Oral history interview with Charles Scott Emerson conducted by Claytee D. White on December 21, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Charles Scott Emerson discusses his work with the American Red Cross and the disaster relief the organization provided during the aftermath of the October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. The interview begins with a discussion on Emerson's early life and career in Missouri and how he moved to Las Vegas in 2004. Emerson talks about the American Red Cross response plans and coordinated operations that are in place for when the community is faced with a disaster, going into specific detail on the community-wide response to the October 1, 2017 shooting. He gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how relief work is organized, using this interview as a chance to praise the hidden heroes of the October 2017 tragedy, including the people at the Family Assistance Center, the Attorney General's Office, the Driver's License Bureau, and the Coroner's Office, as well as mental health providers, child care workers, blood donors, and more. Throughout the interview, Emerson puts special emphasis on the importance of community in order to offer support in the aftermath of a tragedy as well as to prevent a man-made tragedy from occurring again.
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Oral history interviews with Michael Chin conducted by Jerwin Tiu, Cecilia Winchell, and Stefani Evans on December 20, 2022 and January 12, 2023 for Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Chin describes growing up in a largely Americanized household. His paternal grandparents immigrated from China and owned a laundry shop that his father worked in as well. Chin discusses his education and his interest in creative writing, including editing the school newspaper and writing an a cappella blog with his friend while in college. After graduating, he worked at the John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth as a resident assistant before getting into a graduate program and obtaining his MFA.
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Oral history interview with Kevin Chung conducted by Cecelia Winchell, Stefani Evans, and Jerwin Tiu on December 18, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Kevin Chung discusses his upbringing in Southern Vietnam and how he and his family were forced to leave the country during the Vietnam War. Chung talks about his family's migration to Minnesota and how they adapted to American culture. He shares his educational background, his professional pursuits as a teacher, and the reasons he and his wife decided to move to Las Vegas. Chung reflects on the importance of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) in education with an emphasis on the arts and shares his teaching philosophy. He also gives details of his family's lives and talks about the importance of bringing together his Vietnamese and American cultures to connect the different generations of his family.
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Oral history interview with Dr. Deborah Kuhls conducted by Barbara Tabach on December 29, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, doctor Deborah A. Kuhls describes the preparation and procedures implemented at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada (UMC) during the night of the October 1, 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. She describes her experiences from that night and into the next morning, starting from when the trauma center first learned about the shooting to when patients began arriving. She goes into detail on the hospital's Military-Civilian Trauma System Partnership, which allowed for the installation of a second trauma area to treat the large volume of patients. In addition to the events at the hospital, Kuhls talks about the flurry of activities during the week of the shooting, including interviews with various media, the statewide meeting for surgeons, fellows, and residents where "stop the bleed" training was provided, and general meetings with various government officials, including Donald Trump. Deborah Kuhls also discusses the emotional impact of the shooting and its aftermath as well as her goals for the future of trauma in the medical field.
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Oral history interview with Alex de Castroverde conducted by Monserrath Hernandez on April 17, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, De Castroverde discusses his family's background and his parent's emigration story from Cuba to the United States. He talks about growing up in Reno, Nevada, his father becoming a lawyer, and attending the University of Nevada, Reno. De Castroverde remembers the establishment of De Castroverde Law Group, the significance his father had on the Hispanic community in Las Vegas, Nevada, and taking over operations of the law firm with his brother. Lastly, De Castroverde talks about his involvement with Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School, the Guinn Center, and the Las Vegas Business Academy.
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Oral history interview with Casiano Corpus Jr. conducted by Cecilia Winchell and Stefani Evans on February 14, 2023 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Corpus Jr. details a difficult childhood in the Philippines, where society is highly socioeconomically stratified. He recalls his parents working a number of jobs to support their large family, and as soon as he finished his primary schooling, he also started working in construction. When his father was finally petitioned by his uncle to move to the United States, Corpus was at first reluctant to go, since he had a familiar life in the Philippines, but has come to love the United States and the life he created for himself. Immediately after moving to the United States, their family landed in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Corpus began working a number of jobs. He started out as a busboy at a Chinese restaurant before deciding that he wanted to work in a casino and moved to Union Plaza. His current job is as a porter at Palace Station, where he has been for the past 31 years. He has also been working to unionize Palace Station and Station casinos with the Culinary Union for the past twelve years. He talks about the hunger strike he organized, why he organizes with no fear, and what he hopes to see out of his efforts throughout the interview.
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Oral history interview with Anthony Kappenman conducted by Claytee D. White on May 16, 2019 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. Kappenman begins the interview by talking about his early life, childhood, work, and his time in the military. Afterwards, he recalls what he did on October 1, 2017 prior to the Route 91 festival and during the shooting. He describes his journey trying to escape the area, arriving at the airport injured, and his stay in the hospital. Then, Kappenman talks about how he felt about the way the city and first responders had responded during the shooting, and how the community united afterwards. Lastly, he talks about his opinions on gun control, his recovery, and how he felt after the shooting.
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Oral history interview with Fernando Rocha conducted by Nathalie Martinez and Barbara Tabach on November 13, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Fernando Rocha recalls growing up in Santa Ana, California and in Sunrise Manor in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fernando Rocha is a Mexican professional who is committed to giving back to the Latinx youth of Las Vegas. He talks about his responsibility as a translator in his family with his siblings. He credits his academic and professional success to the Clark County School District and programs such as GEAR UP and Upward Bound. After studying at Hofstra University, he came back to Las Vegas to work with Wells Fargo and is an active community member as co-founder of the Nevada Youth Coalition and work through the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) and Nevada Promise Mentor at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN).
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Oral history interview with Jolie Brislin conducted by Barbara Tabach on April 21, 2017 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Brislin discusses her family background and upbringing in Redwood City, California. She remembers moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1991, her involvement in the Jewish community, and going on a trip to Israel. Brislin talks about joining the Anti-Defamation League, becoming the Regional Director of the organization in 2015, and her mentors at the time. Lastly, Brislin discusses the rise of hate acts towards minority groups across the country, and the issue of cyber-bullying.
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Oral history interview with Kimberly and William King conducted by Claytee D. White on November 27, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Kimberly and William King discuss the October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada and their experiences from that day. They talk about attending the Route 91 Harvest festival and their struggle to find safety and obtain medical medical attention for William after he was shot. Kimberly describes her feelings regarding the city prior to the shooting and how her perspective on Las Vegas has changed. The couple finish the interview with a discussion of life after the shooting, especially in regards to love and community.
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