Oral history interview with Charissa B. Fabian conducted by Kyle Gregory Baluyut on November 24, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
In this interview, Charissa B. Fabian discusses her upbringing in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines with her three siblings and memories shared with her grandparents and cousins. She talks about her nursing education from the University of the Philippines and her immigration via a recruitment agency to work in New York. Charissa Fabian reflects on her move to Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband in 1995, the growing Filipino population in the city, and her work as a nurse. She also shares her thoughts on the immigration process, the COVID-19 pandemic, and politics.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Su Kim conducted by Ashley Brooke Fuentes on November 21, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
In this interview, Su Kim discusses her family and life in Seoul, Korea. She talks about immigrating alone to the United States to study in Provo, Utah and later transferring to the College of Southern Nevada. Su Kim talks about her immigration experience, the culture shock of coming to America, and the discrimination and racism she has seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Su shares how she met her husband, details of her employment as an office manager, and her plans to pursue a degree in hospitality from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Morse Arberry conducted by Brittany Thompson and Andrew Thomas on November 20, 2015 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Arberry discusses his personal history and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1958. He talks about his father's employment at the Nevada Test Site and the issues of segregation at the time. Arberry recalls attending the Westside School and talks about school integration. He then describes his career in legislation, working on bills to improve the integration process, and the impact that the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) had on the level of education among adults in the community. Lastly, Arberry discusses the West Las Vegas community, the significance that religion had on African Americans, and the increase of law enforcement in the area.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Brenda J. Williams conducted by Claytee D. White on May 24, 2013 and June 10, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Williams discusses her personal history and life in Las Vegas, Nevada since she moved there as a child with her family during the 1940s. She describes the diversity of the Westside community she lived in, her family, and the recreational activities she participated in as a young woman. Williams talks about several careers that she has had over the course of her life, such as a telephone operator, hat shop owner, and board member for the Las Vegas Housing Authority before later transitioning to the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marjorie Conner conducted by Christine Schaeffer on April 18, 2002 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Conner reflects upon her more than 30-year career in education, with the most of her career being an administrator with the Clark County School District during the 1980s and 1990s. She discusses challenges that she often faced as an elementary school administrator, and the challenge of opening new schools. She describes the differences between starting at an established school and establishing a new school, and how such experiences shaped her philosophy of education. She also reflects upon her time as assistant principal, principal, and regional superintendent, and discusses the different job responsibilities associated with each position.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Danit Farwell conducted by Barbara Tabach on March 27, 2018 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Farwell discusses her early life in Morocco, antisemitism she experienced there, and being sent to Israel as a young girl. She recalls the hardships she faced while traveling to Israel, living in a kibbutz, and completing a teaching seminar to become a grade school teacher. Farwell talks about arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1974, her first impression of the city, and her decision to stay. Farwell describes becoming a member of Temple Beth Sholom, being a teacher there, and going to card dealing school. Lastly, Farwell talks about being a part-time card dealer at different casinos on the Strip.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Arturo Ochoa conducted by Monserrath Hernández on April 09, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Ochoa discusses his early life in Greenfield, California and Tucson, Arizona. He talks about his experience with racial stereotypes, discrimination, and his initial interest in education. Ochoa recalls becoming an educator, teaching in a sixth grade center on the Westside of Las Vegas, and integration for Clark County School District (CCSD) schools. Ochoa remembers co-founding Foundation to Assist Young Musicians (FAYM), and launching Violins for Kids. Lastly, Ochoa discusses the challenges that special needs Latinx students face, and how special needs programs disproportionately consist of students of color.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ron Floth conducted by Claytee D. White on September 07, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Floth discusses his early life in Huntington Beach, California and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the early 1970s. Floth remembers being recruited to the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), promoting RTC’s Club Ride, and his involvement with RTC's Bike Share program. He describes the Southern Nevada Bike Coalition, the League of American Bicycles, and the Coalition’s work in creating bicycle friendly communities. Later, Floth talks about the Three Foot Law, bicycle routes, and stationless bicycle-sharing systems. Lastly, Floth discusses biking as a way to improve public health.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jacqueline Locks conducted by Jennifer Schulz on May 01, 2003 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Locks reflects upon her 32-year career as a teacher and administrator with the Clark County School District (CCSD) from the 1970s to the 2000s. She discusses her upbringing, and how she knew since she was a child that she wanted to be an elementary school teacher. She describes the process by which she became an elementary school teacher, and eventually principal. She discusses her approach to educational leadership, and offers suggestions for individuals interested in pursuing school administration. She also discusses the importance of working relationships between teachers and administrators, and mentorship programs to assist new teachers.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Belia C. Cruz conducted by Janel Houldsworth on October 25, 2004 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Cruz reflects upon her career as an elementary school teacher and principal in Imperial County, California from the 1970s to the 1990s. She discusses her upbringing, and how her family influenced her involvement with programs such as Head Start, and how this translated into a teaching career. She describes the process by which she eventually became a principal, and her work in bilingual education. She also offers her stance on the contemporary status of the education system, and the standing of bilingual education in the Clark County School District (CCSD). She concludes by describing her experience as a substitute teacher in CCSD, and her involvement with bilingual education.
Archival Collection