12/2/02

LC021202

VAL ZAVALA>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS MARLOW>> MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE. TONIGHT TWO GREAT EXAMPLES OF HOW TO DO IT.

DENNIS JAMES>> YOU’RE GRINNING LIKE IT’S GOING TO BE SOMETHING FUN AND CRAZY, WILD AND EXCITING.

SOLOMON>> IT IS.

DENNIS JAMES>> WELL, YOU’RE RIGHT! HARD LEFT, ALL THE WAY OVER, ALL THE WAY OVER, MORE, MORE, MORE, YES, YES, YOU’RE DOING IT! MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE! ALL RIGHT!

DENNIS JAMES>> MANY OF THE KIDS THAT WE FLY COME FROM BACKGROUNDS WHERE THEY'VE BEEN TOLD, OH, YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING, YOU'RE STUPID, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO AMOUNT TO ANYTHING. WE SHOW THEM DIFFERENTLY.

JIM GLADSON>> EVERYBODY TO SAILING STATIONS! LET’S PREPARE TO COME ABOUT!

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> CAN TEETERING ATOP A SHIP’S MAST CHANGE THE OUTLOOK OF INNER CITY KIDS? ONE SEA CAPTAIN SAYS YES.

JIM GLADSON>> WHEN YOU STEP ABOARD, ALL OF YOUR CARES AND WORRIES AND PROBLEMS ARE ALL STAYING BEHIND.

VAL>> IN THE AIR AND ON THE SEA. WE’LL FIND OUT HOW SOME TROUBLED KIDS ARE RISING ABOVE THEIR PROBLEMS. IT’S ALL AHEAD ON A SPECIAL EDITION OF LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.
VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I’M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I’M JESS MARLOW.

VAL>> WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> TONIGHT THE STORIES OF TWO DEDICATED MEN. BOTH HAVE FOUND A WAY TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON YOUNG PEOPLE BY GIVING THEM EXPERIENCES THEY WON’T FORGET. ONE IS A SHIP’S CAPTAIN, THE OTHER A PILOT.

VAL>> AND WE BEGIN WITH THE PILOT’S STORY. HIS NAME IS DENNIS JAMES. HE’S A COMMERCIAL AVIATOR, BUT HIS PASSION IS FLYING AEROBATIC PLANES. AND HIS BIGGEST THRILL COMES WHEN HE HANDS THE CONTROLS OVER TO A TROUBLED TEENAGER. HIS PROGRAM IS CALLED “YOUNG ACES”.

DENNIS JAMES>> EVERY TIME I FLY, IT'S A THRILL. EVERY SINGLE TIME. AND I'VE BEEN FLYING PLANES FOR OVER THIRTEEN YEARS. IT'S SPECIAL. EVERY TAKE-OFF IS SPECIAL. EVERY LOOP IS SPECIAL, EVERY ROLL IS SPECIAL AND I NEVER GET TIRED OF IT. THE ENERGY LEVEL IS UP. I GET PUMPED UP. I GET A LITTLE WILD AND CRAZY IN THE PLANE AND IT'S, I MEAN IT'S NOT EFFECTIVE. IT JUST COMES OVER ME SOMETIMES. I DIG IT. IT'S A GREAT TIME, IT'S A GREAT TIME.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> FOR ONE PILOT, HEADING FOR THE SKY AND WATCHING THE WORLD SPIN IS A THRILL HE JUST CAN'T KEEP TO HIMSELF. DENNIS JAMES TAKES HIS LOVE OF FLYING BEYOND THE CLOUDS AND INTO THE HEARTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE, TEENAGERS WHOSE LIVES JUST MIGHT BE CHANGED BY AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE.

DENNIS JAMES>> YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING SHARP. ARE YOU READY FOR THIS? I'M PUTTING UP SOME BRIEFING ITEMS. HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT OUR BASIC PROGRAM, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT AERODYNAMICS, HOW AN AIRPLANE FLIES.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> DENNIS JAMES AND HIS PARTNER, KEVIN MILLER, ARE COMMERCIAL AIRLINE PILOTS. WHEN THEY AREN'T FLYING PASSENGER JETS, THEY'RE HERE AT FULLERTON AIRPORT GETTING TEENAGERS READY FOR THE RIDE OF THEIR LIVES. THE PROGRAM IS CALLED "YOUNG ACES" AND IT ALLOWS TROUBLED TEENS TO TAKE CONTROL OF AN AEROBATIC AIRPLANE.

DENNIS JAMES>> FIRST OF ALL GUYS, WELCOME TO YOUNG ACES. GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

STUDENT>> WE'RE GLAD TO BE HERE.

DENNIS JAMES>> WELL, I THINK YOU'LL BE SAYING THAT SAME THING IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES WHEN YOU'RE UP THERE UPSIDE DOWN IN THE TOP OF A LOOP.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> THIS MORNING, DENNIS IS WORKING WITH TWO NEW YOUNG ACES, SOLOMON AND RYAN.

DENNIS JAMES>> THIS IS AMAZING SCIENCE TO ME, OKAY? THE SHAPE OF THE WING IS BASICALLY LIKE SO. KIND OF FLAT ON THE BOTTOM, KIND OF CURVED ON THE TOP.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> SOLOMON AND RYAN WERE EACH ARRESTED FOR MINOR OFFENSES. RYAN WAS CHARGED WITH VANDALISM AND SOLOMON WAS ARRESTED FOR GETTING INTO A FISTFIGHT.

DENNIS JAMES>> MANY OF THE KIDS THAT WE FLY COME FROM BACKGROUNDS WHERE THEY'VE BEEN TOLD, OH, YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING, YOU'RE STUPID, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO AMOUNT TO ANYTHING. WE SHOW THEM DIFFERENTLY.

DENNIS JAMES>> FRACTIONS. YOU GUYS WORK WITH FRACTIONS? ALL RIGHT. TEST TIME RIGHT NOW.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> RYAN IS A HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE AND SOLOMON IS A FRESHMAN AT HUNTINGTON BEACH HIGH SCHOOL. HE'S ONE OF EIGHT CHILDREN WITH NO FATHER AT HOME.

DENNIS JAMES>> WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EQUATION TO KEEP IT EQUIVALENT? SOLOMON?

SOLOMON>> GIVE IT THE SAME NAME?

DENNIS JAMES>> GOOD, YES. YOU'RE KILLER, MAN.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> TODAY WILL NOT JUST BE SOLOMON'S FIRST TIME FLYING A PLANE. IT WILL BE HIS FIRST TIME EVER IN A PLANE. TODAY WILL ALSO BE THE YOUNG ACES' FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH G FORCES. THE HIGHER THE SPEED, THE MORE THEY WILL BE PRESSED INTO THE SEATS OF THE PLANE.

DENNIS JAMES>> YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THE UGLY FACE BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO FEEL AS IF YOU WEIGH OVER 400 POUNDS. OH, IT'S GOING TO BE UGLY, SWEAT POURING OUT ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE SO COOL. THEN WHEN WE GET SIXTY DEGREES NOSE UP, WE START TO ROLL THE AIRPLANE....

DENNIS JAMES>> I GREW UP IN SACRAMENTO NEAR THE OLD SACRAMENTO EXECUTIVE AIRPORT. SMALL PLANES WOULD FLY OVERHEAD ALL THE TIME AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT, WOW, THAT'D BE GREAT. I'D LOVE TO DO THAT SOMEDAY. BUT I HAD NO IDEA HOW YOU'D GET INTO IT. THEN A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY ARRANGED FOR ME TO GO UP IN A SMALL PLANE AND THE PILOT LET ME TAKE THE FLIGHT CONTROLS FOR A LITTLE BIT AND I WAS A CHANGED MAN. I WAS OBSESSED. I KNEW I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO FLY SOMEHOW. AFTER I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, I WENT INTO THE MARINE CORPS AND LEARNED HOW TO FLY THERE.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> TODAY, DENNIS FLIES FOR AMERICAN AIRLINES. HE IS ONE OF ONLY ABOUT ONE PERCENT OF ALL COMMERCIAL PILOTS WHO ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

DENNIS JAMES>> NOW, WHY DO WE HAVE THE PARACHUTE? WELL, THE FAA REQUIRES THEM. REMEMBER THE FLYING POLICE? THEY REQUIRE US TO HAVE A PARACHUTE WHEN....

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> DENNIS IS SINGLE WITH NO KIDS OF HIS OWN, BUT YOUNG ACES ALLOWS HIM TO BE A TEACHER AND A DAD FOR A FEW HOURS.

DENNIS JAMES>> I FEEL IT'S A SENSE OF MISSION. I FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TAXPAYERS SPENT WELL OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN MY MILITARY TRAINING AND THE LEAST THAT I CAN DO AND THE LEAST THAT KEVIN CAN DO IS GIVE BACK BY HELPING OUR COMMUNITY SORT OF BUILD ITSELF UP.

DENNIS JAMES>> WELL, ONE THING I GUARANTEE YOU, I WON'T LEAVE THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT YOU. THERE WILL NEVER BE A TIME WHEN YOU LOOK TO THE RIGHT AND THERE'S A BIG GAPING HOLE WHERE I USED TO BE. SO DON'T WORRY. IF WE NEED TO BAIL OUT OF THE PLANE, I'LL TOSS YOU OUT AND THEN I'LL TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS, OKAY?

DENNIS JAMES>> THERE, WE PHYSICALLY JUST PUSH THIS THING RIGHT ON OUT.

DENNIS JAMES>> THE AIRCRAFT WE USE AT THE YOUNG ACES IS AN ITALIAN-BUILT MILITARY TRAINER CALLED THE MARCHETTI.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> THE MARCHETTI COST $170,000. DENNIS BOUGHT THE PLANE HIMSELF, HOPING TO RECEIVE CORPORATE SUPPORT FOR YOUNG ACES, BUT SO FAR, HE'S BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL, SO HE'S MAKING THE $1,800 MONTHLY PAYMENTS HIMSELF.

DENNIS JAMES>> IT'S NOT COMFORTABLE, BUT IT'S DOABLE AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE OPERATING RIGHT NOW.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> THE PLANE IS EQUIPPED WITH THREE CAMERAS AND, AFTER THEY LAND, THE YOUNG ACES WILL RECEIVE VIDEOS OF THEIR FLIGHTS.

DENNIS JAMES>> THE EVIDENCE. THERE'S NO FOOLING ANYBODY, YOU KNOW. ALL THE STUFF IS RIGHT HERE.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> RYAN WILL GO FIRST AND SOLOMON WILL WATCH FROM THE GROUND. HE'S NERVOUS.

>> DID YOU EVER SEE YOURSELF FLYING A PLANE BEFORE?

SOLOMON>> I MEAN, SOMETIMES IN A DREAM, YOU KNOW, I'D BE A TOP GUN OR AN ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, BUT I DIDN'T THINK I'D BE FLYING A PLANE RIGHT NOW. TOO YOUNG FOR IT.

DENNIS JAMES>> ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE LOOKING GOOD, YOU'RE FLYING A PLANE! YOU'RE FLYING A PLANE, MAN! ARE YOU READY FOR INLINE ROLL NUMBER ONE?

RYAN>> YES, I AM.

DENNIS JAMES>> ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S GET ON WITH THE INSANITY. HERE WE GO. SLOWLY PULL THE AIRPLANE BACK, BACK, BACK, BACK, MORE, MORE, MORE, NOW HARD LEFT! ROLL IT LEFT, ROLL IT LEFT! YEAH, HARD LEFT, HARD LEFT, HARDER! HIT YOUR LEFT KNEE! HIT YOUR LEFT KNEE! LEFT KNEE, LEFT KNEE! OKAY, START THE ROLL. YES! PULL BACK ON THE STICK! YES! YOU DID IT. RYAN, HOW YOU FEELING? LITTLE SHAKY? NO SWEAT HERE, WE'LL TAKE IT EASY, WE'LL TAKE IT EASY.

DENNIS JAMES>> SOME OF THEM ARE SCARED. SOME OF THEM ACTUALLY SCREAM AS THEY TAKE THE STICK. SOME OF THEM JUST START GRINNING. THAT'S USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS. THE GRINS GO FROM EAR TO EAR AND THEY'RE STUCK THERE FOR THE REST OF THE FLIGHT.

[FILM CLIP]

DENNIS JAMES>> ARE YOU READY? YOU'RE GRINNING LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING FUN AND CRAZY, WILD AND EXCITING.

SOLOMON>> IT IS.

DENNIS JAMES>> WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT! ALL RIGHT, CLEAR. PROP.

DENNIS JAMES>> I'M FLYING WITH SOLOMON. HE'S A STEELY-EYED FIGHTER PILOT LOOKING FOR HIS FIRST COMBAT MISSION. GREEN PANTHER, GREEN PANTHER, THIS IS JESSIE. GREEN PANTHER, GREEN PANTHER, THIS IS JESSIE. GO AHEAD.

SOLOMON>> THIS IS GREEN PANTHER. THE WEATHER LOOKS GOOD. I'M READY FOR TAKE OFF.

[FILM CLIP]

DENNIS JAMES>> ARE YOU READY?

SOLOMON>> DO YOU WANT ME TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE STICK?

DENNIS JAMES>> YOU MEAN LIKE YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW? YOU'RE FLYING. OH, MY GOD, YOU'RE FLYING! OH, I'M SCARED, I'M SO SCARED!

SOLOMON>> THIS IS GREAT!

DENNIS JAMES>> YOU'RE DOING FINE, MAN.

SOLOMON>> AH, I'M A NATURAL.

DENNIS JAMES>> LOOK AT THAT. YEAH, YOU ARE. ALL RIGHT.

SOLOMON>> WHAT ARE WE DOING FIRST?

DENNIS JAMES>> WE'RE GOING TO DO THE INLINE ROLL WHERE I GET THE NOSE UP AND ROLL THE AIRPLANE COMPLETELY AROUND, ALL RIGHT? PUT YOUR HAND ON THE STICK. OKAY, PULL BACK ON THE STICK. BACK, BACK, BACK! MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE! NOW HARD LEFT LIKE YOU DID BEFORE. HARD LEFT, HARD LEFT! HIT YOUR KNEE, HIT YOUR KNEE! ALL THE WAY OVER, ALL THE WAY OVER! MORE, MORE, MORE! YES, YOU'RE DOING IT! ALL RIGHT, STOP THE ROLL. ALL RIGHT, YOU DID IT, SOLOMON, YOU DID IT! GIVE ME A HIGH FIVE. YEAH! YOU BETTER KEEP FLYING, MAN. ARE YOU SURE YOU'VE NEVER FLOWN A PLANE BEFORE?

SOLOMON>> I WANT TO DO IT AGAIN.

DENNIS JAMES>> YOU'VE GOT THE AIRPLANE. OKAY, STICK BACK, BACK, BACK, BACK! MORE, MORE, MORE! NOW ROLL IT LEFT, HARD LEFT! YEAH! THAT'S IT! NOW MORE, MORE! YES, SOLOMON. OH, I'M SO PROUD OF YOU! I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!

DENNIS JAMES>> AS SOON AS THE KID GRABS THE STICK AND REALIZES THAT HE OR SHE IS FLYING A PLANE, THE SELF ESTEEM SHOOTS UP. YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONVINCE THE KID AT THAT POINT THAT HE'S CAPABLE OF DOING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS. HE'S ALREADY DEMONSTRATED IT TO HIMSELF OR TO HERSELF THAT THAT CAN BE DONE.

DENNIS JAMES>> HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF BECOMING A FIGHTER PILOT?

SOLOMON>> YEAH, I WANT TO BE IN THE NAVY AND FLY A JET.

DENNIS JAMES>> TO BECOME A PILOT, YOU HAVE TO DO PRETTY WELL IN HIGH SCHOOL SO YOU CAN GET INTO COLLEGE. DO WELL IN COLLEGE AND GO ON AND GET YOURSELF A COMMISSION AS AN OFFICER AND YOU LEARN HOW TO FLY.

DENNIS JAMES>> THEY KNOW THAT THEY'VE MADE A TRANSITION. THEY KNOW THAT THEY'VE CROSSED THE THRESHOLD AT THAT POINT. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE THE MOST ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. I'M SITTING RIGHT THERE AND I GET TO SEE THIS. I GET TO SEE THIS EVOLUTION AND THE CONFIDENCE. IT'S GREAT.

DENNIS JAMES>> HE'S THE MAN. HE IS THE MAN. HE WAS JUST JUMPING INTO IT. EVERYTHING AND THEN SOME. I MEAN, HE WANTED TO DO MORE.

SOLOMON>> I DID IT LIKE FIVE TIMES. I WENT ALL THE WAY AROUND. I FAINTED A COUPLE OF TIMES EXCEPT I DON'T THINK HE NOTICED (LAUGHTER).

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED TODAY?

SOLOMON>> TO OVERCOME YOUR FEARS BECAUSE BEFORE I DID THIS I WAS SCARED OF HEIGHTS. AND SO IT WAS LIKE -- THE BIGGEST RIDE I'VE BEEN ON WITHOUT GOING WILD WAS THE FERRIS WHEEL AND THEN EVEN THEN I WENT WILD BECAUSE IT WAS THE CIRCUS AND WE WENT UPSIDE DOWN AND WE WERE LIKE STOP, STOP I'M GOING TO THROW UP AND I GOT OUT AND I THREW UP. SO I DIDN'T THINK SERIOUSLY I COULD DO THIS. I WAS LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE FUN TRYING AND MAYBE YOU WON'T GO OUT TOO BAD. SO I WENT FOR IT AND IT WAS GREAT.

DENNIS JAMES>> YOU'VE GOT SOME KIND OF TALENT. YOU HAVE GOT SOME KIND OF TALENT. LET'S GET YOU OUT OF THAT GEAR.

SOLOMON>> THANKS.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> AFTER THEIR FLIGHT, SOLOMON AND RYAN GET A CHANCE TO RELIVE THEIR EXPERIENCE ON VIDEO.

[VIDEO CLIP]

DENNIS JAMES>> I DON'T CONTEND THAT, BY TAKING KIDS FLYING TO THE EDGE OF THE ENVELOPE IN THIS HIGH-PERFORMANCE AIRPLANE, THAT THE GRAFFITI'S GOING TO SLIDE OFF THE WALLS, THAT TEEN PREGNANCIES ARE GOING TO GO AWAY, THAT THERE WILL BE NO MORE DRUG ACTIVITY IN THE SCHOOLS, BUT WE CAN JUST DO IT ONE KID AT A TIME AND THAT'S FINE WITH ME. WE'LL TAKE IT ONE AT A TIME.

DENNIS JAMES>> WE HAVE A TRADITION IN NAVAL AVIATION WHEN, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE GETS PINNED -- COME ON OVER HERE, GUY. YOU WANT TO STAND REAL CLOSE BY. YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FULL IMPACT OF BEING PINNED IS DRIVEN HOME WITH EVERYBODY, SO YOU SORT OF PUT THE PINS IN PLACE AND YOU SLAM THEM HOME (LAUGHTER). SO ANYWAY, CONGRATULATIONS SOLOMON, RYAN. VERY GOOD. YOU GUYS ARE GREAT, YOU GUYS ARE GREAT.

DENNIS JAMES>> THE PROGRAM IS TOO YOUNG TO EVALUATE WHETHER ANYONE HAS TURNED INTO A PILOT JUST YET, BUT MY ULTIMATE DREAM IS THAT SOME DAY I'LL BE STRAPPING INTO AN AIRPLANE AT THE AIRLINE AND I'LL LOOK TO MY RIGHT AND MY CO-PILOT WILL BE ONE OF THESE KIDS HERE. THAT WOULD BE MY ULTIMATE FANTASY.

JESS>> SINCE WE FIRST MET DENNIS JAMES BACK IN 1995, THE "YOUNG ACES" PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED TO FOUR OTHER STATES. NEARLY FOUR HUNDRED YOUNGSTERS HAVE TAKEN PART. THE ONLY PROBLEM, JAMES SAYS, THEY FACE SOME FLYING RESTRICTIONS IN THE WAKE OF THE 9/11 TERRORIST ATTACKS.

VAL>> IF THE SKY OFFERS YOUNG PEOPLE A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE WORLD, SO TOO DOES THE SEA. TONIGHT WE'LL HIT THE WAVES WITH SOME YOUNGSTERS WHO'VE NEVER BEEN ON A BOAT.

JESS>> THE LOS ANGELES MARITIME INSTITUTE INVITES LANDLOCKED TEENAGERS ON BOARD A BEAUTIFUL SEVENTY-FOOT SCHOONER. WHAT CAN KIDS LEARN ON THE DECK OF A SHIP? IN JIM GLADSON'S HANDS, THEY CAN LEARN PLENTY.

JIM GLADSON>> CAN WE HAVE ALL HANDS TO THE SAILING STATIONS? STAND BY TO BACK THE HEAD SAILS. GIVE ME FOUR SPOKES TO THE LEFT, PLEASE. A HALF A TURN, FOUR SPOKES TO THE LEFT.

JIM GLADSON>> VERY SEDUCTIVE. IT'S STIMULATING, IT'S CHALLENGING, IT'S NURTURING, IT'S SOOTHING, ALL AT ONCE.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONE>> FOR CENTURIES, THE SEA HAS BEEN A TEACHER, DEMANDING, HUMBLING, INSPIRING. JIM GLADSON WAS A TEACHER IN LOS ANGELES HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE CLASSROOMS FOR THIRTY-TWO YEARS. NOW HE'S RETIRED. HE COULD BE SAILING THE OCEAN EXPLORING EXOTIC ISLANDS AND SEAPORTS, BUT JIM HAS CHOSEN TO BE HERE AT THE LOS ANGELES HARBOR CLIMBING ABOARD A SEVENTY-FOOT SCHOONER WITH FIFTEEN INNER CITY KIDS.

JIM GLADSON>> I HAVE YET TO HAVE SOMEBODY ASK, "WHY DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT? WHY BOTHER WITH AT-RISK KIDS? WHY BOTHER WITH EDUCATION?" YOU KNOW, YOU'D EXPECT PEOPLE TO SAY, "WELL, YOU'RE RETIRED, MAN. WHY AREN'T YOU OUT PLAYING GOLF OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?" IT'S REALLY FUN TO BE DOING SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE THINKS IS IMPORTANT.

JIM GLADSON>> ARE YOU READY TO PORT? OKAY, YOU KIDS UNDERSTAND NOW, WE'RE GOING TO BRACE THE YARDS TO ABOUT HALFWAY TO PORT. WE'RE NOT GOING ALL THE WAY.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> JIM BELIEVES IF YOU WANT YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON LIFE, YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM A PROMISING VIEW, AND THIS IS A VIEW FEW INNER CITY KIDS HAVE EVER SEEN.

JIM GLADSON>> WHEN YOU STEP ABOARD, THERE'S KIND OF A THING WE CALL THE CLEAN SLATE EFFECT. ALL OF YOUR CARES AND WORRIES AND PROBLEMS ARE ALL STAYING BEHIND AND IT'S LIKE YOU LEAVE THEM ON THE DOCK.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> HIS PROGRAM IS CALLED "TOPSAIL" AND HIS BOAT IS CALLED THE SWIFT OF IPSWICH, MODELED AFTER AN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY REVOLUTIONARY WAR VESSEL. OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, JIM HAS TAKEN 2,000 INNER CITY KIDS ABOARD THE SWIFT.

JIM GLADSON>> IF YOU'RE LIVING IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT INCLUDES DEEP POVERTY, MAYBE IN A HOUSING PROJECT OR AT LEAST IN A VERY DECREPIT NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED. HOW DO WE EXPECT AN ADOLESCENT TO THINK THAT IN SOME MAGIC WAY THEY'RE GOING TO JUMP OUT OF THAT AND SUCCEED?

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> TODAY'S EXCURSION IS ONLY FOUR HOURS LONG, BUT WHAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE LEARN TODAY WILL PREPARE THEM FOR A LONGER DAY TRIP TO CATALINA ISLAND.

JIM GLADSON>> OUR NUMBER ONE ABSOLUTE ALL-THE-TIME RULE, APPLIES TO ME, THE CREW, TO GUESTS, TO EVERYBODY THAT'S ABOARD. WHENEVER YOU'RE HANGING AROUND WITH US, YOU WILL ACT LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND. OKAY, WHY DON'T WE GET SOME SAILS UP? ALICE, YOU'RE FIRST MATE TODAY. ARE YOU PREPARED....

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> WITHIN AN HOUR, THE SWIFT OF IPSWICH, A HALF MILLION DOLLAR HISTORIC SAILING VESSEL, IS IN THE HANDS OF EAGER AMATEURS.

JIM GLADSON>> COUPLE MORE KIDS UP HERE. QUICK, QUICK. NEED SOME BRAINS. DOESN'T TAKE A LOT OF MUSCLES, JUST BRAINS.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> DESIREE RAMIREZ IS ONE OF FIFTEEN YOUNG PEOPLE FROM A YOUTH CENTER WHO HAVE STEPPED ABOARD THE SWIFT. SHE IS THE YOUNGEST OF TWO CHILDREN GROWING UP WITHOUT A FATHER. DESIREE WAS RAISED IN PICO UNION, A POOR AREA WEST OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES WHERE TEENAGERS OFTEN FALL PREY TO GANGS AND GANG VIOLENCE. THIS IS HER SECOND TIME ABOARD THE SWIFT.

[DESIREE RAMIREZ/GROUP DIALOGUE]

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> TEAMWORK IS CRUCIAL ABOARD THE SWIFT.

JIM GLADSON>> WE DON'T HAVE TO TELL THEM, ALL RIGHT, YOU GUYS, LEARN TO BE A TEAM. IT JUST HAPPENS. WE GIVE THEM REAL WORLD HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION-MAKING. MANY OF THE LINES THAT THEY'LL HAVE TO PULL ON, YOU CAN'T DO WITH ONE PERSON ALONE. IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A BIG DEAL, BUT IT'S THE FIRST STEP FOR MANY KIDS, ESPECIALLY KIDS WHO HAVE FELT THAT THEY'RE NOT A PART OF ANY WORKING GROUP OTHER THAN MAYBE A STREET GANG.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> THERE'S ALSO A CHANCE FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO TEST THEMSELVES INDIVIDUALLY.

JIM GLADSON>> IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO ALOFT, THAT'S FINE. WE DON'T ASSIGN GUESTS TO GO ALOFT AND WORK THE SAILS, BUT WE ENJOY SHOWING YOU HOW TO DO THAT. IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO UP AND HELP WITH SAIL-SETTING OR JUST TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR TAKE A CAMERA UP TO GET A PICTURE, ALL THAT'S FINE. LET ONE OF THE CREW KNOW YOU'D LIKE TO DO IT. WE'LL GET A HARNESS FOR YOU. WE'LL SHOW YOU WHAT TO HOLD ONTO AND WHAT NOT TO HOLD ONTO AND SO ON.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> GOING ALOFT MEANS CLIMBING THE RATLINES UP THE MAIN MAST AND PERCHING SEVENTY-FIVE FEET ABOVE THE OCEAN. IT'S NOT FOR EVERYONE.

JIM GLADSON>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. WHENEVER SOMEONE IS WORKING ALOFT, NO ONE, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, WILL ENCOURAGE THEM OR TEASE THEM. NOT A BIT.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> ON HER FIRST TRIP, DESIREE TRIED GOING ALOFT. SHE GOT HALFWAY UP THE MAST AND CAME BACK DOWN. NOW SHE'S MAKING A SECOND ATTEMPT.

DESIREE RAMIREZ>> I WENT UP THE FIRST TIME, BUT I DIDN'T GO ALL THE WAY UP BECAUSE I WASN'T THAT BRAVE.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> THIS TIME, SHE GETS ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP.

DESIREE RAMIREZ>> THIS TIME I WENT UP. IT'S SCARY. IT'S SCARY, BUT I THINK I'M GOING UP AGAIN. HEY, I'VE GOT MY HARNESS ON. I'M GOING BACK UP.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> FROM THE TOP OF THE MAST, HIGH OVER THE OPEN OCEAN, THE WORLD IS A DIFFERENT PLACE.

DESIREE RAMIREZ>> JUST TO SEE ALL THE WAY OUT THERE, YOU DON'T SEE THE OCEAN END OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT KIND OF GIVES YOU A DIFFERENT VIEW OF HOW THINGS COULD BE, KIND OF THINK OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO. YOU GET TO PLAN IN A WAY, YOU KNOW, AND JUST THINK BACK OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND WHAT YOU COULD DO.

DESIREE RAMIREZ>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SAILING?

JIM GLADSON>> OH, A COUPLE OF HOURS (LAUGHTER).

JIM GLADSON>> IT TAKES REMARKABLY LITTLE INTERVENTION. IT'S SURPRISING HOW LITTLE IT TAKES. SOME OF THE KIDS WENT ON TO GET PHD'S IN FIELDS AND SCIENCE AND STILL THINK SAILING IS WHAT OPENED THEIR EYES. SOME OF THEM HAVE GONE INTO BUSINESS AND THEY COME BACK AND TELL ME IT'S RUNNING THE SAILS THAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE. NOT JUST LEARNING TO SAIL, BUT LEARNING ALL OF THE STUFF THAT GOES WITH IT.

ANNA MARIE PERSIMONI>> DESIREE IS THE FIRST PERSON IN HER FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE. OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, SHE HOPES TO GRADUATE FROM CAL POLY POMONA AND BECOME A COMPUTER PROGRAMMER.

DESIREE RAMIREZ>> I LIKED IT THE FIRST TIME I CAME HERE. IT WAS GOOD. WE WERE ACTUALLY SAILING FASTER BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF WIND. IT WAS MORE EXCITING BECAUSE THE WATER WOULD ACTUALLY COME IN. IT WAS COLD, BUT IT WAS STILL GOOD. IT GIVES YOU A LOT OF CONFIDENCE BECAUSE IT'S MORE OF A SERIOUS THING. YOU'RE DOING A LOT OF STUFF AND NOT EVERYONE DOES THIS.

IRENE DE ANDA LEWIS>> SHE'S TAKEN ON LEADERSHIP AND I'VE SEEN REAL LEADERSHIP QUALITIES DEVELOPED IN HER OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF SAILS WE'VE TAKEN. IT'S JUST REALLY GREAT.

JIM GLADSON>> CLEARLY, WAY OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF THE KIDS HAVE COME BACK AND SAID THAT SOMETHING THEY DID IN MY PRESENCE HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THEM. WAY OVER SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT ARE KIDS THAT ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE DID ON THE BOAT. WE'RE COMPETING WITH IGNORANCE AND INEPTITUDE AND FEAR. WE CAN DEFEAT THOSE ENEMIES WITHOUT PRODUCING LOSERS AND, CONSEQUENTLY -- I KNOW THIS SOUNDS PRETTY GLORIOUS AND ROSY -- BUT CONSEQUENTLY WHAT HAPPENS IS, WE PRODUCE WINNERS WITHOUT HAVING TO PRODUCE LOSERS TO GO WITH THEM.

JIM GLADSON>> THE VESSEL IS AN INCREDIBLY DEMANDING AND ACCEPTING THING. IT ENABLES RELATIVELY ORDINARY FOLKS LIKE US TO DO TRULY EXTRAORDINARY THINGS.

VAL>> IN ADDITION TO THE SWIFT OF IPSWICH, "TOPSAIL" ALSO HAS THREE OTHER SHIPS, A NINETY-FOUR-FOOT SCHOONER AND TWO NEWLY-LAUNCHED BRIGANTINES.

JESS>> AND IN JUST ONE SCHOOL YEAR, THEY'VE TAKEN MORE THAN 5,500 YOUNG PEOPLE OUT TO SEA.

VAL>> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM.

JESS>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, GOOD NIGHT.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

TO REACH US AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, CALL 323-953-5555. SEND US AN E-MAIL TO LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG OR LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG TO SEND MESSAGES OR DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS OF TONIGHT’S PROGRAM.