Oral history interview with Victor Chicas conducted by Elsa Lopez on February 15, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Victor Chicas describes his childhood in El Salvador, sharing what it was like to grow up before and during the Salvadoran Civil War. Victor was very involved in the politics at the time, and was frequently caught up in dangerous protests against the Salvadoran police forces. Chicas talks about his experiences protesting at his university and about the riots that happened there. Victor recounts his story of immigration, and moving to Los Angeles, California as a young man. Victor talks about the different states his family has lived in and compares them to the quality of life he has found in Las Vegas, Nevada. Chicas discusses his time working at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and recalls his experiences working the night of the 1 October mass shooting. He shares his views on the importance of social justice and political activism, citing the shooting and his experiences as his primary reason for being an activist.
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Oral history interview with John Lear and Jaina L. Moan conducted by Claytee D. White on April 24, 2018 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
John Lear discusses his occupation as a pilot, secret missions he flew for the CIA and State Department, and the places he has visited all over the world including Lebanon, Taiwan, South Africa, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Egypt. He talks about his retirement from flying and his interest in Gold Butte National Monument, an area of over 300,000 acres of protected desert in Nevada. Lear shares how he became interested in Gold Butte after he embarked on gold and silver mining excursions and his hopes to further educate the public about this national monument.
Jaina Moan discusses the history of Gold Butte National Monument and her work in preserving the area as a member of the Friends of Gold Butte nonprofit organization.
Subjects discussed include: Air Club International, Ambassador I and II; Hank Wharton; Ned Day; Art Bell
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Oral history interview with Judge John F. Mendoza conducted by an unnamed interviewer on the dates September 30, 2005, October 14, 2005, and October 21, 2005 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Mendoza talks about his early life and his childhood while growing up in the Westside area of Las Vegas, Nevada. He details the lives of his grandparents as they lived through the Mexican Revolution. Mendoza describes how he grew up in a diverse community that consisted of people from different backgrounds and cultures. A big part of his childhood was when he would sell newspapers to people in public places like bars. He talks about his career and explains that he completed and graduated from law school after being discharged from the United States Army. A crucial event that took place during Mendoza's time in law school was the rise of Communism, and he explains that students and professors in his law school had various perspectives on how Communism would influence the government.
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Oral history interview with Amanda "Alex" Aikens conducted by Barbara Tabach on December 28, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Aikens discusses the support she provided for the community after the October 1, 2017 shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada along with the event at First Friday that she organized to provide counseling services for those in need. She describes her usage of Facebook as a social media platform to keep the community posted on the shooting as well as any advice and resources for those who wanted to help. Aikens expands upon her realization that people felt the need to contribute and discusses her efforts to gather a group of therapy volunteers that eventually grew so large an event space was needed. In addition to the volunteers who provided counseling and other event functions, she mentions a few of the companies that made the event possible with a donation of resources, such as First Friday that offered room space and a nearby office that supplied furniture.
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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 Amber Diskin conducted by Barbara Tabach on January 5, 2018 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Amber Diskin discusses her experience at the Route 91 Harvest music festival during the October 1, 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Diskin talks about finding her way home after escaping the crowds and letting her family and friends know she was not hurt. She speaks of the aftermath of the shooting, including how her children were affected, the post-traumatic stress disorder she developed, and how the shooting has affected her love of concerts. As a native Nevadan, she shares her views of Las Vegas and how her sense of community deepened after this event. Diskin ends the interview by discussing her appreciation for the first responders and the gift baskets she helped distribute to hospitals, police stations, and the fire department.
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Oral history interview with José Eliqué conducted by Barbara Tabach on January 17, 2018 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, José Eliqué discusses his responsibilities as the Associate Vice President and Chief of Police for the Department of Police Services at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He talks about the Police Services Department and its mission to maintain a safe environment on campus. Eliqué discusses the night of the October 1, 2017 shooting and the procedures in place that helped the police officers and detectives support the survivors who made their way to the UNLV campus. He also provides details about using the Thomas & Mack Center as a place of refuge for survivors. In addition to his work in Las Vegas, which started when he moved to the city in 2000, Eliqué discusses his service in the US Navy and his career history in New York City and Chicago, Illinois.
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Oral history interview with Carol Frey conducted by Claytee D. White on March 30, 2018 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Carol Frey discusses her work as a volunteer for the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) of Southern Nevada. She specifically talks about the October 1, 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada and her volunteer efforts at one of the hospitals, where she provided support for survivors of the shooting, answering any questions they had, calling family members, arranging transport of loved ones to Las Vegas, and any other assistance that was needed, either emotional or practical. Throughout the interview, Frey discusses the moments that have stuck with her, including the gestures of gratitude the TIP volunteers had received from United Health Care employees and Sandy Hook High School students.
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Oral history interview with Helen Yu conducted by Andrew Yu on December 1, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Helen Yu discusses her upbringing in Seoul, South Korea, her grandfather's immigration to the United States in the late 1970s, and her family's decision to follow him to Portland, Oregon in 1984. She shares her family's history and their experiences during the Korean War, including what life was like both in North and South Korea at that time. Helen Yu discusses her undergraduate education at the University of Oregon studying graphic design and her graduate education at Ewha Womans University College of Art and Design in South Korea. She shares her thoughts having both a Korean American and Asian American identity, her marriage and two wedding ceremonies to her Korean husband, and her family's move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2001. Helen Yu concludes with a discussion of her event planning work which led to her current role as the Operations Manager at the Emerald at Queensridge in Las Vegas.
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Oral history interview with Rodel Fuentes conducted by Tracy Fuentes on December 4, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Rodel Fuentes tells stories of his upbringing in Manila, Philippines, where he was raised in a shared family home amongst his parents, siblings, aunts, and uncles. He talks about his parents' immigration to the United States and how he later joined them in Los Angeles, California where he met and married his wife. Rodel Fuentes shares the couple's decision to move to Las Vegas, Nevada, his work at Dunn Edwards paint company, and how he became a licensed general contractor and real estate agent where he now owns his own company. Rodel Fuentes discusses his thoughts on Las Vegas' diversity, affordability, restaurants, and Asian community. He also talks about experiencing anti-Asian hate, worsened by misconceptions and discrimination that came from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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