THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

[♪♪] CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE."

WE BEGIN TONIGHT ABOUT OUR NEWSMAKER MARK ANTHONY THOMAS IS THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE GREATER ARE BALTIMORE ACCIDENT SIR THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> Jeff: FOR PEOPLE NOT FAMILIAR IT'S BEEN AROUND TOED 1950s, THE VOICE OF THE BALTIMORE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND YOU HAVE BEEN IN CHARGE FOR THREE YEARS.

HOW HAS IT CHANGED?

>> WE WERE FOUNDED 78 YEARS AGO AND WE HAVE THE SAME MISSION HOW DO WE TAKE THE LEAD ON ECONOMIC SOP.

AND INITIATIVES THAT CAN STREPTDZ EN US LONG-TERM AND THREE YEARS PULSE MERGED WITH THE GREATER ALLIANCE OF BALTIMORE.

WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF CHANGE WHERE WE SEE THE MARKET OPPORTUNITIES ARE.

>> Jeff: YOU HAD A STATE OF THE REGION EVENT, TAKING THE PULSE OF THE REGION.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?

>> WHAT WE LAUNCHED TWO YEARS AGO WAS AN ECONOMIC SCORECARD.

WE LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE INVESTMENT TREND,SES, HOUSING, THAT WE CAN QUANTIFY OUR REGIONAL SUCCESS.

SO WE RELEASED THE REGION SAW $3 BILLION WORTH OF ANNOUNCE THES LAST YEAR AND THAT IS KINTSDZ WHAT WE'VE SEEN FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AND WE ANALYZE HAD AT THAT TIME ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> Jeff: THAT IS NOT WE'RE LAYING OFF PEOPLE.

WE'RE BUILDING SOMETHING WE'RE HIRING PEOPLE.

>> SCORE AND WE DO AN ANALYSIS HOW MANY JOBS IT WILL CREATE AND WHAT START-UPS ARE BRG FUNDED AND THE INDUSTRIES THEY ARE TARGETING TO GET A SENSE WHERE FUTURE GROWTH IS.

>> Jeff: WHERE IS IT METRO BALTIMORE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

ON THE INVESTMENT SIDE WHAT YOU SEE ARE MEGA DEALS BIG PROJECTS THAT ARE TRANSFORMATIVE FOR DIFFERENT AREAS ACROSS THE REGION.

WE DO WELL BUT WE COULD DO BETTER.

ADVENTURE LIFE SCIENCESES IS OUR LARGEST AREA THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE INVESTMENT WITH SO MUCH HAPPENING IN A.I.

AND OTHER EMERGING AREAS, QUANTUM IT GIVES US AN AREA TO SEE WHERE VENTURE CAN TO DISCUSS.

>> Jeff: LIFE SCIENCE, NIH, HOPKINS, MARYLAND, THIS IS MEDICAL RESEARCH STUFF?

>> IT IS AND RESEARCH THAT WAS TRABS TRANS4R5EU89DING TO TO BECOME TRANSLATING TO JOBS AND COMPANIES BUILT HERE IN OUR HEARING MARKET NOOFER THERE'S NEGATIVE TRENDS WE SAW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CUT WORKERS A LOT OF WHOM LIVE IN MARYLAND.

BUT PEOPLE UP INTO BALTIMORE AS WELL.

AND THOUSAND THE OTHER PART OF THE REGIONAL CAN ECONOMY THAT WAS A BIGGER PER STAGE OF IF WHEN THE GHVMENT G. K4-6789 WAS FOUNDED.

>> AND WITH THE EXPANSIONALITY TRADEPOINT YOU WILL SEE MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES TIED TO THE NOTER.

PORT.

THE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE HISTORICALLY COME FROM THE FEDERAL GLFT THAT SUPPORTED AGENCIES OR HIGHER ED WE ARE GOING TO SEE A DIFFERENT FUTURE.

SO IT DOES FORCE MARYLAND TO BE CREE ATIVE HOW WE DEEDS VERSIFIED ECONOMY.

>> YOU WROTE AN OP-ED WHY BALTIMORE SHOULD BE THE INCOMES AIM HUB.

[AUDIO INTERRUPTION] ISSUES FROM SAFETIED TO RESILIENCY.

WE ARE A MARKET THAT HAS DIE VERSUS INDUSTRIES AND AND WILLINGNESS TO ADAPTED A.I.

THOSE ARE COMPANIES SHOWB LOOKINGED AT OUR MARKET PO EXPAND THEY ARE TARGETING WASHINGTON D.C.

BECAUSE NA WANT TOCK ASH AROUND POLLSSY.

THAT SAID IT IS OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THE VALUE PROPER 6 IS HAPPENING SO WE AUTO SEE AS MUCH GRORTD AS IN THE WASHINGTON D.C.

REGION NOOR THE STATES COMMERCE PEOPLE WERE AND EVERYBODY'S ELECTK TRICK BILLS ARE GOING UP.

HOW DO YOU SEE THAT BALANCE?

HOW DO THE MEMBERS SEE IT.

BUT YOU YOU HAVE CORE OPERATED LEADERS THAT PAY [AUDIO INTERRUPTION] AND SO WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS WORK IN CONSENTER STEW SPHINDZ A PATH ARE FORWARD TO AWHROWED INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE WHERE THE FER BUILT AND BENEFITED COMMUNITY.

>> Jeff: ED FLAWED GNAWED PHENOMENA GNAWED DPLAUDED SHOWING MARKETING BUILDING MEGA 0 PLOJS AND CREATING LARGER 1K5EU78 DEVELOPMENT.

WE SNEED POLICY TO US TO CREATE THAT IT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR 2459D TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY -678D OF WHOOFERLINGS FERS HSES WHAFS PROPOSED TO DPAN WHAT WOULD WOULD BE QUARTERED FORTIVE REVENUE TOO BUILD -9DS CONVENTION CENTER.

WE HAVE THE ONSES ACROSS THE STATE THAT REQUIRE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE HOPE IS THAT NEXT SESSION WISE WORKING WITH THE 023408SY MAKES LERS TOED WHY THE 3WEU8LESS MIKE SENSE FOR THE MARYLAND ARE LONG-TERM.

>> HOW IS IS THE HELP IN THE HE RAO DISUGGION HAD IN VIOLENTED CRIME IF BALTIMORE CITY.

>> IT IS WILL HUGE WE'RE SAVING LIVES AND COMMUNITIES ARE ARE NOT TERRORIZED WERED PAIN CAUSED BY SUCH SWRLSFULLESS VIOLENCE 6789 [AUDIO INTERRUPTION] >> Jeff: IT HUFF MUSTED MEAN EVERYBODY IMMEDIATING YOU HAVE NO LONGER STARTS WITH WE HAVE 0 TO GET THE KR50EU78ET RATE DOWN.

SO STS TOO HIGH AND SECOND HOW 0 DO WE CROW 8 OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE PATHS SO CRIME IS NOT THE LIFE THEY HAVE TO ADVANCE?

A.

>> Jeff: YOU GREW UP IN A COMMUNITY THAT HAD A LOT OF CRIME.

THIS IS NOT AN ACT 2KE78IC DISCUSSION FOR YOU AND WESTBOUND OF YOUR YOUR NEF KNEWINGSES WITH A VICTIMMERS YIRSZ AGO AND IS DO WELL.

[AUDIO INTERRUPTION] REMEMBER WHO THEY ARE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.

THIS LIFE WILL THROW DIRT ON YOUR BACK, BUT SHAKE IT OFF!

PEOPLE WILL TRY TO COVER UP YOUR DREAM, SHAKE THEM OFF!

GO OUT AND OWN JOY YOUR UNREPEATABLE LIFE ANYWAY.

MAKE YOUR MARK ON THIS WORLD.

SHOW UP FOR THE PEOPLE AND SHOW THE WORLD THAT YOU ARE THE REAL DEAL.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL READY.

I NEVER WAS THE PERSON WHO KNEW WHAT I WANTED TO BE WHEN I GREW UP AND HONESTLY, I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

AND I'VE LEARNED, THAT'S NORMAL.

I WALKED OUT OF COLLEGE WITH A DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT CAME NEXT.

MY APPROACH SUCH AS IT WAS WAS ALSO NOT A PLAN.

IT WAS ONE OF PHILOSOPHY, FIND ROLES WHERE YOU'LL BE EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT THINGS.

LEARN YOU WHAT LIKE BUT JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, WHAT YOU DON'T.

WORK WITH, FOR AND AROUND, SMART, FUN, INTERESTING PEOPLE.

AND WHEN IT IS ALL OVER, MAKE SURE THAT YOU LEAVE WITH MORE DOORS OPEN THAN THEY WERE WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED.

>> I TOLD YOU ALL WHAT MY MOTHER TOLD ME.

NO ONE IS COMING TO SAVE US.

WE HAVE TO DO IT OURSELVES.

BY STANDING UP TO TIERY AND UNDERSTANDING OUR HISTORY AND POURING INTO THOSE AROUND US AND BY DOING WHAT'S RIGHT EVERY TIME EVEN WHEN PEOPLE WILL HATE YOU FOR IT.

CAN WE TRULY BECOME BETTER PEOPLE?

BETTER FRIEND AND LEADERS.

WE NEED YOU MORE THAN EVER AND THERE ARE THOSE THAT TELL YOU THAT CHANGE SIM POSSIBLE BUT BEFORE YOU TAKE MY SEAT, I'LL REMIND YOU OF THE WORDS OF THE IMORTAL MUHAMMAD ALI.

IMPOSSIBLE IS A BIG WORD THROWN AROUND BY SMALL MEN WHO FIND IT EASIER TO LIVE IN THE WORLD THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN THAN TO EXPLORE THE POWER THEY HAVE TO CHANGE IT.

>> AS WE CLOSE OUT, STUDENT, ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL ACADEMIC YEAR.

AND SEND FORTH ANOTHER CLASS OF MORGAN GRADUATES.

ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT COMMENCEMENT IS AS YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE STANDS, A JOYOUS OCCASION FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

IT IS INDEED A MOMENT OF GREAT ACHIEVEMENT, FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND GRADUATES, IT IS TIME.

WHEN IN SPITE OF ALL OF THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE FACED, OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, YOU CAN NOW FINALLY LOOK BACK AND SAY, FIREFIGHTERS ALL WORTHWHILE.

>> THE CLASS OF 2026 IS GRADUATING AMID GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WILL AFFECT THE JOB MARKET.

NANCY YAMATA REPORTS.

>> >> THE WEEK SUNS GRADUATION I THINK I HAVE APPLIED TO 50 JOBS WHICH IS NOT LIKE A LOT.

I THINK THAT SOME OF MY CLASSMATES ARE APPLYING TO LIKE, OR MY COHORT, I'VE APPLIED TO WAY MORE THAN I HAVE.

AND HAVE GOTTEN WAY MORE REJECTIONS.

>> 2026 GRADUATE ISIAH SAYS HE'S CONFIDENT HIS BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE FROM UMBC WILL PAY OFF AND HE'LL LAND HIS FIRST JOB SOON.

>> STUDIED AND WATCHED SO MANY YOUTUBE TUTORIALS ON HOW TO WRITE THE PERFECT COVER LETTER.

I'M GOING THE RIGHT THINGS AND I'VE HAD MANY INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND TOLD ME, I WOULD HIRE YOU IF WE HAD A POSITION BUT I'M NOT GETTING IT.

SO MANY LIKE REJECTION AFTER REJECTION, IT IS LIKE, O, MY GOD.

>> HE WONDERS IF HE'S COMPETING WITH SEASONED PROFESSIONALS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LAID OFF LAST YEAR.

BUT HE ALSO WORRIES ABOUT THE ROLE OF A.I.

OR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

>> IT MAKES IT REAL EASY.

AND, THE APPLICATION PROCESS IN A WAY THAT LIKE, ISN'T PERSONAL.

>> HE SAYS IT IS EASIER THAN EVER TO APPLY FOR JOBS IN AND MATCH RECRUITER EXPECTATIONS BY RUNNING BUT THE SAME JOB SEEKERS HAVE CONCERNS THAT A.I.

MIGHT BE DISRUPTING THE JOB MARKET BY ELIMINATING JOBS.

>> THE CONCERN IS LEGITIMATE WHETHER THERE IS A REAL EFFECT OF THAT OR NOT, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW.

>> THE PROFESSOR IS THE VICE PRESIDENT VICE PROVOST AND CHIEF A.I.

OFFICER AT UMBC.

>> WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT IT IS GOING TO AFFECT THINGS AND WE HAVE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO USE THAT TOOL JUDICIOUSLY.

WITH A CRITICAL LENS.

>> RECENT STUDIES SUGGEST IT IS REMOTE WORK AND NOT A.I.

DRIVING UNEMPLOYMENT IN RECENT COLLEGE GRADS, PROFESSOR SAYS, A.I.

MAY HURT PEOPLE WHO HAVE JOBS THAT CAN EASILY BE AUTOMATED.

>> YOUR VAL ETHICAL PERSPECTIVE U AND INTO USING THE.

>> DISCERNMENT THAT COMPUTERS LACK, HE SAYS.

>> EVERYONE USED TO THINK COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJOR MEANS WRITING CODE.

YOU'RE LEARNING TO BE A COMPUTER SCIENTIST TO DESIGN SIS SYSTEMS TO UNDERSTAND AND MAKE JUDGMENT CALLS.

A.I.

CAN CODE AND NOT MAKE THE JUDGMENT CALLS.

>> FOR NOW, HE SAYS THAT HE WON'T BE USING A.I.

TO HELP HIM GET A JOB.

>> THINK THAT I'M A GOOD COMMUNICATOR AND I THINK.

>> FOR STATE CIRCLE.

>> LESS THAN A MONTH TO GO BEFORE THE NATION'S 250TH BIRTHDAY.

RERECENTLY SPOKE WITH A LEADER OF THE MARYLAND FESTIVITIES MICHELLE JOHNSON.

>> >> WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS AS A COUNTRY, OVER OUR 250 YEARS OF HISTORY, WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE WORD "SEMI QUIN SEMI QUINCE.

>> IT IS THE DIRTY IN SAYING THE WORD BUT I'VE HAD THREE YEARS TO PRACTICE IT AND IT MEANS 250.

AND, TO SAY THIS WORD THE EASIEST WAY TO REMEMBER IS TO BREAK IT INTO THREE PARTS.

SEMI, QUIN-CENTENIAL SO IF YOU WANT TO REPEAT AFTER ME.

SEMI, QUIN-CE NTENIAL.

>> THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING WITH 250.

SO 8 WEEKS FROM TODAY IS JULY 3.

AND THIS IS COMING UP FAST SO THE EVE OF THE FOURTH OF JURICH TELL US ABOUT YOUR PLANS.

>> OH, MY GOSH, THERE WILL BE EVENTS ALL AROUND THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND ACTUALLY, THE 250TH OR THE SEMI QUIN CENTENNIAL DOESN'T BEGIN THE WEEK OF THE FOURTH IT IS A STATEWIDE YEAR-LONG COMMEMORATION SO EVENTS HAVE ALREADY STARTED, AND THERE WAS REBELS AND RED COATS IN ST.

MARY'S COUNTY, THE PRINCE GEORGES 250 BLOCK PARTY.

AND THEN FINALLY JUNETEENTH AND THERE ARE EVENTS FOR JUNETEENTH ALL AROUND STATE AND THESE EVENTS ARE ALL 250 EVENTS AND THEY ARE ALL LEADING UP TO JULY 4.

AND, WE'RE NOT GOING TO END ON JULY 1, AND THERE IS A LOT OF EVENTS COMING UP IN MARYLAND AFTER JULY 4 BUT IF WEEK OF JULY 4 IF THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, BESIDES THE USUAL EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND THE STATE, YOU KNOW, THE PARADES AND THE FIREWORK, THERE ARE SOME REALLY COOL EVENTS AND THERE IS TWO NATIONAL INITIATIVES, ONE IS CALLED AMERICA'S POT LUCK AND THAT'S ON JULY 5.

AND THAT IS -- IT IS FROM UTAH CALLING FOR COMMUNITIES TO GATHER THEIR RESIDENTS AND HAVE COMMUNITY MEALS, AND, THEN ON JULY 8, 6:00 P.M., SHARING THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA IS A NATIONAL INITIATIVE FROM HAWAII, CALLING FOR A NATIONWIDE SIMULTANEOUS READING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

AND IN MARYLAND, WE'RE ASKING COMMUNITIES TO READ MORE THAN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

THE COMMUNITIES TO READ OTHER DOCUMENT, WE HAVE A PAGE FOR SHARING THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA, AND FOR AMERICA'S POT LUCK OUR WEBSITE AND WE'RE ALSO ASKING COMMUNITIES, TO HAVE A RECOMMITMENT CEREMONY FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE PUBLIC TO RECOMMIT TO WHAT WE ASPIRE TO BE AS A NATION.

>> SO, HOW DOES THE COMMISSION THINK ABOUT THE THINGS GOING ON HERE.

SO, ON THE ONE HAND, THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY BIG TERRIFIC PARTY.

ON THE OTHER HAND, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE DOCUMENT, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE.

WE THINK ABOUT THE INALIEN ABLE RIGHTS IN THAT DOCUMENT, AND IN THOSE WORDS FOR CERTAINLY, SOME MINORITY GROUPS, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, TURNED OUT TO NOT ACTUALLY BE INALIENABLE AT TIMES.

SO, HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE PARTY VERSUS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LITTLE HISTORY.

>> JEFF, I'M SO PROUD OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT GOVERNORS WE MOORE SIGNED LAUNCHING THIS COMMISSION.

AND IT LAID OUT THE THEMES OF HISTORY, CIVICS AND SERVICE AND IT LAID OUT PRIORITIES INCLUDING, INDIGENOUS, FREED AND ENSLAVED AFRICAN-AMERICAN, YOUTH, NEW AMERICANS AND LIFE-LONG LEARNERS AND IS THERE HAVE BEEN SOME GREAT EDUCATIONAL AND AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ALL AROUND THE STATE, AND THIS WILL CONTINUE ALL YEAR, AND, THE COMMISSION IS NOT LEADING LOCAL PROGRAMMING.

AND, WE HAVE LOCAL PARTNERS ALL AROUND THE STATE, AND THERE IS LOCAL 250 COMMISSION, COMMITTEES, AND EVEN ONE REGIONAL ON A LOWER SHORE FOR SUMMER SOT AND OTHER COUNTIES AND THESE LOCAL 250 COMMISSIONS AND THEIR STAKEHOLDERS ARE MUSEUMS, AND OUR PARK SERVICE ARE DOING SOME GREAT PROGRAMMING.

>> WHAT SORT OF PROGRAMMING STANDS OUT TO YOU, BOTH ON THE EDUCATIONAL SIDE, AND ON THE PARTY SIDE?

I MEAN, WHO HAS THE MOST CREATIVE STUFF AROUND THE STATE?

>> WELL, THE BIGGEST EVENT BY FAR IS GOING TO BE SAIL 250 MARYLAND, AIR SHOW BALTIMORE AND THAT'S THE LAST WEEK THIS JUNE, AND, UNFORTUNATELY, FOR MARYLAND, THE TALL SHIPS WILL BE IN NEW YORK ON JULY 4, AND, SO THIS WILL BE THE WEEK BEFORE, AND, THERE IS A SERIES OF FESTIVALS, AND THE TALL SHIPS WILL BE HERE AND THIS IS THE ONLY SAIL 250 INITIATIVE OF ANY IN THE COUNTRY WITH AN AIR SHOW ALONGSIDE OF IT AND THAT BY FAR IS THE BIGGEST BUT THERE ARE SOME GREAT EVENTS COMING UP IN AUGUST, AND, IN AUGUST, THE COMMISSION AND MARYLANDERS WILL BE HEADED TO BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, BECAUSE THE MARYLAND 400 FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF BROOKLYN AND THERE IS AN ANNUAL EVENT AT THE OLD STONE HOUSE, AND IN PROSPECT PARK IN BROOKLYN, AUGUST 22, WHICH IS A SATURDAY AND MANY MARYLANDERS WILL BE HEADING UP TO BROOKLYN TO COMMEMORATE THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARYLAND 400 FIGHTING, SERVING IN THE BATTLE OF BROOKLYN AND THERE IS ALSO GOING TO BE REDEDICATION OF THE MARYLAND MONUMENT IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

AND I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE WAS A MARYLAND MONUMENT IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE IS.

>> WHEN WE THINK BACK TO THE BICENTENNIAL WHICH I REMEMBER CERTAINLY YOU'RE TOO YOUNG FOR THAT BUT THE THING THAT STANDS OUT, TWO THINGS STAND OUT IN MY MIND.

ONE, BICENTENNIAL IS A WHOLE LOT EASIER TO SAY.

SECOND, THE OTHER MEMORY, THAT I HAVE WITH THE BICENTENNIAL IS THE OPENING OF THE WASHINGTON METRO.

THAT WAS HUGE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, FROM THE EVENTS OF THE BICENTENNIAL, YOU THINK BACK ABOUT THAT.

ANY LESSONS THAT WE CAN LEARN, ANY CHANGES THAT YOU WANT TO BE DIFFERENT OR DO YOU WANT TO BE THE SAME?

>> THE BIGGEST LESSON IS INCLUSION.

AND JEFF, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I WAS AROUND FOR THE BICENTENNIAL.

AND WHEN I TOOK THIS JOB, ALL I REMEMBERED IS THAT IT HAPPENED AND I DID NOT REMEMBER MY FAMILY PARTICIPATING.

AND, I'M FROM AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY.

I ASKED MY FAMILY, I SAID DAD, DO YOU REMEMBER THE BICENTENNIAL?

HE SAID, I DO, AND IT WASN'T FOR US.

AND JEFF, SO THAT -- SO, I HAVE NO MEMORY OF THE -- OTHER THAN THE BICENTENNIAL HAPPENED AND, MEANWHILE, I'M MARRIED TO A MAN WHOSE FAMILY HAS BEEN ON THE LOWER SHORE SINCE THE EARLY 1600S.

BOTH SIDES OF TIS FAMILY.

AND IF YOU WERE TO ASK HIM ABOUT THE BICENTENNIAL, HE WOULD TALK YOUR EAR OFF SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT -- MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE VERY DIFFERENT MEMORIES OF THE BICENTENNIAL.

SO INCLUSION IS THE BIGGEST TAKE AWAY, SIGNED BY GOVERNOR WES MOORE, INCLUSION IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> WELL, WHAT A MEMORY.

I MEAN, NOT FOR US, GIVES YOU A CLEAR DIRECTION AND A CLEAR MANDATE.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS REALLY GOOD.

I'M REALLY PROUD OF IT.

AND IT IS REALLY REALLY GOOD.

>> OUR THANKS TO MICHELLE JOHNSON AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY EVENING AT 7:00 FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

>> NOTHING IS PEN -- GIVEN, EVERYTHING IS EARNED AND AND YOU ALL EARNED THIS.

YOU ALL EARNED TODAY BECAUSE YOU'RE WILLING TO PUT IN THE WORK.

YOU'RE WILLING TO DO LATE NIGHT, YOU'RE WILLING TO DO THE EARLY MORNINGS AND YOU'RE WILLING TO TAKE THE EXTRA CLASSES AND YOU'RE WILLING TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

NOTHING IS GIVEN.

EVERYTHING IS EARNED.