Oral history interview with Rochelle Nguyen conducted by Stefani Evans on September 7, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Rochelle Nguyen discusses her family and childhood growing up in Vancouver, Washington as well as her education and professional pursuit of law. Nguyen is Nevada's first Democratic Asian American Assemblywoman, and she shares her legislative experiences, the bills she has sponsored, and the causes she is dedicated to helping including mentoring students, increasing racial and ethnic representation in local offices, and decriminalizing traffic infractions. She also shares her thoughts on the Vietnamese culture, food, holidays, and the prevalence of anti-Asian violence in the country.
Subjects discussed include: female-majority legislature; institution building; anti-Asian violence; fetishization of Asian women; Vietnamese culture; Vietnamese foods; Vietnamese Catholic traditions; Tết Vietnamese Lunar New Year.
Oran K. Gragson putting up a poster for his re-election campaign. He is being assisted by female campaign workers. The women are identified as L-R: (standing, left of Mayor Gragson) Adrian, Joanie, Mayor Gragson (center), (kneeling in front) L-R: Darla, Gretchen, Sue Ann (standing in back, on right) L-R: Patsy, Nancy, Mary, and Delores. Oran Kenneth Gragson (February 14, 1911 – October 7, 2002) was an American businessman and politician. He was the longest-serving mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, from 1959 to 1975. Gragson, a member of the Republican Party, was a small business owner who was elected Mayor on a reform platform against police corruption and for equal opportunity for people of all socio-economic and racial categories. Gragson died in a Las Vegas hospice on October 7, 2002, at the age of 91. The Oran K. Gragson Elementary School located at 555 N. Honolulu Street, Las Vegas, NV 89110 was named in his honor.