AWARENESS MONTH. >>> THIS CONGRESS WILL LIKELY BE THE LEAST PRODUCTIVE SINCE THE CIVIL WAR.
THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IS HAVING TROUBLE CONTROLLING ITS MAGA WING, AND FEW HAVE SEEN THE DYSFUNCTION LIKE DEMOCRATIC
MINORITY LEADER HAKEEM JEFFRIES. >> EVEN THOUGH WE'RE IN THE MINORITY, E EFFECTIVELY HAVE BEEN GOVERNING AS IF WE WERE IN
THE MAJORITY BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES NECESSARY TO GET THINGS DONE.
THOSE ARE JUST THE FACTS. >>> YOU'RE A PART OF A MOVEMENT. >> THIS MAN IS A HEAVY WEIGHT IN THE WORLD OF PRIVATE EQUITY, AN
INDUSTRY FAMOUS FOR ITS RUTHLESSNESS. YET HE'S EMERGED AS THE LEADING EVANGELIST FOR THE CONCEPT OF
EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP. HIS IDEA, TAKE THE SAME INCENTIVES THAT HAVE LONG-HELPED THE C SUITE GET RICH AND APPLY
THEM TO FOLKS WORKING FACTORIES, FLAT BEDS, AND FARMS. >> EVEN OUR NEWEST COLLEAGUES ARE GOING TO GET A MEANINGFUL
PAYOUT OF $20,000. >>> SO, ARE YOU MATH GENIUSES? >> NOT AT ALL. >> HOW DO THESE HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS PROVE AN ANCIENT MATHEMATICAL EQUATION THAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR 2,000 YEARS?
>> WE START WITH JUST A REGULAR RIGHT TRIANGLE, WHERE THE ANGLE IN THE CORNER IS 90 DEGREES. THEN WE START CREATING SIMILAR
BUT SMALLER RIGHT TRIANGLES. AND THEN IT CONTINUES FOR INFINITY. AM I GOING A LITTLE TOO --
>> YOU'VE BEEN BEYOND ME SINCE THE BEGINNING. >> I'M LESLEY STAHL. >> I'M BILL WHITAKER.
>> I'M SHARYN ALFONSI. >> I'M JON WERTHEIM. >> I'M CECILIA VEGA. >> I'M NORAH O'DONNELL.
>> I'M SCOTT PELLEY. THOSE STORIES AND MORE TONIGHT ON "60 MINUTES."
>>> THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS IS NOT PARTICULARLY POPULAR THESE DAYS, AND LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE CURRENT SESSION TO
UNDERSTAND WHY. IT WILL LIKELY BE THE LEAST PRODUCTIVE CONGRESS SINCE THE CIVIL WAR.
ONE LAWMAKER, WHO'S FIGURED OUT A WAY TO GET A FEW THINGS DONE, IS CONGRESSMAN HAKEEM JEFFRIES. HE REPLACED NANCY PELOSI AS THE
LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE OVER A YEAR AGO. AND THE 53-YEAR-OLD HAS BUILT A REPUTATION AS A CONSENSUS
BUILDER IN HIS OWN CAUCUS AND AS A TOUGH, BUT RESPECTFUL, OPPONENT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
MINORITY LEADER JEFFRIES COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME THE FIRST BLACK SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, THOUGH TO HEAR HIM TELL IT, THE
DEMOCRATS ARE ALREADY IN CHARGE. >> EVEN THOUGH WE'RE IN THE MINORITY, WE EFFECTIVELY HAVE BEEN GOVERNING AS IF WE WERE IN
THE MAJORITY BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES NECESSARY TO GET THINGS DONE.
THOSE ARE JUST THE FACTS. >> THE FACT IS, REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE ARE A MAJORITY IN NAME ONLY.
WITH JUST TWO VOTES TO SPARE, INFIGHTING HAS CRIPPLED THEIR CONFERENCE. EVEN SOME REPUBLICAN MEMBERS ARE
AT THEIR WITS END. >> IT'S A DIFFICULT SITUATION ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE BECAUSE MANY OF MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES ARE MORE INTERESTED IN CREATING CHAOS, DYSFUNCTION, AND EXTREMISM. >> FOR WHAT PURPOSE?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION THAT HAS TO BE ASKED OF THEM. WE WERE SENT BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO GET THINGS DONE, TO
SOLVE PROBLEMS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT VIEW OF THE JOB.
>> NINE MONTHS AFTER GETTING THE JOB OF SPEAKER, REPUBLICAN KEVIN McCARTHY OF CALIFORNIA GOT DUMPED BY THE FAR RIGHT WING OF
HIS PARTY. FOLLOWING THREE WEEKS OF PARALYSIS, MIKE JOHNSON OF LOUISIANA TOOK HIS PLACE.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TRUST THAT YOU HAVE INSTILLED IN ME. >> AFTER HE WORKED WITH
DEMOCRATS TO PASS THE FOREIGN AID BILL THAT INCLUDED $61 BILLION FOR UKRAINE, GEORGIA CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR
GREENE, WHO OPPOSED IT, SAID SHE WILL FOLLOW THROUGH WITH A THREAT TO OUST HIM. JEFFRIES TOLD US HE WORKS TO
FIND COMMON GROUND WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE. AND AT LEAST ONE REPUBLICAN WHO MIGHT BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT IS
SPEAKER JOHNSON. >> JOHNSON AT SOME POINT TODAY -- >> THIS PAST WEEK, DEMOCRATS
SAID THEY WOULD VOTE AGAINST CONGRESSWOMAN GREENE'S EFFORT TO REMOVE HIM. >> HAS SPEAKER JOHNSON ASKED FOR
YOUR HELP? >> HE HAS NOT. AND OUR VIEW WOULD TRADITIONALLY BE, LET THE OTHER SIDE WORK ITS
OWN MESS OUT. BUT WHEN THAT MESS STARTS TO IMPACT THE ABILITY TO DO THE JOB ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, THEN A RESPONSIBLE THING AT THE MOMENT MIGHT BE FOR US TO MAKE CLEAR THAT WE WILL NOT ALLOW THE EXTREMIST TO THROW THE
CONGRESS AND THE COUNTRY INTO CHAOS. >> AS CHAOS SPREADS ACROSS COLLEGE CAMPUSES NATIONWIDE OVER
ISRAEL AND GAZA -- >> MOVE, BACK UP. >> -- SOME FAR LEFT MEMBERS OF JEFFRIES' OWN PARTY HAVE SHOWN
SUPPORT FOR PROTESTERS. LEADER JEFFRIES, WHOSE DISTRICT IS 11% JEWISH, SPOKE ABOUT THE PROTESTS AT HIS WEEKLY PRESS
CONFERENCE THIS PAST WEDNESDAY. >> PEACEFUL PROTEST IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE FABRIC OF AMERICA.
BUT WE SHOULDN'T SEE ANY PROTESTS EVER VEER INTO THREATENING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OTHERS, INTO
ANTI-SEMITISM OR RACISM OR XENOPHOBIA. >> IN ALL, 37 HOUSE DEMOCRATS RECENTLY VOTED AGAINST SENDING
MORE MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL. THE DIVISIVE ISSUE WILL FOLLOW LEADER JEFFREYS AND PRESIDENT BIDEN INTO THE ELECTIO THIS
NOVEMBER, WHERE CONTROL OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS LOOKS LIKE A COIN FLIP. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HOW
ISRAEL HAS BEEN WAGING THIS WAR AGAINST HAMAS IN GAZA? >> ISRAEL WAS PUT IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION WHEN IT
COMES TO THE HORRIFIC EVENTS OF 10/7, A BRUTAL TERRORIST ATTACK BY HAMAS, WHICH IS AN ENTITY THAT HAS SWORN TO WIPE ISRAEL
OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH. SO, ISRAEL WAS IN A POSITION WHERE OF COURSE IT HAD TO RESPOND TO DECISIVELY DEFEAT
HAMAS. AT THE SAME TIME, MY VIEW HAS BEEN THAT WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET THE
HOSTAGES OUT AND TO SURGE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE INTO GAZA. >> BUT ISN'T IT ALSO TRUE THAT
WHILE WE'RE TALLYING AND GOING AFTER HAMAS TERRORISTS THAT ISRAEL HAS BEEN INDISCRIMINATE IN ITS BOMBING?
>> I WOULD NOT SAY THEY'VE BEEN INDISCRIMINATE. I DO THINK WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE MOVING FORWARD IS THE EXECUTION
OF THE NEW PHASES OF THIS CONFLICT WITH SURGICAL PRECISION. >> YOU COULD STILL BE A STRONG
SUPPORTER OF ISRAEL AND AMERICANS' DEFENSE OF ISRAEL AND BE CRITICAL OF THEIR APPROACH ABOUT HOW THEY WAGE THIS WAR IN
GAZA. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> BUT YOU SEEM RELUCTANT TO CRITICIZE ISRAEL AT ALL?
>> I'M DEALING WITH THE FACTS ON THE GROUND. >> THE FACTS ARE ACCORDING TO THE U.N. HALF OF GAZA'S
2.2 MILLION PEOPLE ARE ON THE VERGE OF FAMINE. HAS ISRAEL DONE ENOUGH TO GET AID INTO GAZA?
>> ISRAEL CLEARLY NEEDS TO DO MORE, AS THEY HAVE RECENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED THROUGH THEIR ACTIONS, TO SERVE HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE INTO GAZA. THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT -- >> ONLY AFTER THEY KILLED SEVEN
AID WORKERS FROM WORLD CENTAL KITCHEN. >> CORRECT. AND THAT WAS HORRIFIC, INCLUDING
ONE AMERICAN. NOW, IN TERMS OF THE LOSS OF INNOCENT PALESTINIAN LIFE IN THIS TOUGH THEATER OF WAR, THAT
IS DEEPLY DISTURBING, TRAGIC, AND SHOULD BE PAINFUL FOR ANYONE WHO HAS A SHRED OF HUMANITY IN THEIR BODY.
>> PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS DO NOT DESERVE TO SUFFER FOR THE SINS OF HAMAS. >> IN MARCH, SENATE MAJORITY
LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER, A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF ISRAEL, SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE WAY IT'S WAGING WAR IN GAZA.
>> THE FOURTH MAJOR OBSTACE TO PEACE IS ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU. >> WAS LEADER SCHUMER'S SPEECH A
TURNING POINT? >> ANYTHING THAT CHUCK SCHUMER HAS TO SAY ON THE SUBJECT IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
AND RECEIVED. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF CONGRESS HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ANSWERING
TO THEIR CONSTITUENCY. THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. SO, WHAT LEADER SCHUMER HAS TO
SAY ON THE GIVEN ISSUE, WHAT MITCH McCONNELL HAS TO SAY ON A GIVEN ISSUE, YEAH, THERE'S SOME IMPORTANCE CONNECTED TO IT IN
CONGRESS, INSIDE THE BELTWAY. >> THAT WAS A VERY LONG ANSWER WITHOUT ANSWERING MY QUESTION. >> WELL, IT WAS --
>> I MEAN, CHUCK SCHUMER CRITICIZING THE PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL, CALLING FOR HIM TO BE REPLACED.
THAT'S A BIG DEAL. >> CHUCK SCHUMER'S WORDS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. BUT I THINK TRYING TO SUGGEST
THAT LEADER SCHUMER IS SOMEHOW UNDERMINING THE U.S./ISRAEL RELATIONSHIP IS RIDICULOUS. >> HOW WORRIED ARE YOU THAT
VOTERS' FRUSTRATION WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN OVER THE WAR IN GAZA COULD HURT DEMOCRATS' CHANCES IN THIS ELECTION YEAR?
>> WE CAN'T TAKE ANY VOTE FOR GRANTED. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, VOTERS ARE GOING
TO LOOK AT THE TOTALITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES. WHO IS FIGHTING TO DELIVER FOR EVERYDAY AMERICANS, AND WHO IS
SIMPLY FIGHTING FOR HIMSELF? >> HAKEEM JEFFRIES SAYS HE LEARNED ABOUT FIGHTING FOR EVERYDAY AMERICANS FROM HIS
PARENTS. HIS FATHER WAS A SUBSTANCE USE COUNSELOR. HIS MOTHER, A SOCIAL WORKER, WHO
JEFFRIES SAYS TAUGHT HIM AND HIS BROTHER, A COLLEGE PROFESSOR, TO WORK HARD AND BE GOOD TO PEOPLE. JEFFRIES ATTENDED NYU LAW
SCHOOL, WORKED FOR A PRESTIGIOUS LAW FIRM, THEN SPENT A FEW YEARS AS AN ATTORNEY FOR "60 MINUTES" PARENT COMPANY, CBS, BEFORE
ENTERING POLITICS IN 2006. >> THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT A FRESH START, MOVING FORWARD. >> SO MANY GREAT PICTURES OF
BROOKLYN ALL AROUND HERE. >> YOU WERE THE FIRST BLACK LEADER FOR EITHER PARTY IN EITHER HOUSE EVER.
WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT AMERICA? >> GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE
ISN'T JUST A THEORETICAL CONCEPT. LIKE, IT ACTUALLY EXISTS IN AMERICA.
>> HE WAS RAISED IN THE CROWN HEIGHTS SECTION OF BROOKLYN, A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM HIS DISTRICT.
WHERE SUNDAYS WERE FOR CHURCH. AT 12 YEARS OLD, HE BECAME AN USHER AND SAYS IT TAUGHT HIM HOW TO TALK TO PEOPLE.
>> THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES. >> JEFFRIES SAYS HE VISITED MORE THAN 60 CHURCHES IN BROOKLN LAST YEAR.
>> AND IN WASHINGTON, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUT PEOPLE OVER POLITICS. >> ONE OF JEFFRIES' ALLIES TOLD
US HIS ABILITY TO CONNECT TO BOTH YOUNG AND OLD BLACK VOTERS MAKES HIM AN IMPORTANT SURROGATE FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN THIS FALL.
>> BLACK VOTERS ARE A CORE DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUENCY. WHY DO YOU THINK SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS DECREASED
AMONG BLACK VOTERS? >> I THINK THAT TREMENDOUS PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP OF JOE BIDEN. THAT'S QUANTIFIABLE. BUT THE REALITY IS THEY'RE STILL REAL CHALLENGES.
>> ONE NEW CHALLENGE IN COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK CITY AND IN MANY OTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY IS THE INFLUX OF
MIGRANTS. SHELTERS TO HOUSE THOUSANDS OF THEM HAVE GONE UP IN AND AROUND JEFFRIES' DISTRICT.
>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO VOTERS WHO NOT ONLY SEE MIGRANTS STREAMING INTO THE U.S. NOT JUST FROM MEXICO AND LATIN AMERICA BUT
ALSO FROM CHINA AND OTHER COUNTRIES AND WONDER, WHAT'S CONGRESS DOING ABOUT THIS? >> WE HAVE A BROKEN IMMIGRATION
SYSTEM, AND WE HAVE CLEAR CHALLENGES AT THE BORDER THAT WE HAVE TO CONFRONT DECISIVELY AND IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE CRYING OUT FOR US TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE SITUATION AT THE BORDER IN A MANNER
CONSISTENT WITH OUR VALUES. >> HOW BIG OF AN ISSUE WILL ABORTION RIGHTS BE THIS ELECTION YEAR?
>> IT'S GOING TO BE AN INCREDIBLY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE BECAUSE ON ITS OWN IT'S ABOUT FREEDOM.
AND THE EXTREME MAGA REPUBLICANS HAVE SET IN MOTION THE EROSION OF REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM. WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR IT WITH
EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE GOT AT OUR DISPOSAL. IF ROE V. WADE CAN FALL, ANYTHING CAN FALL.
SOCIAL SECURITY CAN FALL. MEDICARE CAN FALL. VOTING RIGHTS CAN FALL. AND GOD HELP US ALL, BUT
DEMOCRACY ITSELF CAN FALL. IF ROE V. WADE CAN FALL, THEN ANYTHING CAN FALL. EVERY SINGLE THING THAT WE CARE
ABOUT IS ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. >> LEADER JEFFRIES SAYS DEMOCRATS HAVE A STORY TO TELL
BEYOND WHAT VOTERS HAVE TO LOSE IN NOVEMBER, AND POINTED TO LEGISLATIVE WINS FOR GUN SAFETY AND THE BILLIONS INVESTED IN
AMERICAN MANUFACTURING AND INFRASTRUCTURE. >> THOSE ARE REAL RESULTS. >> BUT TWO-THIRDS OF VOTERS
THINK THE ECONOMY WAS BETTER UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP. >> WELL, THAT'S JUST NOT THE CASE, AND WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER
JOB OF LAYING OUT THE FACTS THAT THE ECONOMY HAS DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.
>> BUT IF THOSE ARE THE FACTS, WHY DON'T VOTERS BELIEVE IT? IS THAT A COMMUNICATION PROBLEM? >> VOTERS UNDERSTAND THAT MORE
NEEDS TO BE DONE, THAT THERE ARE CHALLENGES THAT REMAIN. WE UNDERSTAND. WE HAVE TO LOWER COSTS.
WE HAVE TO END PRICE GOUGING. WE HAVE TO GROW THE MIDDLE CLASS. WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES
SAFE. WE HAVE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES AT THE BORDER. WE'RE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THOSE
ISSUES, AND WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE THAT CASE IN A COMPELLING, A CLEAR, AND A COMPREHENSIVE WAY TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE. >> YOU ADMIT YOU HAVEN'T DONE THAT YET. >> IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS.
>> HAKEEM JEFFRIES ON THE DEBATE OVER SUPPORTING UKRAINE. >> THERE'S A PRO-PUTIN FACTION WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
>> >>> 50 YEARS AGO, CEOs EARNED AROUND 20 TIMES THE WORKER SALARY.
TODAY'S CEO CAN MAKE IN A DAY WHAT THE AVERAGE LABORER MAKES IN A YEAR. NO WONDER THERE'S NOT SO MUCH A
WEALTH GAP AS A WEALTH CANYON, RENDERING THE AMERICAN DREAM, FOR SO MANY, A MIRAGE. INTO THIS CRISIS DRIVES PETE
STAVROS, HEAVY WEIGHT IN THE WORLD OF PRIVATE EQUITY. HE'S EMERGED AS THE LEADING EVANGELIST FOR THE CONCEPT OF
EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP. HIS IDEA, TAKE THE SAME INCENTIVES THAT HAVE LONG HELPED THE C SUITE GET RICH AND APPLY
THEM TO THE FOLKS WORKING FACTORIES, FLAT BEDS, AND FARMS. >> NORMAN ROCKWELL NEVER DID PAINT ARTHUR, ILLINOIS, BUT WHAT
A CANVAS OF AMERICANA. BEATING SLOW IN THE HEART OF THE HEARTLAND, THIS TOWN OF 2,200 SITS IN A POCKET OF AMISH
COUNTRY, A PLACE WHERE PAST AND PRESENT COHABITATE. NOT LONG AGO, ARTHUR WAS THE UNLIKELY SITE OF A DARING
EXPERIMENT IN AMERICAN CAPITALISM. C.H.I. OVERHEAD DOORS, WHICH MANUFACTURES GARAGE DOORS, WAS
FOUNDED BY A LOCAL AMISH CARPENTER. THEN IN 2015, KKR, ONE OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST PRIVATE EQUITY
FIRMS, CAME TO THIS SMALL TOWN AND PURCHASED C.H.I. FOR $700 MILLION. THAT'S WHEN BRAD EDWARDS, A
19-YEAR VETERAN OF THE FACTORY FLOOR, AND HIS WIFE STARTED GOOGLE LG THE NEW CORPORATE OVERLORDS.
>> IT SEEMED LIKE THEY OWNED THE WORLD. THIS IS BIG NEW YORK PRIVATE EQUITY, THEY'RE GOING TO SKIN
THIS DOWN TO THE BARE BONES UNTIL THEY CAN SQUEEZE A FEW BUCKS OFF OF US AND THERE'S GOING TO BE NOTHING LEFT.
>> TODAY ROUGHLY 12 MILLION EMPLOYEES ARE OWNED BY FIRMS OWNED BY PRIVATE EQUITY, FIRMS LIKE KKR, THAT BUYS BUSINESSES,
ULTIMATELY RESELLING FOR A PROFIT, A PRACTICE THAT OFTEN INVOLVES CUTS AND LAYOFFS. OVER A 10-YEAR SPAN, IT'S
ESTIMATED THAT AT LEAST A HALF MILLION JOBS HAVE BEEN LOST TO PRIVATE EQUITY CUTBACKS. THAT WOULD HAVE DEVASTATED BRAD
AND CRYSTAL EDWARDS. BURIED UNDER CREDIT CARD DEBT AND WITH NO SAVINGS, THEY HAD TAKEN SECOND JOBS TO SUPPORT
THEMSELVES AND THEIR THREE DAUGHTERS. >> SHE WORKED MIDNIGHTS AT K.C.'S, THE GAS STATION THAT
USED TO BE OPEN 24 HOURS. >> YOU TOOK A LATE SHIFT AT THE GAS STATION. >> SOON AFTER KKR BOUGHT C.H.I.,
EMPLOYEES MANAGED TO MEET THE NEW BOSS, PETE STAVROS, WHO CAME BEARING AN UNEXPECTED MESSAGE. NO SLASHING, NO BURNING, C.H.I.
WOULD BE GROWING AND THE ENTIRE WORKFORCE WOULD NOW BE PART OWNERS IN THE COMPANY. >> WHAT'S YOUR IMMEDIATE
RESPONSE WHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT THAT? >> IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, RIGHT?
YOU WOULD HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, NO, THIS IS JUST A -- THEY'RE JUST DANGLING THE CARRY ROT.
>> WHAT'S THE CATCH? >> YEAH. YEAH. WHAT'S THE CATCH.
EXACTLY. A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE TALK IN AND SAY, I'VE HEARD PROMISES BEFORE.
>> STAVROS HAD GIVEN THE EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PITCH BEFORE AND WAS ACCUSTOMED TO A SKEPTICAL AUDIENCE.
>> DAY ONE WE SIT DOWN WITH THE WORKFORCE. WE EXPLAIN AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, THIS IS OUR BUSINESS PLAN, THIS
IS WHERE WE'RE HEADED, THESE ARE THE KEY PRIORITIES. THERE IS A POOL OF OWNERSHIP SET ASIDE FOR YOU.
>> HIS IDEA REALLY IS SIMPLE, GIVE RANK-AND-FILE WORKERS A STAKE IN THEIR COMPANY ON TOP OF SALARY, PLUS A VOICE IN HOW THE
BUSINESSES RUN DAY-TO-DAY. WITH SKIN IN THE GAME, THEY'LL BE MOTIVATED TO WORK HARDER AND SMARTER.
>> OWNERSHIP IS REALLY AN ETHOS. IT'S A MINDSET. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, WHAT YOU WANT ARE PEOPLE FEELING LIKE
THESE ARE MY PRODUCTS. SO, IF I'M SENDING OUT POOR QUALITY, THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR ME.
IF OUR PRODUCTIVITY IS DOWN OR IF OUR CUSTOMERS ARE UNHAPPY, THESE ARE MY CUSTOMERS. AND THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN
OVERNIGHT, BUT WHEN THEY PAY OFF, YOU DO GET BEHAVIOR CHANGE. YOU GET PEOPLE ON THE SHOP FLOOR SAYING, I HAVE IDEAS ON HOW TO
REDUCE SCRAP OR IMPROVE QUALITY. >> THE CONCEPT IS NOT A NEW ONE. IN THE '70s, CONGRESS PASSED LAWS TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEE
OWNERSHIP, A STORY "60 MINUTES" COVERED AT THE TIME. >> A YEAR AGO, THE 75 EMPLOYEES OF THIS COMPANY WERE TOLD THEY
WERE GOING TO BECOME PART OWNERS. >> BUT AS CORPORATE AMERICA STRUGGLED WITH THE COMPLEXITY OF
A NEW MODEL, THE EFFORT SPUTTERED. TODAY WHILE IT'S COMMON FOR EXECUTIVES TO BE COMPENSATED
WITH SHARES, FEWER THAN A QUARTER OF PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEES OWN A STAKE IN THEIR COMPANY, ALL WHILE THEIR WAGES
AND WEALTH HAVE STAGNATED. DEVOUT CAPITALIST STEVE STAVROS CAN SOUND DOWN RIGHT REVOLUTIONARY.
>> YOU SAID THE SOCIAL CONTRACT IN AMERICA IS BROKEN RIGHT NOW. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? >> THAT WORKERS FEEL LIKE THEY
DON'T HAVE HOPE. THEY DON'T HAVE A WAY TO GET AHEAD. THERE'S HALF OF AMERICA EARNS AN
HOURLY WAGE. MOST OF THEM HAVE NO ASSETS, NO PLANS FOR A DIGNIFIED RETIREMENT.
>> THIS, STAVROS SAYS, IS NOT JUST BAD FOR SOCIETY. IT'S BAD FOR BALANCE SHEETS. >> 70% OF AMERICANS DON'T LIKE
THEIR JOBS. THEY'RE THROWING THE PROVERB RAL WRENCHES IN THE MACHINERY. IT'S BAD FOR HUMAN BEINGS.
IT'S BAD FOR OUR ECONOMY. >> YOU'RE CLEAR, THIS ISN'T CHARITY. THIS ISN'T PHILANTHROPY.
THIS ISN'T SOCIALISM. YOU ARE MAKING A BUSINESS CASE. >> Z THIS THE RIGHT THING TO DO THAT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE GOOD
BUSINESS. >> HIS OBSESSION WITH EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP TRACES BACK TO HIS WORKING CLASS UPBRINGING OUTSIDE
CHICAGO. HIS FATHER PAVED ROADS FOR A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. >> THE LESSONS AROUND THE DINNER
TABLE WERE ABOUT THE PLATE OF THE HOURLY WORKER. THERE'S NO INCENTIVE. THE THING THAT DROVE MY DAD
CRAZY, HE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO WORK STEADY. IF YOU WORK TOO FAST, YOUR HOURS GO DOWN.
>> YOU NEED HOURS. >> IN BUSINESS SCHOOL AT HARVARD, STAVROS PUBLISHED RESEARCH ON, YOU GUESSED IT,
EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP. ONCE HE REACHED THE GLEANING OFFICES OF KKR, HE PUT THE PROGRAM INTO ACTION FOR THE
FIRST TIME SINCE 2011. KKR HAS IMPLEMENTED THE MODEL AT 47 COMPANIES AND COUNTING. THAT'S 100,000 EMPLOYEES
GLOBALLY, UNION, NON-UNION, AND MANUFACTURING, E-COMMERCE, EVEN BOOK PUBLISHING. >> WILL YOU DO A DEAL THAT
DOESN'T HAVE EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP NOW? >> IN THE U.S., NO. I'VE BEEN AT THIS ALMOST 15
YEARS. THIS IS THE NEW WAY WE ARE OPERATING. THIS IS THE MODEL.
>> IF FEBRUARY WE VISITED A RECENT KKR ACQUISITION, POTTER GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES IN ST. LOUIS, MANUFACTURER OF FIRE
PROTECTION EQUIPMENT. EMPLOYEES WERE FIRST LEARNING THE DETAILS OF THEIR NEW OWNERSHIP PLAN.
IT WAS PART PEP RALLY, PART POLISHED TED TALK. >> AS OF TODAY, YOU'RE A PART OF A MOVEMENT, A MOVEMENT TO CHANGE
THE WAY OWNERSHIP IS SHARED IN CORPORATE AMERICA. >> AFTERWARD, WE SAT DOWN WITH FACTORY EMPLOYEES DEBI BRUMIT,
CRAIG LEP PERIOD, MIKE IRBY, AND GINA GRANT TO HEAR THEIR REACTION. >> WE ALL DESERVE IT.
>> WE'VE BEEN DOING IT, NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET BENEFITS FROM IT. >> WE KEPT HEARING EMPLOYEES
START THINKING LIKE OWNERS. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? >> IT'S EASIER TO SPEND SOMEBODY ELSE'S MONEY, BUT WHEN YOU WORK
FOR IT, YOU OWN IT. IT'S A DIFFERENT WHEN IT'S YOUR MONEY. >> THESE BIG CHECKS, THAT'S A
MOTIVATION? >> ABSOLUTELY. TO KNOW THE PAYOUTS AND WHAT IT CAN POTENTIALLY BRING IN MY
FUTURE, THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE PRAYED FOR. IT'S PERSONAL TO ME. >> THE AIM IS FOR EMPLOYEES LIKE
THESE TO GET CHECKS EQUIVALENT TO AT LEAST A YEAR'S SALARY WHEN KKR SELLS THE COMPANY FIVE OR SO YEARS LATER.
>> CONGRATULATIONS. >> STAVROS ALSO OFFERS WORKERS FREE FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
ECONOMICS. BUT HE IS QUICK TO STRESS, ANY PAYOUT DEPENDS ON HOW THE COMPANY PERFORMS AND WHETHER KKR
SELLS AT SIGNIFICANT PROFIT. >> IT'S RISK. THERE'S NO DOWN SIDE BECAUSE WORKERS ARE NOT INVESTING OUT OF
THEIR OWN POCKET. BUT THERE'S NO GUARANTEE. WE ALWAYS SAY, WE NEED TO PERFORM FOR THIS TO WORK.
>> HAVE YOU HAD TO HAVE THAT CEREMONY ON THE SHOP FLOOR OF, LOOK, WE'RE SELLING BUT UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S NO POT AT
THE END OF THE RAINBOW? >> WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT YET. IT WILL HAPPEN. THAT DAY WILL COME.
WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE SO FAR. >> PETE STAVROS HAS HIS CRITICS. THIS, AFTER ALL, IS PRIVATE EQUITY, A SECTOR OFTEN VILIFIED
FOR ITS AGGRESSIVE BUSINESS PRACTICES. >> HERE ARE SOME CRITIQUES WE'VE HEARD ABOUT YOUR EFFORT.
IT'S GREEN WASHING, WHITEWASHING, MOSTLY PUBLIC RELATIONS, WATERING DOWN OF THE REAL EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO DETRACTORS LIKE THAT? >> WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT WORKERS ARE GETTING, I THINK THERE'S TOO
MUCH SUBSTANCE FOR SOMEONE TO SHRUG IT OFF AND SAY THAT'S FAKE. >> COMING FROM A SECTOR THAT
DOESN'T TRADITIONALLY ACT LIKE THIS, THAT TENDS TO CUT JOBS AND TENDS TO SQUEEZE PROFITS AND TENDS TO HOLLOW OUT COMPANIES,
DOES THAT CREATE ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE FOR YOU? >> I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT CHARACTERIZATION.
>> YOU DON'T? >> NO. I THINK CERTAINLY MISTAKES HAVE BEEN MADE BOTH IN OUR INDUSTRY
AND IN CAPITALISM. IF ALL PRIVATE EQUITY WAS DOING WAS PLUNDERING, I JUST DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE WHERE IT'S AT,
WHICH IS CONTINUING TO GAIN MARKET SHARE. >> STAVROS DOES CONCEDE THAT WHEN THERE IS A SELL, TOP
EXECUTIVES STAND TO MAKE ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE MORE THAN RANK-AND-FILE WORKERS, TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
>> I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I STRUGGLE WITH ABOUT EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP IN GENERAL.
IT'S GETTING PEOPLE A CHANCE TO GET A LEG UP, BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE WEALTH AND EQUALITY PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE.
>> TALK ABOUT THIS YAWNING WEALTH GAP WE HAVE IN THE COUNTRY. DOES PRIVATE EQUITY HELP THAT
GAP OR HELP CREATE IT? >> SO, WE'RE INVESTING CAPITAL, AND THAT CAPITAL'S OWNED, FOR THE MOST PART, BY WEALTHY
PEOPLE. THAT'S JUST A FACT OF LIFE. SO, NAY SENSE, WE ARE COMPOUNDING THE PROBLEM.
SO, WE'LL BE EXPERIMENTING. WE'LL LEARN. >> AN IMPERFECT MESSENGER, PERHAPS, BUT PETE STAVROS HAS
EMERGED AS THE LEADING EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP APOSTLE. HE'S FOUNDED A NON-PROFIT THAT TEACHES EXECUTIVES HOW TO DEPLOY
THE MODEL. HE CRISSCROSSES THE COUNTRY PREACHING HIS GOSPEL AT BUSINESS SCHOOLS AND BEFORE D.C.
LAWMAKERS, ADVOCATING THE TAX CODE -- WHICH HE HOPES WILL SOON BE STANDARD BUSINESS PRACTICE, NOT AN EXOTIC EXCEPTION.
>> THIS IS AN UNBELIEVABLY POPULAR IDEA WITH LIBERAL PROGRESSIVES AND MAGA REPUBLICANS AND EVERYTHING IN
BETWEEN. >> YOU CAN MAKE THIS PALATABLE TO EVERYONE ON THE SPECTRUM. >> THAT'S RIGHT.
THIS IS A BENEFIT TIED TO WORK. AND THE OUTCOMES ARE DRIVEN BY PERFORMANCE. >> AND ABOUT PERFORMANCE,
NOTHING HAS MATCHED THAT OF C.H.I. IN ARTHUR, ILLINOIS. IN 2022, KKR SOLD THE BUSINESS FOR A TENFOLD RETURN.
EMPLOYEES EMPLOYEES WERE SUMMONED TO THE FACTORY FLOOR. THEY KNEW THEY WERE THERE TO
GAIN BUT DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH. >> HE GETS UP THERE ANNOUNCING. YOU'RE SMILING. >> I'M EXCITED FOR MYSELF.
HOW COULD YOU NOT BE? THEY START TOSSING THOSE NUMBERS AROUND. >> EVEN OUR NEWEST COLLEAGUES
ARE GOING TO GET A MEANINGFUL PAYOUT OF $20,000. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> $20,000, $50,000, $100,000.
HOLY COW. YOU KNOW? THEY HAVEN'T EVEN GOT TO 19 YEARS YET, RIGHT?
>> YOUR SENIORITY. >> YEAH. >> THE PAYOUT IS SIX AND A HALF TIMES.
>> THEY WERE TOO MODEST TO TELL US THE REAL NUMBER, BUT THE CHECK WAS IN THE MID SIX FIGURES.
>> LIFE CHANGING. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> NOT JUST FOR US BUT FOR OUR KIDS TOO.
>> YEAH. OUR KIDS DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT US BEING STRESSED OUT ABOUT MONEY.
WE'RE NOT WORKING NIGHT SHIFTS. >> THE EDWARDS FAMILY DONATED TO THEIR CHURCH. THEY FINALLY PAID OFF THAT
CREDIT CARD DEBT. AND THEY STARTED A COLLEGE FUND FOR THEIR KIDS AND FOR BRAD. STILL AT C.H.I., HE'S STUDYING
FOR HIS BACHELORS DEGREE AT NIGHT. THESE STORIES RIPPLED ACROSS ARTHUR AFTER THE SELL, AS C.H.I.
EMPLOYEES HAD MONEY TO SPEND IN AND ON THE COMMUNITY. >> I'M CURIOUS DO YOU THINK THIS IDEA OF, HEY, EMPLOYEES CAN TURN
INTO EMPLOYEE OWNERS? IS THAT A CHALLENGE OR IS THAT, HEY, IT CAN HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF ILLINOIS, IT CAN HAPPEN
ANYWHERE? >> ABSOLUTELY IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE. YOU KNOW, LOOK OUTSIDE OF MY
WINDOW. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A HOUSE AND MILES OF CORNFIELDS, RIGHT? IF IT CAN HAPPEN HERE, WHERE CAN
IT NOT HAPPEN? >> BUT THIS MIGHT BE THE BIGGEST PAYOFF OF ALL. EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP WAS NOT A FAD
OR A ONE-TIME WINDFALL. AFTER KKR SOLD, THE WORKERS GOT A STAKE IN THE BUSINESS UNDER THE NEW OWNERS.
WHY CHANGE A WINNING CULTURE? WHY MESS WITH SUCCESS? >>> AS THE SCHOOL YEAR ENDS, MANY STUDENTS WILL BE ONLY TOO
HAPPY TO SEE MATH CLASSES THE IN THEIR REAR-VIEW MIRRORS. IT MAY SEEM TO SOME OF US NON-MATHEMATICIANS THAT GEOMETRY
AND TRIGONOMETRY WERE CREATED BY THE GREEKS AS A FORM OF TORTURE. SO, IMAGINE OUR AMAZEMENT WHEN WE HEARD TWO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
HAD PROVED A MATHEMATICAL PUZZLE THAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR 2,000 YEARS. WE MET CALCEA JOHNSON AND
NE'KIYA JACKSON AT THEIR ALL GIRLS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN NEW ORLEANS. WE EXPECTED TO FIND TWO
MATHEMATICAL PRODIGIES. INSTEAD, WE FOUND AT ST. MARY'S ACADEMY ALL STUDENTS ARE TOLD THEIR POSSIBILITIES ARE
BOUNDLESS. ♪ >> COME MARDI GRAS SEASON, NEW ORLEANS IS ALIVE WITH COLORFUL
PARADES, COMPLETE WITH FLOATS AND BEADS AND HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BANDS. IN A CITY WHERE UNIQUENESS IS
CELEBRATED, ST. MARY'S STANDS OUT, WITH YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN PLAYING TROMBONES AND TUBAS, TWIRLING BATONS AND
DANCING, DOING IT ALL, WHICH DEFINES ST. MARY'S, STUDENTS TOLD US. JUNIOR CHRISTINA BLAZIO SAID THE
SCHOOL INSTILLS IN THEM THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING. >> THAT IS A STANDARD HERE, SO
WE AIM VERY HIGH. OUR AIM IS EXCELLENCE FOR ALL STUDENTS. >> THE PRIVATE CATHOLIC
ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL SITS BEHIND THE SISTERS OF THE HOLY FAMILY CONVENT IN NEW ORLEANS EAST.
THE ACADEMY WAS STARTED BY AN AFRICAN AMERICAN NUN FOR YOUNG BLACK WOMEN JUST AFTER THE CIVIL WAR.
THE CHURCH STILL SUPPORTS THE SCHOOL WITH THE HELP OF ALUMNI. IN DECEMBER 2022, SENIORS NE'KIYA JACKSON AND CALCEA
JOHNSON WERE WORKING ON A SCHOOL-WIDE MATH CONTEST THAT CAME WITH A CASH PRIZE. >> I WAS MOTIVATED BECAUSE THERE
WAS A MONETARY INCENTIVE BECAUSE I WAS, LIKE, $500 IS A LOT OF MONEY. SO, I WOULD LIKE TO AT LEAST
TRY. >> BOTH WERE STARING DOWN THE THORNY BONUS QUESTION. >> SO, TELL ME, WHAT WAS THIS
BONUS QUESTION? >> IT WAS TO CREATE A NEW PROOF OF THE PYTHAGOREAN THEY AOREM. AND IT GAVE YOU A FEW GUIDELINES
ON HOW YOU WOULD START A PROOF. >> THE SENIORS WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM, A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF
GEOMETRY. A SQUARE PLUS B SQUARED EQUALS C SQUARED. IN PLAIN ENGLISH, WHEN YOU KNOW
THE LENGTH OF TWO SIDES OF A RIGHT TRIANGLE, YOU CAN FIGURE OUT THE SIDE. BOTH TOLD US MATH WAS NOT EASY.
WHAT NO ONE TOLD THEM WAS THERE HAD BEEN MORE THAN 300 DOCUMENTED PROOFS OF THE PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM USING
ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY. BUT FOR 2,000 YEARS, A PROOF USING TRIGONOMETRY WAS THOUGHT TO BE IMPOSSIBLE.
AND THAT WAS THE BONUS QUESTION FACING THEM. >> WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THE QUESTION, DID YOU THINK, BOY,
THIS IS HARD? >> YEAH. >> YEAH. >> WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO SAY,
WELL, I'M GOING TO TRY THIS. >> I THINK I WAS, LIKE, I STARTED SOMETHING, I NEED TO FINISH IT.
>> SO, YOU JUST KEPT ON GOING. >> YEP. >> FOR TWO MONTHS THAT WINTER, THEY SPENT ALMOST ALL THEIR FREE
TIME WORKING ON THE PROOF. >> SHE WAS, LIKE, MOM, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH. >> CECE AND CAL JOHNSON ARE HER
PARENTS. >> I STARTED LOOKING AT WHAT SHE REALLY WAS DOING AND IT WAS PAGES AND PAGES AND PAGES --
OVER 20 OR 30 PAGES FOR THIS ONE PROBLEM. >> FULL OF PAGES, SHE WILL WORK OUT THE PROBLEMS.
IF THAT DIDN'T WORK, SHE'D BALL IT UP, THROW IT IN THE TRASH. >> DID YOU LOOK AT THE PROBLEM? >> NELISKA JACKSON IS NE'KIYA'S
MOTHER. >> PERSONALLY I DID NOT BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE'S DOING.
>> WHAT IF WE DID THIS? DOES THIS HELP? >> THEIR MATH TEACHER, MICHELLE BLOUIN WILLIAMS, INITIATED THE
MATH CONTEST. >> AND DID YOU THINK ANYONE WOULD SOLVE IT? >> I WASN'T NECESSARILY LOOKING
FOR A SOLVE, SO NO I DIDN'T. >> WHAT WERE YOU LOOKING FOR? >> I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR SOME INGENUITY.
>> CALCEA AND NE'KIYA DELIVERED ON THAT. THEY TRIED TO EXPLAIN THEIR GROUNDBREAKING WORK TO "60
MINUTES." CALCEA'S PROOF IS APPROPRIATELY TITLED, THE WAFFLE CONE. >> WE START WITH JUST A REGULAR
RIGHT TRIANGLE WHERE THE ANGLE IN THE CORNER IS 90 DEGREES AND THE TWO ANGLES ARE ALPHA AND BETA.
SO, THEN WHAT WE DO NEXT IS WE DRAW A SECOND CONGRUENT, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE EQUAL IN SIZE. BUT THEN WE START CREATING
SIMILAR BUT SMALLER RIGHT TRIANGLES GOING IN A PATTERN LIKE THIS. AND THEN IT CONTINUES FOR
INFINITY. AND EVENTUALLY IT CREATES THIS LARGER WAFFLE CONE SHAPE. AM I GOING A LITTLE TOO --
>> YOU'VE BEEN BEYOND ME SINCE THE BEGINNING. >> OH. >> SO, HOW DID YOU FIGURE OUT
THE PROOF? >> OKAY. SO, WE HAVE A RIGHT TRIANGLE, 90 DEGREE ANGLE, ALPHA AND BETA.
>> THEN WHAT DID YOU DO? >> OKAY. I HAVE A RIGHT TRIANGLE INSIDE OF THE CIRCLE.
AND I HAVE A PERPENDICULAR BICENTER AT OP TO DIVIDE THE TRIANGLE TO MAKE THAT SMALL RIGHT TRIANGLE.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I USED FOR THE PROOF. THAT'S THE PROOF. >> THAT'S WHAT I CALL AMAZING.
>> WELL, THANK YOU. >> THERE HAD BEEN ONE OTHER DOCUMENTED PROOF OF THE THEOREM USING TRIGONOMETRY BY
MATHEMATICIAN JASON ZIMBA IN 2009, ONE IN 2,000 YEARS. NOW IT SEEMS NE'KIYA AND CALCEA HAVE JOINED PERHAPS THE MOST
EXCLUSIVE CLUB IN MATHEMATICS. >> SO, YOU BOTH INDEPENDENTLY CAME UP WITH PROOF THAT ONLY USED TRIGONOMETRY.
>> YES. >> SO, ARE YOU MATH GENIUSES? >> I THINK THAT'S A STRETCH. >> IF NOT GENIUS, YOU'RE REALLY
SMART AT MATH. >> NOT AT ALL. >> TO DOCUMENT CALCEA AND NE'KIYA'S WORK, MATH TEACHERS AT
ST. MARY'S SUBMITTED THEIR PROOF TO AN AMERICAN MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY CONFERENCE IN ATLANTA IN MARCH 2023.
>> OUR TEACHER APPROACHED US AND WAS LIKE, HEY, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY PRESENT THIS. I WAS LIKE, ARE YOU JOKING?
BUT SHE WASN'T. SO, WE WENT, I GOT THERE, WE PRESENTED, AND IT WENT WELL, AND IT BLEW UP.
>> IT BLEW UP? >> YEAH. >> WHAT WAS THE BLOW UP LIKE? >> INSANE.
UNEXPECTED. CRAZY, CRAZY, HONESTLY. >> TODAY'S STORY FEATURES TWO
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS -- >> IT TOOK MILLENIA TO PROVE BUT JUST A MINUTE FOR WORD OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT TO GO AROUND THE
WORLD. THEY GOT A WRITE-UP IN SOUTH KOREA AND A SHOUTOUT FROM FORMER FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA, A
COMMENDATION FROM THE GOVERNOR, AND KEYS TO THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS. >> WHY DO YOU THINK SO MANY
PEOPLE FOUND WHAT YOU DID TO BE SO IMPRESSIVE? >> PROBABLY BECAUSE WE'RE AFRICAN AMERICAN, ONE, AND WE'RE
ALSO WOMEN. SO, I THINK -- OH, AND OUR AGE, OF COURSE. OUR AGE IS PROBABLY THE BIG
PART. >> SO, YOU THINK PEOPLE WERE SURPRISED THAT YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN COULD DO SUCH A
THING. >> YES, DEFINITELY. >> I'D LIKE TO BE CELEBRATED FOR WHAT IT IS.
IT'S A GREAT MATHEMATICAL ACHIEVEMENT. >> ACHIEVEMENT. THAT'S A WORD YOU HEAR OFTEN
AROUND ST. MARY'S ACADEMY. CALCEA AND NE'KIYA FOLLOW A LONG LINE OF BARRIER-BREAKING GRADUATES.
>> SO GOOD. >> THE LATE QUEEN OF CREOLE CROOKING, LEAH CHASE, WAS AN ALUM.
SO WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE NEW ORLEANS POLICE CHIEF, MICHELLE WOODFORK. >> I SIT BEFORE YOU --
>> AND JUDGE FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS, DANA DOUGLAS. MATH TEACHER TOLD US --
>> IF THEY ARE UNICORNS, EVERY SINGLE LADY THAT HAS METRIC LATED THROUGH THIS SCHOOL IS A BEAUTIFUL BLACK UNICORN.
>> PAMELA ROGERS, ST. MARY'S PRESIDENT AND INTERIM PRINCIPAL, TOLD US THE STUDENTS HEAR THAT MESSAGE FROM THE MOMENT THEY
WALK IN THE DOOR. >> WE BELIEVE ALL STUDENTS CAN SUCCEED, ALL STUDENTS CAN LEARN. IT DOES NOT MATTER THE
ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU LIVE IN. >> SO, WHEN WORD WENT OUT THAT TWO OF YOUR STUDENTS HAD SOLVED THIS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE MATH
PROBLEM, WERE THEY UNIVERSALLY APPLAUDED? >> IN THIS COMMUNITY, THEY WERE GREATLY APPLAUDED.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE WERE MANY NAY SAYERS. >> WHAT WERE THEY SAYING? >> THEY WERE SAYING, OH, THEY
COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT. AFRICAN AMERICANS DON'T HAVE THE BRAINS TO DO IT. OF COURSE WE SHELTERED OUR GIRLS
FROM THAT, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY DID NOT EXPECT IT TO COME IN THE VOLUME THAT IT CAME. >> AND AFTER SUCH A WONDERFUL
ACHIEVEMENT -- >> PEOPLE HAVE A VISION OF WHO CAN BE SUCCESSFUL. AND TO SOME PEOPLE, IT IS NOT
ALWAYS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE. AND TO US, IT'S ALWAYS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE.
>> WHAT WE KNOW IS WHEN TEACHERS LAY OUT EXPECTATIONS, THEY SAY, YOU CAN DO THIS, KIDS WILL WORK AS HARD AS THEY CAN TO DO IT.
>> GLORIA LADSON-BILLINGS, PROFESSOR EMERITUS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, HAS STUDIED HOW BEST TO TEACH
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS. SHE TOLD US AN ENCOURAGING TEACHER CAN CHANGE A LIFE. >> AND WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE,
SAY, BETWEEN HAVING A TEACHER LIKE THAT AND A WHOLE SCHOOL DEDICATED TO THE EXCELLENCE OF THESE STUDENTS?
>> SO, A WHOLE SCHOOL IS ALMOST LIKE BEING IN HEAVEN. >> WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? >> MANY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE
THEIR CEILINGS LOWERED. SOMEWHERE AROUND FOURTH OR FIFTH GRADE, THEIR THOUGHTS ARE, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ANYTHING
SPECIAL. WHAT I THINK IS PROBABLY HAPPENING AT ST. MARY'S IS YOUNG WOMEN COME IN AS PERHAPS NINTH
GRADERS AND ARE TOLD, HERE'S WHAT WE EXPECT TO HAPPEN, AND HERE'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU GET THERE.
>> AT ST. MARY'S, HALF THE STUDENTS GET SCHOLARSHIPS SUBSIDIZED BY FUNDRAISING TO DEFRAY THE $8,000 A YEAR
TUITION. HERE, THERE'S NO TESTS TO GET IN. BUT EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH AND
RULES ARE STRICT. NO CELL PHONES, MODEST SKIRTS, HAIR MUST BE ITS NATURAL COLOR. STUDENTS, RAYAH SIDDIQ, CARISSA
WASHINGTON, SUMMER FORDE, TATAL WILLIAMS TOLD US THEY APPRECIATE THE RULES IS RIGOR. >> ESPECIALLY THE STANDARDS THEY
SET FOR US. THEY'RE VERY HIGH AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S EVER GOING TO CHANGE.
>> IS THERE A HEART IN PHILOSOPHY TO ST. MARY'S? >> THIS IS THE HOOD SISTERHOOD. >> THE SISTERHOOD.
AND YOU DON'T MEAN THE NUNS, YOU MEAN YOU. SO, WHEN YOU'RE HERE, THERE'S JUST NO QUESTION THAT YOU'RE
GOING TO GO ON TO COLLEGE. >> COLLEGE IS ALL WE TALK ABOUT. >> AND ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY. >> PRINCIPAL ROGERS TO HER 615
STUDENTS THE COLLEGES WHERE EVERY SENIOR HAS BEEN ACCEPTED. >> SO, FOR 17 YEARS, YOU'VE HAD A 100% GRADUATION RATE AND A
100% COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE RATE. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> NE'KIYA JACKSON. >> LAST YEAR, WHEN NE'KIYA AND
CALCEA GRADUATED, ALL THEIR CLASSMATES WENT TO COLLEGE AND GOT SCHOLARSHIPS. NE'KIYA GOT A FULL RIDE TO
XAVIER UNIVERSITY IN NEW ORLEANS. CALCEA, THE CLASS VALEDICTORIAN, THE STUDYING ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING AT LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY. >> WAIT A MINUTE. NEITHER ONE OF YOU IS GOING TO
PURSUE A CAREER IN MATH? >> NO. >> NO. >> I MAY TAKE UP A MINOR IN
MATH, BUT I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE MY JOB JOB. >> YEAH. >> PEOPLE MIGHT EXPECT TOO MUCH
OUT OF ME. >> BUT MATH IS NOT COMPLETELY IN THEIR REAR-VIEW MIRRORS. THIS SPRING THEY SUBMITTED THEIR
HIGH SCHOOL PROOFS FOR FINAL PEER REVIEW AND PUBLICATION AND ARE STILL WORKING ON FURTHER PROOFS OF THE PYTHAGOREAN
THEOREM. SINCE THEIR FIRST TWO -- >> WE FOUND FIVE AND THEN WE FOUND A GENERAL FORMAT THAT
COULD POTENTIALLY PRODUCE THESE FIVE ADDITIONAL PROOFS. >> AND YOU'RE NOT MATH GENIUSES? >> NO.
>> I'M NOT BUYING IT.
>>> NOW, THE LAST MINUTE OF "60 MINUTES." >>> TONIGHT, AN UPDATE OF A STORY FROM OCTOBER.
A QUIET INVASION OF THE COUNTRY OF GEORGIA. AS THE NATION'S PRESIDENT, SALOME ZOURABICHVILI TOLD SHARYN
ALFONSI, RUSSIA OCCUPIES 20% OF GEORGIA, EVEN AS GEORGIA APPLIES FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION.
A PROPOSED LAW IN GEORGIA'S PARLIAMENT COULD SCUTTLE THAT. RESEMBLING RUSSIAN LEGISLATION, IT OPENS THE WAY FOR A CRACKDOWN
ON JOURNALISTS, AID GROUPS, AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES, AND MAY DRAW GEORGIA AWAY FROM DEMOCRACY AND CLOSER TO RUSSIA'S
ORBIT. THIS PAST WEEK, GEORGIANS TOOK TO THE STREETS IN PROTEST. THEY FACED OFF AGAINST WATER
CANNONS, TEAR GAS, AND RIOT POLICE. PARLIAMENT IS EXPECTED TO PASS THE LAW, BUT GEORGIA'S
PRESIDENT, ZOURABICHVILI, HAS PROMISED A VETO. I'M BILL WHITAKER. WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH
ANOTHER