¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A HOLYOKE EATERY THAT'S BAKING COMFORT AND COMMUNITY INTO EVERY BITE.

>> PEOPLE COME IN AND THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE.

IT'S A WARM AND WELCOMING SPACE.

IT'S -- IT FELT LIKE HOME AS SOON AS WE WALKED IN.

>>> A NEW EXHIBIT EXAMINES HOW BLACK CITIZENS CONTINUED THE STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY IN POSTCISM WAR AMERICA.

>> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT FIGHT WAS FOR BLACK AMERICANS TO OVERCOME THOSE JIM CROW LAWS AND HOW MUCH FURTHER WE STILL HAVE TO GO.

>>> AND KNOCK BACK SOME PINS, CANDLEPINS, THAT IS, AT THING A YOU A WAM BOWL.

>> YOU -- AGAWAM BOWL.

>> YOU COULD SCORE 300.

NOBODY IS GOING TO GET THAT.

IT'S THAT DIFFICULT, THAT MUCH OF A CHALLENGE.

>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

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

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

EVERY WE CAN -- WEEK WE EXPLORE ALL THE REGION HAS TO OFFER AND TODAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM SOUTH HADLEY, MASSACHUSETTS.

THE TOWN IS HOME TO A VARIETY OF LOCAL FARMS AND ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS WOMEN'S COLLEGES IN THE COUNTY, MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE.

THE DOWNTOWN FEATURING UNIQUE DINING, SHOPPING, AND EVEN AN INDEPENDENT CINEMA IS THE DESIGNATION FOR -- DESTINATION FOR RESIDENTS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS ALIKE.

BUT OUR FIRST STORY TAKES US JUST A FEW MILES AWAY TO THE STIFF HOLYOKE.

AMID THE PANDEMIC, JANET BLAKE WAS INSPIRED TO OPEN COMFORT BAGEL TO FOSTER CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY DURING A TIME WHEN MANY WERE APART.

THE CONTACT-FREE BAGEL DELIVERY SERVICE GREW IN POPULARITY AND SOON OUTGREW HER HOME KITCHEN.

LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER IT LAUNCHED, COMFORT BAGEL OPENED A STOREFRONT AT OPEN SQUARE IN HOLYOKE AND IT'S BECOME A GO-TO SPOT FOR BAGEL LOVERS IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND BEYOND.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US THEIR STORY.

>> AT 4:00 A.M.

ALMOST ALL THE WINDOWS ARE DARK, BUT THE WARM BLOW FROM COMFORT BEG BAGEL IS INVITING.

>> THAT'S NEXT.

>> THE BAGEL LADY IS HARD AT WORK MIXING DOUGH AND PREPPING BAGELS FOR THE OVEN.

>> THE SEASONA HE.

>> HE'S BEEN DOING THIS SINCE MARCH OF 2020 WHEN THE REGION WAS IN FULL LOCKDOWN DUE TO THE CROARNS.

-- CORONAVIRUS.

THERE WASN'T A GOOD BAGEL TO BE FOUND ANYWHERE ACCORDING TO JANET.

>> SO I STARTED THINK ABOUT WHAT COULD I DO IN MY COMMUNITY, WHAT COULD I DO TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY.

AND I KEPT COMING BACK TO THAT IDEA THAT I LOVED BAGELS AND WHAT THE HECK.

MAYBE I CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THEM.

>> SHE STARTED COMFORT BEG BAGEL FROM HER HOME WITH THE IDEA OF OFFERING CONTACT-ON FRIDAY BAGELS FOUR DAYS A WEEK.

>> I POSTED IN THE WEST SPRINGFIELD COMMUNITY FORUM.

AND I SAID WOULD ANYBODY BE INTERESTED IN BAGELS.

AND BY THE END OF THE DAY, THERE WERE LIKE 300 COMMENTS.

YES, YES, YES.

>> WITH IN DEMAND T LIMITATIONS OF OPERATING OUT AFTER RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN AND THE EASING OF COVID RESTRICTIONS, IT SOON BECAME APPARENT IT WAS TIME TO EXPAND.

IN JULY 2021 COMFORT BAGEL OPENED ITS DOORS AT OPEN SQUARE, THE FIRST DAY A MEMORABLE ONE FOR JANET.

>> WE HAD A SIGN HANGING UP THERE THAT SAID, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE'RE DOING, PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH US!

[LAUGHTER] WE WERE SO OVERWHELMED.

IT WAS CRAZY.

BUT WE MADE IT THROUGH.

>> THE SHOP OPERATES ON A THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY SCHEDULE.

BUT HOPES TO EXPAND.

ON THE DAY WE VISITED, JANET AND THE BACK AND OUT FRONT TERESA AND MATT WERE WAITING ON CUSTOMERS.

THEY STILL OFFER ONLINE ORDERING AND QUITE OFTEN THERE'S A LINE OUT THE DOOR.

>> WE'RE HERE AT 4:30.

WE'RE BAKING.

TODAY WE'RE DOING ABOUT 52 DOZEN.

ONCE THEY'RE COMING OUT, WE'RE FULFILLING ALL OF THE PREORDERS.

SO WE GET A LOT OF PREORDERS.

THAT'S THE WAY PEOPLE CAN GUARANTEE THEY GET THE EXACT FLAVORS THAT THEY WANT.

WE DO A NOVELTY FLAVOR AND THEN PEOPLE WILL ORDER A TON OF THEM.

AND FREEZE THEM.

BECAUSE YOU CAN FREEZE BAGELS REALLY WELL.

>> WHEN IT CAME TO CHOOSING A LOCATION FOR COMFORT BAGEL, JANET SAYS SHE LOOKED AT MANY COMMUNITIES BUT SOMETHING ABOUT DOWNTOWN HOLYOKE SPOKE TO HER.

>> I LOVE THE RENAISSANCE OF HOLYOKE.

A LOT OF ENTREPRENEURS STARK BUSINESSES HERE -- STARTING BUSINESSES HERE AND THE SPACES ARE JUST BEAUTIFUL.

AND UNDERUTILIZED.

SO WHEN I CAME LOOKING AND I SAW THIS CAFE, IT JUST HAS THE EXACT VIBE THAT GOES WITH OUR BRAND, YOU KNOW.

I MEAN, PEOPLE COME IN AND THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE.

IT'S A WARM AND WELCOMING SPACE.

IT'S -- YOU KNOW, IT'S GOT AT WHO OF GREAT DETAILS.

AND YOU KNOW, IT FELT LIKE HOME AS SOON AS WE WALKED IN.

WE HAVE A PRETTY STRONG SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE.

AND ALMOST EVERY WEEK WE GET A COMMENT OF THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING TO HOLYOKE.

AND WHENEVER I'VE THOUGHT OF MAYBE WE SHOULD OPEN A BUSINESS SOMEPLACE ELSE, WITH MORE FOOT TRAFFIC, WE COULD GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT THIS HAS BECOME OUR HOME.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, 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.

IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, COMFORT BAGGAL OWNER JANET BLAKE TALKS ABOUT AN IMAGE THAT HANGS ON THE WALL INSIDE THE SHOP AT HOPE SQUARE IN HOLYOKE.

IT PAYS HOMAGE TO THE MANWORKERS THAT WITH YOU, FILLED THE OLD MILL BUILDINGS IN THE PAPER CITY.

>> AND HE CAME ACROSS THIS IMAGE OF SOME MILL WORKERS AND WE WERE HOPING THAT IT WAS TAKEN AT THIS MILL, BUT THE REALLY COOL PART IS ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS CAME IN ONE WEEKEND AND REALIZED THAT HER GRANDMOTHER WAS IN -- IN THIS PHOTO.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> IN RECOGNITION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WISTIARAHURST MUSEUM IN HOLYOKE IS HOSTING BLACK CITIZENSHIP IN THE AGE OF JIM GROW -- CROW, A POSTER EXHIBIT THAT DOCUMENTS BLACK AMERICANS' CONTINUING STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR.

THE EXHIBIT, ORGANIZED AND DISTRIBUTED BY THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM AND LIBRARY, IS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ARTIFACTS AND IMAGES FROM THE BLACK HOLYOKE COLLECTION.

CRMP'S IOHANN RASHI VEGA SPOKE WITH THE CURATOR PENNI MARTORELL ABOUT THE EXHIBIT AND HOW IT REFLECTS THE EXPERIENCE OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY INIFYO -- IN THE PIONEER VALLEY.

>> I FOUNDED A FEW YEARS AGO DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS THE GROUP THAT PUT IT TOGETHER, DID ALL THE RESEARCH.

AND IN THEIR MISSION, UNDER THE GRANT THAT THEY THOUGHT -- GOT, IT WAS TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS.

SO THEY PUT TOGETHER AN EIGHT-POSTER EXHIBIT THAT OUTLINES THE LAW OF THE JIM CROW AREA AND HOW THAT AFFECTED CITIZENS, AMERICAN AMERICANS -- BLACK AMERICANS ACROSS THE NATION.

WE KEEP IT ON HAND.

SO SEEMED APPROPRIATE THIS YEAR THAT THIS WOULD BE THE EXHIBIT.

SO I'VE TRIED TO ENRICH IT WITH LOCAL HISTORY.

WE HAD A SCHOLAR HERE ERIKA SLOCUM WHO DID A PROJECT WHO DID A DEEP DIVE INTO LOCAL BLACK HISTORY HERE IN HOLYOKE.

AND ENRICHED THAT HISTORY FOR US AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE THESE ORAL HISTORIES AND SCRAPBOOKS TO LOOK AT THAT DOCUMENT BLACK CITIZENS IN HOLYOKE.

SO THAT'S GREAT.

AND YOU KNOW, THE MEANING OF THIS EXHIBIT, THESE GYM CROW LAWS -- JIM CROW LAWS THAT WENT INTO PLACE, ARE REALLY THE UNDERLYING STRUCTURES TO WHAT WE SEE IN INSTITUTIONAL RACISM NOW.

AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT FIGHT WAS FOR BLACK AMERICANS TO OVERCOME THOSE JIM CROW LAWS AND HOW MUCH FURTHER WE STILL HAVE TO GO TO YOU KNOW, GET EQUALITY FOR BLACK AMERICANS.

>> WHEN WE SEE THE WORK THAT ERIKA SLOCUM HAS BEEN DOING FOR THIS PAST YEARS WITH THE PRODUCT THAT STARTED WITH BLACK HOLYOKE AND NOW -- [INAUDIBLE], WHAT WERE SOME OF THOSE FINDINGS THAT YOU COULD CONNECT BETWEEN JIM CROW AND WHAT THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN THE VALLEY HAD TO EXPERIENCE BASED ON THE DOCUMENTS OR TESTIMONIALS OR OBJECTS THAT NOW ARE PART OF THAT HISTORY?

>> ERIKA DID A LOT OF ORAL HISTORIES WITH FOLKS WHO GREW -- WELL, PRETTY MUCH GREW UP IN HOLYOKE.

AND THE SUBTLE WAYS THAT THESE LAWS TOOK PLACE OR MANIFESTED THEMSELVES IN HOLYOKE.

SO THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF RED LINING THROUGH THESE ORAL HISTORIES.

BLACK FOLKS TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS AFFECTED THEIR LIVES WHEN THEY WENT TO GO BUY A HOUSE, WHEN THEY WENT TO MOVE INTO AN APARTMENT, THE QUESTIONS THEY WERE ASKED.

AND SO THIS HAS JUST ADDED TO THE HISTORY OF HOLYOKE, YOU KNOW.

ANOTHER LAYER, ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE OF OUR OWN HISTORY.

BUT WE CAN SEE HOW IT CONNECTS TO NATIONAL THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON, WITH RED LINING, AND THE DISCRIMINATION AND YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT WERE TAKING PLACE.

>> THIS EXHIBIT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC DURING FEBRUARY, BEING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND OUTSIDE OF THE POSTERS, WHAT ELSE THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY AND TO APPRECIATE AS PART OF THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE HERE?

>> THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAS ALSO INCLUDED A VIDEO THAT WE'LL HAVE RUNNING TO -- YOU KNOW, BRING SOME OF THOSE THINGS TO LIFE AND MOTION.

AND THEY'VE SUPPLIED US WITH A CURRICULUM AND A WHOLE LIST OF OTHER RESOURCES THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE AWAY WITH THEM, DO THEIR OWN RESEARCH, LOOK UP THINGS ONLINE, AS WELL AS SOME LOCAL HISTORICAL PIECES.

WE HAVE -- THERE WAS AN ORGANIZATION HERE IN HOLYOKE CALLED THE MONARCH CLUB, WHICH WAS AFRICAN-AMERICAN GROUP THAT GOT TOGETHER TO ADVANCE AND TALK ABOUT THEIR OWN CAUSES.

SO LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE HAVE COLLECTED.

A LITTLE BIT WE'VE COLLECTED!

AND TRIED TO BRING THEM OUT FOR PEOPLE TO SEE AS WELL.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROVIDING RESOURCES, NORMALLY FOR THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL -- NOT ONLY FOR THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL, BUT THINKING HOW THIS COULD BECOME ANOTHER WAY TO CONTINUE EXPANDING AND EXPOSING PEOPLE TO HISTORY AND THEIR REALITIES OF WHAT THE JIM CROW ERA WAS AND STILL TODAY CONTINUES IMPACTS NOT ONLY THE BLACK COMMUNITY BUT IN GENERAL -- IMPACTING NOT ONLY THE BLACK COMMUNITY BUT IN GENERAL THE WHOLE HISTORY TODAY.

DO YOU THINK THIS HAS AN GORGES FOR OUR COMMUNITY WHERE WE ARE DIVERSE AND YET NOT MUCH REPRESENTATIVES AND WE TALK PARTICULARLY OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY?

>> SO I THINK THE LONGER SPAN OF TIME THAT GOES BETWEEN LAWS THAT WERE IN PLACE AND YOU KNOW, WE THINK WE'RE ADVANCED AND YET THIS UNDERLYING FRAMEWORK OF JIM CROW HAS REALLY PROVIDED A INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE -- STRUCTURE FOR THE INSTITUTIONAL RACISM WE SEE NOW.

SO UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE HAD, WHERE THAT CAME FROM, CAN HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW WE NEED TO DISMANTLE IT AND THAT IS THE KEY LESSON.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL BEING ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER THIS EXHIBIT WHERE, WHILE THIS POSTERS ARE THIS A LIMITED NUMBER COMPARED TO WHAT OTHER EXAMPLES OF EXHIBITS HAVE BEEN DISPLAYED IN THIS GALLERY, BUT THE IMPORTANCE AND THE IMPACT OF WHAT REPRESENTS, PARTICULARLY FOR THE CELEBRATION AND RECOGNITION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, MEANS FOR YOU HERE, BEING HISTORIAN AND BEING INVOLVED WITH BLACK HOLYOKE AND EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENS HERE -- HAPPENING HERE?

>> SO IT'S NOT MY STORY TO TELL.

IN MANY BASIS.

I DIDN'T PUT THE EXHIBIT TOGETHER.

I DIDN'T -- I DIDN'T DO THE RESEARCH.

AND I'M NOT BLACK.

SO THIS ISN'T MY STORY.

BUT AT WISTERIAHURST WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE SPACE TO OTHER VOICES.

SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW OTHER VOICES, UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES, SPACE TO DO THAT.

AND THIS EXHIBIT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF, YOU KNOW, GIVING VOICE TO A STORY THAT'S NOT ALWAYS HEARD, NOT ALWAYS LEARNED.

SO WE GET A FULLER PICTURE OF HISTORY, NOT JUST ONE NARROW VIEW.

I REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME AND SEE AND LEARN AND, YEAH, PERHAPS IT WILL BE MORE STORIES THAT COME TO LIGHT.

OFTENTIMES THAT HAPPENS.

PEOPLE COME TO SEE AN EXHIBIT AND THEN WE FIND ANOTHER LAYER OF HISTORY THAT WE NEED TO COLLECT IN HOLYOKE.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> AND FOR MORE ON THE PEOPLE, STORIES, AND ISSUES THAT SHAPE THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BE SURE TO VISIT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT FOR OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH COLLECTION.

>>> FOUNDED IN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, CANDLEPIN BOWLING HAS BEEN A NEW ENGLAND PASTIME SINCE THE 1880S.

SIMILAR TO TRADITIONAL 10PIN BOWLING, CANDLEPIN IS SET APART BY ITS DISTINCTIVE TALL, THIN PINS AND SMALLER BOWLING BALLS.

IF ONCE-POPULAR SPORT HAS SEEN A DECLINE IN RECENT YEARS, BUT ONE OF THE LARGEST BOWLING VENUES CAN BE STILL BE FOUND HERE IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.

CRBL'S BRIAN SULLIVAN VISITING A YOU A WAM BOWL TO FIND OUT WHAT THE FUTURE HAS IN STORE FOR THE GAME.

>> ITS SOUND IS UNMISTAKABLE.

IT'S UNFASHIONABLE FOOTWEAR IS LIKELY TO BE WORN ANYWHERE ELSE.

THIS STYLE OF BOWLING IS NOT LIKELY TO BE PLAYED OUTSIDE OF NEW ENGLAND AND SOME PARTS OF CANADA.

AND THE KIND OF FUN THAT'S FROM PLAYING BRINGS OUT THE RETIREES ON A WEEK NIGHT.

>> GROWING UP IN NEW ENGLAND, YOU KNOW ABOUT CANDLEPIN.

IT'S VERY CONVENIENT TO WHERE WE LIVE.

SO WE ALL THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT PLACE TO MEET.

AND THIS WAS FOOD RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

AND A GOOD TIME.

>> NOW, IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOME INSIGHT INTO THIS BALL AND PIN SPORT, WHOSE ORIGINS DATE BACK TO 1880, WHO BETTER ASK THAN THREE GUYS.

>> I'VE BEEN BOWLING AT LEAST 70 YEARS.

>> I WAS 10 YEARS OLD.

>> I CAME IN IT WAS 195 SAY WHEN I WAS 14 AND EVERYBODY HAD THE AUTOMATIC PIN SETTERS BY THEN.

YOU KNOW, SO I MADE IT MUCH MORE EFFICIENT.

AND THAT WAS A GOOD TIME TO GET INTO IT, BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF FACTORY LEAGUES.

BASICALLY A WORK MAN'S SPORT.

>> PEOPLE WOULD GO HOME FROM WORK AT BIG FACTORIES IN WESTFIELD AND IT WOULD CLEAN UP, GET DRESSED UP, COME DOWN AND BOWL.

>> LIKE ANY SPORT, CANDLEPIN BOWLING HAS ITS OWN LINGO AND JARGON.

AND LONG BEFORE IT BECAME A POPULAR TELEVISION SERIES, THE TERM "DEAD WOOD" HAD DIRECT TIES TO THIS GAME.

>> WHEN THE CANDLEPINS ARE STANDING, DOWN ON THE DECK, IT'S CONSIDERED DEAD.

IN 10PIN THEY REMOVED THE DEADWOOD.

CANDLE PIP STAYS THERE.

AND YOU CAN PLAY IT AS YOU SEE FIT.

YOU CAN DISCOVER, IF I HIT IT A CERTAIN WAY, IT MAY CARRY ACROSS AND CARRY THE PINS THAT ARE SPLIT APART.

>> KIND OF LIKE PLAYING COMBOS IN A GAME OF POOL WITHOUT HAVING TO CALL THEM OUT AHEAD OF TIME.

IT'S A FEATURE THAT MAKES A CHALLENGING GAME A LITTLE EASIER.

FOR GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN, CANDLEPIN WAS THEIR INTRODUCTION TO BOWLING BECAUSE THE SIZE AND THE WEIGHT OF THE BALL MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR NEARLY ALL AGES TO PLAY.

NOWADAYS, THE SPORT IS SEEING A MUCH SMALLER CONTINGENCY OF YOUNGSTERS TAKING PART.

>> IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT NOW BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT SPORTS FOR KIDS.

FOOTBALL, SOCCER, BASEBALL, HOCKEY, AND EVERYTHING.

AND IT'S ALL USUALLY RUNS ON SATURDAYS AND SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO GET CHILDREN INTO THE BOWLING ALLEY TO LEARN.

SOME DO.

AND SOME TURN OUT TO BE DECENT BOWLERS, TOO.

>> BACK HERE, WE SEE THE KIND OF AUTOMATION THAT WAS STILL SOMETHING NEW FOR JIM, FRANK, AND KARL WHEN HE FIRST STARTED OUT BUT IS ONLY TO BE EXPECTED BY THE MODERN DAY BOWLER.

AND IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT ALL THE INNER WORKINGS, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE COMPANY ICE LONGEST TENURED EMPLOYEE.

>> BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 1955.

BOTH OGBOTH FLOORS.

12 LANES LANES WERE PUT IN DOWNSTAIRS.

AND THEY DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH UPSTAIRS.

HAD DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, FURNITURE STORE, SHOE STORE AT TIMES.

FOR A LONG TIME THERE WERE -- A POOL CLUB WAS UP THERE.

IN 1994 WHEN THE RACK AND Q CLOSED, WEST SPRINGFIELD LANES FROM ELM STREET DECIDED TO MERGE WITH AGAWAM BOWL AND THEIR MACHINES WERE MOVED TO THE UPSTAIRS.

SO WE HAVE 10 LANES UPSTAIRS AND 12 DOWNSTAIRS.

>> FOR SIX NIGHTS, THE DOWNSTAIRS AREA IS OCCUPIED BY LEAGUE BOWLERS.

UPSTAIRS, THOUGH, IS FOR ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO TRY THEIR LUCK.

BOWLING ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAVE THE FEEL OF BEING THAT THING THAT PEOPLE DID BACK IN THE DAY.

BUT JUDGING BY THE NUMBER OF CARS IN THE PARKING LOT OF PEOPLE THAT AREN'T HERE FOR LEAGUE NIGHT, MAYBE IT'S STILL THE THING TO DO.

FIRST THINGS FIRST.

PUT ON THAT FANTY FOOTWEAR.

-- FANCY FOOTWEAR.

AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE COMFORTABLE AS WELL AS LACED UP TIGHT.

NEXT UP, FIND THE RIGHT COLORED BALL THAT SUITS THE MOOD.

AND LASTLY, TAKE AIM, FIRE AWAY, AND HOPE FOR A STRIKE.

OR IN MY CASE, ONE PIN.

WHILE TAKING OUT ONLY ONE PIN FELT PRETTY TERRIBLE, ANYONE WHO THINKS THEY'RE GOING TO COME OUT AND BOWL NOTHING BUT STRIKES HAD BETTER TEMPER THEIR EXPECTATIONS.

THAT'S A GOOD THING.

>> EVERY TOO MANY YOU COME OUT AND BOWL CANDLEPINS, YOU CAN SCORE BETTER THAN YOU'VE EVER SCORED BEFORE BECAUSE YOU CAN SCORE 300 THEORETICALLY.

NOBODY IS EVER GOING TO GET THERE.

IT'S THAT DIFFICULT.

IT'S THAT MUCH OF A CHALLENGE.

IT -- IF THE PINSES WERE FIVE INCHES AROUND AND THE BALLS WERE 10 INCHES, IT WOULD BE A LOT EASIER.

BUT WE DO ENJOY THE CHALLENGE.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> AFTER MEETING AT SPRINGFIELD TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE, VILLENTEE WENT ON TO NOT ONLY BUILD A LIFE AND FAMILY TOGETHER BUT ALSO A BUSINESS CALLED THE ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP ASSOCIATION.

THE PROGRAM EMPOWERS YOUNG PEOPLE AND SERVES SCHOOLS IN SPRINGFIELD AND HOLYOKE BY ADDRESSING THEIR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS THROUGH MENTORSHIP, LITERACY, AND SELF-ADVOCACY.

I SPOKE WITH VILLENT WERE AND YESELIE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

>> SO WE'RE A SCHOOL-BASED ORGANIZATION.

SO WE PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.

ONCE WE DEVELOP A CONTRACT WITH THAT SCHOOL, WE IDENTIFY -- WE WORK WITH THEIR LEADERSHIP TEAM TO IDENTIFY THE STUDENTS MOST AT RISK.

WHEN IT IS -- WHETHER IT'S GRADES, BEHAVIORS, ATTENDANCE.

AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NEEDS OF THAT STUDENT ARE AND THEN YOU KNOW, WE ASSIGN OUR MENTORS.

>> AND I KNOW THAT THE PROGRAM STARTED AROUND THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND YOU WERE ONLY IN ONE SCHOOL.

BUT RIGHT NOW YOU'VE GROWN TO ABOUT 14 SCHOOLS.

IN HOLYOKE AND SPRINGFIELD.

TELL ME ABOUT WHAT YOU DO IN THE SCHOOLS AND HOW IT FEELS TO HAVE THIS PROGRAM GROW.

>> IT FEELS AMAZING.

YOU KNOW.

GOD IS GOOD.

YOU'RE RIGHT, WE DID START WITH ONE SCHOOL.

THE PRINCIPAL TOOK A RISK ON US.

AND YOU KNOW, ALLOWED US TO NOT ONLY BEGIN WORKING WITH HIS SCHOOL, BUT DEVELOP OUR OWN SYSTEMS WHILE DOING SO, RIGHT.

SO IT WAS TOUGH DURING THE PANDEMIC.

BUT ALLOWED US TO, YOU KNOW, BUILD A STRONGER FOUNDATION FOR OUR PROGRAM.

AT LEAST THE SCHOOL NOTICED HOW IMPORTANT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WAS, TO ADDRESS THE SOCIAL AND EMOWCIAL NEEDS OF THESE STUDENTS.

WE DO MILLIONTY VISITS A WEEK WITH EACH STUDENT, JUST CHECKING IN AND WE HAVE AFTER-SCHOOL SESSIONS, WHICH IS GROUP COUNSELING.

WE'RE IN GROUPS WITH THE KIDS.

AND WE DO REC RAICIAL ACTIVITIES.

-- RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

AND FIELD TRIPS.

A LOT OF GREAT THINGS AROUND THE PROGRAM.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE AREA.

I HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING LIKE IT REALLY IN THE NATION.

>> ONCE THE STUDENTS ARE IDENTIFIED, THEY WORK WITH THEM ONE-ON-ONE.

THEY WORK WITH THEM COLLECTIVELY AS A GROUP.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING WITH THE STUDENTS.

>> AND I WAS GOING TO SAY, ALTHOUGH THAT THE -- TIS ABOUT IS CALLED THE ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP ASSOCIATION, YOU FOCUS MORE THAN JUST ON ACADEMICS.

AND I KNOW SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, SELF-ADVOCACY IS REALLY BIG.

IN YOUR BUSINESS.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO FOSTER THESE TYPES OF SKILL SETS AS WELL BEYOND ACADEMICS?

>> OUR KIDS COME TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY AND THEY DEAL WITH A LOT.

LIKE OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.

THEY CARRY A LOT OF LIKE THINGS IN SCHOOL WITH THEM, WHERE IT'S -- RESILIENCY OF OUR KIDS.

THE PERSEVERANCE THAT THEY JUST SHOW IS INCREDIBLE.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM DON'T GET ENOUGH CREDIT.

BUT YOU KNOW, THEY NEED THAT SUPPORT.

RIGHT.

WE CAN'T JUST EXPECT KIDS TO, YOU KNOW, NAVIGATE THROUGH ALL THESE HARDSHIPS OR NAVIGATE THROUGH LIKE -- NOT EVEN JUST HARDSHIPS BUT PEER RELATIONSHIPS THAT THEY STRUGGLE WITH, JUST KNOWING WHO THEY ARE.

AND YOU KNOW, ON TOP OF THAT, YOU HAVE TO BE IN SCHOOL.

SO YOU HAVE THE SOCIAL -- THEN YOU HAVE TO -- IN THE CLASSROOM AND LISTEN TO THE TEACHER AND IF YOU GUYS -- YOU KNOW, THEY IDENTIFIED THE STUDENTS THAT ARE CONSIDERED AT RISK.

BUT IF THEY'RE ALREADY STRUGGLING AND THEY DON'T HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TEACH, OUR JOB IS TO COME IN AND -- WITH THE TEACHER, OUR JOB IS THE COME IN TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM, HELPED THEM BUILD CAPACITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES.

AND WE'RE WORKING WITH TEACHERS, WHEN ERROR THE GAPS.

WHY ARE WE STRUGGLING WITH THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

>> AND YOU BOTH KNOW FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT THAT A COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION CAN HAVE ON YOUR EDUCATION AND YOUR FUTURE.

VILENT WERE, YOU HAVE SAID IF IT WASN'T FOR A COMMUNITY COLLEGE, YOU MIGHT HAVE NOT EVEN GONE TO COLLEGE AT ALL.

SO TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY THAT YOU BOTH HAVE GONE ON AND WHAT MADE IT SUCCESSFUL FOR YOU AND HOW CAN YOU DUPLICATE THAT SUCCESSES FOR OTHER STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> FOR ME EDUCATION WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPORTANT AND YOU KNOW, NOT A LOT OF FAMILY MEMBERS IN MY FAMILY HAVE DEGREES OR WENT TO COLLEGE.

SO YOU KNOW, STCC, GOING THERE BE GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DO I WANT TO DO, WHAT PATH DO I WANT TO TAKE.

SO FROM THERE I TRANSFERRED, GOT MY BACHELORS AT WESTFIELD STATE AND I TRANSFERRED TO -- AND WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN MY MBA.

JUST THAT, COMING FROM A LATINO FAMILY AND YOU KNOW, BORN AND RAISED IN SPRINGFIELD, I WENT TO SCHOOL FROM KINDERGARTEN ALL THE WAY TO 12TH GRADE.

IN THE SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I CAN HOW IMPORTANT IT IS -- I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE ABLE TO MODEL THE SAME THING FOR OTHER KIDS WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OR THE MONEY TO GO TO SCHOOLS.

>> AND SO BEING THAT YOU BOTH WERE RAISED AND FROM THIS COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDS THE STRUGGLES AND THINGS THAT THESE STUDENTS REALLY NEED, WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE WITH OTHER STUDENTS AND PEOPLE THAT MAY BE CATCHING -- WATCHING?

>> WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY KID DESERVES A VOICE IN THEIR EDUCATION, RIGHT.

AND THEY DESERVE SOME LEVEL OF AUTONOMY WHEN IT COMES TO HOW THEY LEARN.

AND I THINK WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB, NOT ONLY MODELING THE EXPECTATIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR STUDENTS, BUT AS SHOULD NOT LORE OUR EXPECTATIONS.

CONTINUE -- LORE OUR EXPECTATIONS, CONTINUE TO RAISE THEM ACADEMICALLY.

SO HOW DO WE PROVIDE OUR KIDS WITH THE SAME SPACE TO SELF-ADVOCATE, RIGHT.

BUT ALSO PERSEVERE WITHOUT GULFING -- GIVING UP ON THEM.

RIGHT?

SO AGAIN, OUR JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT THEY'VE THAT VOICE.

-- THAT THEY ARE THAT VOICE.

ENSURE THE FAMILIES HAVE A VOICE, BUT ALSO THE TEACHERS.

HOW DO WE BRIDGE THAT GAP IN THE LEARNING FOR OUR KIDS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF CASINO.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN -- OF "CONNECTING POINT."

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