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Margie Llorente Gonzales oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03804

Abstract

Oral history interview with Marietta "Margie" Llorente Gonzales conducted by Cecilia Winchell, Vanessa Concepcion, and Stefani Evans on November 1 and 22, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Margie Llorente-Gonzales discusses her upbringing in Manila, the Philippines and her family history within the country, recalling the lives of her parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. She talks about her childhood, educational pursuits, and courtship with her husband in the Philippines. Margie shares how she and her husband immigrated to the United States, how she adapted to her new life as an immigrant dependent on her extended family, and how she and her husband came to settle in Las Vegas. She talks about her artistic pursuits in the forms of dance choreography and performing, scriptwriting, broadcasting, and publishing newsletters. Margie also discusses her employment at McCarran Airport and her political activism, canvassing, and committee work in the Philippines and the United States.

Archival Collection

Hope Foye and Melody Woolley oral history interviews

Identifier

OH-03572

Abstract

Oral history interview with Hope Foye and Melody Woolley conducted by Claytee D. White on February 07, 2019 and March 01, 2019 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In these interviews, Foye discusses her early life and her career as a singer. She remembers performing with Paul Robeson, living through McCarthy Era restrictions, and segregation in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1950s. Foye talks about performing in Mexico, and experiencing discrimination as a performer in Las Vegas. Woolley, Foye’s daughter, remembers Mexico and describes her childhood there. Lastly, Foye and Woolley discuss the changes in Las Vegas entertainment.

Archival Collection

Rochelle Nguyen oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03790

Abstract

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.

Archival Collection

Stella Kalaoram oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03792

Abstract

Oral history interview with Stella Kalaoram conducted by Kristel Peralta and Cecilia Winchell on August 2, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.

Stella Kalaoram discusses her childhood in Singapore, the occupations and ethnic diversity of her family, and the four languages she speaks: English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil. She shares her immigration journey to the United States with her husband, from Singapore to San Bernardino, California in 1990, and their move to Las Vegas in 2000. Stella also shares her employment experiences as a dental assistant, a housekeeper for the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino, and as a shop steward for the Culinary Workers Union. She also talks about contracting COVID-19 and her hospital experience, her family's differing religious faiths, and her translation work to empower the Asian-American community.

Subjects discussed include: insurance benefits; Volunteer Organizer (VO); mask mandates; vaccine hesitancy; food traditions; language barriers; Baba and Nyonya cultures.

Archival Collection

Bryan Chan oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03803

Abstract

Oral history interview with Bryan Chan conducted by Vanessa Concepcion, Cecilia Winchell, and Stefani Evans on October 18, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.

Bryan Chan discusses his life growing up in California, his family's migration stories to the United States, and his education. He discusses his appearance on a reality television show which led to becoming a singer for boy band LMNT. Bryan talks about his entertainment career, including his move to Las Vegas to sing and host for the Chippendales show at the Rio Hotel and Casino. He also shares insight into his family's traditions and his favorite foods that his father and grandmother cooked.

Subjects discussed include: chain migration; Chippendales; giglife; virtual events; traditional foods.

Archival Collection

Elizabeth, Leonard, and William Carpi oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00158

Abstract

Oral history interview with Elizabeth, Leonard, and William Carpi conducted by Claytee D. White on January 14, 2009 for the Heart to Heart Oral History Project. In this interview, Elizabeth and Leonard discuss their upbringings and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1954. William, son of Elizabeth and Leonard, recalls his childhood in Las Vegas, performing with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) wind and jazz bands, and his early interest in optometry. Lastly, Leonard and William talk about becoming optometrists, the Las Vegas health care system during the 1960s, and fitting contact lenses for the first time.

Archival Collection

Reika Sun oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03788

Abstract

Oral history interview with Reika Sun conducted by Kristel Peralta on June 21, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.

Reika Sun discusses her childhood in Shanghai, China during the "one-child policy" and her upbringing by nannies while her parents worked. She shares how her family immmigrated to Las Vegas in 2009 to reunite with Reika's aunt and how Reika moved to Kansas to attend an English as a Second Language (ESL) program at Kansas State University. Reika also talks about her restaurant employment history after returning to Las Vegas, her membership in the Culinary Workers Union, and Chinese traditions and superstitions she grew up learning.

Archival Collection

Cynthia Leung oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03785

Abstract

Oral history interview with Cynthia Leung conducted by Vanessa Concepcion, Kristel Peralta, and Stefani Evans on June 24, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.

Cynthia Leung shares her personal history growing up in Palm Desert, California and the story of how her artistic parents met. Cynthia's mother, a brush artist, immigrated alone from Shanghai and Taiwan to the United States where she met her husband and Cynthia's father, a Chinese-American architect. Cynthia talks about her educational pursuits and her move to Las Vegas to become a defense attorney. She discusses her career as a prosecutor before becoming the first Chinese-American women elected as a Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge, and her experiences within the court system witnessing discrimination, mental illness, and the opportunity for diversity in law.

Subjects discussed include: Joy Luck Club (book); Women in Need of Change (WIN) Court; alternative courts; Las Vegas legal community.

Archival Collection

Maila Aganon oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03779

Abstract

Oral history interview with Maila Aganon conducted by Kristel Peralta, Cecilia Winchell, and Stefani Evans on June 10, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.

Maila Aganon discusses her childhood, family upbringing, and immigration to the United States from the Philippines when she was a college student. She shares how her parents moved to Las Vegas first and Maila followed a decade later, investing in real estate and eventually taking up permanent residence. Maila talks about her employment history with Allstate Insurance, Bank of America, AAA, Caesars Entertainment, and finally Aon as a Senior Vice President. She also shares her thoughts on the growth of Las Vegas and the growth of the Asian community and cultural influence within the city.

Subjects discussed include: anti-Asian violence; Filipino grocery stores; Filipino foods; remote work.

Archival Collection

Cherina Kleven oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03776

Abstract

Oral history interview with Cherina Kleven conducted by Cecilia Winchell on June 9, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Cherina Kleven talks about her family and childhood growing up in Taiwan amongst six siblings. She shares her family's history and how they immigrated to Las Vegas while she was a teen, as well as her employment history and how she met her husband. Cherina talks about racial and gender discrimination and the obstacles she has overcome to be the only working female in her family, the only woman firefighter at her station house, and the first female Asian American Assistant Fire Chief in the United States.

Archival Collection