Chelsie Campbell is a Cuban-American attorney and lobbyist. Born on October 4, 1979, Chelsie is a native Nevadan and grew up in Las Vegas. Her mother, Norah Campbell, came to Las Vegas after the Cuban Revolution and works as an elementary school teacher. Her father, Alan Campbell, was a former teacher and hotel manager. An advocate for the Latino community, Chelsie has dedicated her life to advocacy. Her involvement began at UNLV where she found her voice through the Student Organization of Latinos (SOL). During her time with SOL, she advocated for the elimination of the social security requirement in UNLV’s admission process and lobbied for the retraction of Las Vegas Review Journal’s racist article on Latino students. Her activism in SOL also helped established additional SOL chapters across Las Vegas high schools and at the College of Southern Nevada. After earning her Bachelors in Broadcast Journalism and Spanish Literature from UNLV, Chelsie attended William S. Boyd Law School where she graduated in 2005. Chelsie also attended University of Nevada, Reno where she received her master’s in Management and a graduate certificate in renewable energy. Chelsie worked for Mach One Group as Editor-In-Chief of its two publications, Nevada Family Magazine and La Familia de Nevada. After law school, Chelsie began working at NV Energy as a spokesperson and worked her way up to government affairs. Chelsie is currently working as an independent lobbyist and choses her clients. Her clients include Clark County School District and NV Energy. Her work as a lobbyist includes helping agencies prepare for Nevada’s legislative session, conduct public policy research, and help with educational outreach. Through her activism, Chelsie has worked for former Senate Majority Leader, U.S. Senator Harry Reid. Chelsie is also part of the inaugural class of Emerge Nevada, a political leadership-training program for women in Nevada. Chelsie is on the Board of Trustees for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Southern Nevada, the Chairwoman for the Nevada Advisory Board for CPLC Southwest, Board Member for the Advisory Commission on law-related Education for the State Bar of Nevada and serves on the Governmental Affairs Committee for the Latin Chamber of Commerce. She is the former President for the Boyd Law School Alumni Chapter and the Board of Directors for the Gray Plunkett Jydstrup Living Facility. Chelsie would like to dedicate her oral history to her parents: Without them, I wouldn’t be here.
Kerin Rodgers was born in 1936. She recounts her family history and stories of her youth growing up in Boston, MA, and shares how the family relocated to Seattle, WA in the mid-1940s. She talks about her enjoyment of theatrical arts and politics, and about being a resourceful divorced, single-mom and entrepreneur. In 1958 she opened a retail fashion store and modeling agency with a friend in Santa Monica, CA. Kerin had a knack for fashion and interior design that would assist her then and into the future. She also shares the story of arriving in Las Vegas as part of retail job with The Broadway stores in 1966—a two-week stint that seemed to have no ending. Her transition into Las Vegas included remarriage, a 1974 Keno win that enabled her to put down money on a home ( a house built by Paul Huffey) in the John S. Park neighborhood, and making close friends in the community. Her interview is sprinkled with tales of activities and personalities from the neighborhood's past and present. Kerin was involved with the Focus Youth House, speaks about First Fridays and art, as well as gives a perspective of police, criminal behaviors and changes in the neighborhood over the years. She hosted a local television show and enjoyed being a community activist.
Information about the Poker Palace sign that sits at 2757 N Las Vegas Blvd. Site address: 2757 N Las Vegas Blvd Sign owner: Marvin and Laura Coleman Sign details: This location opened 1974 with a castle theme. This location is also claimed as a locals casino. In 2015 their main pylon roadside sign caught on fire, but it was recently replaced. Sign condition: 4- the signs that were not in the fire are still in relatively good condition Sign form: Two pylons and architectural sign Sign-specific description: The building itself has many different neon signs on it mostly red neon. Also the buildings architecture matches the palace theme. There are two pylon signs the first one states "Poker Palace Bingo" in channeled neon letters, then below is a reader board. The second pylon is just north a little of the first one, this is the one that caught on fire in 2015. After the fire the beam bases of the sign remained. This sign has "Poker Palace Casino" in red channeled letters. Sign - type of display: Neon and incandescent Sign - media: Steel and plastic Sign - non-neon treatments: Reader board Sign animation: Flasher for incandescent light bulbs. Sign environment: This is located in North Las Vegas in a residential area and by a few other small businesses. Sign - date of installation: Late 2015/ early 2016 for new pylon sign, others look to be older Sign - date of redesign/move: 2015 pylon sign went up in flames and was destroyed, then replaced Sign - thematic influences: The building looks like a palace which goes with their names and theme. Also their signs showcases similar shapes to the building. Survey - research locations: Poker Palace website http://pokerpalace.net/History.html , Images of sign , Review Journal article https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/nlv-casino-marquee-fire-sends-up-plume-visible-for-miles/ Surveyor: Wyatt Currie-Diamond Survey - date completed: 2017-08-23 Sign keywords: Architectural; Neon; Incandescent; Steel; Plastic; Flashing; Reader board; Pylon; Fascia