WE DON'T EVEN NEED TO REVIEW THAT, IN FACT, WE CAN'T REVIEW THAT UNDER A CASE CALLED GRUSHO VERSUS COMMON CAUSE DECIDED BY THE COURT IN 2019.

>> INTERESTING.

WHAT THE COURT HEARD THIS WEEK THE PRESIDENT WANTING TO FIRE INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

IT SOUNDS FROM A DISTANCE HERE FROM, ALL HERE IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA, IT SOUNDS LIKE A BIG EXPANSION OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER.

>> IT IS A BIG EXPANSION OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER AND IT'S UNPRECEDENTED.

PRESIDENTS HAVE NEVER HAD THAT POWER.

IT'S GOING TO BE REVERSING AN OPINION THAT'S 90 YEARS OLD AND IT IS REALLY GOING TO BE DISRUPTIVE TO THE NATION BECAUSE THEN EVERY PRESIDENT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIRE EVERYBODY AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WHOLE NEW FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH EVERY ELECTION ARGUABLY, AND IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DISRUPTIVE TO BE SURE.

AND IT POLITICIZES EVERYTHING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DO WE REALLY WANT POLITICIANS TO DECIDE THE SAFETY OF OUR MEDICINES AND FOOD?

I DON'T THINK SO.

>> Ted: AND YET, THIS INVOLVES THE FTC AND YET, IT SOUNDS AS THEY THEY DOESN'T WANT THIS TO ALSO INVOLVE THE FED BECAUSE THAT'S GOING MAYBE A LITTLE TOO-- IF IT'S GOING TOO FAR, WHAT KIND OF ARGUMENT WOULD YOU HAVE FOR OTHER AGENCIES?

>> WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT, THE FED OR THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION?

I THINK THEY'RE EQUALLY BOTH IMPORTANT AND I THINK THAT BOTH OF THEM SHOULD NOT BE POLITICIZED BY THE COMINGS AND GOINGS OF PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS.

>> Ted: YET, THE COURT WILL PROBABLY RULE?

>> THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS THE RIGHT TO DO THAT.

>> Ted: IT SOUNDS BY THE ARGUMENTS THAT THEY WERE AMENABLE TO THAT.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE 6-3 AGAIN.

>> Ted: ALL RIGHT.

STEPHEN MONTOYA AGAIN, LOTS OF STUFF GOING ON IN THE SUPREME COURT.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE VALLEY ARE OUT WITH A NEW REPORT ON THE ORGANIZATION'S IMPACT ON YOUTH AND WORKING FAMILIES.

THE REPORT FIND AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT CLUB TEENS GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AT HIGHER THAN AVERAGE RATES.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME MARCIA MINTZ, PRESIDENT OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE VALLEY.

THANKS JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: THE REPORT WAS A SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS ON EVERYTHING IN THE VALLEY?

>> YEAH, SO EVERY TWO, THREE YEARS WE WORK WITH A RESEARCH INSTITUTE TO REALLY ASK THE QUESTION AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IS OUR IMPACT?

ARE WE MOVING THE NEEDLE AND WHAT IMPACT ON THE STATE.

>> Ted: WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT?

>> IT'S IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS.

WE LOOKED AT ALL OF OUR FOUR CORE PROGRAMS, TO CUT TO THE CHASE, EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS IN THE VALLEY, 14.79 RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT AND TOTAL TO THE STATE WE'RE CONTRIBUTING ABOUT $400 MILLION TO THE ECONOMY AND ACTUALLY.

>> Ted: YOU MENTIONED FOUR CORE VALUES HERE AND FOUR CORE PROGRAMS, WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?

>> IT'S ABOUT SUCCESS, HEALTHY LIFE STYLES.

>> Ted: AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS, 95% OF CLUB TEENS ARE ESTIMATED TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, A PRETTY GOOD NUMBER.

>> A REALLY GOOD NUMBER.

IN THE DISTRICTS WE SERVE THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE IS ABOUT 85% AND OURS WAS 10% HIGHER.

A $15 MILLION EARNING INCREASE, 10% MORE THAT'S GRADUATING.

>> Ted: INDEED.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

WHAT GOES ON AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS AT THAT GETS THESE KIDS PERHAPS HAVING A FASTER, BETTER TRACK TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL?

>> SO, I THINK THAT PEOPLE FORGET FROM THE HOURS FROM 3:00 TO 7:00 P.M., THOSE ARE THE MOST CRITICAL HOURS FOR YOUTH AND IN FACT, MOST OF OUR CLUB KIDS ARE IN OUR CLUBS 100 MORE HOURS A YEAR THAN THEY ARE FROM K THROUGH 12.

A SAFE PLACE AFTER SCHOOL, THEY HAVE CARING ADULTS, MENTORS, AND HIGH QUALITY EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS 3:00 TO 7:00 P.M.

>> Ted: TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAMS.

>> ACADEMIC SUCCESS, HELP WITH READING, IN FUN WAYS, MAYBE LEARNING MATH IN THE GYM OR DOING SPECIALIZED READING PROGRAMS AND THAT'S AN EASY ONE AND OBVIOUSLY HELPING KIDS GRADUATE AND HIT BENCHMARKS.

>> Ted: AND THE WHOLE CHILD APPROACH PROGRAM, I READ ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

SHARE, PLEASE.

>> SURE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HEALTHY LIFE STYLE, PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE GYM AND BEING PHYSICAL.

OF COARSE, WE DO THAT AND BEING PHYSICAL REDUCING CHILDHOOD OBESITY BY 15%.

WE WERE OPEN DURING COVID AND SAW A SHIFT WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ON MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

>> Ted: DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT HERE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, YOU HAVE SOME PEOPLE IN THERE TO HELP KIDS.

>> WE PARTNERED WITH THEM AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO CHANGE THIS?

WE'RE SERVING OVER 20,000 KIDS A YEAR AND WE PARTNER WITH THEM AND DO THERAPEUTIC-BASED ACTIVITIES.

IT COULD BE ART THERAPY, KIDS DON'T KNOW IT'S ART THERAPY.

EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT.

OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS WE'VE REDUCED OUR INCIDENTS REPORTS, VERBAL ISSUES, BULLYING, BY 54% BECAUSE WE HAVE A LICENSED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THERAPIST THAT WE CALL COACHES, WELLNESS COACHES, IN EACH CLUB AND THE OUTCOMES HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS THE BENEFITS OVERALL, AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT THE REPORT WAS LOOKING AT HERE.

JUST HAVING, I MEAN, KIDS, MORE PRODUCTIVE KIDS, KIDS BETTER ALIGNED WITH THEIR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

>> IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND I WOULD SAY, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW, TWEENS AND TEENS, ALL KIDS ARE NOT OKAY, BUT WHAT'S THE DANGER?

YOU'VE GOT SOCIAL MEDIA, A LOT OF EXTERNAL FORCES REALLY LEADING TO SOME BAD BEHAVIORS AND WHEN THEY'RE IN THE CLUBS, IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE OUTCOMES.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR KIDS ARE HAVING A PATHWAY.

YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THEIR LIFE AND CAREER READINESS, NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO SCHOOL.

WE'LL HELP THEM IF THEY WANT TO, BUT KIDS STARTING AT AGE 14, HAVING A PATHWAY THROUGH OUR PROGRAM.

LAST YEAR, 250 TEENS THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS AND EARNED ALMOST $1 MILLION IN WAGES.

>> Ted: MY GOODNESS.

GREAT NUMBERS.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THE FAMILIES?

WHAT ARE THEY TELLING YOU?

>> WHAT'S INCREDIBLE, WE SERVE 10,000 FAMILIES IN THE VALLEY AND 93% OF THEM SAID BECAUSE THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, THEY'RE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR JOBS.

THAT'S $210 MILLION IMPACT TO OUR ARIZONA ECONOMICS EVERY SINGLE YEAR BECAUSE PARENTS CAN KEEP THEIR JOBS.

>> Ted: LAST QUESTION HERE, AS FAR AS ALIGNING WITH SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS.

ONCE 3:00 HITS YOU DON'T WANT A WHOLE DIFFERENT UNIVERSE FOR THESE KIDS.

HOW DO YOU MAKE THINGS GO SMOOTHLY?

>> WE DO THIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR SCHOOLS.

ARIZONA HAS MANY, MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS SO WE HAVE STAND ALONE CLUBS AND SCHOOLS THAT BUS KIDS TO THE CLUBS AND SOME LOCATED IN THE SCHOOLS SO FOR FAMILIES WHO CAN'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION, WE'RE ON THE SCHOOL CAMPUS OFFERING OUR SERVICES.

>> Ted: CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS, AND GOOD NEWS, AND GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

.

>> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, THE U.S.

SEIZES AN OIL TANKER OFF THE COAST OF VENEZUELA, ESCALATING TENSIONS IN THE REGION COMING UP AT 6:00 ON ARIZONA'S PBS.

>> VALLEY LEADERSHIP AND EDUCATION ADVOCACY GROUP IS TAKING ON ONE OF THE CHALLENGES.

OUR REPORTER ROXANNE DE LA ROSA HAS THE STORY.

>> HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE?

AN ASTRONAUT.

>> VALLEY LEADERSHIP IS TACKLING THE GROWING LITERACY GAP IN A UNIQUE WAY.

THEY ARE SENDING LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY STRAIGHT TO THE CLASSROOMS, VOLUNTEERING FOR ONE OF THE TOUGHEST JOBS AROUND, BEING A TEACHER.

>> TODAY VALLEY LEADERSHIP KAREN QUICK IS COVERING A 6TH GRADE CLASS THAT IRENE LOPEZ ACADEMY OF THE ARTS.

THAT'S PART OF THE SOUTH PHOENIX ROOSEVELT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WHEN I RETIRED, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'M GOING TO KEEP SPENDING MY TIME AND HELPING OUT AND VOLUNTEERING IN THE COMMUNITY.

I SPENT 34 YEARS IN FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING AND I'M A C.P.A.

FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR A GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING COMPANY.

STEWARDSHIP IS MY BIGGEST CORE VALUE.

>> LEADERS LIKE QUICK COME INTO CLASSROOMS AND GIVING TIME TO TRAIN AND A READING PROGRAM THAT'S A STATE REQUIREMENT AND ARMS TEACHERS WITH NEW SKILLS BACKED BY YEARS OF RESEARCH HELPING THEIR STUDENTS READ PROFICIENTLY.

THEY TRAIN TEACHERS IN THE PROGRAM AND HANKING 49TH IN THE COUNTRY FROM FOURTH GRADE READING, TO RANKING 34TH.

>> WE KNOW THAT LITERACY IS A HUGE ISSUE IN THE VALLEY AND THE STATE.

IF KIDS CAN'T READ, THEY CAN'T LEARN.

THEY WENT TO ONE SCHOOL IN THE MESA DISTRICT AND A HUGE SUCCESS.

WE'RE IN 11 SCHOOLS THIS YEAR.

>> HOW DO TEACHERS BENEFIT FROM THE VALLEY LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS?

I SPOKE WITH ONE TEACHER AT THE ROOSEVELT SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO HAD LEADERS COME STRAIGHT INTO THE CLASSROOM.

>> A SECOND GRADE TEACHER AT IRENE LOPEZ AND SHARES WHAT THE PROGRAM MEANS FOR HER AND HER STUDENTS.

>> IT MEANS TO BE ABLE TO GROW MORE IN MY PROFESSION AND ALLOWS ME TO GAIN NEW EXPERIENCES FOR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH AND GIVES ME TIME TO FEEL COMFORTABLE LEADING MY CLASS BECAUSE I HAVE EXPERIENCED TEACHERS WITH MY STUDENTS SO I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.

>> VALLEY LEADERSHIP SENDS VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE LEADERS IN THEIR FIELDS TO SUBSTITUTE FOR CLASS ONCE A MONTH AND FOR TEACHERS LIKE MILES, HAVING THE SAME PERSON COME INTO THE CLASSROOM CONSISTENTLY MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

ACTUALLY, IT'S MORE WORK PREPARING FOR A SUBSTITUTE THAN TO JUST TEACH ON REGULAR DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, BUT BEING ABLE TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT YOU KNOW IS EXPERIENCED IN THE DIFFERENT DYNAMICS THAT YOU'RE DOING IN CLASS AND EXPERIENCES THAT YOU HAVE IN CLASS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE THE MATERIAL THAT YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH, THEM ACTUALLY TEACHING YOUR STUDENTS AND THAT WAY YOU KNOW WHEN YOU COME BACK, THERE'S NO STEPS MISSED SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYTHING IS STILL FLOWING ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH THAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY TEACHES ON.

>> ROSE DEVELOPMENT SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THAT SHE'S GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP.

SHE SAYS THAT VALLEY LEADERSHIP CAME TO HERE ASKING HOW THEY COULD BEST SUPPORT HER TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.

>> SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE ENCOUNTERED AT SCHOOLS, OF COURSE, IS FUNDING.

SO, ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE PROPER STUDENT AND STAFF RATIO, ENSURING THAT WE HAVE TIME FOR OUR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO BE COMPENSATED WHILE THEY'RE GETTING TRAINING IS SOMETHING THAT IS A HUGE CHALLENGE.

SO, WHAT THIS PROGRAM DOES IS THAT IT HELPS US TO CREATE TIME BY ALLOWING US TO NOT HAVE ADDITIONAL COSTS WHILE WE'RE ENSURING THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE GETTING THE SKILLS THAT THEY NEED.

>> HAVING SUBSTITUTES IN THE CLASS WHO COME FROM DIFFERENT WORK BACKGROUNDS IS A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYONE.

>> ONCE THEY'VE BEEN-- HAD THEIR FOOT IN THE CLASSROOM, NOT AS A STUDENT BECAUSE ALL OF US THINK WE KNOW HOW SCHOOLS WORK BECAUSE WE WENT TO SCHOOL, RIGHT?

BUT ONCE THESE LEADERS ARE IN THE CLASSROOMS TEACHING, THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, PERHAPS A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF EMPATHY AND ALSO UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR TEACHERS FACE DAILY AND THAT HELPS THE WHOLE FIELD TO IMPROVE AS THEY'RE SHARING THEIR STORIES IN THE DIFFERENT SECTORS THAT THEY LEAD IN.

>> AND LEADERS LIKE QUICK WANT TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION WHILE USING THEIR EXPERTISE TO HELP GUIDE YOUNG MINDS.

>> WHEN ASKED IF SHE'D COME TO VOLUNTEER AGAIN.

>> MOST DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, FOUR DAYS IS NOT A HUGE COMMITMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR AND TO BE ABLE TO HELP TEACHERS WHO ARE CHALLENGED TO GET THE EDUCATION THAT THEY NEED TO HELP KIDS WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE IN THE CLASSROOM, ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP IS WORTH MY TIME.

>> ROXANNE DELA ROSA REPORTING FOR ARIZONA HORIZON.

.

>> Ted: THE PHOENIX GAY MEN'S CHORUS IS SET TO PRESENT THEIR HOLIDAY PERFORMANCE TITLED LET YOUR SPIRIT SPARKLE.

AT THE ORPHEIUM SCHEDULED OR DECEMBER 13TH AT 9 P.M.

AND DECEMBER 14TH AT 2 P.M.

WE'RE JOINED BY ANTHONY LOZANO, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

>> I'M LETTING MY SPIRIT SPARKLE TODAY.

>> Ted: THAT'S PART OF THE DEAL.

>> WHAT'S A SHOW WITHOUT A COSTUME, RIGHT.

>> Ted: OKAY.

SO, THIS IS MADE FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, ANYONE WHO LOVES A LITTLE SPARKLE?

>> IT IS A HEARTWARMING SHOW.

IT'S A SHOW ABOUT OUR PAST AND OUR PRESENT AND THE TRADITIONS THAT WE TAKE ON FOR OUR FAMILIES BECAUSE WE HAVE FAMILIES AND YOU KNOW, WE JUST LOVE WHAT WE DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Ted: I'M HEARING GLITTERING BALLADS AND SHOW STOPPING SURPRISES.

>> THERE'S A HIPPO IN THE SHOW, A BIG PURPLE HIPPO.

>> Ted: I GOT YOU.

>> LITERALLY.

>> Ted: IF YOU'RE A PURPLE HIPPO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPARKLE.

>> NOT AS MUCH, ABSOLUTELY.

>> Ted: AND BASICALLY, THIS IS, AS THEY SAY, A SHOW CHORUS.

>> IT IS A SHOW CHORUS.

SO WE HAVE A DANCE TROUPE AND THEY DO INCREDIBLE CHOREOGRAPHY, AND CHORALOGRAPHERY.

>> WE HAVE 133 FINGERS AND THEY ALL MOVE IN PERFECT SEQUENCE.

>> Ted: THAT'S THE BIG CHORUS THERE.

>> YES.

>> Ted: YOU HAVE A SMALLER CHORUS.

>> WE DO.

>> Ted: WE HAVE SOME VIDEO OF THE SMALLER, FROM LAST YEAR'S CHRISTMAS SHOW.

>> KENNY NICHOLS.

>> Ted: LET'S SHOW THAT FROM LAST YEAR.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ MERRY CHRISTMAS ♪ >> I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, AND ANTONIO WHEN YOU HAVE SINGING LIKE THAT, THAT'S GREAT STUFF.

>> THIS GROUP IS TALENTED SINGERS AND OUR YOUNGEST IS 22 AND OUR OLDEST IS LIKE 88.

>> Ted: HOLY SMOKES.

>> AND WE-- WHEN I TOOK OVER THIS CHORUS THERE WERE 73 OF US AND STARTED 35 YEARS AGO WITH 16 AND NOW UP TO 133 SINGERS.

>> Ted: IS THERE A WAY TO -- I MEAN, IF YOU WANT TO GROW, IF A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE GROW OR AUDITION OR MAKE CUTS?

>> WE HAVE NO CAP.

OUR ORGANIZATION BELIEVES EVERYONE IS WELCOME IN THE PHOENIX GAY MEN'S CHORUS.

>> Ted: THE HISTORY, IT STARTED AS A RECITAL CHOIR.

HOW DOES IS THAT WORK?

>> THEY GOT TOGETHER AND DECIDED TO BUILD A CHOIR AND 16 VOICES STARTED SINGING AND TOOK A PERFORMANCE WHEREVER THEY COULD GO.

>> Ted: HOW MANY PERFORMANCES DID THEY HAVE?

>> PROBABLY ABOUT THREE, FOUR, TRADITIONALLY WHAT WE DO EVERY YEAR WITH OUR CHORUSES THAT WE HAVE, AND THEN FROM THERE, IT JUST TOOK OFF AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SACRIFICED THEIR TIME AND MONEY TO MAKE THIS ORGANIZATION GO.

>> Ted: AND WE SHOULD MENTION THE PHOENIX GAY MEN'S CHORUS IS BRINGING ATTENTION TO THE QUEER COMMUNITY.

>> CORRECT, CORRECT.

>> Ted: EXPLAIN THAT.

>> WE'RE A PILLAR OF STRENGTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ALL COME FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE AND WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WE ARE A SYMBOL OF WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS AND WE STAND FOR STRENGTH, DIGNITY, AND TRADITION.

>> Ted: HOW DO YOU DO THAT BY WAY OF ART?

HOW DO YOU GET THAT-- WITHOUT PREACHING AND INSTRUCTOR, BUT SINGING AND DANCING, HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

>> EVERY SONG HAS A STORY AND A MEANING.

I MEAN, THERE -- MUSIC IS THE MOST POWERFUL THING IN THE WORLD BECAUSE MUSIC CAN MOVE SOMEBODY'S SOUL AND SPIRIT SITTING IN THAT SEAT AND WE USE THAT TO GET OUR MESSAGE ACROSS, ESPECIALLY ABOUT STRENGTH AND BELONGING.

>> Ted: THE CURRENT CLIMATE OUT THERE, A LITTLE ROUGH THESE DAYS.

HOW IS THE CHORUS TAKING IT?

>> WE TAKE IT DAY BY DAY, BUT ONE THING WE WILL NEVER DO IS GIVE UP.

WE WILL ALWAYS, ALWAYS SING OUR SONGS, OKAY, AND STAND FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.

>> Ted: YEAH.

>> AND BOTTOM LINE, WE DESERVE TO BE HERE.

>> Ted: THE TWO SHOWS, THE 13TH 9 P.M.

DECEMBER 14 P.M.

>> 7 P.M.

AND SUNDAY THE 14TH, 2 P.M.

>> Ted: IF THOSE WHO ARE WORRIED, I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD SEND MY KIDS TO THESE THINGS?

WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM?

>> PLEASE COME, IT HEART WARMING, IT'S OUR STORY ABOUT FAMILY.

WE BELIEVE IN FAMILY AND THAT'S WHAT OUR, OH, I CAN'T THINK OF THE WORDS.

THAT'S JUST WHAT WE -- THAT'S WHO WE ARE, IT'S A COMMUNITY OF FAMILIES, OUR CHOSEN FAMILY FOR SOME AND SOME OF IT THE ONLY FAMILY WE HAVE.

>> Ted: YEAH, WELL, GOOD LUCK ON THE PERFORMANCES THIS WEEKEND AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: APPRECIATE IT.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW, I'M TED SIMONS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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