Oral history interview with Christian Giovanni conducted by Cecilia Winchell, Jerwin Tiu, and Stefani Evans on May 17, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Giovanni describes her early life being born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. She discusses her mother, Oywan, who first worked for the casinos before turning her focus to community building. Throughout Oywan's life, she did everything from start the first temple in the city to the first Thai newspaper, Las Vegas News. Giovanni mentions having what she considers a normal childhood, especially because of her more Western appearance, and did not embrace her AAPI identity until much later in life after she started helping her mother with different organizations. Currently, Giovanni is involved in many organizations, from the AAPI County Commission to the Thai Culture Foundation.
Oral history interview with Rabbi Felipé Goodman conducted by Barbara Tabach and Monserrath Hernandez on April 01, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Goodman discusses his upbringing in Mexico City, Mexico and growing up in the Jewish neighborhood of Polanco. He recalls trips to the United States, differences between Mexican Judaism and American Judaism, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1998. Later, Goodman talks about being Rabbi at Temple Beth Sholom, his connection to the Latinx community, and his story of becoming a United States citizen. Lastly, Goodman discusses his observations of anti-Semitism and attending the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference in 2019.
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.