Veteran's Affairs Plus W/ David L. Washington

Wesley Knight 0:00
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Dave Washington 0:49
day Las Vegas, good day. This is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. I'm Dave Washington, your host. We'll have one call in guests, Miss Carla Holmes, with the Carl Holmes executive development institute, we'll have her shortly. In the meantime, I certainly want to acknowledge to the family express condolences area for Danielle D Spencer. She was a star of the show, what's happening, and she was 60 years of age, and she passed just yesterday. In fact, yesterday was our oldest daughter, April, our first born. It was her five five. She turned 55 on a couple days ago. I should say, as this program airs on Saturday. But anyway, it's my understanding that Dee had suffered with cancer over the past few years, but we hope that God will be pleased with the work that she did while she was here on this earth. Also a member of my wife's church, victory Baptist Church. Wilson Walker, Master Sergeant, born February 28 1936 and he transitioned on 1725, he was a lifelong member of the victory Baptist Church. So want to acknowledge and express condolences to his family. My wife Marcia said he was an outstanding singer. So again, one of these individuals that we hope that God will be pleased would be he was 90 some years old, so a good guy, from what I understand. So we just want to, once again, express condolences to his family. And you know one thing about and I know Wes knows that sometimes when you make a mistake, you can clean it up on the next show. Well, I mentioned Sue Lawson's birthday last week, and I said she was once Roy Lawson, my budget officer's wife. She's still his wife, so I'm cleaning that up, Sue so sorry about that. I certainly want to be proper when I talk about birthdays, et cetera, et cetera. So with that, in fact, other birthdays that will be coming up this month, I like to share one of my colleagues, longtime colleague, bertrall, Washington chief. Bertrall, Washington's wife, Sherry white, Washington's Birthday is this month. So Sherry, from our family to yours, a happy birthday, young lady, and we appreciate all the work you've done, and certainly thank you for allowing Bert to be gone a lot, particularly helping us out with the Carl Holmes executive development institute. So once again, happy birthday and our transition. He's an ancestor now Assistant Chief Herschel Clady, what an outstanding individual. In fact, Herschel is one of the guys who told me that when I started golfing, you will either love this game Wes or you will hate it and you won't be around it very long. So I'm still playing. But Herschel, thank you for your guidance. He was a great mentor to many, and he was an instructor at our Carl Holmes executive development institute down at Dillard University. He also instructor when we were at Florida A and M University. So we know and appreciate the work that Herschel did while here on Earth. Sharon GEIS also a birthday this month, a long time friend of our family, Diane stories, birthday is this month. Her brother and I Felix were Fire Service colleagues. He worked for the county and, of course, I worked for City of Las Vegas. But Diane always checks on me, from me and Marcia from time to time, and she hasn't heard so we love you, Diane, and Happy birthday to you. Romana racer. She is a one of those dance instructors at the lion dance class that that Marcia attends over at at the recreation center, the Pearson center. So just want to say happy birthday to you, young lady, and keep doing the great work that you're doing. You. Miss Anna Bailey. I think Miss Anna Bailey, I'm thinking she's 9697 but what a tremendous lady she has been for our community. She has a long legacy. She and her husband an ancestor now, dr, William H Bob Bailey, but Miss Anna always just a gracious person, and we appreciate you, we love you, and we know that you've done a whole lot for our community over time. So thank you once again, and happy birthday. Miss Anna Bailey, Next, I'd like to acknowledge and say happy birthday to Gretchen with Williams, who was a long time friend of the Campbells and as well as the Washingtons. And she is a former military person, and she's also an expert in helping veterans get their benefits. So happy birthday Gretchen. Sydney, everywhere Sydney is everywhere. She's in Tulsa, Oklahoma right now. It's her birthday this month. So we wish you will, young lady, keep doing the things that you're doing in terms of keeping the our country and those of us here in Las Vegas apprised of things that you're doing and that others are doing in our community. So thank you, Sydney, Eddie, Mae Bates birthday, we appreciate you, young lady, I know you've been an activist within our community. So happy birthday to you. Shelly a banks McDowell, happy birthday to you as you celebrate your birthday also in this month of August. Suzanne Clark grant, also a birthday this month. We appreciate the work that you do as well in our community. Jocelyn oaks, a long time friend of the family. Her birthday is this month as well, and we say happy birthday to you. Aubrey Campbell, my brother in law down in Houston, Texas, he always he and his wife, who just passed a few months ago, Ava, they always took care of me and Marc and took us out, etc. When I go down for my quarterly report or not reports, I should say evaluations. In fact, I just came back, and I may as well mention it now that everything's good. So keep praying for me, and as I pray for you and Aubrey. We know it's been a tremendous loss for you, young man, but just hanging in, God will see you through this difficult time right now. But Aubrey Campbell's birthday this month, and another deceased, long time activist within our community did a lot of work with young people, and that's Melvin beetle Innis and his daughter is having a baby. In fact, she probably, she was in, what do they call it? She was in that, oh, my mind's going blank, but she should have had that baby by now. I'm thinking she was a labor. That's the word that I'm looking for. Wes, sometimes your mind goes blank. Yes, she his daughter is having a child, and again, should have had it by now. I'm thinking so all those birthday folks, we want to wish you well and hope that God give you more years here on this earth while I wait on a call from Miss Carla Holmes, who was, again, our executive director with the Carl Holmes executive development institute. I'm going to talk about some of the books that each time I go out of town, I come back with books, and I just want to share some and all these I have not completely read yet, but I'm getting into them. And one is the biography of Isaiah Thornton Montgomery. This young man was one of the enslaved people in Mount Bayou, Mississippi. They started their own town. They had a medical facility there. And there's a museum that I had an opportunity when I went down to visit with our friend Faye Duncan Daniel, who had, as we've had Fay on the show several times, and a couple weeks ago, she was here to promote and talk about her gospel fish fry on the Mississippi River. I did have an opportunity to go down and and participate in it. It was just outstanding. And all those folks that she had, all these different singers. I mean, they could sing. And, you know, there was no one up there that could not hold a note. You know, sometimes people to include myself, they think they can sing, and they're not so very good. But all of those people did some great, great renditions of various gospel songs. So we appreciate what you did, Fay, and I trust that all those folks down in your community of Helena, Arkansas appreciate you as well. So I did pick that book up

Dave Washington 9:52
on Isaiah Thornton Montgomery at the Mount Bayou Museum, and another book Teaching can. Community. It's a book about things that we can do to teach people, students, etc, within our communities. It's about hope, but we got to do things to to make hope come alive, if you will. So just wanted to acknowledge that. And then also, August Wilson, Ma rainey's Black Bottom. I'm sure folks have heard about that one. I have not gotten into it yet, but I've heard a lot about it. Then the final one I want to talk about real quickly is how to abolish prisons, lessons from the movement against imprisonment. So there's a book that talks about the things that we can do to eliminate prisons. I know that's a tough task, for sure, West gave me the sign, so I'm going to get ready to sign out, and hopefully on the on the other side, once again, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more, we will have Miss Carla Holmes, the executive director of the Carl Holmes executive development Institute housed at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dave Washington 11:08
Once again, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. I'm Dave Washington, your host, and I have the wonderful Executive Director of the Carl Holmes executive development institute joining us today to talk about how things went this year at the at our 34th session of the Carl Holmes executive development institute. Carla, how are you?

Carla Holmes 11:32
I'm great. Thanks for having me. How are you doing?

Dave Washington 11:37
Oh, oh, you know, I'm doing very well. In fact, I've already reported, but I'll report to you again that just come back from Houston, everything's well, in fact, had a conference call with my doctor this morning, and everything is looking good. I just got to keep working on, yes, just got to keep working on the weight thing. Carla, tell our listening audience, where were you born and raised? Well, actually,

Carla Holmes 11:58
I was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, I'm a fifth generation Oklahoman. Oklahoma has a very rich and diverse history, especially with African Americans in the West, and so I'm really very proud to be an Oklahoman. That's that and have deep roots here in the state.

Dave Washington 12:17
You know one thing I learned from from coming there to retreat with your dad, Dr Carl Holmes is how many black towns there are and still exist in Oklahoma,

Carla Holmes 12:29
right? That's exactly right. Yes, we at one. At one point in time, there were about 50 all black towns in the state of Oklahoma. Now there are about 11 or 13 towns actually remaining throughout the state.

Dave Washington 12:43
Okay, now there's something that you did a couple of years ago, and we'll get into EDI, but I just think it's important for folks to know how diverse you are and how talented you are. You did something on route 66 tell us a little bit about Yeah,

Carla Holmes 12:59
sure, sure. So I'm a professor at the University of Oklahoma, and I work in the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, and one of the things we work on with our students is to give them firsthand experiences on how to develop public relations and advertising campaigns, strategic communication campaigns. And so we work with the students for the past couple of years on the 100th anniversary of route 66 which will take place in actually 2026 which is just next year. And so in Oklahoma, which I mentioned, I'm a daughter of this state, we have about 400 miles of route. 56 in the state we have, Oklahoma has the most drivable miles of all the other eight states that has the route that goes through it, and so we did a huge historical trip to talk about the different milestones, about the rich cultural and diverse history within the state. Many of the native tribes have territories that go through the state along the route as well too, as well as some of these African American historical sites along the way too. That makes Oklahoma very unique as it relates to the centennial for route 66 which is coming up next year. So I'm sorry, no, go ahead. Go ahead. No, no. And one of the things we worked on with our students is to not only learn about history, but also help bring voice to some of the marginalized communities that I mentioned before, which are folks of native descent, African American said, and others, to learn more about their contributions around along the route, not only in the state of Oklahoma, but throughout the rest of The country too, in which the route goes through.

Dave Washington 14:42
Interesting. Now, you said you're a professor at Oklahoma. Yes, tell us, what discipline are you?

Carla Holmes 14:52
Yes, so I teach, I'm in I teach public relations and strategic communications, and so I work with. Of many different students in the area of public relations. So that has one of the largest number of students within the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. So I have a chance to to work with them all the way from freshmen to actually a professional graduate student. So I have opportunity to work with them too in our online graduate program, which focuses on Strategic Communication and Digital Strategy,

Dave Washington 15:21
that is wonderful work, because you know, as you see things that go on in media, there are times when, when, when it seems, particularly when CEOs or others have gotten into some kind of trouble that they need someone to come in and step in and help them to strategically deal with crisis type issues, if you will. So that's right. So Carla, you mentioned that next year will be the 100 Year of the route, 66 so what you did in terms of taking your students out on the highway, will that be a part of the overall celebration? Is it video, audio or how's that going to be done? Yeah.

Carla Holmes 15:59
So we have students who work in Creative, media production, advertising, branding and the like. And so they worked on various and they actually helped create the logo within the state of Oklahoma. So what we're trying to do is not only to help educate on our students with the general public at large about the centennial, but also to help promote tourism and economic development within the state of Oklahoma to really make Oklahoma the epicenter for root season travel when we have the centennial next year. So they're working on various different aspects of helping to promote things happening within the state, everything with different tribal communities, as well as with cities like things happening in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Tulsa recently got named the the honorary capital of route 66 so there's a lot of activity and excitement about what's going to happen in 2026 when, when we have the centennial. Then, on top of that, other things exciting are happening within the state, because in 2028 when Los Angeles hosts the Olympics, Oklahoma will be one of the only places outside of Los Angeles who will also host Olympic Games in this state. So we'll be hosting softball and canoes slalom, and we hope to have these as opportunities for our students to also get involved, to help promote these Olympic activities in 2028

Dave Washington 17:19
oh, great. Now I do know that. And your dad, first time I came to Oklahoma, he took me around where there's a I guess there's some baseball, softball stuff that goes on there on yeah basis,

Carla Holmes 17:32
that's exactly right. Oklahoma City is a home to the national softball Museum, and we have that that is where the games are going to be played. So when they have the softball Olympic Games in 2028 they will be held here in Oklahoma City, at that very same place that my father showed you. Great,

Dave Washington 17:51
great, great. Now I know some of our firefighters, particularly some of the alumni and others are waiting on the part that I that I really wanted to bring you on to talk more about and it is, give us your thoughts about the previous session, our 34th session and 24th session at the Diller University for the Carl Holmes executive development institute. Give us some thoughts on how you think things, sure.

Carla Holmes 18:17
Well, actually, as you know, the Carl Holmes executive development institute is one of the nation's largest and most renowned organizations that's really committed to excellence by offering all kinds of quality professional training to those in the fire service industry today and so gosh, now, for more than 34 years, Edi participants have really been really, I can say, transformed by this. It's really a high energy, high content, really high involvement seminar that we have the first week of June. So it's way more than just a conference. It's really a it's really a life changing and career building experience. So it's an amazing professional development opportunity. So so this year, really, we just wrapped up another really inspiring and impactful year. The institute is held at the campus of billet University. And as you know that, it was co founded by my father, who was the Assistant Fire Chief in Oklahoma City, and it's really been a cornerstone, I should say, like in professional development for fire and emergency service leaders nationwide. And so in this past year, we welcome hundreds of participants from across the country. They've represented dozens of different fire and EMS departments that are large and small from all across the country. I mean, we've had, we had record attendance with participants from over about, oh gosh, about 30 states, including first time attendees, and a lot of them are returning alumni

Dave Washington 19:48
too, right? And isn't it something Carla, that you know, the thing that really fascinates me is that, like you said, we get so many from so many different places, and I. Like your dad. And I try to, you know, emulate that from, from this standpoint, your dad was just as happy if somebody went from firefighter to driver as he did someone went from firefighter or deputy chief to fire chief. It was all about and then he also expected people to go and affect change. From the knowledge that you picked up at the Carl Holmes executive development institute.

Carla Holmes 20:25
Exactly right. It's all about, you know, cutting edge leadership training, like you name it, just for where it might be, kind of leveling up your career, no matter where you are. But also, there are a whole bunch of other things too, that people participants got a chance to take advantage of everything from gosh, like crisis management or strategic planning, community engagement, all that is part of that too, or or other things that really were addressing, like emerging public safety challenges or innovations and emergency response and and one of the key things, or one of the hallmarks about EDI is really all the notable keynote speakers that we have too, that included, you know, everybody from, you know, respected fire chiefs or national service fire leaders or industry innovators, you name it. They're all there.

Dave Washington 21:12
That's right, you know. And you say that we had Alan, Bruno seni, we had, oh, just a number of different people, as you said, to come down, and they came based upon the fact that they were good friends with your dad. And in some of these sometimes people think that all of our instructors are black. That's not true. Some of our speakers, our instructors, are white as well as some of our keynote speakers. And it's because of your dad's reputation and he had, and the people that he brought, it was people that he trusted, that he knew there was going to do the right thing by the folks that were a part of our overall program, and tell the folks about, about how it's structured in the five year

Carla Holmes 21:54
Sure, yeah. So it's a five year program, and this is like, just like going to college, you know, you come in, there's like a freshman in Module mod one, and then you advance all the way through four mods, and then we really cap it off with five mods. And when I said mods, I mean by module. So each year you come, you from the first module one all the way to Module Five, where now we have, we even have a module six, which really is more geared toward our executive development for those who maybe are now currently sue in various aspects. So you learn something every year you come through, and it's all about career, career advancement and results. Many of these graduates have gone on to earn promotions. They've taken on leadership roles. They've implemented successful community programs all in their home department. So it not only is it educational, but it also helps promote career advancement. It also is a wonderful thing. I love to see is all the mentorship that goes on. It's EDI is really a mentorship and action. So you see many times these senior leaders are paired with newer officers, and they help guide professional growth and networking, not only while they're there, but also when they leave EDI as well too. So it's huge that

Dave Washington 23:09
How about a little bit on our outreach program that we implemented as a pilot with some young women,

Carla Holmes 23:16
right? We worked with, we have a wonderful group of EDI graduates have recently worked with the New Orleans Fire Department to bring in young women, primarily juniors and seniors High School, into EDI when we actually were on campus at Dillard, when we had our regular seminar going on, and got a chance to these young women to learn about and become exposed to careers of fire service that they may not have ever considered before. So it was a great way to mentor this to these young women in the community, as well as have EDI to coordinate with the local fire department and the other African American firefighters that are there in the community to really extend that education opportunity for young people right there in New Orleans that might might benefit to learning more about these unique opportunities for fire service.

Dave Washington 24:07
Absolutely. And you know one thing, I didn't participate in the portion where they were taken outside to handle a hose line, etc, but in the classroom, they kind of like but when you saw the pictures that the folks who ran the program put out, these young ladies, eyes lit up, and they you could see the look on their face saying, like, wow, I can do this. And what's her name? Sister Yancy from from Philly, oh, man, when he saw Yeah, yeah, because she's a small statured woman, and when they saw her in knowing that she's a deputy chief, they were like, wow, this is cool. Maybe, maybe it's something I'm interested in, and the money is no joke. So I'm proud that you as our leader, as our Executive Director, as looked out for different programs. I'm just going to be instrumental in in bringing more women, in particular, into into the fire service,

Carla Holmes 25:08
right, right? We're really excited about that. I mean, again, it's a great way to, you know, honor the legacy of my father by really empowering these underrepresented voices, not only in the local community, but just also in the fire and and EMS Leadership overall. So that's something to really be proud of for for this community outreach effort. But also, I mentioned before about the centennial for 2026 for route 76 but also looking ahead for EDI next year in 2026 is also going to be our 35th anniversary.

Dave Washington 25:42
Absolutely. So with that, any thoughts, and to include, because we got about four minutes left yet, give the give our website, and just a little bit more of some of the kind of thoughts that I know we assign chief Eugene Campbell, former fire chief Eugene Campbell, to to lead that, that effort? Yeah. So

Carla Holmes 26:01
we're gonna in 2026 we're gonna be marking 35 years of leadership and excellence and community impact the EDI has had. We're gonna have special events and celebrations. They're gonna be in the works right now there include alumni recognition, maybe some historical showcases and expanded training tracks we might be able to offer. Those are things are all in the works too. So so we're really, really excited about equipping that next generation of fire service leaders. So no matter if you're a veteran officer or a rising leader or a department looking to invest, let's say in your people that Carl homes, AVI is really the place to grow, connect and lead, you know. So we want folks to visit our website and follow us on social media. Learn more about our enrollment and the sponsorships and so forth. They can go to to Carl, home, cdi.org, at our website, learn more about that. Next year the conference is going to be May 31 through June the fifth, 2026, and so if there are folks who are interested, you know, we were sold out. We've been sold out this year. We were sold out last year, and I can only imagine, for the 35th anniversary, it's going to be more more popular than ever.

Dave Washington 27:08
All right. Well, Carla, we really appreciate your leadership as our executive director. And once again, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. That is the voice you just heard. Is Carla Holmes. She's our executive director of our program of the Carl Holmes executive development institute housed at Dillard University. Carla. We appreciate you so much, and we did discuss you last week at our at our board meeting. We're just all so proud of you and and what you bring to the table in terms of your expertise. So we thank you so much, young lady, and enjoy your day, the rest of your day, and and also your preparation for classes starting soon.

Carla Holmes 27:47
Yes, thank you so much. Thanks for having me. All right.

Dave Washington 27:49
Take care. Carla, okay, bye, bye. Now, bye. All

Dave Washington 27:52
right. Las

Dave Washington 27:54
Vegas, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. On our next show I'm trying to get. There's a couple twins I'm trying to get on the show with their dad. He's a these are grandsons and and the son of my good call buddy, Dale Whittington. So hopefully we'll have them on the show. This is Veterans Affairs, plus some 91.5

Music 28:22
you Oh, all the smoke in the air, till the hate when they stare, all the pain that we bear.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai