>>> COMING UP, STORIES WE'RE CONNECTING WITH YOU TONIGHT.

WE PAY A VISIT TO A BELOVED BERKSHIRES GARDEN THAT'S BEEN CALLED A HUMAN OF LIVING THINGS.

>> WE'RE REALLY A COLLECTION OF PLANTS, SO PEOPLE LOOK AT HOW MANY SPECIES THERE ARE AND HOW MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLANTS.

WE FEATURE.

>> "READ OR ELSE," IT'S THE BATTLE CRY OF A LOCAL AUTHOR WHO CHAMPIONS LITERACY.

>> MY BOOKS HAVE BEEN ADAPTED TO PLAYS AND MUSICALS.

THAT'S NOT HAPPENING IN THE BRONX, BUT THAT MAGIC CAN HAPPEN HERE BECAUSE IT'S A MAGICAL PLACE.

>> AND DID YOU GET A CHANCE TO SEE THE SUN VIDS?

NO WORRIES IF YOU DIDN'T.

WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.

>> HIS CAMERAS ARE SET.

AND HIS DRONE IS READY.

>> THIS KIND OF LIGHT LASTS FOR, IF YOU'RE LUCKY, 15 MINUTES.

>> WE'LL BRING YOU THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVE, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON CPR.

ON "CONNECTING POINT."

>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

¶ ¶ ¶ >>> GOOD EVENING.

AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

I'M SILD.

ESTABLISHED IN 1934, THE BERKSHIRE BOTANICAL GARDEN IS REVERED AS ONE OF THE OLDER PUBLIC DISPLAY GARDENS IN THE NORTHEAST.

WITH OVER 3,000 SPECIES AND VARIETIES IN ITS COLLECTION, IT'S REFERRED TO AS A MUSEUM OF LIVING THINGS AND A SHOWCASE OF HORTI CALL TOUR AND GARDEN DESIGN.

IT ENCOMPASSES 24 ACRES OF LAND AT 102 AND 180 IN BEAUTIFUL AND HISTORIC STOCK BRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

AND PRODUCER DAVE FRASER VISITED THE GARDEN AND SPOKE WITH ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO FIND OUT WHAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL FOR SO MANY.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> WE LOOK AT OURSELVES AS A MUSEUM OF LIVING THINGS.

SO WE'RE NOT A PARK.

WE'RE NOT JUST A PLEASURE GARDEN, BUT WE'LL -- WE'RE REALLY A COLLECTION OF SPANTS -- PLANT, SO PEOPLE LOOKING AT HOW MANY SPECIES THERE ARE AND BOTANICAL GARDENS SORT OF WORK TOGETHER THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THROUGHOUT THE REGION, IN COMMUNICATING WITH ONE OTHER AND EXCHANGING PLANTS SOMETIMES AND EXCHANGING SCIENCE BEHIND PLANTS AS WELL.

¶ ¶ >> FOUNDED IN 1934, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY A COLLECTION OF LOCAL GARDEN CLUBS AND CIVIC ORGANIZATION THAT IS GOT TOGETHER AND SAID, OVER, THE BERKSHIRES REALLY HAVE A BOTANICAL GARDEN.

SO THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL GIFT OF LAND HERE THAT PEOPLE STARTED CULTIVATING IN 1935 T. WARRIORS CAME SHORTLY THEREAFTER AND REALLY PUT US A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE MAP, BECAUSE THE BOTANICAL GARDENS STARTED FOCUSING ON SELF-SUFFICIENCY BECAUSE THAT WAS SUCH A BIG DEEM DURING THE WAR YEARS.

AND WE BECAME WELL NOPE FOR TEACHING PEOPLE ABOUT GROWING YOUR OWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

WE HAD TRIAL AND VEGETABLES PLOTS AND WHAT BECAME KNOWN AS VICTORY GARDENS, OF GROWING YOUR OWN PRODUCE, WAS VERY MUCH SOMETHING THAT THE BOTANICAL GUARDP WAS TEACHING THE LOCAL POPULATION.

WE ARE LOCATED IN STOCKBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, SO IN THE HEART OF THE BERKSHIRES.

WE'RE ABOUT 24 ACRES OF GARDENS AND WILD AREAS.

OUR MAIN SEASON IS FROM MAY 1 THROUGH COLUMBUS DAY WEEKEND AND THAT COINCIDES WITH THE GROWING SEASON, SO THERE'S NOT MUCH GROWING IN THE OFFSEASON, BUT WE'RE VERY MUCH OPEN YEAR ROUND.

WE HAVE CLASSES YEAR ROUND.

SO PEOPLE COME VISIT US EVEN IN THE MIDST OF WINTER AND THE GARDENS ARE QUITE BEAUTIFUL IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF FOUR SEASON INTEREST.

THERE ARE EVERGREEN TREES AND SHRUBS SO THEY'LL PROVIDE THE STRUCTURE IN DISWIERNT YOU HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL SNOW SCENE DEVELOPING.

SO IT'S ALMOST AS BEAUTIFUL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON AS IT IS NOW.

IT'S A REALLY GREAT COLLECTION OF DIFFERENT SCALED GARDEN ROOMS I WOULD SAY.

AND PEOPLE REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT HUGE.

WE'RE NOT A HUGE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN OR TOWER HILL.

SO IF THE SCALE IS MANAGEABLE AND YOU COME HERE AS A GARDEN LOVER OR A GARDENER YOURSELF AND YOU CAN FIND THINGS THAT FIT THE SCALE OF A HOME GARDEN.

IN A NORMAL YEAR, YOU REALLY GO FROM TOWN TO TOWN HERE IN THE BERKSHIRES AND YOU CAN REALLY SPEND DAYS AND DAYS JUST TOURING THE COUNTY AND IT'S CERTAINLY WHAT ATTRACTED ME TO THIS AREA INITIALLY AND ORIGINALLY, AND WHEN I SPEAK TO NEWCOMBERS TO THE AREA AND WE'VE HAD QUITE A FEW AS THE RESULT OF COVID AS WELL, YOU WILL HEAR THAT A LOT.

IT'S SORT OF WHAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.

EVEN COMING FROM A BIG METROPOLIS LIKE NEW YORK OR BOSTON, PEOPLE ARE TAKEN BY THE QUALITY AND THE QUANTITY OF WHAT WE OFFER HERE.

¶ ¶ >>> EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIST, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

AND DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN ALWAYS INTERACT WITH US VIA OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS.

WE'RE ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND TWITTER.

"CONNECTING POINT" IS YOUR HOME ON THE WEB FOR EXPLORING THE BEST IN CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

GRAB YOUR LAPTOP, TABLET, OR MOBILE DEVICE AND CONNECT US RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> THE BERKSHIRE COUNTY CITY OF PITTSFIELD IS HOST TO A DAZZLING ARRAY OF CREATIVES, INCLUDING ARTISTS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND INTERESTING PEOPLE OF ALL STRIPES.

ONE SUCH PERSON IS ACCLAIMED CHILDREN'S AUTHOR, LITERACY ACVO KATE, AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER TY ALAN JACKSON.

THROUGH HIS BOOKS LIKE "THE SUPADUPA KID."

AND THE "READ OR ELSE" MOVEMENT THAT HE COFOUNDED, HE'S LONG CHAMPIONED READING FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALIKE.

A NATIVE OF THE BRONX, TY SAT DOWN WITH ME TO DISCUSS HIS WORK, HIS PASSION FOR READING, AND WHY HE CHOOSES TO CALLED PITTSFIELD HOME.

>> WELL, IT ALL STARTED FROM A QUESTION AT THE TIME MY EIGHT-YEAR-OLD SON.

HE SAID DAD CAN WE HOPE UP A LEMONADE STAND.

AND WE DO ON DEXTER AND ELM STREET AND HE MADE $50 IN THREE HOURS, SELLING LEMONADE, WHICH TOTALLY BLEW MY MIND.

HE SAID DAD WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH ALL THIS MONEY.

I WENT TO THE LIBRARY TO TEACH HIM ABOUT FINANCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

BECAUSE HE WAS NOW AN ENTREPRENEUR.

I NOTICED THERE WERE FOE FEW BOOKS FEATURING CHILDREN OF COLORADO IN A POSITIVE WAY AND THERE WERE SO FEW BOOKS TEACHING FINANCIAL LITERACY.

SO THOSE TWO THINGS COMBINED TO DANNY AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

>> DANNY IS CLEARLY AN EXTENSION OF YOUR SON AND THE CHARACTER FROM BORN FROM HIS EXPERIENCE.

HOW IMPORTANT IS REPRESENTATION IN BOOKS FOR CHILDREN OF COLOR?

>> IT'S INCREDIBLY VITAL THAT CHILDREN SEE THEMSELVES DEPICTED ESPECIALLY THIS POSITIVE AND CONTEMPORARY WAYS.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF BOOKS WITH UNDERGROUND RAILROADS AND SEGREGATION, BUT IT'S ALSO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR WHITE CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT EXACT SAME FIGURE IN CHILDREN OF COLOR.

SO IT REALLY MAKES A TREMENDOUS DIRCHTION IN THE EYES -- DIFFERENCE IN THE EYES OF ALL CHILDREN, BUT SPECIFICALLY CHILDREN OF COLOR, BECAUSE IT GIVES THEM A LEVEL OF PRIDE THAT I DON'T THINK EXISTS IN ANY OTHER FORM.

>> NOW, DANNY DOLLAR CAME ABOUT FROM THE VERY REAL NEED FOR YOU TO EDUCATE YOUR SON ON FINANCE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT.

WHAT OTHER KINDS OF STORIES DO YOU LIKE TO TELL AND WHAT THEMES REALLY RESONATE WITH YOU?

>> I WANTED CHILDREN WHO READ THESE BOOKS JUST TO FEEL LIKE THEY SEE THEMSELVES EXHIBITED -- EXHIBITED -- DEPICTED IN THEM REGARDLESS OF RACE OR GENDER.

THAT'S WHY MY STORIES ARE VERY BROAD.

THEY'RE ALWAYS FUN.

TWO OF MY BOOKS ARE ABOUT SUPERHEROES AND THINK WHAT WHAT THEY STAND FOR.

NOBILITY, EARN COLONEL, AND HONOR, AND STRENGTH AND WISDOM.

AND TAKING CARE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.

THOSE ARE ATTRIBUTES WE ALL WANT TO HAVE AND SEE WITHIN OUR CHILDREN.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THAT NOT TO BE COMPARTMENTALIZED TO JUST ONE SPECIFIC GROUP OF -- JUST LITTLE BLACK BOY.

IT SHOULD BE FOR ALL CHILDREN.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT NOT TO STEREOTYPE MY CHARACTERS.

THEY'RE JUST -- YOU KNOW, I AMAZING CHILDREN HO HAPPEN TO BE BLACK.

>> JUST AS YOU MENTIONED YOU SAID THAT COMIC BOOKS HAVE BEEN VERY INSPIRING FOR YOU AND IT'S OFTEN ONE OF THE FIRES MEDIASES THAT CHILDREN -- HUMANS THAT -- MEDIUMS THAT CHILDREN EXPLORE.

WHAT REALLY SPEAKS TO YOU AND WHAT ATTRIBUTES TO YOU EN -- DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT THE BOOKS?

>> IT'S A SENSE OF ADVENTURE.

A SENSE OF SEEING WHAT YOU'D LIKE FOR YOURSELF TO BE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SEE A BATMAN OR A SUPERMAN WHO'S COURAGEOUS AND STRONG AND SMART AND YOU KNOW, JUST REALLY WANTS TO HELP THEIR FELLOW PERSON, WHO DOESN'T WANT THAT?

WHO DOESN'T WANT TO BE A PART OF MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE?

SO YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE ASPECTS OF SUPERHEROES.

I THINK THE OTHER PART IS MOST ARE ALL FLAWED AND I THINK THERE'S -- THERE'S GENIUS IN BEING ABLE TO SEE THESE REALLY STRONG-WILLED PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SAVE THE WORLD BUT THEY'RE ALSO KIND OF JUST LIKE US.

THEY -- I KNOW, THEY BRUSH THEIR TEETH AND YOU KNOW, THEY -- HAVE ISSUES AND PROBLEMS THE SAME WAY THAT WE HAVE.

AND IT MAKES A BOND AND A CONDUIT FROM READER TO CHARACTER TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES DEPICTED.

>> SO BEING ATTRACTED TO THOSE FLAWED CHARACTERS IN THE COMIC BOOKS, DO YOU TRY TO PUT THOSE CHARACTERISTICS IN YOUR OWN BOOKS WITH YOUR CHARACTERS?

>> OH, 100%.

AND IT'S NOT JUST BEING FLAWED.

IT'S JUST KIND OF NORMALIZED.

I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO SEE THOSE SAME TYPE OF BASIC NORMAL FLAWED CHARACTERISTICS THAT WE ALL HAVE.

AND POSSESS AND HOW WE OVERCOME THEM.

AND HOW WE CAN MAYBE EVEN USE THEM AS ASSETS TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

SO FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION AND SAY, WOW, THAT CHARACTER IS JUST LIKE ME AND NOT JUST THE WAYS THAT LOOK LIKE ME BUT IN THE WAYS THAT MAKE ME ME.

>> HOW DID THE "READ OR ELSE" MOVEMENT COME ABOUT AND WHY USE SUCH A SERIOUS AND DRAMATIC STATEMENT?

>> BECAUSE IT IS SERIOUS AND DRAMATIC.

THE IMPORTANCE AND POWER OF LITERACY IS I THINK IN MY OPINION ONE OF THE UNSPOKEN BUT MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF OUR LIFE AND CULTURE.

THEY DRAMATICALLY IMPACT ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT AILS OUR COUNTRY, FROM POVERTY AND MASS INCARCERATION TO TEEN PREGNANCY, POOR HEALTH, UNEMPLOYMENT.

YOU NAME IT, IT'S DIRECTLY, NOT INDIRECTLY, BUT CONNECTED TO LITERACY.

TWO OUT OF THREE CHILDREN WHO CANNOT READ EFFICIENTLY IN THIRD RACE ABOUT END UP INCARCERATED.

IF OUR KIDS RANT READ PROFICIENCY BY THE FOURTH GREAT, THE MAJORITY WILL END UP INCARCERATED.

JUST THAT PREMISE ALONE CREATED THE "READ OR ELSE" MOVEMENT AND IT'S BEEN PHENOMENAL HOW THE WORLD HAS EMBRACED THAT POWERFUL STATEMENT.

>> LITERACY IS MORE THAN JUST A VOCATION FOR YOU AS YOU WERE JUST SPEAKING ABOUT, THE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS.

IT'S A PASSION OF YOURS.

WHAT FUELS THAT PASSION FOR YOU?

>> I THINK IT'S MAYBE NO DIFFERENT THAN THE WHOLE SUPERHERO ASPENALTY OF WANT -- ASPECT OF WANTING TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

LEAVING THIS PLACE WHEN MY TIME COMES A LITTLE BETTER THAN WHEN I WAS HERE.

WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO THAT IS TO IMPACT AND EMPOWER OUR CHILDREN, OUR MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS.

>> BEING A CHILD FOR EVERYONE CAN BE REALLY DIFFICULT, CONFUSING AND HARD.

HOW DO BOOKS HELP NAVIGATE THE CHILD MUD?

>> BIKES -- CHILDHOOD?

>> BOOKS BRING AN UNBRIDLE PASSION YOU CAN'T CARE ANYWHERE.

STEPHEN KING CALLS BOOKS PORTABLE PIECES OF MAGIC.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE AND THAT MAGIC TRANSFERS THERE BOOK TO READER WITH EVERY PAGE.

AND I THINK IT'S -- IT'S THE FOUNDATION OF -- OF MAKING YOUR SOUL EVEN MORE MA'AM CAL THAN IT -- MAGICAL THAN IT ALREADY IS.

¶ ¶ .

>>> IF YOU'RE UP EARLY ENOUGH TO CATCH THE SUNRISE, AND THE CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT, YOU MAY BE TREATED TO A SHOWCASE OF AMAZING COLORS IN THE SKY.

LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER JAMIE MALCOLM-BROWN CAPTURES SCENES LIKE THIS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND, RERNS EARNING HIMSELF A REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE BEST LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHERS IN THE REGION.

COUNTRY'S -- "CONNECTING POINT'S" ROSS LIPPMAN MET MALCOLM-BROWN ON AN EARLY MORNING WHERE THE SUNRISE AND MALCOLM-BROWN'S FOLTZ DIDN'T DISAPPOINT.

>> IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS WHEN MOST OF US ARE STILL ASLEEP, JAMIE MALCOLM-BROWN IS AWAKE.

>> GETTING PRETTY CLOSE.

>> AND WAITING.

>> YEAH.

NICE.

>> FOR SIGNS IN THE SKY.

>> WE'RE GETTING SOME REALLY NICE COLOR THROUGH THE TREES, TOO.

>> MAL CONPROGRAM IS A -- MALCOLM-BROWN IS A LAND SCAP AND AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHER.

HIS CAMERAS ARE SET AND HIS DRONE -- IS READY.

>> THIS KIND OF LIGHT LASTS, IF YOU'RE LUCKY, 15 MINUTES.

>> SOON THESE FAINT HINTS OF PINKS, REDS, AND PURPLES WILL BURST WITH COLOR.

AND THAT'S WHEN MALCOLM-BROWN TAKES FLIGHT.

>> OH, YEAH.

THIS IS A NICE SKY.

WE LUCKED OUT.

>> CAPTURING A SUNRISE LIKE THIS, WITH SO MUCH COLOR AND BRILLIANCE, IS WHAT MAL CONBROWN DESCRIBES AS -- MALCOLM-BROWN DESCRIBES AS AN INEXACT SCIENCE.

>> AS MUCH TIME ACE SPENT LOOKING AT THE WEATHER MAPS, I GET DUD AFTER DUD BECAUSE ALL IT TAKES IS ONE LOW CLOUD ON THE HORIZON TO KILL EVERYTHING.

>> THOUGH THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT ONE OF THOSE DAYS, IT'S THE KIND WHERE A PICTURE IS WORTH AT LEAST A THOUSAND WORDS.

>> I ALWAYS LOVED LIKE THE IDEA OF PHOTOGRAPHY, LIKE GROWING UP.

MY FAMILY HAD THE OLD BIG GIANT VHS CAMERA.

THEY HAD IT ON THEIR SHOULDER AND I WAS ALWAYS USING THAT AT FAMILY PARTIES AND STUFF.

>> HIS CHILDHOOD PASSION AS GROWN INTO MALCOLM-BROWN BEING ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN PHOTOGRAPHERS IN NEW ENGLAND, BASELED IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS, LIVING IN SHREWSBURY.

ON SOCIAL MEDIA HIS WORK IS SHARED BY THOUSANDS OF FOLLOWERS.

THE TAGLINE FOR HIS POSTS, A REFLECTION OF HIS PHILOSOPHY.

GET OUT AND EXPLORE HOWEVER YOU CAN.

>> PRIMARILY IT'S THE LOVE OF BEING OUTSIDE.

LIKE I JUST -- I LOVE TO BE OUT EXPLORING NEW PLACES.

I LIKE THAT DRAMA OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T NORMALLY SEE.

BECAUSE THEY'RE ASLEEP.

>> FROM SUNRISES AND SUNSETS TO CAPTURING THE MILKY WAY IN THE NIGHT SKY, MALCOLM-BROWN USES HIS PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY TO FUEL THOSE DAYS HE GETS LITTLE SLEEP.

>> 0 MONDAY -- ON MONDAYES I'M WORKING FULL TIME, HOME-SCHOOLING, AND TRYING TO MANAGE MY SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE HOW PHOTOGRAPHERS GET THEIRWORK OUT.

AND IT'S -- SOME DAYS I JUST CAN'T DO IT.

AND IT'S DIFFICULT.

BUT IT'S THE NEXT MORNING THAT EXCITES ME.

THE NEXT MORNING THAT I CAN GET OUT FOR A COUPLE HOURS AND HOPEFULLY CAPTURE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.

>> HE'S AS EXPLORING NEW -- HE'S ALSO EXPLORING NEW WAYS TO CAPTURE THAT BEAUT AT GUNBRUISE FALLS JUST DOWN THE ROUND.

HE'S -- ROAD.

HE'S TESTING OUT HIS NEW SLIDER.

IT'S A DEVICE THAT HE'LL PROGRAM TO MOVE HIS CAMERA LITTLE BY LITTLE, CAPTURING ONE FRAME AT A TIME.

IT'S HUNDREDS IN TOTAL, THAT WHEN PUT TOGETHER, GIVES YOU A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.

>> LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY IS REALLY JUST THE ACT OF BEING OUT IN THE LANDSCAPE AND CAPTURING AN IMAGE.

BUT I USE NEW TOOLS FOR THAT.

SO LIKE THE DRONE GIVES YOU A NEW PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU CAN'T GET OTHERWISE.

AND THEN THE SLIDER THAT I'M USING, IT CAN SHOW MOVEMENT AND TIME IN A WAY THAT THE HUMAN EYE CAN'T SEE.

>> MALCOLM-BROWN'S GOAL IS FOR PHOTOGRAPHY TO BECOME HIS FULL-TIME JOB IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

THOUGH HE DOESN'T THINK IT WILL HAPPEN SIMPLY BY SELLING HIS WORK.

INSTEAD, IT WILL BE THROUGH SHARING HIS KNOWLEDGE WITH OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS.

>> I THINK MAKING THIS A LIVING IS GONNA DEPEND ON ME FINDING A WAY TO TEACH OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS HOW TO DO THINGS.

SO DOING MORE WORKSHOPS, WRITING EBOOKS, AND DOING TUTORIALS.

LIKE THAT'S THE WAY I THINK THAT MOST LAND SAFE PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE MAKING MONEY.

>> -- LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE MAKING MONEY.

>> UNTIL THEN HE MAKES ENOUGH MONEY THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY TO KEEP BUYING NEW EQUIPMENT AND PAY FOR HIS TRAVEL.

SO THERE'S STILL NO PUTTING A PRICE ON SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES HE'S HAD, INCLUDING HERE IN WESTERN MASS.

>> ONE MORNING IS LIKE SUPER FOGGY, SUN CAME UP.

THROUGH THE FOG.

AND ONE TREE IN SOMEBODY'S YARD JUST LOOKED AT AN AMAZING.

THE SUN WAS GLOWING BEHIND IT, I HAD ON THE LONG LENS.

JUST JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR, TOOK SOME SNAPS AND IT'S JUST -- IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE YOU'RE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

LIKE THAT MOMENT WAS JUST EXTRAORDINARY.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS BOASTS A LONG HISTORY OF HOSTING ACCLAIMED POETS AND WRITERS FROM EMILY DICKINSON TO OCEAN VUONG HAVE CALLED THE AREA HOME.

ONE SUCH POET IS FORMER BOSTON TENANT LAWYER TURNED RENOWNED POET MARTIN ESPADA.

A RESIDENT OF THE AREA AND A PROFESSOR AT UMASS AM HERE'S, HE HAS PUBLISHED MORE THAN 20 BOOKS AS A POET, EDITOR, ESSAYIST AND TRANSLATOR.

HIS MOST RECENT COLLECTION IS ENTITLED, "FLOATERS," AND IT INCLUDES POEMS THAT TOUCH ON PERSONAL ACCOUNTS IN SONGS OF LOVE AS WELL AS TACKLING THE DIFFICULT ISSUES OF RACE AND PROTEST.

I SPOKE WITH ESPADA TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS WORK AND THE BOOK.

>> I HAD FOR A LONG TIME LIVED THIS DOUBLE LIFE.

AS POET/LAWYER.

POET ALWAYS CAME FIRST.

AND I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A POSITION OPENED IN THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT AT THE UNT UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST AND I BEGAN TEACHING IN THE FALL OF 1993.

AND I HAVE BEEN THERE EVER SINCE.

NOW, DOES MY LIFE AS A LEGAL SERVICES LAWYER INFLUENCE MY WORK AS A POET?

ABSOLUTELY.

THE COMMON DENOMINATOR IS ADD VOCATION.

-- ADVOCACY.

ADVOCACY, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OTHERS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

I DID THAT AS A LAWYER IN CHELSEA DISTRICT COURT WITH MY CLIENTS WHO CAME FROM PUERTO RICO OR THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC OR SALVADOR OR GUATEMALA.

AND I DO IT AS A POET.

AND I'M DOING IT WITH THIS NEW BOOK CALLED "FLOATERS."

>> YOU HAVE PUBLISHED MORE THAN 20 BOOKS AS A POET, EDITOR, ESSAYIST, TRANSLATOR, AND YOUR CURRENT PUBLICATION IS TITLED "FLOATERS."

WHAT IS THE MEANING BEHIND THE TITLE?

>> THE TITLE COMES FROM A TERM USED BY CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE BORDER PATROL TO DESCRIBE THOSE WHO DROWN CROSSING OVER THE RIVER.

IN PARTICULAR, THE TITLE POEM DEALS WITH A SALVADORIAN FATHER AND DAUGHTER, MIGRANTS, WHO CAME TO BE KNOWN AS OSCAR AND BALANCE RILYA.

THEY DROWNED IN JUNE OF 2018 CROSSING -- 2019 CROSSING THE RIO GRANDE AND A PHOTOGRAPH OF THEIR BODIES WENT VIRAL.

ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER.

IT SPARKED OUTRAGE, SPARKED GRIEF, BUT IT ALSO SPARKED TRUTHERRISM.

AND THERE WAS A POST, AN AN ANONYMOUS POST, ON THE PAGE OF THE BORDER PATROL FACEBOOK GROUP ALLEGING THAT THE PHOTOGRAPH WAS A FAKE.

TRUTHERISM.

AND SO SOME FOAMS BEGIN AN -- POEMS BEGIN AS AN ARGUMENT.

THIS BEGAN AS AN ARGUMENT BOTH WITH THAT FACEBOOK POST ALLEGING THAT THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS A FAKE.

AND AS AN ARGUMENT WITH THE SLUR, THE WORD "FLOATERS."

POETS OF COURSE HAVE TO BE ATTUNED TO LANGUAGE AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS ABUSED IN THE SERVICE OF POWER.

>> NOW, IN A REVIEW OF "FLOATERS" BY THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW, IT SAYS THAT INSTEAD OF BEING OVERWHELMED BY THE DELUSIONAL PATH OF AMERICAN NARRATIVES, YOU FACED UGLY TRUTHS AND REQUIRE READERS TO DO SO, TOO.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT AND IF SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THESE UGLY TRUTHS THAT READERS WILL UNCOVER IN THIS BOOK?

>> THE UGLY TRUTH IS THAT WE DO NOT LIVE UP TO OUR HIGH IDEALS.

THE UGLY TRUTH IS THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY LIVE WITH RACISM NOT AS AN ABSTRACTION OR AS A DEBATABLE POLITICAL PHENOMENON BUT AS A LIVED REALITY.

AND CON -- IN CONCRETE DETERMINES THAT DIMINISH THEM OR EVEN DESTROY THEM.

AND WE SEE THIS IN POEM AFTER POEM, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT, TOO, THAT IT'S NOT REALLY A CATALOG OF VICTIMIZATION.

AND THAT I DO WHATEVER I CAN AS A POET TO CHRONICLE RESISTANCE AS WELL.

>> AND I WANT TO ALSO NOTE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL THROUGH YOUR POETRY, RESPONDING TO MANY OF THE POLICIES AND CONTROVERSIES OF THE FORMER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

AND ONE OF YOUR POEMS TITLED, "NOT FOR HIM, THE FIERY LAKE OF THE FALSE PROPHET," TOUCHES ON A IT HATE CRIME THAT OCCURRED IN MASSACHUSETTS SHORTLY AFTER FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCED HIS RUN FOR OFFICE.

WITH A NEW ADMINISTRATION IN OFFICE AND A NATIONAL RECKONING ON RACIAL JUSTICE, WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SEE?

>> I HOPE TO SEE SOMETHING BETTER.

I HOPE TO SEE THE RHETORIC MATCH THE REALITY.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE MANY PROGRESSIVE INITIATIVES PUT FORWARD NOW BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S CERTAINLY A BIG STEP FORWARD FROM THE MONSTROSITY THAT PRESECONDED -- PRECEDED IT, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND YES, DONALD TRUMP, EVEN IN THE SPEECH WHERE HE ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY, CALLED MEXICAN MIGRANTS CRIMINALS AND RAPISTS AND THAT WAS THE -- IN TERN THE CATALYST FOR THE HATE CRIME COMMUNITY IN BOSTON BY TWO BROTHERS FROM SOUTH BOSTON AGAINST A HOMELESS MEXICAN IMMIGRANT SLEEPING OUTSIDE A STATION ON THE RED LINE.

AS FAR AS THE PRESENT DAY IS CONCERNED, IF ONE -- ONE AREA WHERE I THINK WE'RE STILL SEEING A GLARING CONTRADICTION IS IN TERMS OF OUR TREATMENT OF MIGRANTS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

THERE IS A CONTINUATION OF TRUMP POLICIES RATHER THAN A CONTRADICTION OF TRUMP POLICIES IN CERTAIN AREAS, PARTICULARLY THE FAILURE TO LIFT THE PROHIBITIONS OF TITLE 42, THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY MEASURE, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY SHUTTING DOWN MIGRATION AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER BUT ESPECIALLY APPLICATION FOR ASYLUM AND ASYLUM OF COURSE IS A HUMAN RIGHT.

>> YOU DESCRIBE YOUR COLLECTION AS REFLECTING ON THE PRESENT IN THE LIGHT OF THE PAST.

IN DOING SO, DO YOU SEE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OR DO YOU TAKE MORE OF A PESSIMISTIC OUTLOOK ON LOOKING AHEAD?

>> DO I SEE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE?

CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVE.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN GET INTO DESPAIR.

I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK IN THE COLLECTIVE MIRROR AND ASK OURSELVES ONE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION.

WHO ARE WE?

WHO ARE WE AS A NATION?

WHO ARE WE AS A COMMUNITY?

WHO ARE WE AS INDIVIDUALS?

AND CAN WE FIND IT IN OURSELVES TO EXERCISE THAT EMPATHY WHICH GOES HAND IN HAND WITH DEMOCRACY WHEN IT IS TRULY DEMOCRACY?

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW TONIGHT, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" IS PROVIDING BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.