¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO CAPTURES THE MAGIC OF NATURE THROUGH HIS LENS.

>> JUST AS IT WENT INTO THE WOODS, IT TURNED AROUND AND IT LOOKED AT ME WITH A MOUSE HANGING OUT OF ITS MOUTH.

>>> EXPLORE THE VIBRANT CREATIVE COMMUNITY THAT'S BLOSSOMED IN AN OLD MILL BUILDING.

>> I CAN WALK DOWN THE HALL AND SAY TO SOMEONE, COULD YOU JUST HELP ME PUT THE FACE ON THIS, SO THE LEGS, ARE THEY RIGHT.

>>> AND FIRST GRADERS FLEX THEIR CREATIVE MUSCLES TO HELP ANIMALS IN NEED.

>> THE TEACHER SAID TO ME, THE KIDS REALLY WANT TO DELIVER IT.

SO THEY BROUGHT IN PLASTIC BAGS AND GROCERY BAGS AND EVERY SINGLE KID FILLED THESE BAGS.

>>> JOIN ME FOR THESE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY, THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

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

-- CREATIVE, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

EVERY WEEK WE EXPLORE ALL THAT THE REGION HAS TO OFFER, EXPW TODAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM INDIAN ORCHARD, A NEIGHBORHOOD TUCKED INTO THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF SPRINGFIELD.

THE ANCHORING THIS REPUTATION IS INDIAN ORCHARD MILLS, A FORMERLY EMPTY INDUSTRIAL BUILDING THAT'S NOW HOME TO A VARIETY OF TALENTED ARTISTS, MAKERS, AND OTHER CREATIVES.

WE'LL MEET ONE OF THOSE ARTISTS A BIT LATER, BUT OUR FIRST STORY TAKES US TO HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

DALE MO-NET HAS LIVED WITHIN A STONE'S THROW OF THE PICTURESQUE QUABBIN RESERVOIR FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE, WITH A KEEN EYE, INCREDIBLE PATIENCE, AND A DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF HIS SUBJECTS' BEHAVIOR.

HE CAPTURED THE MAGIC OF THE QUABBIN THROUGH THE LENS OF HIS CAMERA.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER JOINED MO-NET AT THE RESERVOIR RECENTLY AND SHARES HIS STORY.

>> OWE A RECENT JANUARY MORNING, NEW SALEM RESIDENT DALE MO-NET IS DOING WHAT HE DOES MOST MORNINGS, HEADING DOWN TO THE SHORES OF THE QUABBIN RESERVOIR WITH A TRIPOD AND A BACKPACK LOADED WITH CAMERA GEAR, LOOKING FOR THE NEXT GREAT WILDLIFE IMAGE.

>> IT'S IN MY BLOOD.

SO TO SPEAK, BECAUSE MY GREAT-GRANDPARENTS HAD TO SELL THEIR HAND AND MOVE OUT OF NORTH PRESCOTT.

WHEN THEY BUILT THE RESERVOIR IN THE '30s.

SO IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A BIG PART OF MY LIFE.

>> THE QUABBIN RESERVOIR IS THE LARGEST INLAND BODY OF WATER IN MASSACHUSETTS.

WHEN FULL IT HOLDS APPROXIMATELY 412 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER AND SUPPLIES BOSTON AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER COMMUNITIES, MOSTLY IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE, WITH DRINKING WATER.

>> WHEN I WAS YOUNG, MY FATHER USED TO BRING MY YOUNGER BROTHER AND I DOWN HERE.

AND WE'D GO OUT IN THE BOAT AND I WAS ALWAYS AMAZED AT HOW BIG IT WAS AND HOW CLEAR THE WATER WAS.

¶ ¶ >> MO-NET WAS 63 YEARS OLD WHEN HE SAYS HE DISCOVERED HIS LIFE'S PASSION.

HE WAS TWO YEARS SHY OF A 30-YEAR CAREER WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION, WHEN HE REALIZED HE WANTED TO DOCUMENT THE EXQUISITE WILDLIFE THAT HAD BEEN HIS NEIGHBOR SINCE HE WAS A BOY.

>> SO I STARTED TAKING PICTURES AND AFTER A YEAR AND A YEAR AND A HALF, I HAD ALL THESE PICTURES AND I STARTED SELLING PHOTOS AT CRAFT SHOWS.

AND IT WAS JUST A NATURAL TO PUT A BOOK TOGETHER.

>> THE BOOK CONTAINS IMAGES OF LANDSCAPES, LOONS, MOOSE, BALD EAGLES, AND COYOTES.

THE LATTER PROMPTED A STORY THAT MO-NET SHARED.

>> IT WAS A COYOTE THAT I HAD BEEN SEEING.

I SEE IT THREE OR FOUR YEARS IN A ROW IN THE SAME PLACE.

AND THIS ONE PARTICULAR TIME, IT WAS COMING DOWN THE SHORELINE ABOUT 60, 70 YARDS AWAY FROM ME.

IT SPOTTED ME AND IT STOOD THERE.

AND IT LOOKED AT ME AND IT SAT RIGHT DOWN.

AND IT LOOKED RIGHT AT ME.

AND IT STOOD UP AND IT HEARD SOMETHING AND IT JUMPED AND IT CAUGHT A MOUSE.

AND JUST AS IT WENT INTO THE WOODS, IT TURNED AROUND AND IT LOOKED AT ME WITH THE MOUSE HANGING OUT OF ITS MOUTH.

SOMETIMES I'M JUST -- I'M JUST TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY WHEN STUFF LIKE THAT HAPPENS.

AND THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME COMING OUT HERE.

>> SINCE THAT FIRST BOOK, MO-NET HAS PRODUCED TWO MORE, VOYAGERS, VISITORS, AND HOME, AND GENIUS OF THE SWAMP, THE GREAT BLUE HERON.

EACH BOOK A RESULT OF HOURS OF TIME SPENT OUT IN NATURE WAITING FOR THAT SPECIAL MOMENT.

>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF PATIENCE.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE HABITATS OF WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, AND YOU HAVE TO BE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GO AFTER TO PHOTOGRAPH.

I DON'T LIKE TO GET CLOSE TO BIRDS.

THAT'S WHERE THESE TELEPHOTO LENSES COME IN REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

AND IT JUST -- IT DEPENDS ON A LOT -- A LOT ON THE LIGHT, BUT MAINLY I JUST HAVE TO BE READY.

I SHOOT IN -- FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHERS, I SHOOT IN MANUAL MODE.

SO I DON'T -- I SET EVERYTHING UP, MORE OR LESS, I LOOK AT THE LIGHT AND I LOOK AT THE DISTANCE AND -- THAT SORT OF THING.

SO I'M PRETTY WELL SET BEFORE I GET THERE.

IF I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND I THINK TO MYSELF, OH, GEES, I DON'T THINK I REALLY WANT TO GO OUT THIS MORNING.

AND THEN I START THINKING, WELL, THAT COYOTE THAT I SAW WITH THE MOUSE -- [LAUGHTER] IF I'M LAYING IN BED, THAT'S NOT GONNA MAGICALLY APPEAR IN MY CAMERA.

SO OUT I COME.

IT'S JUST MY DEFAULT PLACE TO GO WHERE IT'S QUIET, AND YOU KNOW, ON DAYS LIKE THIS, YOU HARDLY SEE ANY PEOPLE DOWN HERE.

IT'S JUST A GREAT, GREAT PLACE TO GO.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> 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, WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER DALE MO-NET SHARES HOW, AS A BIOLOGY STUDENT AT UMASS IN 1982, HE PARTICIPATED IN A PROGRAM TO REDRUCE BALD EAGLES TO THE QUABBIN RESERVOIR.

>> AN EAGLE WILL IMPRINT ON AN AREA LIKE A SALMON.

WHERE IT GROWS UP, TAKES A BALD EAGLE FIVE YEARS TO SEXUALLY MATURE.

SO THEY WERE HOPING WITHIN FIVE YEARS THE EAGLES WOULD COME BACK TO MASSACHUSETTS.

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

>>> THIS MONTH A NEW DOCUMENTARY WILL PREMIER AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC IN NORTHAMPTON.

"FINDING THE WORDS, THE STORY OF VOICES FROM INSIDE," SHARES THE STORY OF A GROUP OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED WOMEN WHO USED THE ART FORM OF WRITING TO HEAL AND FIND COMMUNITY.

THE FILM WAS PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VOICES FROM INSIDE, A LOCAL ORGANIZATION THAT'S HELPED WOMEN OVERCOME ADVERSITY THROUGH WRITING SINCE 1999.

I SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE FILMMAKERS AND ONE OF THE DOCUMENTARY'S PARTICIPANTS TO LEARN MORE.

>> WE'VE DONE MANY READINGS AT DIFFERENT COLLEGES, RECOVERY CENTERS, SOME WORKSHOPS HAVE BEEN HELD IN THE JAILS AND PRISONS.

AND WHAT I REALIZED, TALKING TO FOLKS AFTERWARD, IS THAT IT WOULD CHANGE THEIR PERCEPTION ON HOW THEY LOOKED AT CURRENTLY AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE.

SO I THOUGHT THAT IF -- YOU KNOW, I PARTICIPATED IN THE DOCUMENTARY, I COULD BE SURE TO BE PART OF THE VOICES THAT WOULD BE CHANGING THE MINDS OF MORE PEOPLE AT A LARGER SCALE.

>> TELL ME, WHAT KIND OF IMPACT CAN THIS TYPE OF ART FORM HAVE ON AN INDIVIDUAL OR EVEN A COMMUNITY.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS YOURSELF IN THIS MORNING?

>> IT WAS HAD AN IMPACT WHERE IT HAS BOOSTED MY CONFIDENCE.

I FEEL MORE CONFIDENT.

I'VE BECOME A BETTER WRITERRER, A BETTER LISTENER, MORE CTION PASSIONATE, AND -- COMPASSIONATE, AND I'M MORE EMPATHETIC TOWARDS PEOPLE BECAUSE OF WHAT I FELT FOR MY SISTERS AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, DURING THESE LAST FEW YEARS.

IT HAS CHANGED ME ON MULTIPLE LEVELS, PROFESSIONALLY, PERSONALLY, AND JUST THE WAY I LOOK AT LIFE NOW.

>> I WOULD ADD THAT WHAT WE'VE OBSERVED IS THAT WRITING IS OFTEN ONE OF THE FIRST WAYS IN WHICH WOMEN WHO ARE EXPERIENCING INCARCERATION AND RECOVERY WILL PROCESS SOME OF THE TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES THAT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH.

OFTEN THEY'VE NOT NECESSARILY HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THERAPY OR GET SUPPORT FOR SOME OF THOSE TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES.

SO WRITING HELPS PROCESS THOSE EXPERIENCES.

AND THEN WRITING AND SHARING IN COMMUNITY PROVIDES SUPPORT, NOT ONLY TO PROCESS WHAT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH, BUT TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH THE PROCESS AHEAD OF THEM, WHAT'S COMING NEXT.

AND THEN IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY IMPACT, I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT IT'S HAD A RIPPLE EFFECT ON THE COMMUNITY.

SO IT STARTS WITH THESE WORKSHOPS WITH WOMEN WHO ARE IN JAILS AT THE VERY MOMENT THAT THEY BEGIN THE PROCESS.

BUT IT ALSO BRINGS THOSE WORKSHOPS OUTSIDE OF THE SYSTEM AND INTO COMMUNITIES AND THEN GIVES WOMEN A PLATFORM AND STAGE TO SHARE THEIR STORIES IN WAYS THAT CAN INSPIRE FOLKS MORE BROADLY.

>> ONE THIS -- THING THAT I REALLY GOT OUT OF THIS DOCUMENTARY AND THE PROJECT IS THAT THE LANGUAGE THAT PEOPLE CAN USE REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

WORDS DO MATTER.

AND IT CAN AFFECT THE PISHCEPTION THAT PEOPLE HAVE -- PERCEPTION THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

>> A MOTHER, A DAUGHTER, A GIRLFRIEND, A WIFE, A PARTNER.

A WITNESS.

A PRISONER.

>> Together: I'M NOT JUST.

>> SO TELL ME ABOUT THAT AND HOW PEOPLE SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF WHAT THEY SAY AND HOW THEY SAY IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUTMAN TO AND ABOUT INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED OR IN RECOVERY.

>> ONE THING THAT MANGS ME -- ME CRINGE WHEN PEOPLE EX-FELON OR EXINMATE.

I THINK THAT'S DEHUMANIZING AND IF PRISON AND JAIL IS A PLACE FOR REHABILITATION, THEN THE LANGUAGE IS WHERE YOU START.

YOU DON'T CALL HUMAN BEINGS ALL OF THESE DEROGATORY TERMS.

AND THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THEM FLOURISH OR BE CONFIDENT OR FEEL LIKE THEY'RE WORTH ANYTHING.

I WANT TO ADD LIKE BEING PART OF THE GROUP HAS MADE ME FEEL LIKE MY VOICE MATTERS.

AND IT HAS MADE ME FEEL LIKE I'M WORTH IT.

I'M WORTH, YOU KNOW, HEARING OUT.

>> YOU ARE.

>> THANK YOU!

>> YEAH, YOU ARE.

>> WE HAVE OFTEN READ FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BECOME JUDGES, LAWYERS, THEY'RE GOING INTO CRIMINAL JUSTICE FIELDS, THERAPISTS, DOCTORS.

SO I THINK THAT WE'VE CHANGED THE PERCEPTION OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ALSO TAKING CARE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

AND THAT I THINK IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST IMPACTS IT HAS MADE.

>> I WOULD ADD THAT ON THE FILM SIDE, WE WERE REALLY INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE LANGUAGE WE USED TO DESCRIBE THE EXPERIENCES OF THE WOMEN THAT WE FEATURE.

WE USE HUMAN FIRST, PEOPLE-CENTERED LANGUAGE, WHICH AS JACKIE POINTED OUT, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE.

AND THROUGHOUT THE FILM, WE'VE REALLY AIMED TO CENTER THE WOMEN'S VOICES.

SO IN THE DAWMSARY WIK WE -- DAWMSARY WE TAKE YOU INSIDE JAILS, INSIDE WOMEN'S HOMES OR OUTSIDE DURING COVID AND INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES SO WE CAN DIRECTLY FROM THEM.

>> RUN FROM THE DEALER, THINKING THIS ONE'S A KEEPER, YOU'D BECOME A THIEF.

LIES, MANIPULATION, DECEIT.

PITY PARTIES AND BROKEN HOMES, SECRETS THAT CHILL YOU DOWN TO YOUR BONE.

>> IT'S NOT MY JOB TO TELL SOMEONE ELSE'S STORY.

THESE WOMEN ARE TELLING THEIR STORIES.

THEY'RE DOING IT REALLY BEAUTIFULLY.

THEY'RE USING THE LANGUAGE THAT RESONATES WITH THEM, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE EXPERIENCES IT'S YOUR JOB TO HELP AMPLIFY.

>> AND SO THIS DOCUMENTARY WILL BE WATCHED BY SO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

WHAT DOES IT SEEK TO DO?

WHAT WOULD BE THE KEY TAKEAWAY FOR VIEWERS?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT PEOPLE ARE -- THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE HUMAN.

LIKE THAT'S FIRST AND FOREMOST.

AND TO HAVE SOME COMPASSION IN DEALING WITH FOLKS.

THEY EXPECT PEOPLE TO COME BACK INTO SOCIETY, REENTER SOCIETY, AND BE A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF THAT TO THAT SO AS TIGHT.

BUT HOW -- SOCIETY.

BUT HOW CAN THAT BE IF YOU PUT OBSTACLES AND BARRIERS IN THEIR WAY IN ORDER TO GET THEIR LIVES BACK ON TRACK.

HOWEVER -- HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO MAKE DECENT INCOMES SUPPORT TO SUPPORT -- INCOMES IN ORDER TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES.

WE STILL HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF KIDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> RIGHT.

>> IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT BOTH HAVE SUFFERED ABUSES AND TRAUMA TO TRY TO GET EVERYTHING BACK ON TRACK AT ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN'T ACCESS.

IT'S REALLY NOT RIGHT.

AND WHO WE ARE AS A SOCIETY -- IT'S TELLING HOW WE TREAT PEOPLE IN PRISON IN OUR SOCIETY.

LIKE YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT AND EXPECT GOOD RESULTS.

>> ONE OTHER TAKEAWAY I THINK IS AS -- TO PARAPHRASE JACKIE, AS JACKIE SAYS IN THE FILM, IT'S NOT THAT THESE WOMEN ARE BAD PEOPLE.

THEY MADE BAD CHOICES AND THEY MADE BAD CHOITSZ BECAUSE THEY ONLY HAD BAD OPTIONS.

SO PART OF THE INTENTION BEHIND THE FILM IS TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE STRUCTURAL AND SOCIETAL VOOT CAUSES -- ROOT CAUSES THAT LEAD PEOPLE TO INCARCERATION AND ADDICTION.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> LIKE MANY FORMER MILL TOWNS, THE INDIAN ORCHARD NEIGHBORHOOD OF SPRINGFIELD IS HOME TO SEVERAL EMPTY INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS.

ONE OF THESE BUILDINGS, NOW KNOWN AS THE INDIAN ORCHARD MILLS IS HOME TO A VIBRANT AND ECLECTIC COMMUNITY OF LOCAL ARTISTS.

IN THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF PROFILES, PRODUCE BRIAN SULLIVAN MEETS UP WITH STAINED GLAD ARTIST CAROL RUSSELL.

>> THESE OLD BUILDINGS MAY NOT BE EYE-CATCHING.

THEY'RE BIG, SQUARE, COMPRISED OF MILLIONS OF BRICKS, AND BUILT FOR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES.

THEY HEARKEN BACK TO A TIME WHEN THIS THERE WAS A WATERWAY CLOSE BY, IN THIS CASE THIS RIVER, MILL BUILDINGS WERE SURE TO BE WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE.

BUT HERE IN INDIAN ORCHARD THEY'RE MORE.

THEY'RE PART OF ITS IDENTITY.

WE MAY NOT FIND THE KIND OF INDUSTRY THAT THESE BUILDINGS HOUSED IN THE 19TH CENTURY TAKING PLACE TODAY, BUT WE WILL KIND SOME INDUSTRIOUS PEOPLE INSIDE.

PEOPLE LIKE CAROL RUSS EL.

>> -- WONDERFUL.

I'M AROUND PEOPLE THAT ENJOY ART AND CRAFT AND ALL MY WORK IS ORIGINAL.

AND I'M A LITTLE SKETCHY WITH MY HARTWORK.

SO I CAN WALK DOWN THE HALL AND SAY TO SOMEONE, COULD YOU JUST HELP ME PUT THE FACE ON THIS, OR THE LEGS, ARE THEY RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY'RE BETTER THAN I AM.

BECAUSE IT'S NICE TO HAVE THEM RIGHT NEAR ME.

>> IN THE PAST WE VISITED A PASS IN EASTHAMPTON WHERE STUDENTS MADE SUN CATCHERS.

IT'S A GREAT INTRODUCTION FOR ANYONE NEW TO THE WORLD OF STAINED GLASS ART, AND A NICE WAY TO DO AN ART PROJECT IN A RELATIVELY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

THESE ARE NOT THE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT ARE BEAK UNDERTAKEN HERE, HOWEVER.

>> WELL, YOU DO A SUN CATCHER, YOU GET IT DONE IN AN HOUR.

SOME OF THIS WORKS TAKE -- WORK TAKES MONTHS TO CREATE.

ANYTHING I HAVE IN THE STUDIO HERE IS THINGS WHEN I HAD A MOMENT OR A -- TWO WEEKS TO DO SOMETHING ON MY OWN THAT I REALLY LIKED.

THE REST OF IT IS I'LL NEVER SEE AGAIN.

IT GOES INTO HOMES.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES IN THE AREA I CAN LOOK AND SEE MY WORK.

SOME PEOPLE WANT NOTHING BUT BEILS.

OTHER PEOPLE WANT -- BEVELS.

OTHER PEOPLE WANT GEO MET -- GEOMETRIC.

AND SOME WANT SOMETHING THAT'S TOTALLY CREATIVE AND WHAT I'M KNOWN FOR, WHERE THE GLASS JUST FLOWS.

>> THE COMMON THEME IS IT'S A LONELY EXISTENCE AMONG ARTISTS.

IT'S THEIR HART AND THEM AND MAYBE SOME MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND.

BUT CAROL HAS BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE FAMILY BY HER SIDE, ALL THE WHILE MANEUVERING THROUGH SOME PERSONAL TRAGEDY.

>> I IT'S IT IS -- THINK IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE A CLOSE FAMILY LIKE THAT, THAT IT GOES ON FOR DIRCH GENERATIONS.

I MISS -- DIFFERENT GENERATIONS.

I MISS MY DAUGHTER.

SHE DIED TRAGICALLY THREE MONTHS AGO AND WAS A JEWELER.

SHE DID ALL THE BEAUTIFUL JEWELRY AND THEY WAS WELL KNOWN AND VERY POPULAR FOR HER JEWELRY DESIGNS.

THEY WERE ONE-OF-A-KIND, MADE OF GLASS.

WHEN SHE DIED, A LOT OF HER WORK WAS HALFWAY DONE, READY TO GO.

AND IT'S SAD TO SEE.

AND NOW MY GRANDSON, HER SON, WORKS WITH ME, WHO IS A WONDERFUL STAINED GLASS ARIST -- ARTIST.

>> WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THIS COMPLEX, THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL NONART-RELATED BUSINESSES.

BUT THIS SPOT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE LARGEST ART COLONIES AROUND, AND TWICE A YEAR, ONCE IN MAY AND NOVEMBER, THEY HOST A PUBLIC ART SHOW AND BALLRY.

-- GALLERY.

HERE'S A LITTLE FUN FACT.

THIS MILL BUILDING THAT HOUSES THE GALLERY AS WELL AS SEVERAL OF THE ARTISTS AND ARTISANS ACTUALLY DATES BACK TO PRECIVIL WAR TIME.

AND FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS OR SO, THERE'S BEEN A MAJOR INFLUX OF ARTISTS AND ARTISANS TAKING RESIDENT DENSE IN THIS -- RESIDENCE IN THIS BUILDING.

YEAR 2023 MAKES IT 25 YEARS FOR CAROL.

THAT BEGS THE QUESTION, WHAT'S NEXT?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I TRY TO RETIRE THREE YEARS AGO.

EVERYTHING SET ME FLOWERS AND SAID, OVER, THAT'S WONDERFUL.

AND MY STUDIO WAS RENTED OUT TO SOMEONE ELSE.

AND I SAID, NO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T -- I DON'T WANT TO RETIRE!

IT WAS NOTHING ELSE INTERESTED ME.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> THIS PAST FALL FIRST GRADE STUDENTS AT THE MILTON BRADLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN SPRINGFIELD ORGANIZED A SUPPLY DRIVE FOR ANIMALS IN NEED AT THE DAKIN HUMANE SOCIETY.

AS PART OF THE PROJECT, STUDENTS EXPLORED CONCEPTS LIKE COMMUNITY AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOOD CITIZEN.

AFTER IDENTIFYING THE NEEDS OF THE ANIMALS AND CREATING FLYERS AND VIDEOS FOR THE FUND-RAISER, STUDENTS PAID A VISIT TO DAKIN TO HAND DELIVER THE DONATIONS.

I SPOKE WITH TWO OF THE EDUCATORS INVOLVED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT.

>> ALL OF THE STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL ARE VERY AWARE OF DAKIN BECAUSE MOST OF THEM PASS IT ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL AND THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE IT IS WHEN WE SHOWED THEM THE PICTURE IN THE LOGO.

EVERY SINGLE STUDENT JUMPED UP BECAUSE THEY RING NEEDS IT.

AND THEY WERE REALLY EXCITED TO FIND OUT THAT THEY COULD DO SOMETHING TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> SO KRISTEN, YOU MENTIONED THAT THIS ASSIGNMENT COVERED SEVEN ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF PROJECT-BASED LEARNING.

CAN YOU ELABORATE ON WHAT THOSE ARE?

>> YEAH.

SO WE'RE WORKING WITH A CORPORATION CALLED P-BL WORKS.

AND THEY'RE FOCUSED ON PROJECT-BASED LEARNING IS CREATING A GOLD STANDARD PROJECT.

COMPARED TO A DESSERT PROJECT, WHERE KIDS LEARN ABOUT SOMETHING AND CREATE A NICE POSTER AT THE END.

AND SO WITH OUR PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, WE REALLY WANT STUDENTS TO FOCUS ON A CHALLENGING PROBLEM.

IT NEEDS TO BE TIED TO THEIR CURRENT CURRICULUM.

SO IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING ELSE WE'RE DOING.

AND IT SHOULD BE DONE OVER A SUSTAINED PERIOD OF TIME.

SO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT WILL LEAD UP TO SOME KIND OF CULMINATION BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE END PRODUCT.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE LEARNING THAT HAPPENS ALONG THE WAY.

THE RESEARCH WAS INVOLVED.

THEY INTERVIEWED SOMEBODY FROM DAKIN TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED.

SO THEY LEARNED ALL THOSE THINGS ALONG THE WAY, WHERE IT WAS, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, WRITING SKILLS, PRESENTING SKILLS.

AND THEN LEARNING THE WORDS, CITIZENSHIP, DONATION, VOLUNTEER.

AND THEN THEY WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS RATHER THAN JUST LEARN ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE THAT DO THEM, WHICH HAD A REALLY LASTING IMPACT.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT OUR PROJECT-BASED LEARNING PROJECTS TO HAVE, A LASTING IMPACT.

SO THAT THEY'LL CONTINUE TO DO THINGS TO SUPPORT THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> I LOVE THAT.

I LOVE HOW THIS PROJECT HAS INCLUDED EVERYTHING FROM LIKE THE BASICS OF WRITING, COMMUNICATION, TEAMWORK, COMMUNITY.

IT'S JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS.

AND YOU HONESTLY CAN NEVER START TOO YOUNG TEACHING THESE TYPES OF THINGS.

AND EMMA, I KNOW THAT PART OF YOUR SOCIAL STUDIES UNIT IS COMMUNITY.

TELL ME WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE THIS TYPE OF PROJECT-BASED AND COMMUNITY-BASED FLERNG THESE EARLY EDUCATIONAL YEARS.

>> WHEN THE STUDENTS ARE SO YOUNG, IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF WHAT COMMUNITY IS.

AND SO WE LIKE TO START SMALL AND KIND OF BUILD OUT.

SO WE START WITH OUR CLASSROOM COMMUNITY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

AND HOW THEY CAN BE GOOD CITIZENS WITHIN THE WALLS OF OUR CLASSROOM.

THEN WE MOVE OUT TO THE WALLS OF THE SCHOOL.

AND THEN WE KEEP GOING FARTHER AND FARTHER.

SO IT WAS REALLY GREAT FOR THEM TO SEE THAT BEING A GOOD CITIZEN IN THEIR COMMUNITY WAS JUST HELPING OTHERS OR FINDING A WAY TO DO SOME GOOD.

AND SO WE REALLY BUILT ON THAT IDEA.

STARTING WITHIN THE CLASSROOM.

JUST SHOWING KINDNESS AND BEING HELPFUL IS BEING A GOOD CITIZEN.

AND THEN WE GOT TO BUILD IT OUT FARTHER.

AND THEY WERE REALLY EXCITED TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS MORE THAN JUST WITHIN THEIR CLASSROOM AND MORE THAN JUST WITHIN THEIR SCHOOL.

I THINK THEY REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE IMPACT THAT THEY WERE MAKING.

>> AND KRISTEN, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THIS LEADING UP TO A CULMINATION.

AND SO PART OF THAT WAS HAND DELIVERING THE COLLECTED GOODS TO DAKIN THEMSELVES.

TELL ME HOW THAT EXPERIENCE WAS WHERE STUDENTS EXPRESSING -- WERE STUDENTS EXPRESSING THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER HOW PROUD THEY WERE?

>> YES.

DID -- AND IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF MATERIALS.

I SAID ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS HAS A TRUCK.

THEY CAN TRUCK EVERYTHING DOWN.

AND THEY -- TEACHER SAID TO ME T KIDS REALLY WANTED -- WANT TO DELIVER IT.

SO THEY BROUGHT IN PLASTIC BAGS AND GROCERY BAGS AND EVERY KID FILLED THESE BAGS.

AND THEM JUST HANDING IT TO THEM AND FILLING THE BIG CART THAT THEY BROUGHT OUT FOR US REALLY BROUGHT IT HOME FOR THEM.

AND THEY FELT SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO HELP.

AND SO PROUD.

AND THEY WERE EVEN ABLE TO SEE SOME OF THE ANIMALS.

AND SO HAVING THAT CONNECTION OF THEM, YOU KNOW, REALLY DOING SOMETHING TO IMPACT THEIR COMMUNITY AND BRINGING IT TO -- TO FRUITION, WHERE THEY WERE THE ONES THAT WERE DOING IT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BUILDING AND CREATING KIDS THAT ARE GOING TO GO OUT INTO THEIR COMMUNITY AND HELP IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

AND GIVING THEM THAT INTRINSIC FEELING OF ACTUALLY DOING IT REALLY MADE AN IMPACT ON THEM.

AND THEY'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT.

>> THIS WAS A SCHOOL WIDE DRIVE THAT THEY ORGANIZED.

WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE FROM THE OTHER GRADE LEVELS?

>> THEY WERE REALLY EXCITED AND REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE FIRST GRADERS, WHICH WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE.

THEY MADE POSTERS, SO THIS WE COULD HANG THEM IN THE HALLWAYS AND I HAD OTHER STUDENTS AND PREVIOUS STUDENTS OF MINE THAT SAID I SAW THE POSTER AND I CAN'T WAIT TO BRING SOMETHING IN.

I'M GOING TO ASK MOM AND DAD TONIGHT.

AND EVEN THE OTHER TEACHERS WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE.

AND SO I THINK IT REALLY BROUGHT THE WHOLE SCHOOL TOGETHER.

>> NOW, THIS IS SOME TRUE GRASSROOTS HIGH PRESSURE LEVEL ORGANIZATION -- GRASSROOTS-LIVE ORGANIZATION THAT YOU'RE SHOWING THE STUDENTS, NOT JUST THE FIRST GRADERS BUT ALL THE GRADE LEVELS.

WHAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL TAKEAWAY FOR ALL OF THE STUDENTS AND EVEN PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND THE COMMUNITY FROM THIS PROJECT?

>> I THINK THAT WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO -- TO PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

NOT ONLY DO WE LIVE HERE BUT WE CAN ALWAYS HELP MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE.

AND I THINK SPRINGFIELD IS SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND WE WANT TO SHOW KIDS THE THINGS THAT -- ABOUT IT THAT ARE GREAT AND HOW THEY CAN CONTINUE TO BE GREAT.

SO PART OF THIS WORK CAME FROM THE SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE.

AND WE'RE PART OF A TEAM THAT'S REIMAGINING SCHOOL.

AND WITH WORKING WITH TEACHERS, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW CAN WE REIMAGINE SCHOOL FOR KIDS, TO GIVE THEM MORE VOICE.

AND AUTHENTIC LEARNING AND GET THEM OUT INTO THEIR COMMUNITY SO THAT WHEN THEY DO GRADUATE FROM SCHOOL, THEY ARE READY TO BE WORKING MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY OUR OUTCOME, OF BIGGS THESE 21ST CENTURY LEARNERS THAT CAN GROW UP AND GIVE BACK AND THE EARLIER WE START TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOUR FUTURE WILL LOOK LIKE, THE HARDER THEY'RE GOING TO WORK, THE MORE INTERESTED THEY'RE GOING TO BE, IN LEARNING ABOUT THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO WHEN THEY GROW UP.

AND HAVING THEM START TO DO THOSE THINGS NOW IS JUST GONNA HELP GET THEM ON THAT TRACK.

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

OUR THANKS TO THE VILLAGE OF INDIAN ORCHARD FOR HOSTING US TODAY.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND ALL OF THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW IN THIS EPISODE, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITYE THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND TAKE CARE.

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