June 12, 2017: TONIGHT ON METROFOCUS

> TONIGHT, ON 'METROFOCUS,' CAN EDUCATION BE RUN LIKE A BUSINESS?

PBS'S SERIES, SCHOOL INC., MAKES THE CASE NOT EVERYONE THINKS IT MAKES THE GRADE.

EDUCATION HISTORIAN, DIANE RAVAGE TELLS US WHY.

FOR THE FIRST FAMILY OF NEW YORK CITY, MENTAL HEALTH IS DEEPLY PERSONAL.

FIRST LADY TELLS US WHY SHE BELIEVES HER INITIATIVE IS TACKLING AN UNSPOKEN CRISIS.

PBS IS BACK WITH A STORY OF STRUGGLE AND HOPE WITHIN THE LBGT COMMUNITY.

'METROFOCUS' STARTS RIGHT NOW WITH THOSE STORIES.

> THIS IS 'METROFOCUS' WITH RAFAEL PI RAMON, JACK FORD AND JEN.

FLANAGAN.

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY -- CORPORATE FUNDING FOR 'METROFOCUS' WAS PROVIDED BY MUTUAL OF AMERICA, YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY.

AND BY PSE&G, SERVING CUSTOMERS, STRENGTHENING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND INVESTING IN THE FUTURE.

WE TURN NOW TO THE ONGOING BATTLE OVER THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION'S CLASSROOMS AND RAGING DEBATE IN WASHINGTON OVER SCHOOL CHOICE.

THE THREE PART DOCUMENTARY, 'SCHOOL, INK' AIRING THIS MONTH ON 13 LOOKS HOW EDUCATION COULD BENEFIT FROM FREE MARKET FORCES SUCH AS COMMISSION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

HERE'S A LOOK.

IN THE MODERN WORLD WE RIDE THE CREST OF A WAVE.

EVERYDAY, INNOVATORS DISCOVER NEW AND BETTER WAYS OF MEETING OUR NEEDS.

THE GREATEST INNOVATIONS ARE ROUTINELY REPLICATED WORLDWIDE, EXCEPT IN EDUCATION, WHICH HAS REMAINED STUBBORNLY AT ANCHOR WHILE THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS SAILED PAST IT.

IN THE NEXT HOUR, POLICY ANALYST, ANDREW COLLISON EXPLAINS WHY OUR CLASSROOMS HAVE YET TO BE TRANSFORMED BY A SIMILAR WAVE, THE SAME KIND OF INNOVATIVE WAVE THAT HAS REVOLUTIONIZED AND IMPROVED EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.

WE CRISSCROSS THE GLOBE FOR ANSWERS TO OUR ESSENTIAL QUESTION, HOW DO WE ATTAIN EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE?

THERE ARE OTHER OPINIONS.

JOINING ME NOW TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CLAIMS AND ASSUMPTIONS MADE IN 'SCHOOL, INC.,' DIANE RAVAGE, A PROFESSOR AT NYU, ONE OF THE FOREMOST AUTHORITIESES ON EDUCATION AND AN OPPONENT OF THIS DOCUMENTARY.

THANK YOU.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU INVITING ME TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS NOT IN MY OPINION A DOCUMENTARY.

IT IS SHEER PROPAGANDA.

I WOULD CALL IT THE BETSY DeVOS VIEW OF EDUCATION.

EVERYTHING I SAW CITED AS THE FACT IN THIS DOCUMENTARY OR IN THIS FILM IS ACTUALLY PROPAGANDA.

IT'S NOT TRUE.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF FAKE NEWS ABOUT EDUCATION.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT.

I WILL BRING SOME ISSUES HE BRINGS UP TO GET YOUR TAKE ON IT.

I AM NOT AN OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN FOR PBS OBVIOUSLY.

AS YOU'RE NOT SURPRISED TO HEAR, WE'VE HEARD THAT CHARGE BEFORE ABOUT OUR AIRING PROPAGANDA BUT IT'S USUALLY FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, THE PEOPLE WHO SAY WE'RE THE SANDBOX OF THE ELITE AND SAY EVERYTHING WE DO IS PROPAGANDA.

WE TRUST OUR VIEWERS ULTIMATELY TO MAKE THE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN WHAT IS AND WHAT ISN'T.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE YOU HERE.

I WOULD HOPE YOUR VIEWERS WOULD GOOGLE THE FUNDERS, THE ROSEMARY AND JACK ANDERSON FOUNDATION IS THE CONDUIT FOR KOCH BROTHERS AND BETSY DEVICE.

RIGHT WING ANTI-PUBLIC SCHOOL FOUNDATION.

WHATEVER THEY MAY HAVE SAID IN THE PAST ABOUT PBS, I ALWAYS SEE PBS AS PRESENTING BOTH SIDES.

I THINK THIS IS A DOCUMENTARY THAT'S VERY ONE-SIDED, HOSTILE TO PUBLIC EDUCATION AND I DON'T THINK ANDREW HAS BEEN IN AN AMERICAN PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE PAST 30 YEARS.

ONE MORE POINT AS FAR AS FUNDING IS CONCERNED, WHEREVER FUNDING COMES FROM, KOCH BROTHERS, DeVOS, GEORGE SOROS, THIS IS A FIREWALL BETWEEN OUR FUNDERS AND EDITORIAL POLICY.

YOU MAY DISLIKE IT AND THINK IT'S IN BAD TASTE OR BAD JUDGMENT BUT NOT A DECISION OF THE FUNDERS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE POINTS MR. COLSCOLSON.

OVER THE YEARS OTHER FIELDS HAVE HAD INNOVATIONS REPLICATED WORLDWIDE EXCEPT EDUCATION.

THE HE SAID THE LAST INNOVATION THAT'S GONE WORLDWIDE IS THE BLACK BOARD.

RESPOND.

I'M A HISTORIAN OF EDUCATION.

THAT'S FLATLY UNTRUE.

TO BEGIN WITH, NONE OF THE MODELS HE OFFERS IN THIS THREE HOUR DOCUMENTARY ARE INNOVATIVE.

IF THEY'RE GOOD SCHOOLS, THEY LOOK EXACTLY LIKE AN AMERICAN PUBLIC SCHOOL.

AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE KIP SCHOOLS.

A NETWORK OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.

NETWORK OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.

THEY LOOK LIKE A PUBLIC SCHOOL EXCEPT YOU WILL NEVER SEE A CHILD IN A WHEELCHAIR OR BREATHING TUBE AND DON'T ACCEPT CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES OR NOT ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.

YOU SAY THEY TURN THOSE PEOPLE DOWN?

THEY DON'T ACCEPT THEM.

I'VE BEEN THERE AND NEVER SEEN A CHILD WITH DISABILITIES.

MAYBE MILD HEARING DISABILITIES BUT NOT THE KINDS OF CHILDREN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INNOVATIONS FROM EDUCATION BUT NOT FROM THE SEC STORE HE'S TALKING ABOUT.

GIVE US WHATEVER SECTOR.

HIS EXAMPLE WOULD BE THERE ARE CATHOLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

I DON'T KNOW ANY INNOVATIVE UNLESS THE PARENTS ARE PAYING $40,000, $50,000 PER YEAR UNLESS THEY GET CLASSROOMS OF 12.

THAT'S A VERY VALUABLE WAY TO BE TAUGHT AND WOULD BE VERY VALUABLE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.

I'VE BEEN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THIS COUNTRY ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND THE WAY THEY COMBINE AND THE WAY THEY USE TECHNOLOGY AND TEACH FOR EXAMPLE, ROBOTICS.

I'VE BEEN TO DRAMATIC PERFORMANCES OF AN A COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL THAT WOULD KNOCK THE SOCKS OFF BROADWAY.

TO ME, THE INTRODUCTION OF COMMUNITY GARDENING, OUR SCHOOL GARDENS WHERE THE CHILDREN RAISE WHAT THEY EAT.

THE MAKERS FACE MOVEMENT WHICH NOW HAS THOUSANDS OF SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE WRITING CHILDREN HAVE A DEDICATED SPACE TO BUILD THINGS, USE THEIR HANDS AND USE TECHNOLOGY AND USE WHATEVER AND TO DESIGN THEIR OWN CREATIONS, ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

WHEN THEY HOLD A CONFERENCE, OVER 100,000 PEOPLE ATTEND.

CLEARLY, THOSE ARE NOT SEEN IN THIS DOCUMENTARY SERIES.

THAT DOESN'T COME FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THAT'S IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

COLSON DOESN'T MAKE THIS EXPLICIT CLAIM THAT THE REASON THAT THERE ARE NO INNOVATIONS, AS HE SAYS, THERE ARE NOT, AS A RESULT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ESTABLISHMENT.

HE IMPLIES -- OUR OWN GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR COME SAYS WE HAVE AN EDUCATION MONOPOLY THAT DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS.

WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM?

HE SAID THAT BECAUSE HE HAS DONORS FROM WALL STREET ABOUT GOVERNOR CUOMO MADE THAT STATEMENT AFTER RECEIVING LARGE FUNDS OF MONEY FROM HEDGE FUNDERS.

THERE'S A BATTLE GOING ON ABOUT THIS COUNTRY FOR PRIVATIZATION.

THIS WILL BE USED AS A WEAPON TO ENCOURAGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHARTERS THAT HAVE FAILED AND VOUCHERS, MASSIVE FAILURES.

WE HAVE EFFICACY OF STUDIES ABOUT CHARTERS AND VOUCHERS AND THEY'RE NOT WORKING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT VOUCHERS.

USED TO BE A SUPPORTER OF CHARTERS.

PERSONALLY THAT I'VE SEEN CHARTERS ARE THE LIFELINE TO POOR KIDS, CHILDREN OF COLOR WHO OTHERWISE WOULD BE STUCK IN FAILING SCHOOLS.

NOT ALL CHARTERS ARE FAILURES, CORRECT?

SOME CHARTERS ARE A LIFELINE.

YOU SEE WHAT IS SUCCESSFUL IN CHARTERS IS THEIR SELECTION OF STUDENTS.

THE GREAT HOPES OF SCHOOL CHOICE IS THE SCHOOLS CHOOSE.

WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS THEY DO NOT CHOOSE THE KIDS WHO HAVE LOW TEST SCORES, THEY DO NOT CHOOSE THE KIDS WITH DISABILITIES.

IF YOU CAN TAKE THE BEST KIDS IN A VERY POOR COMMUNITY AND ISOLATE THEM FROM THOSE DISRUPTIVE AND DIFFICULT AND LEAVE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH THE MOST EXPENSIVE CHILDREN AND FEWER RESOURCES, YOU CAN SAY, THE CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE A SUCCESS BECAUSE LOOK, THEY SAVED A HANDFUL OF CHILDREN, BUT THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE EDUCATING 90% OF THE KIDS ARE IN TROUBLE.

THE DOCUMENTARY DOESN'T JUST COVER CHARTERS.

MOST -- WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT SUCCESSFUL COUNTRIES WITH SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, YOU HEAR FINLAND AND SOUTH KOREA.

HE GOES TO SOUTH KOREA AND YOU SEE ACCORDING TO THE DOCUMENTARY, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS MAKING IT SUCCESSFUL, THEY SEEM MORE LIKE OURS, THEY HAVE A SYSTEM OF AFTER SCHOOL TUTORIALS EITHER IN PERSON OR ONLINE WHERE TEACHERS COMPETE FOR THE STUDENTS AND CAN MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THE COMPETITION RAISES THE STANDARDS OF THE KIDS.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

IT'S TERRIBLE.

I HOPE AND PRAY AMERICAN SCHOOLS OR AMERICAN SOCIETY NEVER EMULATES SOUTH KOREA.

ALL THE EAST ASIAN NATIONS ARE ABSOLUTELY ENSLAVED TO HIGH STAKES TESTING.

SOUTH KOREA IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT WHERE THE TEST DEFINES YOUR LIFE.

HE LOVES THAT.

HE SAYS, IT'S GREAT, YOU GET HIGHER TEST SCORES AND SPEND ALL YOUR DAY IN SCHOOL AND THEN GO TO AN AFTER SCHOOL.

TO BE FAIR, THAT'S PRESENTED IN THE DOCUMENTARY, THE DIFFICULTIES THE STUDENTS FACE.

ABSOLUTELY.

I'M AGAINST HIGH STAKES TESTING.

TO ME, THE DOCUMENTARY WOULD HAVE BEEN BALANCED HAD HE GONE TO FINLAND.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO PICK THE HIGHEST PERFORMING NATION IN EUROPE YOU WOULD GO TO FINLAND.

THERE ARE NO HIGH STAKES TESTING, THERE ARE NO PRIVATE SCHOOLS, NO VOUCHERS AND CHARTERS.

IT'S A HIGHLY INNOVATIVE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

WI DID HE NOT GO TO FINLAND?

WHAT ABOUT IF YOU GIVE INCENTIVES TO TEACHERS, MONETARY INCENTIVES OR SOME OTHER KIND OF INCENTIVE, IF THEY DO BETTER AND GET BETTER RESULTS WITH THE STUDENTS AND THE STUDENTS LIKE THEM BETTER THEY GET BETTER RENUMERATION?

FIRST OF ALL, THAT'S ALL BASED ON TEST SCORES.

THE HIGH STAKES TESTING IS SICK.

EDUCATION IS NOT JUST THE TEST SCORE YOU GOT, THE PERSON YOU ARE, YOUR CHARACTER, YOUR LOVE OF LEARNING.

THAT'S NEVER REFLECTED IN THE TEST SCORES.

IT'S ABOUT CREATIVITY.

I'VE SEEN KIDS BRILLIANT ON STAGE AND SPORTS AND DOESN'T SHOW UP ON THE TEST SCORES.

SOUTH KOREA IS OBSESSED WITH TEST SCORES.

FINLAND A FAR MORE INNOVATIVE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAN SOUTH KOREA DOESN'T PAY TEACHERS MORE FOR GETTING HIGHER SCORES BECAUSE THERE ARE NO STANDARDIZED TESTS.

WE'VE HAD LOTS OF TESTING OF MERIT PAY, WHICH IS WHAT HE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT, PAY TEACHERS MORE IF THE TEST SCORES ARE HIGHER.

IT'S NEVER WORKED.

THERE'S STUDY AFTER STUDY BECAUSE THE TEACHERS ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN, USUALLY UNDER VERY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES WITHOUT THE RESOURCES THEY NEED AND CLASS SIZES FAR TOO LARGE.

TO SAY TO THEM, I WILL DANGLE A BONUS BEFORE YOU, IN NASHVILLE THEY TRIED THAT A FEW YEARS AGO.

THE BONUS WAS $15,000 AND SHOWED NO RESULTS.

ALL RIGHT, DIANE.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

I COULD GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE CLAIM IN THAT DOCUMENTARY AND SHOW TO YOU IT'S FALSE, FALSE, FALSE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION ONLINE WITH MORE POINTS OF VIEW.

LET US HEAR FROM YOU.

GIVE US YOUR TAKE AT 'METROFOCUS.'ORG.

FOR NEW YORK CITY'S FIRST FAMILY, THE ISSUE OF MENTAL HEALTH IS DEEPLY PERSONAL.

LAST YEAR, MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO AND THE FIRST LADY LED THE LAUNCH OF THE THRIVE NYC INITIATIVE, AN $850 MILLION PROGRAM TO TACKLE THE STIGMA THAT SURROUNDS MENTAL ILLNESS INSURING 1 IN 5 NEW YORKERS WHO EXPERIENCE A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER GETS CRITICAL ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES AND SERVICES THEY NEED.

WE ARE PLEASED TO WELCOME THE FIRST LADY TO THE CITY, CHARLENE McCRAY.

SO NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU.

THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES THAT CIRCULATE AROUND A CITY SUCH AS NEW YORK.

WHY IS IT YOU DECIDED YOU WANTED TO FOCUS ENERGY ON THIS NOTION OF PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM MENTAL ILLNESS AND THINGS SUCH AS DEPRESSION?

WHY WERE YOU DRAWN TO THAT AS AN ISSUE?

TWO REASONS.

ONE, I'VE SEEN PEOPLE CLOSE TO ME IN MY OWN FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES SUFFERING SO MUCH.

WITH SOMETHING NO ONE WOULD TALK ABOUT.

DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY.

WHEN I FOUND OUT HOW COMMON MENTAL ILLNESS AND OTHER DISEASEDS ARE IN SOCIETY, I KNEW THAT WAS THE THING I WANTED TO FOCUS ON.

I ALSO WANTED TO FOCUS ON IT BECAUSE I SEE IT AS THE ROOT CAUSE FOR SO MANY OF THE INTRACTABLE PROBLEMS WE FACE IN EDUCATION, AND OUR EMERGENCY ROOMS AND OUR SHELTERS, ON OUR STREETS, IN OUR JAILS.

IF WE DON'T FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANYWHERE WITH THESE PROBLEMS.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE STIGMA.

YOU MENTIONED AN INTERESTING POINT.

WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.

NO.

PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING IT DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.

FAMILY MEMBERS DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.

PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN ORBIT TEND NOT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

AS A SOCIETY WE TEND NOT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

THERE'S A LOT OF DISCRIMINATION AND SHAME AND IN DECADES PAST, THERE WERE NOT THE SERVICES.

THERE WERE A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS, PEOPLE DID NOT KNOW THAT MENTAL ILLNESS IS A REAL DISEASE LIKE ASTHMA AND THEY THINK IT'S A LACK OF DISCIPLINE OR CHARACTER.

SCIENCE HAS REVEALED THE MYSTERIES WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MIND SO WE KNOW THAT IT'S JUST A DISEASE, LIKE SO MANY, LIKE ASTHMA OR DIABETES, SOMETHING TREATABLE.

THE SOONER WE TREAT IT THE BETTER.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THRIVE NYC.

TELL ME HOW IT CAME ABOUT.

THRIVE CAME ABOUT AFTER 11 MONTHS OF GOING INTO COMMUNITIES, ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF COMMUNITIES, TALKING WITH PEOPLE CONSUMERS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE.

WE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS.

WHAT WERE THEY EXPERIENCING?

WHAT WOULD THEY LIKE TO SEE?

WHAT WOULD NEW YORK CITY LOOK LIKE TO THEM IF WE WERE PROVIDING THE RIGHT SUPPORT SERVICES?

YOU TALK ABOUT THAT THE COMMUNITY AGREED ON THE NOTION OF HAVING TO CHANGE THE CULTURE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

I WOULD SUSPECT, I'M NOT IN THAT WORLD, I WOULD SUSPECT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LET'S CHANGE THE DELIVERY FOR MEANS OF SERVICES AND CREATE ADDITIONAL SERVICES, THOSE ARE THINGS I SUSPECT MIGHT BE EASIER TO DO THAN CHANGING A CULTURE?

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE FINDING?

I THINK IT TAKES LONGER TO CHANGE THE CULTURE BUT IT IS DOABLE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE THROUGH 'THRIVE NYC,' WE HELD TWO WEEKENDS OF FAITH.

THE FAITH COMMUNITY IN NEW YORK CITY IS HUGE.

WE THOUGHT IF WE BROUGHT CLERGY MEMBERS INTO THE PROCESS OF SHAPING THRIVE AND WORKING WITH US TO DESTIGMATIZE THIS TOPIC IT WOULD GO A LONG WAYS.

PEOPLE TRUST THEIR CLERGY MEMBERS AND OFTEN THE FIRST PEOPLE PEOPLE WILL TURN TO, RIGHT?

THEY WILL GO TO THEIR CLERGY MEMBER BEFORE THEY GO TO A PSYCHIATRIST.

WE ENLISTED THEM AND THEY HELPED US.

IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKENDS, THE FIRST TIME WE HAD MORE THAN 1,000 PARTICIPATING.

I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THINGS SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS IN THE SHELTERS AND HOW WE SEE THIS.

AGAIN, IT COMES BACK TO THIS NOTION OF CULTURE AND WHY.

I'M WONDERING IF WE SEE SOMEBODY ON THE STREET WHO'S FALLEN AND BROKEN THEIR ANKLE AND AN OBVIOUS INJURY, YOUR FIRST INSTINCT IS LET ME HELP THEM UP OR GET AN AMBULANCE OR CALL 911.

WHEN YOU SEE SOMEBODY WITH A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM AND IT'S CLEAR THEY ARE NOT IN TOUCH WITH REALITY HERE, YOUR INSTINCT IS NOT TO GENERALLY GO AND HELP.

IT'S MORE FRIGHTENING IN SOME WAYS.

HOW DO YOU THINK WE GET PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THOSE WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES DIFFERENTLY?

I'D SAY TWO THINGS ABOUT THAT.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU SEE THE STREET HOMELESS, EVERYONE WHO'S HOMELESS DOES NOT HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS.

IN FACT, MOST OF THEM DON'T.

WHEN IT COMES TO STREET HOMELESS, WHOSE LIVES HAVE SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL TO A POINT THEY'RE ON THE STREET, IT'S HARDER FOR THEM TO ACCESS SERVICES.

THAT'S JUST A SIGN THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE LET THE DISEASE GO TOO LONG.

THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF TIME WHEN THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A MENTAL ILLNESS EMERGE AND THE TIME PEOPLE GET TREATMENT IS 10 YEARS.

THAT'S A STAGGERING NUMBER, A FRIGHTENING NUMBER.

IT IS A FRIGHTENING NUMBER.

BY THEN, 10 YEARS LATER, THE DISEASE HAS WORSENED.

IT'S HARDER TO TREAT.

WE WOULDN'T LET ANYTHING GO THAT LONG.

HEART DISEASE, DIABETES OR ASTHMA, FOREVER YOU LET IT GO THAT LONG IT'S THAT MUCH HARDER TO TREAT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS 'THRIVE NYC' IS DOING.

YOU MENTIONED SERVICES.

YES.

A MATTER OF EXPANDING SERVICES OR LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THERE ARE SERVICES AVAILABLE OR SOME COMBINATION?

ALL OF THAT ABOVE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING I'M MOST PROUD OF WE ESTABLISHED A HOTLINE, CRISIS HOTLINE AND CONNECTION TO CARE.

PEOPLE CAN CALL THIS NUMBER AND TEXT AND CHAT AND GET CONNECTED TO A TRAINED COUNSELOR WHO CAN HELP THEM FIGURE OUT WHERE DO I NEED TO GO TO GET HELP?

WHAT AM I FEELING OR EXPERIENCING?

THEY CAN CALL 1-888-NYC-WELL.

AND THE PERSON WHO ANSWERS THE PHONE WILL HELP THE PERSON FIGURE IT OUT.

IF I SAW SOMEONE, NOT A FAMILY MEMBER, A NEIGHBOR, IS IT OKAY FOR ME TO DO THAT.

ABSOLUTELY.

YOU CAN CALL AND DESCRIBE WHAT YOU'RE SEEING AND WHY YOU'RE CONCERNED.

THE COUNSELOR CAN GIVE YOU SUGGESTIONS WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP.

ARE WE STARTING TO SEE PEOPLE BECOMING MORE AWARE OF THESE SERVICES OUT THERE AND AVAILABLE FOR THEM?

ABSOLUTELY.

WITH OUR WEEKEND OF FAITH AND ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN, WE HAVE THE NYC POSTERS UP AS MANY PLACES AS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE MANY TESTIMONIALS, PEOPLE WHO SUFFERED FROM ANXIETY OR ADDICTION OR ANOTHER DISEASE AND COME THROUGH IT AND TELLING THEIR STORY AND SAYING, TODAY I THRIVE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM, MADAM FIRST LADY, A PLEASURE.

YOU BE WELL.

YOU, TOO.

> WE WILL CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION WITH NEW YORK CITY'S FIRST LADY TOMORROW WITH WHAT IT IS DOING TO COMBAT ITS OPIOID CRISIS.

> TO MANY, LBGTQ IS A SERIES OF LETTERS OR COLORS IN THE RAINBOW.

AS THEY CONTINUE TO GAIN VISIBILITY, ARE AMERICANS TRULY GROWING AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIFFICULTIES THE COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE.

THE FIRST PERSON OF THE DIGITAL SERIES HOPES TO ILLUSTRATE LBGTQ THAT LEADS TO A NARRATIVE AND HOPEFULLY LEAD TO A DISCUSSION ABOUT GENDER, NORMS.

THEY STARTED IN 2015 SPREADING A MESSAGE OF TOLERANCE AND ACCEPTANCE FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LBGTQ.

WITH A LOOK AT WHAT'S COMING UP IN THE NEW SEASON AND MORE, THE HOST OF THE FIRST PERSON.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS BECAUSE YOU'RE ONE OF THE NEW HOSTS.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

LET'S START WITH THAT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES 'FIRST PERSON' A UNIQUE SHOW, EXPRESSING THE INTERESTS AND CONCERNS OF THE LBGTQ COMMUNITY AND WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BE PART OF IT?

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THE ANSWER IS IN THE TITLE 'FIRST PERSON,' GREAT TO IDENTIFY THE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND ASK DEEP INQUIRING QUESTIONS.

THE CONVERSATION CAN BE REALLY PERSONAL AND CONNECTED AS SOMEONE WHO SHARES AN IDENTITY, I KNOW IT'S NEVER ONE THING, IT'S SO MANY LAYERS AND SO COMPLEX.

SO YOU ARE AN AWARD WINNING WRITER, PERFORMER, CULTURAL WORKER.

NOW, HOW DO YOU BRING THOSE SKILLS TO THIS PROGRAM AND HOW DO YOU BRING THOSE SKILLS TO YOUR ACTIVISM IN GENERAL?

ALL OF THOSE -- I HAVE A CERTAIN EYE ON THE WORLD AS ARTIST BUILDING A NARRATIVE AND THINKING OF THE LAYERS AND HOW IT CAN BE EXCITING AND THRILLING IN A PLAY, STRAIGHTFORWARD IN THE HEAD AND PROSE.

I'M THINKING OF THAT AS A HOST, HOW AM I HELPING THIS PERSON BUILD THEIR OWN STORY.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST PERSON EXPERIENCE?

FINDING MY VOICE AS A WRITER AND PERFORMER AS WELL IS A BIG PART OF ME ALSO FINDING MY IDENTITY, MY GENDER, ROMANTIC ORIENTATION AND COMMUNITY.

I TALK A LOT ABOUT THAT, HOW I CAME ONTO THE STAGE AND ABLE TO OWN MYSELF IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE.

THIS IS ME, HOW I WANT TO BE AND WANT YOU TO SEE ME AND THEN CHANGED MY MIND.

THAT'S TRUE IN MY ARTWORK AND DAILY LIFE.

YOU'RE A YOUNG PERSON BUT YOU HAVE SEEN THE CHANGES THAT HAVE GONE ON IN THIS COUNTRY REGARDING THE LBGT COMMUNITY.

HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTER THEM IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS?

I SEE A DEEP AMOUNT OF EXPANDING, EXPANDING WHO IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE WAYS WE GET TO UNDERSTAND OURSELVES, NOT JUST SINGULAR IDENTITIES, BUT MULTIPLE IDENTITIES.

AND THE YOUTH REALLY LEAD.

I'M YOUNGER BUT LED BY FOLKS YOUNGER THAN ME EVEN.

THAT CONTINUES TO BE TRUE AND THAT REALLY INSPIRES ME.

ARE YOU CONCERNED AT ALL THE WORRIES AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IS KIND OF HIDING OR MAKING LESS VISIBLE THE ADVANCES THAT HAVE HAPPENED?

NO.

BECAUSE ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THE ADVANCES THAT HAVE HAPPENED ARE MAKING SOME PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY COMPLACENT?

I THINK THAT'S MORE TRUE.

YEAH.

MORE TRUE.

I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN ADVANCES FOR SOME KINDS OF PEOPLE BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF FOLKS LIVING IN STATES WHERE THEY CAN BE FIRED AT THE DROP OF A HAT BECAUSE OF THEIR GENDER, IDENTITY OR SEXUALITY.

THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE STABLE HOUSING.

IN A CITY LIKE NEW YORK, WE THINK, WE HAVE GAY MARRIAGE AND ALL KINDS OF SERVICES AND EVERYBODY IS GETTING ALONG, FOR THE MOST PART.

THERE IS VIOLENCE AND DANGER HERE AND EVEN WORSE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

THE BITTER PILLY BITTERSWEET ALMOST -- BITTER PILL, AND THIS BITTERSWEET IS OPENING UP THIS CONVERSATION, WHO IS STILL UNSAFE AND HOW DO WE PROTECT THEM RIGHT NOW.

WHAT DO YOU ADVISE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO GREW UP WITH THE ADVANCES AND MAY NOT KNOW HOW IT WAS BEFORE.

I'M SURE THEY READ IT.

DIFFERENT TO READ IT THAN EXPERIENCE IT.

STAY LOUD AND CRITICAL AND RIGHTEOUS, KEEP PUSHING US AND REMINDING US THAT WHAT YOU HAD WAS STILL NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND THAT WE NEED TO FOLLOW YOUR LEAD AND KEEP PUSHING.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THIS PROGRAM?

OH, I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO INTERVIEW SOME FOLKS THAT ARE TOTALLY OFF THE BEATEN PATH BUT HAVE THESE DELIGHTFUL AND SURPRISING STORIES.

THANKS SO MUCH.

IT WAS GREAT MEETING YOU.

A PLEASURE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION HOW TO CATCH 'FIRST PERSON,' VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT METROFOCUS.ORG.

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