Veteran's Affairs Plus W/ David L. Washington

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what's going on? What's going on? Good morning, Las Vegas. This is Veterans Affairs plus, on 91.5 Jazz and move. I'm Dave Washington, your host. As usual, I want to start out with a few announcements. And the first one is going to be birthdays. my wonderful wife will be celebrating her 70th birthday on February 8. Yep. My good wife. She just returned from visiting her sister down in Houston, Texas had a good trip. I hope I'll be talking with her shortly. Another longtime friend will be having a birthday this month. Mr. Eddie bunch, Mr. Eddie bunch. He and I grew up in the city together. In the brother Eddie bunch condolences. Again, I want to say to the family of Lewis Hawkins, because I actually attended his memorial a couple of days ago. And one thing I failed to say to miss Dorothy is that I appreciate her and Louis so much because, as I've done several, in fact, many different charity golf events in town, whether they could play or not, they would always make a contribution because they knew that I was trying to do something to assist and help children, young people. So I just want you to know how grateful I am my family and I for the generosity of brother Lewis Hawkins and his wife, Miss Dorothy Hawkins, to the family of retired Assistant Chief Herschel Clady of LA County, certainly extend our condolences. This is a heartfelt one for me, because this man and I knew each other for many, many years, Chief played, he was not only my friend and colleague, but a mentor. I'll miss him tremendously. It was just such a great man giving me when I ran for office a couple years ago, he was one of my highest contributors, because he understood that if I could get into that position as a commissioner, the things that I could do, if I see particularly there's some things that are not proper, that are going on within the fire department, and also I was his assistant regional director of the IBP FF many years ago, anytime our family was doing something, whether it's a birthday party, in fact, the last time I saw her in person, it was at me and Marsh's 50th wedding anniversary back on June 10 2022. Always in our corner, whether I was doing a golf event or any other family event, if he couldn't be there, he would certainly send something our way. So to his wife D and his children, Cassandra Clady, Shandra Clady, and Herschel Clady, the second, we send our love and know that your dad will not ever be forgotten for certainly all the many things not only did he do for me, but what he did in the fire service. He was such a leader, and we appreciate him. Once again, this is 91.5 Jazz and more. I'm Dave Washington, your host. We'll have our next guests coming up very, very shortly.

Unknown Speaker 4:15
Good morning, brother, Aubrey, how are you doing? Good. Dave, how are you? I'm doing well. And for personal disclosure, I always like to let people know if it's a relative that I'm speaking with. This is my brother in law. Mr. Aubrey Campbell. RB got a few questions for you, young man. What branch of service Did you serve in the military? What branch did you serve?

Unknown Speaker 4:39
Dave? I served in the United States Army.

Unknown Speaker 4:42
How many years you do

Unknown Speaker 4:46
20 years 20.

Unknown Speaker 4:48
Okay. I don't know why I thought you did more. So what what position did you hold while you were in the military?

Unknown Speaker 4:57
I ranked first So I had, I helped rank from private all the way up to sort of first class which, you know, those are different ranks I held, but I had different positions.

Unknown Speaker 5:10
Okay. So in the rank structure, sorted first class is what ie six, seven.

Unknown Speaker 5:16
So I'm first class is E seven, D seven.

Unknown Speaker 5:19
Okay? For those out there that know a little bit about the military structure. So how far? How far down is that from? It's probably not the proper terminology. But where's that from a master sergeant

Unknown Speaker 5:31
is one right now from a Master Sergeant two ranks down from the Sergeant Major. Okay.

Unknown Speaker 5:40
Appreciate it. Now, you said you have several different positions. Give us an indication of one or two of those

Unknown Speaker 5:48
real quick Dave. I served 20 years 10 years as an engineer in 10 years I was in petroleum oils, lubricants supply. So I have I have different positions in each each branch that I was in, in army. So most construction equipment supervisor knows to have rank, I had these six over with the engineers and, and I like to start first class as the petroleum, which included airfare free fuel in bulk transportation of petroleum products, and storage tanks. That thing.

Unknown Speaker 6:27
Wow, you did that for how long Aubrey can use to news. And then the other area was routine

Unknown Speaker 6:36
news. So I've played it, Ken and Ken. So

Unknown Speaker 6:39
give us a little bit on the second one. What were the responsibilities there?

Unknown Speaker 6:43
Well, the one on the construction, engineering, crane operator upgrades dozers, graders, and things rollers all of that. But my main job over there was a crane operator. And so I got a chance to learn how to operate heavy equipment that was a surely benefited me. Later on, right.

Unknown Speaker 7:06
So what did you do after you retire? What did you get into?

Unknown Speaker 7:10
That's a great question, Dave. And I want to say, military did help me at 20 years I was in it helped me a lot. Preparation for my life after the military, petroleum trade that I was in, which was dangerous goods, tanker trucks and things of that nature. So I ended up working as a federal agent after I got out of the military, and investigating our incidents involving transportation and dangerous goods. So my career in the military surely helped me get that kind of job. Gs 13 level position,

Unknown Speaker 7:46
Gs 13. Now I know that's the civilian side of, I guess, various positions within the millet within the military, but within government. So what does that stand? Where's what's the top level? within that structure?

Unknown Speaker 8:01
In that structure, the top level is Gs 15. Okay, so

Unknown Speaker 8:06
you say you are 13? Yes, sir. Yes, pretty us almost at the top. So do it. Do it during your time in the military? What type of schooling did you do? And or what did you do and what do you have in terms of formal education at this stage of your life?

Unknown Speaker 8:28
Great question, Dave. In military, I went through all the leadership courses required to be a Sergeant First Class and looking for noncommissioned officer courses. The last one lasted about four months. So I got a lot of leadership team, which taught me a lot then I went to two MOS schools, one school for engineers. And ironically, I became an instructor when I became a sergeant he five and he says, I was instructed engineering school. And then when I went over to petroleum supply, became also I went to the petroleum supply School and later I became an instructor at the total supply school and and to keep over there, so I had some very good training in the military. So when I got out, I used my GI Bill. I went to secular education earned a master's degree in business.

Unknown Speaker 9:27
A master's in business. Yes, sir. Where did you obtain that degree at?

Unknown Speaker 9:35
The University in Houston, Texas.

Unknown Speaker 9:38
Texas, Southern in Houston. Oh, great. So how long did it take you to get that your master's and what was your Bachelor's in?

Unknown Speaker 9:47
My bachelor's was in business management, okay. And it took me six years, you know, after I got out the army Tip Oh, you know, they give military folks some education my I use that money to retire in which college and it paid for so appreciative that for me and a mentor,

Unknown Speaker 10:16
that's great. You know what, I have an Associate's degree. And I tell people all the time, I don't know what I was thinking about. But I had such a great job with the fire department that, in fact, a good friend of mine, one of my colleagues, Jeanne Campbell, he kept trying to get me to get my bachelor's, which I didn't and then angel went to school she got Come on, go with me, they're gonna come over me. And, you know, when you're working in now, I've been retired 16 years. And I still want to get that bachelor's degree because in fact, I had promised my bosses when they promoted me to fire chief that I will get my my Bachelor's I did pursue a couple other courses, but man trying to work and go to school and you go in classroom in and these youngsters, they don't look like they paying attention because they want their laptops. And I'm like, I hope to instruct, don't ask me one question. Because my head was throbbing man trying to do homework before you leave work. And it was difficult. But that's, that's honorable man. And that's a good thing that you did to get both a bachelor's and a master's degree.

Unknown Speaker 11:18
So it was a tough day, but you know, you got you want to achieve things in life, you got to you got to push hard to get it. So that's forestall. Okay.

Unknown Speaker 11:30
Any suggestions that you might have for young men or a woman that may be considering a career in the military?

Unknown Speaker 11:39
Yeah, I have some suggestions. You know, weigh all your options for I wouldn't just go go right into the military, especially during these times that we're in right now. In my time, back in the 70s, when I went to pretty much for, for black man, you had too many choices either either went to war and went to jail. So I looked at that. And so I went ahead and went to, but today, you look at all your options. Well, what I would tell anybody looking at Congress, look at some career path, because you can take it multiple ways do that. And if you choose to go on to the military, that's the pathway as well, and be very serious. And, you know, I love my service in the military, military day and night all day long with a military god, you're David know that. Always wear something with the army on and we tried, I'm proud, proud to have served my country. So it's really was a great feeling. And anybody wants to do it for do it. Be selfish and do it for some somebody else.

Unknown Speaker 13:00
Right. All right. We'll see. So any final remarks as we wind things up, and I appreciate you coming on Aubrey.

Unknown Speaker 13:09
But Dave, all I can say is, I appreciate you having me and to everybody out there. Just stay focused, and And Dave is doing a great job with this radio station. So I really appreciate everything you've done here today. Thank you so much. We'll

Unknown Speaker 13:26
tell you Aubrey, I appreciate you coming on. Because, you know, this show again is called Veterans Affairs plus. And my goal is always to have at least a veteran to kick the show off and talk about things that occurred within the military good, bad or indifferent. But I appreciate the fact that you gave some I say advice, but more suggesting that if you're looking at the military, give it some thought and go and be focused on it if that's what you choose to do. So we certainly appreciate your time. And I look forward to having you back on the program again. And we certainly will be praying for your wife Eva, as she goes through her medical trials and tribulations. So love you my brother in law and wish you will

Unknown Speaker 14:13
love you today. Have a great day. All right. Thank you, Robert.

Unknown Speaker 14:27
Good morning. Once again, this is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5 Jazz and more. I'm Dave Washington, your host we have a second guest this morning. And it's Miss Lisa Russell. Miss Lisa, how are you today?

Unknown Speaker 14:42
Hello, good morning. I well how are you?

Unknown Speaker 14:45
I can't complain can't complain. Lisa, tell our listening audience what's your job function and title at the center.

Unknown Speaker 14:54
I am the cultural specialist at the West Las Vegas arts center.

Unknown Speaker 15:02
So how long have you been under that direction?

Unknown Speaker 15:04
Oh, I'm sorry. I was just gonna say we're under the direction of the city of Las Vegas, and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.

Unknown Speaker 15:16
Yeah. And the director over here, whatever her title may be. Dr. Marsha Robinson, I announced last week on the show that she would be our guest. But Miss Lisa is here today with us. So, again, you mentioned that it's called the West Las Vegas cultural art center.

Unknown Speaker 15:34
Yes, the West Las Vegas Art Center. And the director or I would say her, her official title is cultural supervisor is Dr. Marsha Robinson.

Unknown Speaker 15:50
So do you know how long that center has been by chance?

Unknown Speaker 15:54
Yes, I do. The center was opened. Well, it was built in 94, and officially opened in January of 95. Or was all but actually paid for programming in 94. But we didn't officially do the, you know, ribbon cutting until 95.

Unknown Speaker 16:19
So tell us give our listening audience an indication of the kind of programs that is done out of the facility?

Unknown Speaker 16:28
Well, we have well, okay, for starters, we're a performing and visual arts facility. So for people that don't really know what that means, that would be the performing arts, which is dance, music, theater, visual arts, and technical engineering and technical support and engineering.

Unknown Speaker 16:52
So as far as the technical and engineering part, give us an explanation of how this dealt with and what that involves, because I think it would be important for our listening audience.

Unknown Speaker 17:05
Well, we definitely we have a recording studio, however it is, it is in need of some updates, because we would the equipment, and the city of Las Vegas is working on that. So right now, we don't officially rent out to patrons or anything like that. But we make it work for ourselves. With the wonderful people that work with us. We have different artists, and engineers that have the technical and engineering skills that come and support us. Generally, during the summer camp, we have a performing and visual arts summer camp for youth. That is, or for kids, I should say it's ages 10 to 15. And it's an eight week program that runs generally June through August. And it's Monday through Friday from 7am until 5pm. And that's our longest program that we have running during the year because it is eight weeks. And what the kids do that are ages, the ages are 10 to 15. What they do is they're being trained a full musical production. And I want to say that this is our 27th year, we lost a year during COVID in 2020. And so I kind of get mixed up, but I want to say we're 27 years and we started in 96. So we've been ongoing since then. And we the youth generally perform at the home base, which is the West Las Vegas Library theatre. But they have also performed about three different times at the Smith Center, most recently. And so, and it's free and open to the public. And it's been we always get great reviews. People love that performance. And then along with other programs and events we have we celebrate Kwanzaa every year, we also celebrate women's month, which we'll be doing this year, of course, we celebrate Black History Month. And we have some programs going on for Black History Month. And then we have a rites of passage program for boys and girls, which is our mentoring program and book signings, a visual arts, we have a visual arts gallery. So we have gallery exhibits along with meet the artists receptions, and the list goes on. I'm sure I'm missing a few other things.

Unknown Speaker 19:38
Well, one thing that you mentioned now, once you get those, I guess it's small studio you to do the technical work. And it seems like it seems like you rent it out or something to folks.

Unknown Speaker 19:53
Yes, we have rented it out in the past. But right now because we're not up to date right With our equipment, we can't rent it out, you know, efficiently. So but we're going to it's a full sound room, you know, has the sound pads and everything. And people have used it. For recordings, when we had our engineer, the late Lu Raglin, he would basically bring equipment actually. So we will function and be able to except some, you know, people that wanted to record as long as it wasn't nothing that was too, too much, you know, that we couldn't support, right. So we haven't done any rentals lately. But we plan to do that in the near future.

Unknown Speaker 20:47
So once you get it back up to speed, with new equipment, etc, whatever the requirements may be, then you'll start to lease it out, again to folks that may want to record or what have you. X?

Unknown Speaker 20:58
Definitely. And yes, it requires that an engineer is available, that is staff of the city of Las Vegas, and then they would you know, the artists or people that will be coming in, they would you know, let them know how they would want to utilize phase.

Unknown Speaker 21:17
So what's your various programs? How can students get involved?

Unknown Speaker 21:25
Well, they can start with calling, we have Saturday classes that we run every six weeks, this week is our this Saturday will be our fourth week of our six week session. And then we have what we start with in the morning, we have 930 to 1030, African drum class and ballet. Well, let me start back with the African drum classes, ages five to adult. And then we have a ballet slash tap clap for ages four to seven. And then that's 930 to 1030. Starting at 1030 to 1130. We have African dance class for children, ages two to 12. And then from there we have chess class, we offer chess classes as well. And that's to chess classes, classes be its beginners and intermediate. That's 11am and 12pm. And then we have a African dance class for adults, ages 13 to well, teens to adults, ages 13 to adult. And then we also have a Performance Ensemble, which is ages 210 Sorry, 10 to 18. And that's an ensemble group that comes and they are being trained with theatre and dance. And they also perform at different programs that we call outreach programs. So

Unknown Speaker 22:58
this is one this is one that runs kind of year round.

Unknown Speaker 23:02
Yes, it runs year round, it runs around. And we generally pick those ensemble members from the from the summer camp program, because they've gone the full eight weeks with intensive training. But we've always been open to other students that have had some form of training training as well. We just need to, you know, pretty much with Marsha will have that dialogue with them and pretty much interview them to see what their level their skill level is.

Unknown Speaker 23:35
All right. How would folks or do you have volunteers that come in and assist? How can they make contact? And do you do any type of marketing of the programs that you will be presenting there?

Unknown Speaker 23:51
Yes, and yes, so as far as the volunteers go, now volunteers, they just need to contact the West Las Vegas Art Center if they're interested at 702-229-4800. And basically, we would speak with them and ask them, ask them what they are interested in volunteering for what was the level and if everything is a go and which is approved by Miss Marsha, then we would need to go through the official steps of going through human resources to get a background check and then also a drug test. And then from there, they would volunteer. We work with their schedule and you know work accordingly that way. Now as far as the as far as marketing and advertising. We do advertise or the city does advertise on the website which is arts las vegas.org. That's RT A R T S. Las Vegas all spelled out dot org.

Unknown Speaker 25:02
Well, seems like you guys got it covered. And people. So they would basically, as far as the background check, I would imagine that would be a fee that they would pay to bottom I'm assuming the Metropolitan Police Department, Sheriff's Department.

Unknown Speaker 25:17
No, there isn't a fee. I haven't I haven't been told of a fee. But if there is that that has changed most recently, so it hasn't charged that I know of, I would have to confirm that information. But I have not been told that we charge there's a charge for a background check. Okay.

Unknown Speaker 25:40
Very good. So any folks out there that are interested in volunteering and assisting with some of the program down at the center? Give that information again, please?

Unknown Speaker 25:52
Yes, they can call and ask for myself, Lisa Russell, or miss Marsha Robinson at 702-229-4800. That's 702-229-4800.

Unknown Speaker 26:10
Great. Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our listening audience. And I really appreciate you coming on board today. Because I think it's important for us to continue to recognize the great work that you guys are doing over there at the center, and make it broadly known, if you will, and I know being over there for 27 plus years, you got a good track record. But I think that any opportunity you can have to continue to expose what you guys are doing is a good thing.

Unknown Speaker 26:40
Yes, I agree. And I think and appreciate you so very much for having us on and getting the word out. Because you know, we've always been told that we're like, a gym or diamond in the rough or what have you the heartbeat of, you know, the community so to speak. But so many people don't, they're not familiar with the center, they always get us confused with the West Las Vegas Library. And they don't realize that we also exist towards the back because we kind of sit back away from the street. So I'm always happy to be able to share that we do actually exist. And we do have upcoming Black History Month programs. If I can mention a few of those, please do. It's starting with we have an exhibit that starts it started on February 1, it runs through May 20 is called Junkanoo. Bahamas, its road 250 Is their independence celebration of 50 years and Mario seats, which is the artists, he will be displaying his artwork up until the 20th. Also, there is a Woody was musical trio, which is Saturday February 11. And that's going to be at start at 3pm and runs until 5pm. Then we also have black weekend 2023 came in in the desert series. That's going to be Friday and Saturday, February 17 and 18th. And it's the 10th annual this year. And the founder is the event is held in honor of the founder of Franklin G. Burley. The third. So we're trying to keep his legacy going, of course, under the direction of Oscar Robinson. And then last but not least, it's we have one more, which is read the book. And it is a program that is going to be focusing on different books that will be shared. And read read and shared by facilitator who is the facilitator is Anthony Jenkins. And we will have a few more series after that. So the book is the 1619 project.

Unknown Speaker 29:21
Oh, wow. You're stepping into some some tough stuff, because there's a lot of controversy that goes on with it. But I appreciate the courage that you guys, are you willing to step up and do that because I think it's important for people to know about the entire history of our country, not little bits and pieces. And I think it's a great thing. So absolutely. Look, young lady, I appreciate your time and your effort. And I didn't know that you would be able to carry me all the way through this, this last phase of my show today. In fact, I know you've done it, you've done a wonderful job and I really appreciate it. And for you guys to keep the life and the legacy of brotherly do that I think that's very important for our community. So thank you once again and I will be in touch until Dr. Robinson, I said

Unknown Speaker 30:09
I sure will. Thank you. I appreciate you and thank you for all of your continued support with the art center. We appreciate you very very much.

Unknown Speaker 30:17
Absolutely take care.

Unknown Speaker 30:19
You too. Have a great day. All right. Bye bye.

Unknown Speaker 30:55
Tilde Hey

Transcribed by https://otter.ai