♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A CELEBRATION OF INCLUDING A CELEBRATION OF PRIDE.

PRIDE.

>> LOVE IS LOVE.

>> LOVE IS LOVE.

NO MATTER YOUR AGE, SHAPE, NO MATTER YOUR AGE, SHAPE, SIZES, OR COLOR, YOU'RE WELCOME SIZES, OR COLOR, YOU'RE WELCOME HERE.

HERE.

ON THIS EARTH.

ON THIS EARTH.

>> A VISUAL ARTIST EXPLORES HIS >> A VISUAL ARTIST EXPLORES HIS OWN FAMILY HISTORY AND CULTURE OWN FAMILY HISTORY AND CULTURE THROUGH A COLLAGE OF IMAGES.

THROUGH A COLLAGE OF IMAGES.

>> I WANTED TO BRING THESE >> I WANTED TO BRING THESE PEOPLES WHOSE STORIES ARE NOT PEOPLES WHOSE STORIES ARE NOT HEARD, WHOSE FACES ARE NOT SEEN, HEARD, WHOSE FACES ARE NOT SEEN, WHO HAVE BEEN INVISIBLE.

WHO HAVE BEEN INVISIBLE.

>> AND WE'LL PAY A VISIT TO AN >> AND WE'LL PAY A VISIT TO AN ENDURING FAMILY FARM THAT'S ENDURING FAMILY FARM THAT'S THREE GENERATIONS STRONG.

THREE GENERATIONS STRONG.

>> WE'RE PRETTY DIVERSIFIED.

>> WE'RE PRETTY DIVERSIFIED.

WE GROW A LITTLE BIT OF WE GROW A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING.

WE DO FLOWERS, WE DO VEGETABLES.

WE DO FLOWERS, WE DO VEGETABLES.

SO WE'RE -- WE'RE KIND OF SPREAD SO WE'RE -- WE'RE KIND OF SPREAD OUT.

OUT.

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

"CONNECTING POINT."

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

CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> AND THANKS FOR JOINING US >>> AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

EACH WEEK THIS SUMMER, WE'RE EACH WEEK THIS SUMMER, WE'RE EXPLORING ALL THAT WESTERN EXPLORING ALL THAT WESTERN NEW ENGLAND HAS TO OFFER.

NEW ENGLAND HAS TO OFFER.

AND TODAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU AND TODAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM SPRINGFIELD'S RIVERFRONT FROM SPRINGFIELD'S RIVERFRONT PARK ON HALL OF FAME AVENUE.

PARK ON HALL OF FAME AVENUE.

SPRINGFIELD IS KNOWN TO MANY AS SPRINGFIELD IS KNOWN TO MANY AS THE CITY OF FIRSTS, AND SOME THE CITY OF FIRSTS, AND SOME EXAMPLES INCLUDE BEING THE HOME EXAMPLES INCLUDE BEING THE HOME OF THE FIRST AMERICAN-MADE OF THE FIRST AMERICAN-MADE AUTOMOBILE, THE FIRST BOARD AUTOMOBILE, THE FIRST BOARD GAME, AND, OF COURSE, THE GAME, AND, OF COURSE, THE BIRTHPLACE OF BASKETBALL.

BIRTHPLACE OF BASKETBALL.

BUT RECENTLY THE CITY CELEBRATED BUT RECENTLY THE CITY CELEBRATED ANOTHER MILESTONE.

ANOTHER MILESTONE.

THIS I AM WAS THE VERY FIRST THIS I AM WAS THE VERY FIRST PRIDE PARADE HELD IN THE CITY'S PRIDE PARADE HELD IN THE CITY'S LONG HISTORY.

LONG HISTORY.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT AND WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT STORY A LITTLE LATER IN THE STORY A LITTLE LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

PROGRAM.

>>> BUT OUR SHOW TODAY BEGINS >>> BUT OUR SHOW TODAY BEGINS JUST OVER THE BORDER IN THE JUST OVER THE BORDER IN THE GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE OF VERMONT.

GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE OF VERMONT.

WESTERN MASS-BASED ARTIST MARK WESTERN MASS-BASED ARTIST MARK GOOGLIELMO'S UPBRINGING WAS IN A GOOGLIELMO'S UPBRINGING WAS IN A LARGE, BLUE COLLAR ITALIAN LARGE, BLUE COLLAR ITALIAN AMERICAN FAMILY IN NEW YORK AND AMERICAN FAMILY IN NEW YORK AND HE SPENT YEARS AS A RAPPER AND HE SPENT YEARS AS A RAPPER AND PRODUCER IMMERSIONED IN THE PRODUCER IMMERSIONED IN THE HIP-HOP COMMUNITY BEFORE HIP-HOP COMMUNITY BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO VISUAL ART.

TRANSITIONING TO VISUAL ART.

HE EXPLORES HIS ITALIAN HERITAGE HE EXPLORES HIS ITALIAN HERITAGE AND CULTURE AND HANGS IN THE AND CULTURE AND HANGS IN THE VERMONT CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY VERMONT CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY IN BRATTLEBORO.

IN BRATTLEBORO.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US HIS STORY.

HIS STORY.

>> YOU KNOW, ART HAS BEEN IF >> YOU KNOW, ART HAS BEEN IF PART OF -- PART OF MY LIFE WHERE PART OF -- PART OF MY LIFE WHERE I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO ALLOW I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO ALLOW MYSELF TO IMAGINE WHO I REALLY MYSELF TO IMAGINE WHO I REALLY AM AND TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO BE AM AND TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO BE THAT.

THAT.

>> FROM HIS NORTH HAMPTON >> FROM HIS NORTH HAMPTON STUDIO, NEW YORK NATIVE MARK STUDIO, NEW YORK NATIVE MARK GOOGLIELMO MAKES LARGE-SCALE GOOGLIELMO MAKES LARGE-SCALE PAINTED PHOTO COLLAGES, MIXED PAINTED PHOTO COLLAGES, MIXED MEDIA PORTRAITS, AND LANDSCAPES MEDIA PORTRAITS, AND LANDSCAPES THAT EXPLORE RACE, CLASS, THAT EXPLORE RACE, CLASS, IMMIGRATION, FRAGMENTATION, IMMIGRATION, FRAGMENTATION, MEMORY, AND IDENTITY.

MEMORY, AND IDENTITY.

>> I GOT INTO ART THROUGH >> I GOT INTO ART THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY.

PHOTOGRAPHY.

I HAD A GRAY HIGH SCHOOL I HAD A GRAY HIGH SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHY -- GREAT HIGH SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHY -- GREAT HIGH SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHY TEACH.

PHOTOGRAPHY TEACH.

HE HAD A DARK ROOM IN MY PUBLIC HE HAD A DARK ROOM IN MY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL.

HIGH SCHOOL.

AND SHE KIND OF PLANTED THE SEED AND SHE KIND OF PLANTED THE SEED OF WHAT IT WAS TO MAKE IMAGES.

OF WHAT IT WAS TO MAKE IMAGES.

I WAS LOOKING THROUGH AN ART I WAS LOOKING THROUGH AN ART BOOK THAT THE TEACHER HAD.

BOOK THAT THE TEACHER HAD.

AND I HAPPENED TO CROSS THIS AND I HAPPENED TO CROSS THIS PHOTO COLLAGE THAT DAVID HOCK PHOTO COLLAGE THAT DAVID HOCK KNEE DID.

KNEE DID.

MY -- HOCK KNEE DID.

MY -- HOCK KNEE DID.

MY EYES RECOGNIZED THIS IMAGE IS MY EYES RECOGNIZED THIS IMAGE IS SOMEHOW VERY DIFFERENT THAN ANY SOMEHOW VERY DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER IMAGE I'VE CREATED.

OTHER IMAGE I'VE CREATED.

SO I KNEW WHAT I SAW THAT IMAGE, SO I KNEW WHAT I SAW THAT IMAGE, I HAVE TO TRY THAT.

I HAVE TO TRY THAT.

>> USED AN OLD-FASHIONED >> USED AN OLD-FASHIONED APPROACH, GOOGLIELMO DOES NOT APPROACH, GOOGLIELMO DOES NOT USE A COMPUTER OR PHOTOSHOP TO USE A COMPUTER OR PHOTOSHOP TO CREATE HIS COLLAGES.

CREATE HIS COLLAGES.

HE SAYS HIS PROCESS IS SO HE SAYS HIS PROCESS IS SO SIMPLE, A CHILD COULD DO IT.

SIMPLE, A CHILD COULD DO IT.

JUST SCISSORS, TAPE, AND FOUR BY JUST SCISSORS, TAPE, AND FOUR BY SIX INCH PHOTOS.

SIX INCH PHOTOS.

>> YOU TAKE ONE PHOTO AND YOU >> YOU TAKE ONE PHOTO AND YOU PUT ANOTHER PHOTO.

PUT ANOTHER PHOTO.

YEAH, AND YOU PUT A LITTLE PIECE YEAH, AND YOU PUT A LITTLE PIECE OF TAPE.

OF TAPE.

THEN YOU TAKE ANOTHER PHOTO.

THEN YOU TAKE ANOTHER PHOTO.

OKAY, OKAY, YEAH, RIGHT THERE.

OKAY, OKAY, YEAH, RIGHT THERE.

INTUITIVE.

INTUITIVE.

IT'S ALL INTUITIVE.

IT'S ALL INTUITIVE.

AN EYE.

AN EYE.

PIECE OF TAPE.

PIECE OF TAPE.

AND YOU BUILD OUT ORGANICALLY.

AND YOU BUILD OUT ORGANICALLY.

>> IN 2015 HE TRAVELED TO CUBA >> IN 2015 HE TRAVELED TO CUBA FOR THE FIRST TIME.

FOR THE FIRST TIME.

HE TOOK SALSA CLASSES, WALKED HE TOOK SALSA CLASSES, WALKED THE STREETS, CONNECTED WITH THE THE STREETS, CONNECTED WITH THE PEOPLE, AND GOT TO KNOW THE PEOPLE, AND GOT TO KNOW THE ISLAND.

ISLAND.

>> CUBA IS PEOPLE ARE SO >> CUBA IS PEOPLE ARE SO FRIENDLY THAT I WAS ABLE TO DO FRIENDLY THAT I WAS ABLE TO DO PORTRAITS AND HAVE CRCHTIONS -- PORTRAITS AND HAVE CRCHTIONS -- CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND DO CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND DO INTERVIEWS.

INTERVIEWS.

SO ALL THE PIECES OF CUBA ARE SO ALL THE PIECES OF CUBA ARE PORTRAITS WHETHER THEY'RE IN THE PORTRAITS WHETHER THEY'RE IN THE CITY, IN THEIR HOME N A CITY, IN THEIR HOME N A LANDSCAPE.

LANDSCAPE.

>> FOR HIS RECENT INSTALLATION, >> FOR HIS RECENT INSTALLATION, CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY AT THE CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY AT THE VERMONT CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY, VERMONT CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY, HE TRAVELED TO SICILY, ITALY, HE TRAVELED TO SICILY, ITALY, THE LAND OF HIS ANCESTORS, TO THE LAND OF HIS ANCESTORS, TO EXPLORE AND IMAGINE WHAT THEIR EXPLORE AND IMAGINE WHAT THEIR LIFE MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE.

LIFE MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE.

ENTITLED "SPIRITS IN THE LAND," ENTITLED "SPIRITS IN THE LAND," THIS ADDRESSES INTERSENTING THIS ADDRESSES INTERSENTING THEMES OF MEMORY, THEMES OF MEMORY, VULNERABILITY,IUM GRACE, VULNERABILITY,IUM GRACE, IDENTITY, AND THE -- IDENTITY, AND THE -- IMMIGRATION, IDENTITY, AND THE IMMIGRATION, IDENTITY, AND THE ANCESTORS ON THE LAND THEY ANCESTORS ON THE LAND THEY INHABITED AND THE PEOPLE THAT INHABITED AND THE PEOPLE THAT FOLLOWED.

FOLLOWED.

>> HOW ARE MY PEOPLE >> HOW ARE MY PEOPLE REPRESENTING IN POPULAR MEDIA, REPRESENTING IN POPULAR MEDIA, AND CULTURE.

AND CULTURE.

YOU HAVE THE SOPRANOS, YOU HAVE THE SOPRANOS, GOODFELLAS, YOU GOT THE GOODFELLAS, YOU GOT THE GODFATHER, YOU GOT JERSEY SHORE.

GODFATHER, YOU GOT JERSEY SHORE.

WHAT ELSE YOU GOT?

WHAT ELSE YOU GOT?

IT'S LIKE, OKAY, SO THERE'S THAT IT'S LIKE, OKAY, SO THERE'S THAT ASPECT OF US, WHICH IS A PART OF ASPECT OF US, WHICH IS A PART OF US.

US.

BUT IT'S -- YOU KNOW, 1%.

BUT IT'S -- YOU KNOW, 1%.

AND SO FOR ME IT'S LIKE I WANT AND SO FOR ME IT'S LIKE I WANT TO PORTRAY WHO MY GRANDMOTHER TO PORTRAY WHO MY GRANDMOTHER WAS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SHE WAS WAS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SHE WAS NONE OF THOSE THINGS.

NONE OF THOSE THINGS.

SHE WAS A LOT MORE.

SHE WAS A LOT MORE.

>> EACH MOSAIC IS MADE UP UN OF >> EACH MOSAIC IS MADE UP UN OF HUNDREDS OF SNAPSHOTS.

HUNDREDS OF SNAPSHOTS.

WOULD IT SHOTS AND CLOSE-UPS WOULD IT SHOTS AND CLOSE-UPS CAPTURED THE DETAILS LOST IN A CAPTURED THE DETAILS LOST IN A SINGLE IMAGE.

SINGLE IMAGE.

GOOGLIELMO RETURNS PEOPLE TO GOOGLIELMO RETURNS PEOPLE TO THEIR HOMELAND BY ASSUME THEIR HOMELAND BY ASSUME IMPOSING THEIR IMAGES OVER THE IMPOSING THEIR IMAGES OVER THE COLLAGE.

COLLAGE.

>> THE WORK IS ALIVE TO ME.

>> THE WORK IS ALIVE TO ME.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I MAKE THESE YOU KNOW, WHEN I MAKE THESE PIECES, THEY'RE ALIVE TO ME.

PIECES, THEY'RE ALIVE TO ME.

WHEN I LOVE THEM, WHEN THEY COME WHEN I LOVE THEM, WHEN THEY COME OUT GOOD, I LOVE THEM.

OUT GOOD, I LOVE THEM.

SO I WANTED TO BRING THESE SO I WANTED TO BRING THESE PEOPLES WHOSE STORIES ARE NOT PEOPLES WHOSE STORIES ARE NOT HEARD, WHOSE FACES ARE NOT SEEN, HEARD, WHOSE FACES ARE NOT SEEN, WHO HAVE BEEN INVISIBLE, AND SO WHO HAVE BEEN INVISIBLE, AND SO FOR ME IT'S LIKE BRINGING MY FOR ME IT'S LIKE BRINGING MY PEOPLE TO THE TABLE IN A WAY PEOPLE TO THE TABLE IN A WAY THAT FEELS LIKE HONORING THEM THAT FEELS LIKE HONORING THEM AND KIND OF MAKING SPACE AT THE AND KIND OF MAKING SPACE AT THE TABLE FOR EVERYONE.

TABLE FOR EVERYONE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> AND WHILE MARK GIEWGZ >> AND WHILE MARK GIEWGZ GOOGLIELMO VISUAL ART TOOK GOOGLIELMO VISUAL ART TOOK CENTER STAGE IN THE STORY YOU CENTER STAGE IN THE STORY YOU JUST SAW, HE HAD ANOTHER LIFE AS JUST SAW, HE HAD ANOTHER LIFE AS A RAPPER AND HIP-HOP PRODUCER, A RAPPER AND HIP-HOP PRODUCER, WORKING WITH EMINEM AND OTHER WORKING WITH EMINEM AND OTHER STARS AND HE DISCUSSES THAT TIME STARS AND HE DISCUSSES THAT TIME WITH PRODUCER DAVE FRASER IN WITH PRODUCER DAVE FRASER IN THIS DIGITAL EXTRA.

THIS DIGITAL EXTRA.

>> MADE A DEMO IN HIGH SCHOOL.

>> MADE A DEMO IN HIGH SCHOOL.

IT WAS VERY DAISK BASIC AND IT WAS VERY DAISK BASIC AND RUDIMENTARY.

RUDIMENTARY.

BUT IT WAS MAGIC AGAIN.

BUT IT WAS MAGIC AGAIN.

THAT SAME KIND OF MAGIC.

THAT SAME KIND OF MAGIC.

JUST LIKE THE PHOTOGRAPHY, FROM JUST LIKE THE PHOTOGRAPHY, FROM NOTHINGNESS, SAME WITH THIS NOTHINGNESS, SAME WITH THIS MUSIC.

MUSIC.

FROM SILENCE ALL OF A SUDDEN OUT FROM SILENCE ALL OF A SUDDEN OUT OF THE BOX RADIO, IT WASN'T OF THE BOX RADIO, IT WASN'T GRAND MASTER FLASH.

GRAND MASTER FLASH.

IT WAS ME.

IT WAS ME.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL >> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXTRA AND SO MUCH MORE RIGHT NOW EXTRA AND SO MUCH MORE RIGHT NOW ON OUR WEB PAGE AT ON OUR WEB PAGE AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, >>> IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, HISTORY WAS MADES ABOUT THE CITY HISTORY WAS MADES ABOUT THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD HOSTED ITS OF SPRINGFIELD HOSTED ITS FIRST-EVER LGBTQ+ PRIDE PARADE.

FIRST-EVER LGBTQ+ PRIDE PARADE.

THE INAUGURAL EVENT DREW THE INAUGURAL EVENT DREW THOUSANDS DOWNTOWN AND IT THOUSANDS DOWNTOWN AND IT INCLUDED WITH A BLOCK PARTY THAT INCLUDED WITH A BLOCK PARTY THAT INCLUDING LIVE MUSIC, FOOT, INCLUDING LIVE MUSIC, FOOT, GAMES, AND MORE.

GAMES, AND MORE.

-- FOOD, GAMES, AND MORE.

-- FOOD, GAMES, AND MORE.

I SPOKE WITH THE FOUNDER AND I SPOKE WITH THE FOUNDER AND C.E.O.

OF THE SPRINGFIELD PRIDE C.E.O.

OF THE SPRINGFIELD PRIDE PARADE, TAUREAN BETHEA, TO HEAR PARADE, TAUREAN BETHEA, TO HEAR MORE.

MORE.

>> HAVING VISIBILITY FOR THE >> HAVING VISIBILITY FOR THE YOUTH OF THE LGBTQIA PLUS YOUTH OF THE LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY IS SO IMPORTANT.

COMMUNITY IS SO IMPORTANT.

AND SPRINGFIELD, YOU KNOW, I AND SPRINGFIELD, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I AM A SPRINGFIELD NATIVE MEAN, I AM A SPRINGFIELD NATIVE AND JUST -- JUST SEEING THAT AND JUST -- JUST SEEING THAT THERE WAS REALLY NO PRESENCE OF THERE WAS REALLY NO PRESENCE OF THE COMMUNITY HERE REALLY GOT THE COMMUNITY HERE REALLY GOT THE BALL ROLLING WITH THE IDEA THE BALL ROLLING WITH THE IDEA OF PRODUCING SPRINGFIELD'S FIRST OF PRODUCING SPRINGFIELD'S FIRST PRIDE PARADE.

PRIDE PARADE.

AND THEN WITH NORTHAMPTON AND AND THEN WITH NORTHAMPTON AND BOSTON, NOT DOING THEIR PARADE BOSTON, NOT DOING THEIR PARADE THIS YEAR, IT JUST ENDED UP THIS YEAR, IT JUST ENDED UP BEING THE PERFECT TIME TO LAUNCH BEING THE PERFECT TIME TO LAUNCH THIS.

THIS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ACTUAL >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ACTUAL PARADE.

PARADE.

SO YOU HAD ATTENDEES, PARADE SO YOU HAD ATTENDEES, PARADE FLOATS, PARADE VEHICLES, ALL FLOATS, PARADE VEHICLES, ALL MARCHING THROUGH DOWNTOWN MARCHING THROUGH DOWNTOWN SPRINGFIELD.

SPRINGFIELD.

WHAT ELSE DID THE DAY ENTAIL?

WHAT ELSE DID THE DAY ENTAIL?

TELL ME ALL ABOUT HOW IT WENT.

TELL ME ALL ABOUT HOW IT WENT.

>> THE DAY WAS CRAZY, BUT I HAD >> THE DAY WAS CRAZY, BUT I HAD THE MOST AMAZING TEAM WHO JUST THE MOST AMAZING TEAM WHO JUST MADE THE DAY JUST FLAWLESS.

MADE THE DAY JUST FLAWLESS.

YOU KNOW.

YOU KNOW.

AND IT WAS A LONG, LONG DAY.

AND IT WAS A LONG, LONG DAY.

BUT WE HAD SOME GREAT BUT WE HAD SOME GREAT PERFORMANCES.

PERFORMANCES.

WE HAD SOME AWESOME SPEAKERS.

WE HAD SOME AWESOME SPEAKERS.

AND THE KIDS WERE JUST IN THE AND THE KIDS WERE JUST IN THE STREET DANCING.

STREET DANCING.

AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

IT WAS SO AWESOME.

IT WAS SO AWESOME.

>> I WAS GONNA SAY, IT WAS A >> I WAS GONNA SAY, IT WAS A REALLY LONG DAY BECAUSE IT REALLY LONG DAY BECAUSE IT STARTED AT 10:00, ENDED AT 5:00.

STARTED AT 10:00, ENDED AT 5:00.

YOU HAD A BLOCK PARTY AFTER.

YOU HAD A BLOCK PARTY AFTER.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

HOW DID IT FEEL TO SEE ALL THE HOW DID IT FEEL TO SEE ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE STREETS COMING PEOPLE IN THE STREETS COMING TOGETHER AFTER SO MUCH TIME TOGETHER AFTER SO MUCH TIME BEING APART?

BEING APART?

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

IT FELT AMAZING.

IT FELT AMAZING.

AND YEAH, THE DAY -- DAY -- AND YEAH, THE DAY -- DAY -- PARADE STARTED AT 10:00, BUT WE PARADE STARTED AT 10:00, BUT WE STARTED AT 6:00.

STARTED AT 6:00.

[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] >> WOW!

>> WOW!

>> SO WE STARTED AT 6:00.

>> SO WE STARTED AT 6:00.

SO BY, YOU KNOW, ABOUT 10:00 WE SO BY, YOU KNOW, ABOUT 10:00 WE WERE READY TO GO.

WERE READY TO GO.

IT -- YOU KNOW, IT JUST FELT IT -- YOU KNOW, IT JUST FELT LIKE A DAY OF LOVE.

LIKE A DAY OF LOVE.

YOU CAN PHYSICALLY FEEL THE LOVE YOU CAN PHYSICALLY FEEL THE LOVE AND THE HAPPINESS IN THE AIR ON AND THE HAPPINESS IN THE AIR ON SATURDAY.

SATURDAY.

IT WAS SO SPECIAL.

IT WAS SO SPECIAL.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [CHEERING] [CHEERING] >> I GREW UP HERE AND IT'S THE >> I GREW UP HERE AND IT'S THE FIRST PRIDE OF SPRINGFIELD, SO I FIRST PRIDE OF SPRINGFIELD, SO I NEEDED TO BE HERE!

NEEDED TO BE HERE!

>> AND I'VE LOVED PARADES MY >> AND I'VE LOVED PARADES MY ENTIRE LIFE.

ENTIRE LIFE.

I USED TO PERFORM IN PARADES AND I USED TO PERFORM IN PARADES AND ALL THAT, SO GETTING BACK INTO ALL THAT, SO GETTING BACK INTO THE ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMETHING THAT I AM A PART OF SOMETHING THAT I AM A PART OF AND I LOVE BANG A PART OF, IT'S AND I LOVE BANG A PART OF, IT'S SO GREAT.

SO GREAT.

>> WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE >> WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE EVERYONE, CELEBRATE LOVE, LOVE EVERYONE, CELEBRATE LOVE, LOVE IS LOVE!

IS LOVE!

SO WE'RE HAVING A REALLY GREAT SO WE'RE HAVING A REALLY GREAT TIME AND THIS IS AMAZING TO SEE TIME AND THIS IS AMAZING TO SEE FOR THE FIRST YEAR!

FOR THE FIRST YEAR!

>> THIS INITIATIVE IS BEAUTIFUL, >> THIS INITIATIVE IS BEAUTIFUL, BRINGING EVERYBODY TOGETHER TO BRINGING EVERYBODY TOGETHER TO SHOW THAT LOVE IS LOVE NO MATTER SHOW THAT LOVE IS LOVE NO MATTER YOUR AGE, SHAPE, SIZE, OR COLOR, YOUR AGE, SHAPE, SIZE, OR COLOR, YOU'RE WELCOME HERE ON THIS YOU'RE WELCOME HERE ON THIS EARTH AND I AM SO HAPPY TO BE A EARTH AND I AM SO HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THIS PARADE TODAY.

PART OF THIS PARADE TODAY.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> YOU ALSO RECEIVED A LOT OF >> YOU ALSO RECEIVED A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM LOCAL SPRINGFIELD SUPPORT FROM LOCAL SPRINGFIELD BUSINESSES.

BUSINESSES.

WHITE LION BREWING BEING ONE OF WHITE LION BREWING BEING ONE OF THEM, WHO CALCULATED WITH YOU TO THEM, WHO CALCULATED WITH YOU TO RELEASE A LIMITED EDITION BEER RELEASE A LIMITED EDITION BEER TITLED, THE PRIDE OF TITLED, THE PRIDE OF SPRINGFIELD.

SPRINGFIELD.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU ESPECIALLY AS A SPRINGFIELD ESPECIALLY AS A SPRINGFIELD NATIVE TO RECEIVE THIS SUPPORT NATIVE TO RECEIVE THIS SUPPORT AND BACKING FROM YOUR COMMUNITY AND BACKING FROM YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND BUSINESSES?

MEMBERS AND BUSINESSES?

>> IT MEANS A LOT.

>> IT MEANS A LOT.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OUR MISSION YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OUR MISSION HERE IS TO SHOW THE KIDS OF THIS HERE IS TO SHOW THE KIDS OF THIS REPRESENTED AND THEY ARE REPRESENTED AND THEY ARE SUPPORTED.

SUPPORTED.

SO TO HAVE THOSE LOCAL SO TO HAVE THOSE LOCAL BUSINESSES ON BOARD PUSHES THAT BUSINESSES ON BOARD PUSHES THAT MESSAGE FORWARD.

MESSAGE FORWARD.

AND THE GREAT PART ABOUT THAT AND THE GREAT PART ABOUT THAT COLLABORATION WITH WHITE LION, COLLABORATION WITH WHITE LION, PROCEEDINGS OF THAT WILL GO TO PROCEEDINGS OF THAT WILL GO TO OUR SUMMER PROGRAMMING FOR THE OUR SUMMER PROGRAMMING FOR THE YOUTH OF THIS COMMUNITY.

YOUTH OF THIS COMMUNITY.

AND WE NOW HAVE WHAT WE NEED TO AND WE NOW HAVE WHAT WE NEED TO DO IT.

DO IT.

>> AND LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT >> AND LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT SUMMER PROGRAMMING ABOUT THAT SUMMER PROGRAMMING BECAUSE IT TIES INTO MY NEXT BECAUSE IT TIES INTO MY NEXT QUESTION.

QUESTION.

I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN REALLY I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN REALLY OPEN ABOUT THE INNER CONFLICT OPEN ABOUT THE INNER CONFLICT YOU FACED COMING OUT WITH YOUR YOU FACED COMING OUT WITH YOUR SEXUALITY PUBLICLY, IN LARGE SEXUALITY PUBLICLY, IN LARGE PART TO IT BEING REALLY PART TO IT BEING REALLY LIFE-THREATENING TO COME OUT AS LIFE-THREATENING TO COME OUT AS A GAY BLACK MAN AND I KNOW THAT A GAY BLACK MAN AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT A THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF OUR YOUTH AND PEOPLE FACE LOT OF OUR YOUTH AND PEOPLE FACE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

HOW CAN COMMUNITIES WORK TOWARDS HOW CAN COMMUNITIES WORK TOWARDS CHANGING THAT REALITY AND CHANGING THAT REALITY AND BECOMING MORE SUPPORTIVE AND AS BECOMING MORE SUPPORTIVE AND AS A SAFE SPACE?

A SAFE SPACE?

>> IT UNUSUALLY STARTED IN >> IT UNUSUALLY STARTED IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.

FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.

WE STARTED OUR SAFE SPACE WE STARTED OUR SAFE SPACE INITIATIVE.

INITIATIVE.

AND OUR FOCUS WAS TO GET AND OUR FOCUS WAS TO GET BUSINESSES TO COMMIT TO DISAVOW BUSINESSES TO COMMIT TO DISAVOW ANY HATE SPEECH, ANY ANY HATE SPEECH, ANY DISCRIMINATION, ANY VIOLENCE OR DISCRIMINATION, ANY VIOLENCE OR BULLYING AMONGST THE YOUTH OF BULLYING AMONGST THE YOUTH OF THIS COMMUNITY.

THIS COMMUNITY.

SO WE DEVELOPED THIS COOL DECAL, SO WE DEVELOPED THIS COOL DECAL, AFTER BUSINESSES COMMIT, AND WE AFTER BUSINESSES COMMIT, AND WE WOULD SEND THEM A DECAL THAT WOULD SEND THEM A DECAL THAT THEY PUT IN THEIR STORE WINDOWS, THEY PUT IN THEIR STORE WINDOWS, ON THEIR DOORS, OFFICES, AND WE ON THEIR DOORS, OFFICES, AND WE ALSO HAVE A DIGITAL ONE THAT ALSO HAVE A DIGITAL ONE THAT THEY CAN PUT ON THEIR WEBSITE.

THEY CAN PUT ON THEIR WEBSITE.

AND THAT'S JUST A STAMP OF AND THAT'S JUST A STAMP OF APPROVAL SAYING THAT NO HATE APPROVAL SAYING THAT NO HATE SPEECH, NO BULLYING, NO SPEECH, NO BULLYING, NO DISCRIMINATION IS ALLOWED.

DISCRIMINATION IS ALLOWED.

AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO SIGN UP TO AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO SIGN UP TO BECOME A SAFE SPACE AND REALLY BECOME A SAFE SPACE AND REALLY TAKE THAT COMMITMENT, THEY COULD TAKE THAT COMMITMENT, THEY COULD GO TO GO TO SPRINGFIELDPRIDEPARADE.ORG/SPAIF SPRINGFIELDPRIDEPARADE.ORG/SPAIF SAISES AND THEY CAN SIGN UP AND SAISES AND THEY CAN SIGN UP AND WE'LL SEND YOU A DECAL AND YOU WE'LL SEND YOU A DECAL AND YOU CAN BE ON BOARD TO MAKE SURE THE CAN BE ON BOARD TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS OF THIS COMMUNITY ARE SAFE.

KIDS OF THIS COMMUNITY ARE SAFE.

>> NOW, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU >> NOW, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU KIND OF COMING FULL CIRCLE, KIND OF COMING FULL CIRCLE, RIGHT?

RIGHT?

BEING HESITANT TO COME OUT.

BEING HESITANT TO COME OUT.

WITH YOUR SEXUALITY AND NOW YOU WITH YOUR SEXUALITY AND NOW YOU ARE THE LEAD ORGANIZER OF THE ARE THE LEAD ORGANIZER OF THE FIRST-EVER SPRINGFIELD PRIDE FIRST-EVER SPRINGFIELD PRIDE PARADE?

PARADE?

WHAT IS THIS MOMENT LIKE FOR YOU WHAT IS THIS MOMENT LIKE FOR YOU PERSONALLY?

PERSONALLY?

>> WELL, WHEN I CAME OUT, I CAME >> WELL, WHEN I CAME OUT, I CAME OUT RATHER LATE, AT 33.

OUT RATHER LATE, AT 33.

KAY OUT.

KAY OUT.

-- I CAME OUT.

-- I CAME OUT.

AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST -- I AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST -- I WAS LIVING IN NEW YORK AT THE WAS LIVING IN NEW YORK AT THE TIME.

TIME.

AND JUST LIVING MY LIFE, YOU AND JUST LIVING MY LIFE, YOU KNOW, AS A GAY MAN IN NEW YORK, KNOW, AS A GAY MAN IN NEW YORK, IS AGO MORE FREE, YOU KNOW.

IS AGO MORE FREE, YOU KNOW.

SO I WASN'T -- A LITTLE MORE SO I WASN'T -- A LITTLE MORE FREE.

FREE.

SO I WASN'T EVEN FOCUSING ON SO I WASN'T EVEN FOCUSING ON COMING OUT.

COMING OUT.

I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS SOMETHING I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I NEEDED TO DO.

THAT I NEEDED TO DO.

SO I REALLY STARTED TO PAY SO I REALLY STARTED TO PAY ATTENTION ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ATTENTION ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN MY HOMETOWN.

ON IN MY HOMETOWN.

SUICIDE RATES AMONG LGBTQ YOUTH SUICIDE RATES AMONG LGBTQ YOUTH WERE SKYROCKETING, DEPRESSION WERE SKYROCKETING, DEPRESSION WAS WAY UP.

WAS WAY UP.

SO I DECIDED TO COME OUT TO SHOW SO I DECIDED TO COME OUT TO SHOW THE KIDS THAT YOU HAVE SUPPORT, THE KIDS THAT YOU HAVE SUPPORT, YOU KNOW.

YOU KNOW.

YOU CAN BE WHO YOU ARE.

YOU CAN BE WHO YOU ARE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID.

AND WE CAN REALLY JUST DO THIS AND WE CAN REALLY JUST DO THIS TOGETHER.

TOGETHER.

AND FUNNY, WHEN I CAME OUT, I AND FUNNY, WHEN I CAME OUT, I SAID, I DON'T WANT TO MARCH IN SAID, I DON'T WANT TO MARCH IN ANY PARADES, I DON'T WANT TO ANY PARADES, I DON'T WANT TO WAVE ANY FLAGS.

WAVE ANY FLAGS.

I GUESS I WAS WRONG!

I GUESS I WAS WRONG!

[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] >> I'M SO GLAD I WAS WRONG >> I'M SO GLAD I WAS WRONG BECAUSE IT FEELS SO GOOD TO SEE BECAUSE IT FEELS SO GOOD TO SEE IT COME TO FRUITION AND BE WELL IT COME TO FRUITION AND BE WELL RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY WHO WE RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY WHO WE TARGETED -- TARGET IT TO.

TARGETED -- TARGET IT TO.

>> NEVER SAY NEVER, RIGHT?

>> NEVER SAY NEVER, RIGHT?

>> NEVER SAY NEVER!

>> NEVER SAY NEVER!

[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] >> AFTER A SUCCESSFUL INAUGURAL >> AFTER A SUCCESSFUL INAUGURAL PRIDE PARADE IN SPRINGFIELD, PRIDE PARADE IN SPRINGFIELD, WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THIS EVENT?

THIS EVENT?

>> OH, WELL, I'M GOING TO SLEEP >> OH, WELL, I'M GOING TO SLEEP A LITTLE BIT AT SOME POINT.

A LITTLE BIT AT SOME POINT.

[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] AND THEN LATER THIS WEEK, WE'LL AND THEN LATER THIS WEEK, WE'LL BEGIN TO PLAN 2023.

BEGIN TO PLAN 2023.

WE JUST WANT TO GET BIGGER.

WE JUST WANT TO GET BIGGER.

WE WANT TO GET BETTER.

WE WANT TO GET BETTER.

WE'RE GOING TO START AT MACY -- WE'RE GOING TO START AT MACY -- MACY'S AND CURVE AS MUCH WE CAN MACY'S AND CURVE AS MUCH WE CAN AND WE'LL EDIT IT DOWN IF WE AND WE'LL EDIT IT DOWN IF WE CAN'T DO IT.

CAN'T DO IT.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO BIG.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO BIG.

OUR GOAL IS TO GO BIG!

OUR GOAL IS TO GO BIG!

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> AND IF YOU ENJOYED THAT >> AND IF YOU ENJOYED THAT STORY, BE SURE TO GO ONLINE TO STORY, BE SURE TO GO ONLINE TO NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT AS WE NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT AS WE CELEBRATE PRIDE MONTH THROUGHOUT CELEBRATE PRIDE MONTH THROUGHOUT JUNE WITH A LOOK AT THE PEOPLE, JUNE WITH A LOOK AT THE PEOPLE, STORIES, AND ISSUES THAT SHAPE STORIES, AND ISSUES THAT SHAPE THE LGBTQ+ EXPERIENCE IN WESTERN THE LGBTQ+ EXPERIENCE IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

NEW ENGLAND.

>>> SINCE 1946T E.CHECK-EEE >>> SINCE 1946T E.CHECK-EEE FARMS ROADSIDE FARM STAND HAS FARMS ROADSIDE FARM STAND HAS NOT ONLY BEEN AN ENDURNING NOT ONLY BEEN AN ENDURNING LANDMARK BUT A STAPLE FOR THE LANDMARK BUT A STAPLE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF AGAWAM AND ITS RESIDENTS OF AGAWAM AND ITS SURROUNDING TOWNS.

SURROUNDING TOWNS.

2022 MARKS 76 YEARS FOR THE 2022 MARKS 76 YEARS FOR THE BUSINESS AND BRIAN SULLIVAN BUSINESS AND BRIAN SULLIVAN TRA.D TO THE FEEDING HILLS TRA.D TO THE FEEDING HILLS SECTION OF TOWN TO VISIT THIS SECTION OF TOWN TO VISIT THIS FAMILY FARM THAT'S THREE FAMILY FARM THAT'S THREE GENERATIONS STRONG.

GENERATIONS STRONG.

>> ANYONE LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF >> ANYONE LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF SUMMER NEED LOOK NO FURTHER THAN SUMMER NEED LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE LOCAL FARM STANDS.

THE LOCAL FARM STANDS.

THE CARRIAGES OVERFLOWING WITH THE CARRIAGES OVERFLOWING WITH FLOWERS AND PLANTS.

FLOWERS AND PLANTS.

FOR VISITORS TO SPRINGFIELD FOR VISITORS TO SPRINGFIELD STREET IN THE FEEDING HILLS STREET IN THE FEEDING HILLS SECTION OF AGAWAM, IT'S A CHANCE SECTION OF AGAWAM, IT'S A CHANCE TO SEE BROTHERS BOBBIE AND TO SEE BROTHERS BOBBIE AND MICHAEL CHECK-EE GOING WITH MICHAEL CHECK-EE GOING WITH THEIR BUSINESS, RUNNING THE THEIR BUSINESS, RUNNING THE FAMILY BUSINESS THAT'S BEEN HERE FAMILY BUSINESS THAT'S BEEN HERE SINCE THE END OF THE STEABLGD SINCE THE END OF THE STEABLGD WORLD WAR.

WORLD WAR.

-- SECOND WORLD WAR.

-- SECOND WORLD WAR.

AND WHILE THE PRESENCE IS AND WHILE THE PRESENCE IS PREDICTABLE, THEIR PARENTS MADE PREDICTABLE, THEIR PARENTS MADE SURE THEY GOT AN EDUCATION, JUST SURE THEY GOT AN EDUCATION, JUST IN CASE THIS FARM, NOW IN ITS IN CASE THIS FARM, NOW IN ITS 76TH YEAR OF OPERATION, DIDN'T 76TH YEAR OF OPERATION, DIDN'T WORK OUT.

WORK OUT.

AND THEY WERE GOING TO GET AN AND THEY WERE GOING TO GET AN EDUCATION WHETHER THEY WANTED IT EDUCATION WHETHER THEY WANTED IT OR NOT.

OR NOT.

>> AFTER I GRADUATED MIDDLE >> AFTER I GRADUATED MIDDLE SCHOOL, I WENT TO STOCKBRIDGE SCHOOL, I WENT TO STOCKBRIDGE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AT UMASS.

SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AT UMASS.

DID THE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM THERE.

DID THE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM THERE.

THEN I DID A YEAR PROGRAM AT DUE THEN I DID A YEAR PROGRAM AT DUE PAGE HORTICULTURE SCHOOL IN WEST PAGE HORTICULTURE SCHOOL IN WEST CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND THEN I CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND THEN I CAME BACK TO THE FARM.

CAME BACK TO THE FARM.

>> ACTUALLY I DIDN'T WANT TO GO >> ACTUALLY I DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE, FOR SOME REASON.

TO COLLEGE, FOR SOME REASON.

I FIGURED I COULD JUST WORK ON I FIGURED I COULD JUST WORK ON THE FARM.

THE FARM.

BUT MY PARENTS THOUGHT IT WOULD BUT MY PARENTS THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA IN CASE, WE'RE BE A GOOD IDEA IN CASE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE -- MY BROTHER AND GOING TO HAVE -- MY BROTHER AND I AND SO TWO -- TWO MORE PEOPLE I AND SO TWO -- TWO MORE PEOPLE ON THE FARM.

ON THE FARM.

AND IF SOMETHING DIDN'T WORK OUT AND IF SOMETHING DIDN'T WORK OUT OR COULDN'T SUPPORT EVERYBODY, OR COULDN'T SUPPORT EVERYBODY, AT LEAST WE'D HAVE AN EDUCATION, AT LEAST WE'D HAVE AN EDUCATION, YOU KNOW, TO FALL BACK ON.

YOU KNOW, TO FALL BACK ON.

>> ONE CORNELL EDUCATION AND >> ONE CORNELL EDUCATION AND SEVERAL YEARS LATER AND MICHAEL SEVERAL YEARS LATER AND MICHAEL CAN BE FOUND WITH HIS CREW CAN BE FOUND WITH HIS CREW TENDING TO THE ORIGINAL ACREAGE TENDING TO THE ORIGINAL ACREAGE PURCHASED BY THEIR FATHER BACK PURCHASED BY THEIR FATHER BACK IN 1946.

IN 1946.

WHAT STARTED AS 30 ACRES BACK WHAT STARTED AS 30 ACRES BACK THEN HAS NOW EXPANDED TO 40 ON THEN HAS NOW EXPANDED TO 40 ON THIS LOT.

THIS LOT.

THE FAMILY ALSO RENTS 40 ACRES THE FAMILY ALSO RENTS 40 ACRES OF FARMLAND AROUND TOWN.

OF FARMLAND AROUND TOWN.

THE SECRET TO MAINTAINING A THE SECRET TO MAINTAINING A PROCEEDS PLUS MIZ SIDE FARM LIKE PROCEEDS PLUS MIZ SIDE FARM LIKE THIS HAS BEEN THEIR ABILITY TO THIS HAS BEEN THEIR ABILITY TO NOT HAVE TO RELY HEAVILY ON ONLY NOT HAVE TO RELY HEAVILY ON ONLY ONE CROP.

ONE CROP.

>> WE'RE PRETTY DIVERSIFIED.

>> WE'RE PRETTY DIVERSIFIED.

WE GROW A LITTLE BIT OF WE GROW A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING.

WE DO A LOT OF WHOLESALE WITH WE DO A LOT OF WHOLESALE WITH BIG Y, FOODS, THEY'VE BEEN GREAT BIG Y, FOODS, THEY'VE BEEN GREAT TO US, WE DO RETAIL, FLOWERS, TO US, WE DO RETAIL, FLOWERS, VEGETABLES.

VEGETABLES.

SO WE'RE KIND OF SPREAD OUT, YOU SO WE'RE KIND OF SPREAD OUT, YOU KNOW.

KNOW.

SO WE MAY TAKE A BATH ON STRAW SO WE MAY TAKE A BATH ON STRAW BASER THIS YEAR OR LAST YEAR -- BASER THIS YEAR OR LAST YEAR -- STRAWBERRIES THIS YEAR OR LAST STRAWBERRIES THIS YEAR OR LAST YEAR WAS A TERRIBLE YEAR FOR YEAR WAS A TERRIBLE YEAR FOR SQUASH, BUT IT DIDN'T PUT US SQUASH, BUT IT DIDN'T PUT US UNDER.

UNDER.

WE HAVE HEAVY LAND, DRY -- WE'RE WE HAVE HEAVY LAND, DRY -- WE'RE PRETTY DIVERSE.

PRETTY DIVERSE.

AND IT JUST SPREADS THE RISK FOR AND IT JUST SPREADS THE RISK FOR US.

US.

>> AS NEARLY ANYONE WHO STEPPED >> AS NEARLY ANYONE WHO STEPPED FOOT INSIDE A FARM STAND STORE FOOT INSIDE A FARM STAND STORE KNOWS, THERE'S A CERTAIN SMELL KNOWS, THERE'S A CERTAIN SMELL IN THE AIR THAT MAY REKINDLE IN THE AIR THAT MAY REKINDLE CHILDHOOD MEMORIES.

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES.

PERHAPS MEMORIES OF COMING TO A PERHAPS MEMORIES OF COMING TO A PLACE LIKE THIS WITH PARENTS OR PLACE LIKE THIS WITH PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS TO GET THE GOOD GRANDPARENTS TO GET THE GOOD STRAWBERRIES OR STRUGZ THAT'S STRAWBERRIES OR STRUGZ THAT'S NOW IN SEASON -- SPRUPS NOW IN SEASON -- SPRUPS THAT'S -- ASPARAGUS THAT'S NOW THAT'S -- ASPARAGUS THAT'S NOW IN SEASON.

IN SEASON.

A LOT OF TIMES THE APPEAL TO A A LOT OF TIMES THE APPEAL TO A ROADSIDE FARMSTAND, ASIDE FROM ROADSIDE FARMSTAND, ASIDE FROM THE CONVENIENCE BEING A LOCAL THE CONVENIENCE BEING A LOCAL SOURCE FOR FRUITS, VENL -- SOURCE FOR FRUITS, VENL -- VEGETABLES, AND FLOWERS S THE VEGETABLES, AND FLOWERS S THE NOS NOS TAL -- NOSTALGIA.

NOS NOS TAL -- NOSTALGIA.

IN 1946 THE ORIGINAL STAND WAS IN 1946 THE ORIGINAL STAND WAS UNDER THEY ARE TREE.

UNDER THEY ARE TREE.

THEN IN THE 1950s, THEY BUILT THEN IN THE 1950s, THEY BUILT THIS STRUCTURE AND THIS IS WHERE THIS STRUCTURE AND THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING TO EVER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING TO EVER SINCE.

SINCE.

WHILE FARMING OF ALL TYPES HAS WHILE FARMING OF ALL TYPES HAS ENJOYED A BIT OF A RESURGENCE IN ENJOYED A BIT OF A RESURGENCE IN RECENT YEARS, WHETHER IT'S PERMA RECENT YEARS, WHETHER IT'S PERMA CULTURE OR TRADITIONAL, IS NOT CULTURE OR TRADITIONAL, IS NOT EVEN REMOTELY A FRACTION OF WHAT EVEN REMOTELY A FRACTION OF WHAT IT WAS AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH IT WAS AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY WHEN SEVERAL DIFFERENT CENTURY WHEN SEVERAL DIFFERENT FARMS COULD BE FOUND WITHIN THE FARMS COULD BE FOUND WITHIN THE TOWN OF AGAWAM.

TOWN OF AGAWAM.

AND THAT DEPARTURE FROM A AND THAT DEPARTURE FROM A MAJORITY AGRARIAN POPULATION -- MAJORITY AGRARIAN POPULATION -- POPULATION TO TODAY HAS LED TO A POPULATION TO TODAY HAS LED TO A DISCONNECT WHEN IT COMES TO DISCONNECT WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING FOOT.

BUYING FOOT.

>> IT'S STILL SURPRISING -- >> IT'S STILL SURPRISING -- BUYING FOOD.

BUYING FOOD.

>> IT'S STILL SURPRISING WHAT >> IT'S STILL SURPRISING WHAT LITTLE PEOPLE KNOW HOW AND WHERE LITTLE PEOPLE KNOW HOW AND WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM.

THEIR FOOD COMES FROM.

I REMEMBER AS A KID, GOING TO I REMEMBER AS A KID, GOING TO THE MARKET WITH MY GRANDFATHER.

THE MARKET WITH MY GRANDFATHER.

IT WAS A BIG DEAL WHEN SUMMER IT WAS A BIG DEAL WHEN SUMMER SQUASH CAME OUT, YOU KNOW.

SQUASH CAME OUT, YOU KNOW.

THE OWNERS OF BIG, WHY WOULD THE OWNERS OF BIG, WHY WOULD COME DOWN THERE AND BUY IT.

COME DOWN THERE AND BUY IT.

THEN YOU COULD GET SUMMER THEN YOU COULD GET SUMMER SQUASH, VEGETABLES YEAR-ROUND, SQUASH, VEGETABLES YEAR-ROUND, SO PEOPLE JUST GO TO THE STORE SO PEOPLE JUST GO TO THE STORE AND IT'S THERE.

AND IT'S THERE.

THEY DON'T KNOW THAT -- THEY DON'T KNOW THAT -- [AUDIO DIFFICULTIES] [AUDIO DIFFICULTIES] YOU KNOW, LIKE ASPARAGUS IS IN A YOU KNOW, LIKE ASPARAGUS IS IN A COUPLE WEEKS AND AFTER IT'S COUPLE WEEKS AND AFTER IT'S DONE, I DON'T SELL AFFAIR GUS.

DONE, I DON'T SELL AFFAIR GUS.

BUT THEY'LL -- ASPARAGUS.

BUT THEY'LL -- ASPARAGUS.

THEY SEE IT IN THE STORE AND THEY SEE IT IN THE STORE AND THEY WONDER WHY I DON'T HAVE IT.

THEY WONDER WHY I DON'T HAVE IT.

>> WHEN WE DROPPED BY IN LATE >> WHEN WE DROPPED BY IN LATE MAY, IT WAS A CALM BEFORE THE MAY, IT WAS A CALM BEFORE THE HARVEST STORM THAT THE SUMMER HARVEST STORM THAT THE SUMMER MONTHS.

MONTHS.

WHEN IT ENDS UP ON SOMEONE'S WHEN IT ENDS UP ON SOMEONE'S KITCHEN TABLE.

KITCHEN TABLE.

BUT FOR BROTHERS MICHAEL AND BUT FOR BROTHERS MICHAEL AND BOBBY, IT'S ONE MORE SEASON HERE BOBBY, IT'S ONE MORE SEASON HERE IN FEEDING HILLS.

IN FEEDING HILLS.

THE QUICK NOW IS -- QUESTION NOW THE QUICK NOW IS -- QUESTION NOW IS AFTER 76 YEARS, WILL CHECK-EE IS AFTER 76 YEARS, WILL CHECK-EE FARMS MAKE IT TO THE 1 -- FARMS MAKE IT TO THE 1 -- 100-YEAR MARKER?

100-YEAR MARKER?

>> RIGHT NOW WE REALLY DON'T >> RIGHT NOW WE REALLY DON'T KNOW.

KNOW.

SO WE GOT NONE OF THE KIDS THAT SO WE GOT NONE OF THE KIDS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN DOING IT.

ARE INTERESTED IN DOING IT.

SO WE'LL KEEP GOING, YOU KNOW.

SO WE'LL KEEP GOING, YOU KNOW.

WE'RE -- WE'RE OLD, BUT WE'RE WE'RE -- WE'RE OLD, BUT WE'RE NOT THAT OLD.

NOT THAT OLD.

SO WE CAN KEEP DOING IT.

SO WE CAN KEEP DOING IT.

>> I MAY BE AROUND LONG ENOUGH >> I MAY BE AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO REACH A HUNDRED!

TO REACH A HUNDRED!

TIME WILL TELL.

TIME WILL TELL.

I MEAN, I THINK I'LL BE HERE FOR I MEAN, I THINK I'LL BE HERE FOR A HUNDRED YEARS.

A HUNDRED YEARS.

25 MORE YEARS.

25 MORE YEARS.

I THINK I CAN DO IT.

I THINK I CAN DO IT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING >>> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT DIDN'T STOP THERE.

DIDN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEECHTERS AND FOR EXCLUSIVE FEECHTERS AND CON -- FEATURES AND CONTENTS.

CON -- FEATURES AND CONTENTS.

THIRD GENERATION FARMER MICHAEL THIRD GENERATION FARMER MICHAEL CHECK-EE OF E.CHECK-EEE FARMS CHECK-EE OF E.CHECK-EEE FARMS ROADSIDE FARMSTAND IN AGAWAM ROADSIDE FARMSTAND IN AGAWAM DISCUSSES THE CHANGING DISCUSSES THE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHIC OF FARMERS AND THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF FARMERS AND THE ROLE THAT HIS FATHER CITY PLAYS ROLE THAT HIS FATHER CITY PLAYS IN KEEPING THE FARMSTAND UP AND IN KEEPING THE FARMSTAND UP AND RUNNING.

RUNNING.

>> I'M THE OLD FARMER NOW.

>> I'M THE OLD FARMER NOW.

I REMEMBER GROWING UP, ALL THE I REMEMBER GROWING UP, ALL THE FARMERS WERE ALL OLD FARMERS AND FARMERS WERE ALL OLD FARMERS AND I WAS THE YOUNG GUY.

I WAS THE YOUNG GUY.

BUT NOW I LOOK AROUND AND THERE BUT NOW I LOOK AROUND AND THERE WAS NO YOUNG GUYS.

WAS NO YOUNG GUYS.

BUT NOW THERE'S A LOT OF YOUNG BUT NOW THERE'S A LOT OF YOUNG GUYS, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS GOOD, GUYS, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS GOOD, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA LIVE FOREVER.

GONNA LIVE FOREVER.

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

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> THIS SPRING UMASS PROFESSOR >>> THIS SPRING UMASS PROFESSOR ELISA GONZALES PRESENTED HER ELISA GONZALES PRESENTED HER ENTER GENERATIONAL PLAY ENTER GENERATIONAL PLAY ENTITLED, "OLVIDADOS: A MEXICAN ENTITLED, "OLVIDADOS: A MEXICAN AMERICAN CORRIDO."

AMERICAN CORRIDO."

THROUGH CORRIDOS, WHICH ARE THROUGH CORRIDOS, WHICH ARE TRADITIONAL MEXICAN GOSH LORIC TRADITIONAL MEXICAN GOSH LORIC BALLADS, THE PRODUCTION EXPLORES BALLADS, THE PRODUCTION EXPLORES THE UNTOLD STORIES OF THE EFFECT THE UNTOLD STORIES OF THE EFFECT THAT REPATRIATION HAD ON THE THAT REPATRIATION HAD ON THE MEXICANS IN THE UNITED STATES MEXICANS IN THE UNITED STATES DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND I SPOKE TO WITNESS TO LEARN I SPOKE TO WITNESS TO LEARN MORE.

MORE.

>> -- WITH GNLS GONZALES TO >> -- WITH GNLS GONZALES TO LEARN MORE.

LEARN MORE.

>> I'M A THIRD-GENERATION.

>> I'M A THIRD-GENERATION.

AND AS I'VE WORKED IN THE AND AS I'VE WORKED IN THE FEEDER, I STILL FEEL THERE'S NOT FEEDER, I STILL FEEL THERE'S NOT A LOT OF VISIBILITY OF LATINX A LOT OF VISIBILITY OF LATINX STORIES ON STAGE.

STORIES ON STAGE.

I'M ALSO DEEPLY INTERESTED IN MY I'M ALSO DEEPLY INTERESTED IN MY FAMILY'S PLACE IN AMERICAN FAMILY'S PLACE IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

HISTORY.

AND I ALSO FEEL LIKE IN THAT AND I ALSO FEEL LIKE IN THAT CONTEXT, THOSE STORIES AREN'T CONTEXT, THOSE STORIES AREN'T GIVEN AS MUCH VISIBILITY, AND SO GIVEN AS MUCH VISIBILITY, AND SO I FEEL LIKE CEDAR GIVES ME THE I FEEL LIKE CEDAR GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRIDGE MY OPPORTUNITY TO BRIDGE MY INTEREST WITH HISTORY AND INTEREST WITH HISTORY AND ANCESTRY AND CREATING MORE ANCESTRY AND CREATING MORE PLACES FOR OUR STORIES ON STAGE.

PLACES FOR OUR STORIES ON STAGE.

>> "OLVIDADOS: A MEXICAN >> "OLVIDADOS: A MEXICAN AMERICAN CORRIDO" WAS RECENTLY AMERICAN CORRIDO" WAS RECENTLY FEATURED IN UMASS AMHERST.

FEATURED IN UMASS AMHERST.

SO TELL ME ABOUT THIS MUSICAL, SO TELL ME ABOUT THIS MUSICAL, SPECIFICALLY WHAT IS A CORRIDO SPECIFICALLY WHAT IS A CORRIDO AND HOW IT WAS AND HOW IT WAS CONSUPERINTENDENTUALIZED.

CONSUPERINTENDENTUALIZED.

>> I GUESS I WILL START WITH >> I GUESS I WILL START WITH WHAT THE SHOW IS ABOUT.

WHAT THE SHOW IS ABOUT.

IT'S ABOUT THE REPATRIATION OF IT'S ABOUT THE REPATRIATION OF MEXICANS AND MEXICAN-AMERICANS MEXICANS AND MEXICAN-AMERICANS DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

DURING THIS TIME, THE AMERICAN DURING THIS TIME, THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT WAS LOOKING FOR A GOVERNMENT WAS LOOKING FOR A SCAPEGOAT TO TRY TO TAKE SCAPEGOAT TO TRY TO TAKE ATTENTION OFF.

ATTENTION OFF.

FINANCIAL PROBLEMS THAT THEY FINANCIAL PROBLEMS THAT THEY WERE HAVING.

WERE HAVING.

AND THEY FOUND THAT SCAPEGOAT IN AND THEY FOUND THAT SCAPEGOAT IN THE MEXICAN AND MEXICAN-AMERICAN THE MEXICAN AND MEXICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

SO THEIR STANCE WERE THAT THIS SO THEIR STANCE WERE THAT THIS IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY WAS TAKING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY WAS TAKING JOBS AWAY FROM THE AMERICAN JOBS AWAY FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

PEOPLE.

AND SO IN RESPONSE, THEY AND SO IN RESPONSE, THEY FORCIBLY COERCED AND DEPORTED FORCIBLY COERCED AND DEPORTED MEXICAN NATIONALS AND MEXICAN NATIONALS AND MEXICAN-AMERICANS.

MEXICAN-AMERICANS.

IN 1931, MY FAMILY WAS IN 1931, MY FAMILY WAS REPATRIATED TO MEXICO.

REPATRIATED TO MEXICO.

MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER WHO WAS MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER WHO WAS FROM HALISO, TOOK HER THREE FROM HALISO, TOOK HER THREE YOUNG AMERICAN GRANDCHILDREN YOUNG AMERICAN GRANDCHILDREN BACK TO MEXICO.

BACK TO MEXICO.

BECAUSE OF THIS, AND THIS IS A BECAUSE OF THIS, AND THIS IS A PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY THAT IS PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY THAT IS NOT KNOWN -- IT'S BEEN SWEPT NOT KNOWN -- IT'S BEEN SWEPT UNDER THE RUG FOR OVER 90 YEARS.

UNDER THE RUG FOR OVER 90 YEARS.

AND SO FOR ME, THIS WAS AN AND SO FOR ME, THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT STORY TO TELL SO I IMPORTANT STORY TO TELL SO I COULD LEARN MORE ABOUT MY COULD LEARN MORE ABOUT MY FAMILY'S STORY DURING THIS FAMILY'S STORY DURING THIS REALLY TRAGIC PART OF AMERICAN REALLY TRAGIC PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND ALSO TO SHED LIGHT HISTORY AND ALSO TO SHED LIGHT ON THE MILLIONS OF OTHER STORIES ON THE MILLIONS OF OTHER STORIES THAT HAPPENED DURING THIS TIME THAT HAPPENED DURING THIS TIME BECAUSE OVER ONE MILLION PEOPLE BECAUSE OVER ONE MILLION PEOPLE WERE IMPACTED.

WERE IMPACTED.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >> MY FAMILY HAS A REALLY STRONG MUSICAL LEGACY.

MUSICAL LEGACY.

AND SO AS A WAY TO HONOR THEIR AND SO AS A WAY TO HONOR THEIR STORIES, I THOUGHT THAT STORIES, I THOUGHT THAT STRUCTURING THE MUSICAL IN THE STRUCTURING THE MUSICAL IN THE FORM OF A CORRIDO WOULD BE FORM OF A CORRIDO WOULD BE REALLY APPROPRIATE FOR THIS REALLY APPROPRIATE FOR THIS PIECE.

PIECE.

THE CORRIDO IS A TRADITIONAL THE CORRIDO IS A TRADITIONAL FOLK-STYLE OF MEXICAN MUSIC.

FOLK-STYLE OF MEXICAN MUSIC.

IT HAS POCO-LIKE RHYTHMS AND IT HAS POCO-LIKE RHYTHMS AND VERY OFTEN IT'S USED AS AN ORAL VERY OFTEN IT'S USED AS AN ORAL HISTORY DEVICE, AS A WAY TO TELL HISTORY DEVICE, AS A WAY TO TELL STORIES.

STORIES.

AND SO IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE AND SO IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE CORRIDOS, THEY WERE WRITTEN ON CORRIDOS, THEY WERE WRITTEN ON THE SPOT.

THE SPOT.

THEY OFTEN TOLD STORIES ABOUT THEY OFTEN TOLD STORIES ABOUT ROMANCES.

ROMANCES.

NOW THEY'VE BEEN POPULAR NOW THEY'VE BEEN POPULAR POPULARIZED TO TELL STORIES OF POPULARIZED TO TELL STORIES OF THE -- BUT I USE THIS AS A WAY THE -- BUT I USE THIS AS A WAY TO TELL THE STORY OF MY FAMILY TO TELL THE STORY OF MY FAMILY AND THE REPATRIATION.

AND THE REPATRIATION.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >> DID REVISITING PAST >> DID REVISITING PAST MEXICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY BRING MEXICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY BRING TO LIGHT ANY SURPRISING TO LIGHT ANY SURPRISING REVELATIONS TO YOU, ESPECIALLY REVELATIONS TO YOU, ESPECIALLY WHEN LOOKING AT IT THROUGH A WHEN LOOKING AT IT THROUGH A PRESENT-DAY LENS?

PRESENT-DAY LENS?

>> THAT'S -- THAT'S A HARD >> THAT'S -- THAT'S A HARD QUESTION.

QUESTION.

I DON'T THINK ANY OF IT WAS I DON'T THINK ANY OF IT WAS SURPRISING.

SURPRISING.

I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING, IT'S I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING, IT'S REALLY SAD TO ME THE WAY THAT REALLY SAD TO ME THE WAY THAT ANTI-LATINX SENTIMENT CONTINUES ANTI-LATINX SENTIMENT CONTINUES TO SHAPE IMMIGRATION POLICY AT TO SHAPE IMMIGRATION POLICY AT THE U.S. BORDER.

THE U.S. BORDER.

I THINK EVEN THOUGH THIS EVENT I THINK EVEN THOUGH THIS EVENT HAPPENED OVER 90 YEARS AGO, HAPPENED OVER 90 YEARS AGO, WE'RE STILL SEEING SIMILAR WE'RE STILL SEEING SIMILAR EVENTS HAPPENING AT THE U.S. EVENTS HAPPENING AT THE U.S. BORDER WITH FAMILY SEPARATION BORDER WITH FAMILY SEPARATION POLICIES THAT WERE HAPPENING, POLICIES THAT WERE HAPPENING, WITH THE FACT THAT WE'RE STILL WITH THE FACT THAT WE'RE STILL NOT ALLOWING PEOPLE TO CLAIM NOT ALLOWING PEOPLE TO CLAIM ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES.

ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT NOT A AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT NOT A LOT HAS CHANGED IN THIS TIME LOT HAS CHANGED IN THIS TIME PERIOD.

PERIOD.

AND MORE THAN ANYTHING, I HOPE AND MORE THAN ANYTHING, I HOPE THIS PIECE BRINGS VISIBILITY TO THIS PIECE BRINGS VISIBILITY TO THOSE ISSUES AND THAT WE THOSE ISSUES AND THAT WE STILL -- WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO STILL -- WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO ALLOW THESE STORIES TO BE SWEPT ALLOW THESE STORIES TO BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG, BECAUSE HISTORY UNDER THE RUG, BECAUSE HISTORY KEEPS REPEATING ITSELF.

KEEPS REPEATING ITSELF.

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

EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

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

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I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

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