Ep. 5 - Approaching King Week in Las Vegas
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You're listening to special programming sponsored by making moves life coaching services. The content of Veterans Affairs plus does not reflect the views or opinions of public radio K, u and v. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Unknown Speaker 0:20
Good morning. This is Veterans Affairs Plus, I'm Dave Washington, your host.
Unknown Speaker 0:44
This is sponsored by making moves life coaching services. Couple things I want to say before we get going with the guests that we have condolences to the family of Miss Na is clay Marsh who transition on 1111 21 A virtual service will be held for her and she's a longtime member of our community on 12 621. Now the announcement, we had our EOB Bennett, Bailey golf tournament. And Paul, he's smiling because he played in it. Window is not a golfer I know when he used to jog though. But are you I just want to say there was a very successful tournament. First place was the team Jr. Bale. Second place Derrick team Derek, third place was my group, Louis Redden, Jabali Smith, Chip Taylor. And the most honest team was the Hank, these guys are former Metro officers. But an honorable mention was team Teddy Parker with he and Fred heron, along with a couple other gentlemen, but overall, we had a good time. And then I'd be remiss if I certainly didn't mention that last Friday, our general manager Ashton really had an outstanding membership gathering that that was, it was outstanding. In fact, they Paul, they had a couple of jazz musicians, they had a couple of different sets and down the road, maybe we'll get you over there. I know. I know if the GM is this if I say what the heck is Dave Watson to do? Making deals on his show? Anyway, we had a great time look, anyone having any issues? You veterans out there who need help remember the contact Service Officer, Tony Marshall 301-537-9465. Good morning, everyone. We have a couple of guests one Mr. Rowland, where we'll be on on the telephone line this morning. We also have former Assemblyman and president of the Martin Luther King committee. Mr. Window P. Williams, a longtime friend of mine, and of course, we have Paul Taylor, well, renowned jazz musician plays horn sax, and all those, those different horns. When we see him on stage. He's got a collection of horns out there, I should say to you, Kevin, and the guy gets down. And certainly I always want to acknowledge Kevin for the work that he does and helping us put the show together. Mr. Ware, how are you this morning, sir? How you doing this morning? Great. Good, good, good. Much. Would you give us a little background on yourself? And then I got a couple questions I'd like to ask.
Unknown Speaker 3:28
Certainly. So I'm Army veteran, retired Army veteran, spent 10 years active duty. I work for DOD, and Monterey, California and cybersecurity, and also worked for the Veterans Administration and triage, for benefits for our veterans in Oakland and Broadway. For three years, I moved to Las Vegas about a year and a half ago, just just prior to onset of COVID. And prior to coming here, I was already working with veterans in veteran's treatment court and Monterey Salinas in San Jose, California. But I've been doing this for about three, four years prior to coming here.
Unknown Speaker 4:08
So how much time you spend in the military?
Unknown Speaker 4:13
All together about 16 years.
Unknown Speaker 4:16
Okay. All right. So tell us about this program is Veterans Treatment Court. And how long has it been around?
Unknown Speaker 4:25
Okay, so the Veterans Treatment Program is a program that's designed specifically for active duty and our veterans. And it's been around since the 80s. Started in Buffalo, New York. And then it's migrated across the country that's currently about, say 105 cities across the nation, and about 30 states, where a veteran's Treatment Court is an alternative sentencing rather than traditional court judicial court has always been primarily punitive. And pretty much big time and you pay your fine. The difference between veteran's Treatment Court is that the treatment part, we allow our veterans and active duty to get treatment for whatever charge they may have. And I work in department, six Municipal Court with Judge Hastings. And our focus is to give the veterans and active duty a chance to, to clear their record and get their life back, because we find that a lot of veterans are being recruited from work or being asked to step down from their roles in the military, or within competitive corporate sector because of whatever stain they may have on their records.
Unknown Speaker 5:37
Great program, how long has it been in Vegas?
Unknown Speaker 5:41
It's been in Vegas for 10 years,
Unknown Speaker 5:44
10 years. And you've been in you've been here about a year and a half year and a half. So, so the position that you hold, you go out and make contact, I assume as well as being contacted by by veterans out in our community?
Unknown Speaker 6:00
Absolutely. Generally, what happens is I try to get the word out like I did with you and others, I let them know that there's an alternative when we are faced with some calamities in our lives, where we're faced with dealing with the legal system. And I try to make sure that the word is out that there's an alternative. And generally what happens is the veteran or the active duty service member goes to court, and they're supposed to ask, Are you a veteran? A lot of times they may forget, but they're supposed to ask, Are you a veteran, and if so, you're supposed to get a referral over to veteran's treatment court. And at that time we do an interview to see if you'd be a good candidate for the program. Generally, I'd say probably 90 95% of the time, they are if they're willing to go through the steps, because it's kind of rigorous, we have treatment, and they have to check in with me weekly, I do check ins on Mondays and Tuesdays for all my ladies and guys make sure that they're moving in the right direction. And they also do UAVs as well to get tested. And sometimes that's too invasive for some, some veterans. But if you're serious about getting your life back on track or recovery, whatever your issue may be, they're willing to go through the program, get the life back on track.
Unknown Speaker 7:06
So with the program itself, in terms of any type of outreach, you do, other than I'm assuming it's more of a question that they would not just be referred when they're actually in court, but it can people seek out the program prior to going to court.
Unknown Speaker 7:28
They can they can seek it out. But they have to have, they have to, there has to be a case and it has to be a referral. Okay, before they can get any program for this is really literally for legal. When you're in legal trouble. And you're a veteran, we know most of our veterans are suffering from PTSD, brain trauma, various different issues. And just to put the person in incarcerating doesn't treat the cause. Right. Well, that's why the program created in the first place, because just putting some just incarcerating someone doesn't fix the problem. And, you know, with with COVID, there was an increase in like, for example, municipal court focuses primarily in three areas that I work with veterans and active duty on, and that's battery assault, domestic violence, and DUI, and the DUIs and the domestic violence, all the Freestone COVID.
Unknown Speaker 8:24
So, if someone was interested, excuse me, and getting involved with the program, even though they have not had an issue and gone to court, but there is something pending, they can reach out to you, but they'd have to be referred through the court itself. Absolutely.
Unknown Speaker 8:42
We can't do anything to the actual case that comes that comes in. But like another thing that I do, I also go out try to get out because there's like there's so many active duty and veterans that are in the legal system, and they're waiting for their chance to come before the court due to COVID are just now starting to come in. And I need assistance. I have another mentor that works with me now, Mr. Tony Fitz, but we have more than 20 people that we working with and generally I like to have like, perhaps another two or three volunteers to work with these. These these veterans and active duty because they need I need to help. Right now I have myself I have like tin can to myself right now. He wants a ratio of probably no more than five in your caseload.
Unknown Speaker 9:25
Okay, give us a indication of where you're located. And once again, what has to be done for one to get involved in the program as we wrap up this segment.
Unknown Speaker 9:37
Sure. We're here at the Municipal Court at 100 East Clark, and that's on the fourth floor of department six. Judge Hastings. I've worked for Rocky Johnson has been around in the community for a long time. She's my supervisor, and you can reach me directly at 6282 049777 and I'll definitely feel all calls. And if there's someone who's just recently got in some type of trouble in their case, at least the system yet, I still can, I still can probably work with them and put a flag on it. So when they do come, when they do come, the court will know that their veteran or be flagged, we can move it over to my calendar, right?
Unknown Speaker 10:21
eye rolling, we appreciate your your time and effort. And certainly we trust to do so I'm out there listening to me, be me be in contact with you soon. So we appreciate it. And we will get you back on the show again, sometime next year, because I think this is important information to share with our veteran community. So thanks so, so much, man. And enjoy the holidays. Upcoming.
Unknown Speaker 10:44
All right. Thanks for having me. And have a blessed and safe holiday. All right.
Unknown Speaker 10:48
Yes, sir. All right. This is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5, jazz and more. We'll be back shortly with our next guest, Mr. Window P. Williams, president of Las Vegas, Martin Luther King, Jr. coming up.
Unknown Speaker 11:13
Good morning, once again, Dave Washington here. Our guests. The next guest, I should say is former State Assemblyman Whoopi Williams, founder and president of the Martin Luther King, Jr, committee of Las Vegas. And some don't probably realize for those who are new in our community, one of the was the founder and start of Straight Talk Radio talk show back in the day. This still been around this round with 4550 years I mean, window was there. And he I recall a number of fundraisers when he used to jog man, he said, man, we're gonna do it. We're gonna do a jog a THON. So I can tell you some history about this brother. But without going any further. We'll give us a little bit of background on you further and and then we'll get into some talk about what you're doing with the with the committee as well as this one program that I'm aware of that you're doing with these youth coming in from down south man I think is tremendous. What you're about to go forward my brother.
Unknown Speaker 12:07
I'm an educated by profession I taught here in the Clark County School District taught at the College of Southern Nevada. I do in my passion is community service, and have been involved in it forever. Been in Las Vegas since 1977 is a great place to live. I am really blessed to have met so many people such as yourself, Dave, we're friend longtime friends. And one of the things that inspire me is giving to others and giving back you make God smile when you help other people too.
Unknown Speaker 12:45
So with regards to the parade itself, give us the dates and what does one have to do to get ready and I know you're that that's the largest parade in the state of Nevada.
Unknown Speaker 12:57
This is our 40th parade. January the parade takes place on January 17. In downtown Las Vegas all parades in Las Vegas take the same route. So some poor Street at 10am. It's filling up pretty fast back before we knew we could do the parade live we had people sending in applications to be in the parade. We're almost full, you can still get in just go on King week las vegas.com King weed Las Vegas is all one word.com and register for the parade. Or you can call me at 702-498-5888 702498 58 ADA. So we're looking forward we have King week. In Las Vegas. We do about 10 days of activities. We have our scholarship luncheon on dinner I'm sorry, on the 15th of January which is Dr. King's actual birthday. We have a Technology Summit on the 14th where we have students from around the country and around the world participating is going to take place at the Las Vegas City Hall. We do an interfaith service. We do young DREAMers where we highlight young students from the Clark County School District who exemplify the blueprint of Dr. King helping others not bullying, doing your homework, that type of thing. So we did a host of events for that week. Right? Now
Unknown Speaker 14:17
the other program that you've embarked upon, and I don't know where the idea came from, and but when you told me about it, I said me and Marsha and we will definitely contribute some money to what you're doing with these young folks. Give our listening audience is an indication of what you're doing with respect to bringing in these young folks. Well,
Unknown Speaker 14:34
these these students are in Louisiana, they're intense. Our parents, it is the most decreasing parents in the United States. The most poverty stricken parents in the United States. Most of these students have not been 200 miles outside of their hometown. And we got a grant from the US Department of Labor to teach technology for these students and I'm like the first place we go To start isn't isn't my neck of the woods? You know, because I hadn't I hadn't experienced, I hadn't seen an airplane, I've been on an airplane until I was 27 years old. When I got out of grad school I first time I'd been around. So it shows you how remote that these students are, right? As a matter of fact, you call the school sometimes some positive day, you can't even get a signal, you can only get a signal in part of the school. This is how bad it is. So we started with starting in Louisiana. With this technology program, we train and we certify and employ them, we employ them all around the world, right? They can work from their computer at home. So as a matter of fact, we're bringing them to Las Vegas, these students from Louisiana, we're bringing them to participate in the Martin Luther King activities this year and into the Martin Luther King Technology Summit was a great thing. They were so excited, they don't know what to do. And you know, I, again, we commend you, because you're from red neck of the woods. And you know how bad it is so that kids are so excited, and many of them who when they come, they probably won't have money to pay for souvenirs and dismissals and things like that. And you know, you came forth, I didn't even ask you, you came forth and made a donation to them. And this is gonna be a life changing event for them. As a matter of fact, if students in Las Vegas are interested in this technology program, they can make the lowest they'll make us $25 an hour. If they go into cybersecurity, they can make up to $70 an hour. But there are 13 certifications that we do in technology. And once they become certified, they can be their own business themselves. Right. But this is this is a life changing program. It doesn't cost the students any money, all the money is paid. And I'm so excited to be able to reach back to my hometown and bring some up.
Unknown Speaker 16:54
So with the grant itself is it isn't an annual grant that you have that you can apply for or is it just a one time shot? Or how is the grant process?
Unknown Speaker 17:04
The grant that we have from the US Department of Labor, we also have a grant from the city of Las Vegas and the state. We have I mean, so many people have reached out to us, we have a Oprah Winfrey's training program that has endorsed us. So we've worked with Harpo Productions with this. And we have we have businesses in Switzerland. As a matter of fact, we signed up, I signed up 60 Young people in Barbados yesterday, man, this is huge. So we have students from around the world. But the Technology Summit, which takes place in January, we'll have students from England, from Africa, from Europe, from all around the country at just one Summit. Some of them would do it virtually, obviously. Right? But and again, here again, and having students come from Louisiana to be a part of this,
Unknown Speaker 17:50
that's gonna be life changing for these youth, I can guarantee you will give them a real shot in your arm in terms of just motivation, inspiration, right, right. And
Unknown Speaker 18:00
if there are local students that between the ages of 16 and 24, they can get paid to do this, they can call me again at 702-498-5880. And we'll get them in the program they can, it could actually let's say a student is going to college. And they're studying for their exams, they could take off, they don't have to do it. They don't lose their job. So it's all it's all based on their own time and experience.
Unknown Speaker 18:25
Wow. That's outstanding when I mean, and I trust that and hope that some of the veterans and others who listen to this show will take this opportunity to to assist some youth who are coming in from a very depressed area of arc of our country. And, again, Marsha is from Talulah. I'm from the Hill High. I mean, I know the area brother, right. And I've been to your hometown as I'm driving down there visiting family. So so there's nothing there. You know that Oh, yeah. We are proud of you, brother for for the work that you continue to do. And a lot of times people think that once you leave the elected official type offices, that's it. No, it's not.
Unknown Speaker 19:02
And they could get two credits toward graduation from high school during high school. They get two credits towards graduation. Excellent. I've been in the program. Excellent. Oh, but I you know, I love community service more than I love politics, right. So I was in community service before politics. I'm back. Right. We're in what I love to
Unknown Speaker 19:19
do. Well, as we wrap up this segment, why don't you give us again, the dates of what's going on with Martin Luther King committee of Las Vegas, the
Unknown Speaker 19:28
parade is January the 17th 10am. Downtown Las Vegas. The scholarship gala is January the 15th. We have the interfaith service on the 14th. We have the technology summit on the 14th. We have the young DREAMers on the 13th. We have the interfaith service on this on the 19. But that's more than that. But if you access our website at King week, las vegas.com. You can get it all former
Unknown Speaker 19:54
Assemblyman, continue to be a great community activist brother window P Williams. Thank you Appreciate you, man. I love the work that you're doing, man. And the next guest will be coming on shortly, once again, any 1.5 Jazz and
Unknown Speaker 20:13
our next guest is Mr. Paul Taylor, internationally known jazz musician. Marsha and I have known Paul for 3540 years. Just a good guy. I remember when I was serving as fire chief, I asked him to come in to help us raise some money for our fire Foundation. He said, man, and, you know, when do as you know me, and when you start dealing with these big time, guys. I can't just say yes, I want to say yes. But you got to deal with my agents. I call the agent and they gave they took care of us. I mean, I mean, they didn't they didn't try to gouge us for money. They said, You know, this is a charity event. We're in. So once again, Paul, we appreciate that and just tell us what you've been doing lately. My
Unknown Speaker 20:52
pleasure, David, we go back a long way, man. Thanks for having me on, and was great to meet Lindell as well. And, and this is so cool. So I'm back in like, you know, I'm at my alma mater, I went here, even on V 1978, to 1982. And again, I stayed an extra year. So this is good to be on my home, my old stomping grounds. And, you know, I'm Dave, I've just been in my mom in living my life, man and living my dreams out. And I accomplished what I wanted to do be recording artist and tour, make my own music and travel and just, you know, enjoy all the things that come with that, like, you know, and then like golf in the last four years doing that and stuff and I'm just happy man doing my thing and touring. I have a new album out about three weeks ago, my 12 CD called and now this and funny thing, like yesterday, my manager told me um, so the first single from that it's called straight to the point just went number one on Billboard, who was for the songs AirPlay this week. So I'm getting one song right now. So things are going good cuckoo.
Unknown Speaker 21:52
And you actually studied here and graduated. So your degree is in music or what? What is what is? Absolutely.
Unknown Speaker 21:59
I got my Bachelor of Arts, my BA in music performance. Right here. All
Unknown Speaker 22:05
right, that's cool, man. So he's back at home. Yes. So tell us as far as your journey. Now, when you first started out? How was it take to really get because I noticed you you played with a lot of big dudes. In fact, Lionel Charles, a friend of mine, he happen to see you in, I think was in Florida. We were somewhere. And he was on I said, Man, we go and see Paul Taylor was in Atlanta, I forget where it was. But when in case the man is dude, no, man, what are you talking about? He's from, he's from Denver, but he grew up and went to school in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Unknown Speaker 22:42
You know, um, yeah, just through music, like when you when you get like, get to a certain level you get, you get to travel, you know, you got to get out there to the people and spread your music out and get out to the people in play, and get on the road and play. And so that's all part of it. So whatever, wherever the gigs come, you know, I rely on my book on bookings, and get in, I'm sorry, but I've been been honored and blessed to play at many different places around the world and in the country, and just doing my thing.
Unknown Speaker 23:10
So during this year and a half, two years of the pandemic, what would has been the schedule?
Unknown Speaker 23:16
Well, you know, that was definitely, you know, different times for all of us kind of hard times, and different times for all of us. And fortunately, for me, um, you know, I had enough resources to get through it and stuff. And by, you know, obviously, pretty much the whole kind of the world kind of, kind of shut down in different ways, like, into definitely for musicians, you know, touring, because, you know, the COVID thing that, you know, no contact and all that stuff. So, I just stayed at home and, and I worked on my, I worked on this latest CD, for most of it with my producer. And funny thing is, like, we always, you know, from the last several, we do things like he's in another season California, I'm in Las Vegas, so we do stuff remotely, but then eventually we get together, go out to California and go to studio, we're in the same room working together. But this time, we didn't even do that. So we're it was all remotely, we did it all remotely. So but um, you know, I, I, you know, made it through COVID and stayed safe and all that. And I did, um, didn't really take advantage of all the streaming possibilities where I did do some videos, live the video and then put those on the social media and kind of stayed in touch with what's going on. So yeah, it was a little challenging, but still, at the same time just got through it and just hunker down and grateful and just kind of keep on working. Who
Unknown Speaker 24:34
well this is great to know that you're doing well and got things going now, at your home. Do you have a small studio I know sometimes musicians have rooms that they kind of do their thing is that so
Unknown Speaker 24:46
absolutely have us I have a studio and actually, um, well, you know, couple things happening. I got divorced a couple years ago. So it's my the studio that I had my soul to my mom so but still still got the studio, I can just go there anytime I want to in the end though, it's a separate little building in the backyard. So I can go in and do my thing and when I need to do it, so I do still have it and we're gonna get in some more gear, updating my gear and stuff like that. And so keep on going,
Unknown Speaker 25:14
who now know, how many instruments do you actually play? Well,
Unknown Speaker 25:19
um, you know, I started on saxophone, okay, so I played the alto sax, Soprano, sax, tenor sax, and then through like all my studies and stuff, like in the in like, Wind Ensemble and big band like Jazz Ensemble and get to do the doubling. So I do play a little bit of clarinet and flute. And then I do little keyboards, and percussion,
Unknown Speaker 25:39
like, I'm gonna bust down on one of my colleagues. And once again, I thank you, Fred here and for your assistance. We were co chairs of the golf tournament. But anyway, you know, we do this raffle wind with at the end of the week, during the golf tournament, we'll frame one. Party Taylor CD, same. Who was it? I don't know. I don't want that. Paul, I saw him on Facebook. And he was what's the what's the what's the, the Japanese on the kick, kick on that too. I sent that to Fred, fancy, man I want to see. Because, I mean, they were jamming me. So where was that particular show with?
Unknown Speaker 26:18
You don't I? Well, she was like, one of the three people that kind of was were instrumental getting met giving me my start my breakthrough. So um, so I played with her for like, two years before I got signed. And that was, you know, as I said, that was one of the instrumental in getting me, you know, Paul Taylor right now. But um, I played her through, like, two years straight, you know, like, back in the day, and then from time to time, I've just like, she's in town. She's he, Paul, you want to come in, sit down a couple songs, right. And as a surprise, and like, you know, at Santa Fe station or whatever, usually, usually at Santa Fe station. And so I just come sit, sit in with her. And so there's, there's various videos, videos of us in doing that stuff. And we made a now when I was officially in her band, like many years ago, like in the late 90s, in the late 90s. We did like several, like, full on, like, promote with Kirk concerts like, like Sayani at the Acropolis. We had Keiko Matsui, like in different videos, produced videos, and I was on the band with her. So it could have been different in various amount of videos. Right.
Unknown Speaker 27:21
So you actually were a member of our band at one point. Yes. Who? Well, Paul, this is this is outstanding, man. I'm glad that we've stayed in touch over the years lately. And I think it's important for us. Window. Just give us each of you guys just give a little background, you say you're you got a piece coming out now give us a little bit of information on that. And then we'll come back to you and just kind of wrap up with because I want people to know what's going on. On the plus side of Veterans Affairs.
Unknown Speaker 27:49
Absolutely. Yeah, let's I said earlier on. So I have my arm lifted. In my dreams, I have my 12 CD. It's called and now this and it was out about three weeks ago, November 5. So it's doing well. And you know, I'm just shocked the charts, one of the first single just shot up the charts. And it's number one this week. So and that is called straight to the point. But again, the CD is called a now this and you can get it on my website, which is Paul Taylor sachs.com. Just go on there on the front, just scroll down a little bit, you'll see a link and you can you can get it different ways you can stream it you can like on Spotify, or with different platforms or you can buy it, you can download it. And Paul Taylor sacks.com
Unknown Speaker 28:30
Oh, appreciate it. Some of them. Yes,
Unknown Speaker 28:34
sir. And you know, when I mentioned the young people, they did the the the veterans, the veterans parade, folks saw what our students did last year. And so they hired them to do the work for the veterans parade this year. I had a chance to go out to the veterans parade a couple of weeks ago. It was an outstanding exhibit of performances and, and it was put together really nice. So young people are expanding to a second parade that was parade. But anyone who was at that parade can tell you that it was it was an outstanding event to attend. So we get houses coming up. We're looking forward to that. But we did have a celebration with the veterans that Veterans Day Parade. It was really nice.
Unknown Speaker 29:17
Absolutely. Absolutely. And again, we're going to be on what day for the parade?
Unknown Speaker 29:22
January 17 10am, downtown Las Vegas, King week.com. You can reach us again at 702-498-5882 5888 If you want to be in the parade or you want more information about it. Right. Right.
Unknown Speaker 29:36
And for rollin where he's with a veteran treatment court, and he can be reached at 628-204-9777. Again, that's with the the veteran treatment court. So our audience we appreciate you guys I appreciate you Mr. Director, Producer, Kevin, keeping me on track. So on behalf of Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5, jazz and more, we encourage everyone to be safe during this holiday period. So God bless everyone and we look forward to chatting with everybody next month. Gentlemen, we appreciate you guys you. You brought the program and I love it when I have guests that don't have to ask a lot of questions and they can just keep it going. Ah, you guys happy holiday
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
