>>> COMING UP WE ARE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CUT TOUR IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

INCLUDING A WOMAN THAT TURNED HER PASSION IN A CAREER AND FUTURE.

>> I SAID WHAT CLASS WAS THAT?

AND I WAS HOOKED IMMEDIATELY AND I TOOK METALS THE NEXT SEMESTERS.

>> A WEAVER TURNED EVERY DAY OBJECTS INTO ONE OF A KIND WORKS OF ART.

>> IT'S GREAT TO SEE SOMETHING CHANGE IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES AND IT GETS COME PULSIVE AFTER A WHILE.

>> HE SAID FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THIS IS MY NEW WORLD AND I WILL TAKE IT AS FAR AS I CAN.

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

UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

>>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT" YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATITY AND CULTURE.

EACH WEEK WE EXPLORE ALL THE REGION HAS TO OFFER AND TODAY WE GO TO EAST HAMPTON.

HEATHER BECK GOT THE BUG TO WORK WITH HER HANDS FROM HER FATHER.

AFTER STARTING WITH SMITHING, SHE LAUNCHED HER OWN BUSINESS HEATHER BECK DESIGNS.

BECK ALSO TEACHES ADVANCED METAL CLASSES AT HER STUDIO IN MASSACHUSETTS.

AND DAVE FRAZIER SHARES HER STORY.

>> THE AMOUNT OF TRUST MY CLIENTS HAVE WITH ME, IT'S CONSIDERABLE.

>> WORKING PRIMARY IN COPPER, SILVER AND GOLD.

SMITH HEATHER BECK SPENDS HER DAY CREATED CUSTOM JEWELRY ENTIRED INSPIRED BY THE WORLD SHE WANTS TO EXPLORE.

>> YOU CANNOT SEE ALL THE DETAILS OF NATURE UNLESS YOU ARE RIGHT UP ON IT.

WALKING HAS THE MAGICAL AFFECT OF TAKING EVERYTHING IN AND HAVING HIGHER PERSPECTIVE.

>> SHE SAYS SHE IS ALWAYS GOOD WORKING WITH HER HANDS BUT IT WAS A METAL CLASS SHE TOOK IN COLLEGE THAT CHANGED HER LIFE.

>> MY ROOMMATE TOOK A METAL CLASS AND SHE CAME HOME WITH THIS LAMP AND I WAS LIKE WHAT IS THAT?

AND I TOOK IT THE NEXT SEMESTER AND I LOVE IT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE GO TO COLLEGE THAN IS NOT WHAT THEY END UP DOING BUT I STILL LOVE IT A LOT.

>> SHE CREATES HER CUSTOM PIECES IN HER WORK SHOT IN EAST HAMPTON.

IT'S PHYSICAL WORK USING PLIERS AND CUTTERS AND LOTS OF HAMMERS.

>> I HAVE MORE HAMMERS THAN I KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH.

REALLY, I HAVE A HAMMER PROBLEM.

>> THE PROCESS STARTS WITH A LUMP OF JEWELERS WAX, THAT SHE CARVES IT INTO SHAPE.

>> I CARVE IT INTO AN EXACT REPLICA OF WHAT THE METAL WILL BE AND MAP OUT THE DESIGN AND SIZE.

I CONTINUE TO MARK IT WITH MY DIVIDERS AND MAKE SURE IT IS GETTING THIN IN AN EVEN WAY.

SO THAT I CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE RING IS NOT TOO HEAVY WHEN IT'S METAL.

BECAUSE IT MAY NOT WEIGH ANYTHING IN WAX BUT ONCE IT TURNS INTO METAL THAT WILL WEIGH YOUR WHOLE HAND DOWN.

>> I AM MELTING ALL THE 14 KARAT GOLD IN THIS.

>> SHE IS TAKING FAMILY HEIRLOOMS INTO NEW PIECES ALLOWING FAMILY TO CARRY IT WITH THEM.

AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE ENVIRONMENT RECYCLING AND REPURPOSE ING JEWELRY.

>> IT'S ALREADY MINED.

WE ARE NOT IMPACTING EARTH IN A NEGATIVE WAY.

WE ARE REUSING WHAT IS ALREADY UP HERE.

SO IMPACT WISE, LIKE WITH MY CARBON FOOTPRINT IT FEELS GOOD TO REALLY DO THIS WORK.

>> BECK IS ALSO AN EDUCATOR AND TEACHING METAL AND JEWELRY MAKING SINCE 2006 AROUND THE EAST COAST.

>> TO WATCH MY STUDENTS IN HERE, LIKE WHEN I DO WEDDING BAND CLASSES.

TO WATCH THE GROWTH BLOSSOM IS JUST SUCH A JOY.

>> WHATEVER BRINGS SOMEONE TO HEATHER BECK'S STUDIO, SHE IS HAPPY TO MANIFEST THE NEXT PART OF THEIR LIVES.

>> IF I GO OUT INTO EAST HAMPTON AND I BUMP INTO A FRIEND AND THEY ARE WEARING MY WEDDING BAND.

IT'S INCREDIBLE AND I CANNOT DESCRIBE THE FEELING.

IT'S OTHERWORLDLY.

>> WHEN FACED WITH ADVERSITY, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A SURVIVOR?

"NEW YORK TIMES" BEST SELLER MICHAEL TOLDIS ANSWERS THIS QUESTION IN HIS NEW BOOK LESSONS FOR THOSE THAT SURVIVED AGAIN ALL ODDS.

IT'S THE CULL MIN NATION OF THREE DECADES OF PEOPLE THAT PERSEVERED THROUGH IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS.

I SPOKE TO HIM WITH WHAT HE HOPES THAT READERS CAN TAKE AWAY FROM THEIR STORIES.

>> FOR MANY YEARS I AM WRITING TRUE SURVIVAL STORIES.

PEOPLE MAY BE OUT AT SEA FOR THREE DAYS OR TRAPPED ON A MOUNTAIN TOP.

AS I WAS WRITING THOSE AND I WAS INTERVIEWING THESE PEOPLE I STARTED TO SEE SOME COMMON MIND SETS THEY USED TO GET THROUGH THE ORDEAL, AND I SAID, WHAT IF I WROTE A BOOK WITH THESE COMBINED STORIES WITH HOW TO GET THROUGH REAL ADVERSITY.

THESE ARE LIFE AND DEATH BUT WE CAN USE THEM FOR EVERY DAY STRUGGLES.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT, THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL BOOKS YOU HAVE WRITTEN ON SURVIVAL.

INCLUDING THE BOOK, THE FINEST HOURS, THAT WAS MADE INTO A DISNEY MOVIE SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

WHAT INTRIGUES YOU SO MUCH ABOUT THIS TOPIC?

WHEN DID THIS FASCINATION START FOUR?

>> THE FIRST WAS 10 HOURS UNTIL DAWN AND THAT TOOK PLACE OFF THE COVE OF MASSACHUSETTS DURING THE BLIZZARD OF 1978 AND I KEPT ASKING MYSELF TO THE SURVIVORS, HOW WOULD YOU DO IT?

I WOULD HAVE BURST OUT INTO TEARS AND GIVEN UP.

THAN IS WHAT DROVE ME, OVER THE YEARIZE WENT TO THE SURVIVORS HOME AND IN ONE CASE I SPENT A WHOLE WEEK WITH THEM.

AND I DUG DEEPER, HOW DID YOU THINK THIS AND HOW DID YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION WITHOUT GETTING PANICKED THERE.

THAT WAS MY THING.

>> I HAVE USED IT WHEN I WENT THROUGH MY PERSONAL STRUGGLES.

THE CHAPTER ONE IS THE POWER OF LITTLE STEPS THAT I LEARNED FROM THESE EXTREME SURVIVORS.

DON'T JUST THINK I WILL NEVER GET THERE, THERE IS SO MUCH OVERWHELMING AND SO FAR FETCHED TO EVER MAKE IT.

I THINK IN MY PERSONAL LIFE IF I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM, JUST FOCUS ON THE NEXT HOUR AND DO THE RIGHT THING FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES AND YOU'LL GET THERE AND GIVE YOURSELF PATS ON THE BACK.

SO I USED THOSE TECHNIQUES.

>> SO BEFORE WE GET INTO SOME OF THOSE STORIES, BECAUSE I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE ONES, I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE PATTERNS YOU NOTICED ABOUT THE SURVIVORS.

WHAT TRAITS MAKES A SURVIVOR?

>> IF I WERE TO SUM IT UP, IT'S TOUGH SKINNED INDIVIDUALS.

THEY MARCH TO THEIR OWN DRUMS.

AND WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM ABOUT THEIR CHILDHOOD ALL OF THEM HAD DONE SOMETHING UNUSUAL IN THEIR TEENS.

ONE SAID, I RODE A BIKE FROM CANADA TO MEXICO.

>> AND I SAID A MOTORCYCLE?

AND HE SAID A BICYCLE.

AND HE STAYED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

AND I WOULD NEVER HAVE DONE THAT AT THE AGE OF 19.

YOU CAN SEE WHY WHEN HE WAS IN A LIFE RAFT IN NOVEMBER TUMBLING, HE MADE IT.

>> IF YOU THINK YOU AREN'T BORN WITH THE NATURAL STRAIGHTS, LIKE BEING AN INDIVIDUALIST OR HAVING A TOUGH SKIN, DO YOU THINK THIS IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DEVELOP AS WE GO ON?

>> PARTIALLY.

>> THAT IS INTERESTING.

ELABORATE ON THAT.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, I WOULD SAY FOCUS ON THE BIG PICTURE.

BUT I WOULD NOT BE GOOD ON SURVIVOR STRENGTHS OF SOLVING TECHNICAL PROBLEMS.

THEY WERE GOOD LIKE THAT.

SAY THEIR WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM, LIKE THEY ARE IN THE LIFE RAFT.

STEVE CALLAHAN DRIFTED ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, AND I FIXED IT.

I COULD NEVER FIX IT.

SOME ARE BORN WITH IT.

>> WE CAN'T ALL BE SURVIVORS, THAT IS WHY WE HEAR THE STORIES AND LEARN FROM THEM.

SPEAKING OF THE STORIES, YOU SPOKE TO OVER 100 DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES.

WHAT ARE OTHER ACCOUNTS THAT ARE YOUR FAVORITES?

>> SOME DID NOT MAKE IT INTO THE BOOK BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO SHORT.

I DON'T TERM THOSE AS EXTREME.

I AM LOOKING AT PEOPLE THAT SUFFERED A MULTIDAY EVENT.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE I CAN READ YOU A PARAGRAPH.

THIS IS BRAD CAVANAUGH FROM MASSACHUSETTS.

HE WAS IN A LIFE RAFT WITH FIVE OTHERS AND ONLY TWO SURVIVED, AND TWO OF THE MEN IN THE LIFE RAFT AFTER A FEW DAYS WERE SO DEHYDRATED THEY STARTED TO SIP SEA WATER, AND THAT IS NOT GOOD, IT DEHYDRATES YOUR BRAIN.

AND ONE SAID I AM GOING TO THE DOOR TO GET A BEER, AND THEY SAID NO YOU ARE IN A RAFT.

AND THE SHARKS GOT HIM.

THEY WERE CIRCLING THEM FOR 24 HOURS.

SO I OPEN THE BOOK ON A DRAMATIC NOTE.

THE FIVE SURVIVORS WERE IN THE TROUGH OF A 30 FOOT SWELL AND LOOKED UP INTO THE GREEN WELLS OF WATER AND THAT IS WHEN THEY SAW THE SHARKS.

BRAD CAVANAUGH, AGE 21 COULD CLEARLY SEE THREE SHARKS.

EVEN WORSE WAS THAT THE SHARK COULD CLEARLY SEE US.

I OPEN THE BOOK THAT WAY, THEY ARE IN THE LIFE RAFT AND YOU ARE WONDERING WHO WILL MAKE IT AND WHO WASN'T?

AND BRAD WAS WILLING TO ANSWER ALL OF MY QUESTIONS HOW HE KEPT FIGHTING.

HE SAID THIS IS MY NEW WORLD AND I'LL TAKE IT AS FAR AS I CAN.

I SAID THAT IS LIKE WHAT ERNIE HAZARD SAID, HE WOULD GO DOWN FIGHTING.

YOU SEE HOW THEIR MIND SETS WERE REALLY TOUGH.

>> IT'S CHILLING, HEARING THE ACCOUNTS.

I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD BE A SURVIVOR IN THAT SITUATION.

BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY INSPIRING.

WHAT HAS WRITING THE BOOK TAUGHT YOU ABOUT YOURSELF.

AND BEYOND THE BOOK, BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 35 YEARS COLLECTING THE STORIES?

>> I THINK WE ARE ALL MUCH STRONGER THAN WE THINK THEY ARE.

IN MY PERSONAL LIFE WITH AN ILLNESS, I USED A COUPLE OF LESSONS, I LEARNED.

KEEP MAKING LITTLE STEPS EACH DAY AND PRETTY SOON YOU STRING TOGETHER A BUNCH OF DAYS AND OVERTIME YOU FEEL BETTER.

BUT IF YOU SET A DEADLINE AND YOU DON'T GET BETTER YOU WILL BE CRUSHED.

>> LIKE JOHN McCAIN, HE WAS A POW.

HE WOULD HEAR RUMORS OF BEING RELEASED BUT I DIDN'T GET TOO HIGH FROM THOSE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE CRUSHING WHEN IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

>> WHAT IS YOUR KEY TAKE AWAY FROM READERS WHEN THEY READ THIS BOOK?

>> THEY WILL BE ENTERTAINED BECAUSE EVERYONE LOVES A GOOD SURVIVAL STORY AND LEARNED.

I HAVE A FEELING THAT THIS IS ONE BOOK THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT LEND OUT.

THEY WILL SAY, I WILL KEEP THIS FOR THE DAY I AM IN A TOUGH SITUATION, AND WE ALL WILL BE, AND THEN YOU'LL GO OVER SOME OF THOSE LESSONS LEARNED.

UNLIKE MY OTHER BOOKS LIKE THE TEN HOURS OR THE BLIZZARD.

YOU GET THROUGH IT AND YOU PUT IT ASIDE.

THIS ONE YOU'LL WANT TO GO BACK TO, I THINK.

>> IF YOU ENJOYED THAT INTERVIEW HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE PAGE YOU CAN HEAR MICHAEL READ AN EXCERPT IN A DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE.

>> THEY TRIED TO HANG ON AND AVOID THEIR DISCOMFORTABLE AND IN DONALD'S CASE SAY A PRAYER.

HE KNEW THE SITUATION WAS SERIOUS BUT HAD NO IDEA HOW DANGEROUS THE VOYAGE WOULD BECOME.

ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LATER DONALD SAID HIS SILENT PRAYER AND THE DRONE OF THE ENGINES SUDDENLY CEASED.

>> FIND THAT RIGHT NOW AT WGBY.ORG/CONNECTING POINT.

>> AND ART IS NOT ALWAYS MEANT TO BE ON THE WALL AT THE HAPPY WEAVER STUDIO NANCY USED HER WEAVING TO MAKE RUGS AND EVEN PET LEASHES THAT ARE MEANT TO BE USED.

BRIAN SULLIVAN PAID A VISIT TO EVANS IN HIS CONTINUING LOOK AT THE BUILDINGS CREATIVE COMMUNITY.

>> AS THE WORLD CONTINUES TO MARCH FORWARD WITH TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES.

IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT SOME OF THE MOST ANCIENT PRACTICES ARE STILL TRIED AND TRUE.

AND THAT IS WEAVING.

NANCY EVANS MAY NOT HAVE DONE IT FOR TOO LONG BUT HER DRIVE HAS KEPT HER GOING FOR YEARS.

THIS IS NOT SURPRISING AFTER FINDING OUT SHE SAY FORMER MATH TEACHER.

>> I LIKE ALL THE ARITHMETIC INVOLVED IN SETTING IT UP.

HOW MANY YARDS DO YOU NEED TO MAKE A TOWEL.

AND HOW MANY THREADS WILL YOU NEED IN AND DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH YARN?

I JUST LIKE THE ARITHMETIC.

AND THEN IT'S JUST FUN TO SEE SOMETHING DEVELOP IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES AND IT GETS COMPULSIVE ONCE IN A WHILE.

>> WHEN THE CENTER IN LONG MEADOW CLOSED THE TWO WORKED TOGETHER HERE AT THE INDIAN ORCHARD MILLS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

FOR CASEY IT SEEMED LIKE MORE THAN GOOD FORTUNE.

>> I THINK SHE IS GODLY SENT.

ONLY GOODNESS HAPPENS FOR ME HERE SO, GODLY SENT, YES.

>> WE COME IN AND WE EACH HAVE OUR OWN LOOMS.

I HAVE SEVERAL GOING AT ONCE.

JOE LIKES HIS UNION SPECIAL.

AND HE ALWAYS HAS A RUG GOING.

AND WE JUST, WE ARE DOING SOMETHING TO MAKE A RUG.

OR MAKE A TOWEL.

AND WHETHER IT'S THE ACTUAL WEAVING OR SETTING UP, TYING KNOTS, JUST WHATEVER NEEDS TO GET DONE.

>> BY SEVERAL PROJECTS THIS MEANS SEVERAL DIFFERENT LOOMS THROUGHOUT THE ROOM.

THIS LOOM WAS HER FIRST PURCHASE BACK IN 1979 AND THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY THESE FLOOR LOOMS, WHICH ARE THE PIECES THAT PEOPLE ASSOCIATE WITH WEAVING.

AND THIS TRAVEL LOOM.

IT DOES NOT REQUIRE FOOTWORK BUT REQUIRES EXTREME ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND IT'S EVAN'S FAVORITE.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW I GOT INTO IT.

YOU CAN MAKE VERY INTERESTING PATTERNS, YOU CAN MAKE TREES AND BUNNIES.

JUST ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT PATTERNS.

IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO ME.

AND THE BANDS ARE USEFUL.

AND YOU CAN TIE UP BOXES.

YOU CAN MAKE PET LEASHES.

JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT USES FOR THEM.

>> THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, WE VISITED THE BUILDING FARTHER BACK FROM THE MAIN ROAD FROM WHICH MANY TENNANTSES CAN ENJOY THE VIEW OF THE RIVER.

MOST ARTISTS CAN FIND FOUND IN THE BUILDING WHERE THE DANE GALLERY IS LOCATED.

BUT NANCY EVANS HAS HER WEAVING OPERATION IN THIS BUILDING UP ON THE THIRD FLOOR IN A CORNER OFFICE WITH A VIEW.

>> THE VIEWS COVER NOT ONLY WATERWAYS BUT MUCH OF THIS LITTLE SECTION OF TOWN.

>> BUT HERE IN THE MILL BUILDINGS IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE VIEWS IT'S ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING HERE.

>> I THINK FOR A LOT OF THE ARTISTS THAT HAVE STUDIOS HERE, I HEARD SEVERAL PEOPLE SAY IT'S THEIR HAPPY PLACE.

SO THEY COME HERE AND EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE WORKING AT THEIR ART, IT'S STILL A NICE HAPPY PLACE AND THERE IS NO TELEPHONE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT VACUUMING EXCEPT FOR OPEN STUDIOS.

SOMETIMES NOT EVEN THAT.

>> AFTER HELPING HER YOUNG DAUGHTER BUILD ON HER PUBLIC SPEAKING KILLS.

IONA CRAWFORD REALIZED THIS SKILL SET COULD BE SOMETHING THAT OTHER YOUNG GIRLS NEEDED ADDRESS WELL.

THEY FOUNDED THE TAKE THE MIKE PROGRAM TO BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM BY TEACHING THEM PUBLIC SPEAKING.

>> WE KNOW IN BUSINESS AND SCHOOL AND ALL TYPES OF WORK WE DO, YOU KNOW, THE FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING, RIGHT?

THE FEAR OF SPEAKING TO PEOPLE YOU MAY NOT KNOW OR YOU MAY NOT SAY THE RIGHT WORDS.

AND THE FEAR OF NOT COMING ACROSS CLEAR AND CONCISE.

AND WE ALL HAVE THAT FEAR SO IT'S IMPORTANT WE START EARLY IN SCHOOLS AND IN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS, TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SPEAKING.

IT AFFECTS EVERY WALK OF LIFE WE GET INVOLVED IN.

WHETHER YOU WORK IN THE GROCERY STORE OR WORK IN A COLLEGE OR ARE A TEACHER OR PROFESSOR, YOU KNOW, WORKING WHAT YOU DO AS A HOST OF A TV SHOW.

YOU KNOW EVERYTHING WE DO HAS TO DO WITH SPEAKING.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HELPING, NOT ONLY YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT THOSE THAT MIGHT NEED SOME UNDERSTANDING ON HOW DO YOU HAVE THOSE TOOLS AND HOW DO YOU HAVE GREAT WAYS OF, SORT OF PAUSING AND TAKING A MOMENT AND BREATHING, AND SAYING YOU KNOW WHAT LET ME RE-EVALUATE OR TAKE A MOMENT AND THINK ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO SAY.

>> YOU TOUCH ON THAT NICELY.

SAYING IT DOESN'T MATTER THE CAREER YOU CHOOSE PUBLIC SPEAKING IS IMPORTANT.

I WAS VERY SHY GROWING UP AND HAVING TO TAKE PUBLIC SPEAKING, TO HAVE THIS CAREER, AND I KNEW IT WAS A GOOD SKILL NO MATTER WHICH PATHWAY YOU TAKE.

TELL US HOW THE CONFIDENCE OF PUBLIC SPEAKING HELPS BUILD SELF ESTEEM, WHY DO THEY GO HAND IN HAND?

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

WHEN GIRLS HAVE A MESSAGE TO SAY AND ARE CONFIDENT IN WHAT THEY ARE SAYING THAT BUILDS THEIR SELF-ESTEEM.

THEY BELIEVE IN IT AND THEY CONVEY IT TO WHOMEVER THEY ARE SPEAKING TO.

IF YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING AND YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING AND YOU, YOURSELF, ARE VERY COMMANDING OF THAT MESSAGE IT COMES ACROSS THAT WAY.

>> AND TAKE THE MIKE HAS AFTER SCHOOL SESSIONS AS WELL AS SUMMER SESSIONS AND YOU DESCRIBE IT AS A FUN AND INTERACTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT A SESSION LOOKS LIKE AND HOW ARE YOU REALLY ABLE TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG ADULTS AND STUDENTS TO OPEN UP DURING THE PROGRAMS?

>> IN THE BEGINNNG IT TRICKY AND WE GET THEM ENGAGED.

WE HAVE ICE BREAKERS THAT GETS YOUR HAIR DOWN AND GET ACTIVE.

WE START OUT WITH THE INITIAL CLASS, THE INTRODUCTORY TO PUBLIC SPEAKING WE HAVE A POWERPOINT AND ROLE PLAYING AND WE GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES TO DO TO SHOWCASE THEIR PUBLIC SPEAKING.

WE MAY HAVE THEM READ A POEM OR A TONGUE TWISTER OR READ A SHORT ESSAY.

AND WE HAVE A CREATIVE WRITING CLASS AND COMPUTER CLASS AND A NUTRITION CLASS WE DO WITH THE GIRLS.

WE ALSO HAVE WHAT TO WEAR AND WHAT NOT TO WEAR, AND HEALTH AND BEAUTY.

WE BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THOSE COMPONENTS AND YOUR PRESENTATION CONVEYS A MESSAGE TOO.

AND WE HAVE A CEREMONY WHERE EACH GIRLS CAN PRESENT A TOPIC OF THEIR CHOICE TO PRESENT IT TO THEIR PEERS, AND WE ALL GET TO LISTEN TO THE SKILLS AND THEIR PRESENTATION AT AT END.

>> I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW POWERFUL THAT PRESENTATION AT THE END MUST BE SEEING THE TRANSFORMATION OF THESE CHILDREN.

WHAT HAS BEEN MAYBE ONE MOMENT FROM AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP THAT YOU HAVE WORKED WITH THAT HAS REALLY STUCK WITH YOU AND THE MOMENT OF TRANSFORMATION YOU HAVE SEEN?

>> IT GOES BACK TO MY FIRST INITIAL PROGRAM.

IT WAS WHAT WE CALL A SEMINAR, IT WAS A ONE DAY TAKE THE MIKE SEMINAR.

WE HAD ABOUT 45 GIRLS AND THERE WERE TWO GIRLS THAT WERE NOT SURE IF THEY WANTED TO COME.

AND THEY WERE VERY, VERY SHY EVEN IN THE PEER GROUPS WITH THEIR FRIENDS THEY REALLY DID NOT TALK AT ALL, NOTHING.

AFTER OUR PROGRAM THE PARENT AND FRIENDS SAID, OH MY GOODNESS MY FRIEND IS TALKING AND SHE LOVED YOUR PROGRAM.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU CURED HER FROM BEING SHY.

AND SHE LOVED IT AND FROM THAT DAY ON SHE GAINED MORE CONFIDENCE IN HER OWN PUBLIC SPEAKING AND BECAME A BITTER SPEAKER WITH HER FRIENDS AND WITH HER PARENTS AND FOR THAT REASON ALONE I KNEW I HAD TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

AND THAT WAS IN 2014.

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

YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND ALL THE STORIES YOU SAW IN THIS EPISODE AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND DIGITAL CONTENT ONLINE AT, NEPM.ORG/CONNECTING POINT.

JOIN US HERE EVERY WEEK FOR MORE STORIES THAT CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY.

>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" IS CONTRIBUTED BY OUR VIEWERS.