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Oral history interview with Carl Esteban conducted by William Bailey on December 2, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Esteban recalls growing up in Salinas, California in a predominantly Asian community before relocating with family to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002. As a first generation Filipino America, Esteban's mother sacrificed her life in the Philippines to become the sole person in her family to immigrate to America. Esteban received his degree in Special Education and is currently pursuing to a master's degree in the same field. Esteban is currently a special education educator at the Yvonne Atkinson-Gates Center in North Las Vegas. Throughout the interview, Esteban discusses a wide range of topics spanning from his family migration story, his early childhood, his Filipino identity, Asian stereotypes as the model minority, and how his mentors helped shape him into the person he is today.
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Oral history interview with Ruby Lee Taylor and Susana Loli conducted by David Schwartz on April 22, 2015 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Taylor and Loli discuss their careers working at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and their membership in the Culinary Workers Union Local 226. They begin by discussing their individual job responsibilities, the benefits of being in the union, and the entertainment at the Riviera. They describe which shifts they prefer to work and give an overview of a hotel employee's life. Taylor and Loli conclude by discussing their responses to learning of the Riviera's closing and the health care provided by their union.
Archival Collection
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Oral history interviews with Edmund Uehling and Marlon Tinana conducted by Dennis McBride on March 14, 21, and 22, 2000 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In the first interview, Uehling discusses his early life in Boulder City, Nevada, his time as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, becoming aware of his sexuality, and his involvement with the founding of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada in 1992. In the second interview, Uehling and Tinana discuss investing in Las Vegas, Nevada gay community real estate beginning in 1988. They also discuss purchasing and managing business properties, including the Gipsy and The Cave nightclubs. In the third interview, Uehling and Tinana recall Uehling's attempt at running for Clark County, Nevada Sheriff in 1994 and memories of confronting police while managing their business properties. Finally, they discuss managing Bright Pink Literature bookstore (later known as Get Booked).
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Kaku Makino and Masako "Julie" Ishitsuka conducted by Kristel Peralta, Vanessa Concepcion, Ayrton Yamaguchi, and Stefani Evans on March 22, 2021 for the Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Makino discusses his early life in Tokyo, Japan and becoming a chef. He recalls arriving to the United States in 1989, establishing the Todai (now Makino Sushi & Seafood Buffet) restaurant chain, and opening nineteen locations in California, Florida, and in Hawaii. Kano talks about her upbringing in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan and describes Japan during the Meiji era. She remembers arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2000 and the cultural change she experienced. Lastly, Makino and Kano discuss the restaurant industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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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.
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