Veteran's Affairs Plus W/ David L. Washington

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Jeff Jones 0:48
Morning Las Vegas, Good Day to everyone out there in radio land. This is Dave Washington, your host for Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. Got a few comments to make, and then we're going to have our local commander, my commander, Jeff Jones, to come in and give us some updates on some of the activities that will be occurring with American Legion. Already. I don't know if you guys have heard but I just want to express condolences to the family of junior Bridgeman. I remember this brother. He was a basketball player for 10 years with the Milwaukee Bucks. I didn't realize he was such a tremendous Jeff businessman. He was a quiet billionaire. You know, we hear about Michael. We hear about what's his name, magic. These guys are billionaires, and it's well known that they are but Junior bridge and was a billionaire as well. He had over 20 restaurants, Chili's, Wendy's, in 20 different states throughout the United States. Again, just a tremendous guy, very quiet, but handle his business. We just want to, again, express condolences to his family. With respect to prayers, I'd ask for prayers, and certainly don't want to go into detail about don't break any HIPAA laws, but certainly we want to express and encourage people to pray for my sister in law, Ava Campbell, down in Houston, Texas, then Tony Marshall, our service officer, who's been away for a while. And we just want to ask for prayers. We won't go into detail about his medical issue, but let me tell you, he's done so much for so many and I think we owe him, if you will. You know, people say we don't owe anybody anything. Well, it's my opinion. It's my opinion alone, maybe, but I say that we need to pray for this brother, because he's done tremendous, tremendous work, and this before he even became a certified service officer, he was still kicking butt, taking names and making things happen for people. So prayers for him. Also on the prayer list, as far as I'm concerned, is state senator Dina Neal. She's had some medical issues that we certainly want to pray for. Her recovery. She's in recovery now, and we'll ask for continued prayers for her birthdays. My nephew, Darion Campbell, good young man, and we hope that God will continue to bless him as he moves through life. And we hope that he'll have some success in what he's doing with respect to the business that he's in, he's into the fashion design, etc, so wishing him the best. And then Cassandra, Charles, her birthday, I knew now I know why she and I got along so well. Jeff, she's a Pisces. Her birthday is on the 20th. So certainly want to express Happy Birthday. And in that vein, I certainly want to say something about her husband that I've known since he was 1819, years old. Lionel Charles came to Las Vegas when I met him. I was a training officer for Las Vegas Fire and Rescue. He was here. He was recruited by UNLV Jeff to play baseball, and he left here and went to some Arizona school I'm like, what? But he played down. He got his degree. So just wanted to add that to Cassandra, happy birthday, sister, friend with that now Las Vegas, I'd like to introduce and he's been on our show several times, and he always has good news to bring to us. So Commander Jeff Jones,

good morning, Las Vegas community. It's a pleasure being here Dave, thanks for inviting me out again this morning, before we get started on our piece, you did a shout out for junior Bridgman. He played for University of Louisville, which I am from Louisville. My brother works for him. Oh, really. So what a smile. So the community is taking it hard. The school is paying their respects to him, but again, like he said, he was a quiet billionaire philanthropist, and he did great things, and a lot of people can take lessons from how to do what he did, he did, and, you know, conducive to go out to him and his family right on.

We appreciate that Jeff and what a small world he worked your brother worked for at a

place called Mark's Feet Store. What. The restaurant team. He manages homes. Cool. All right, Jeff, tell us what's happening in your world, sir. In fact, Jeff invited us all, all of us, members of American Legion Post team, where he had a state was a state convention, state meeting. District Two. District Two meeting. That's No. District Two encompasses 14 different posts in the southern region of the Nevada and then district one is up north. Okay, so, but we had had all the district meeting was held and hosted by post 10, and district officers came in and post 10 opened up and then turned the gavel over to Bob bet our commander, District Commander, but a lot of good information was shared. A lot of fellowship there, because it's time for all of us to kind of get together at one time, you know, meet and greet, and actually just a brainstorm on what's working for you, what's not working for you, because it's everything's in different areas, because all of our posts are not directly here in Las Vegas, we have Henderson, Laughlin, Sandy Valley Mesquite, all of those belong to district too. So and we every quarter, we try to get out and go to one another post and fellowship with them. And that's

excellent. In fact, I learned so many things in the short period of time I was able to be there. Man, I'm like, Man, folks are doing things, and that's going to be more a part of the mission of Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz or more. Because mostly I try to help people get get their benefits through working with Tony and others. But certainly I think it's important to have you and others to come on and talk about some of the activities that you're involved in, because if people knew, they would give us more of a salute and a handshake because of the phenomenal work that's being done. A veterans job

is never done. You know, we've earned that title as far as serving in the military, but there are avenues that you can still serve the veteran community and your local community, and through the American Legion and the different entities like that. We get out and we make these donation fundraisers, donations to different like the Fisher House out by the VA hospital, for those veterans that come in and have to have medical procedures done and the family needs to come in, and we kind of cover their expenses for the family. They have somewhere to stay and take that burden off of them, working within the high schools ROTC program to encourage those kids to take that step. You know, if it's only for four years, right? Look in the military to get you started the jumps and whatever your career be, because all careers are available in the different branches of the service. So it's just a lot that we do within the community. And,

you know, I wasn't even aware of the the Fisher House,

the Fisher House, a lot of things come before us once we need them, because it's, it's like God has blessed us, and I know he's blessed you in many ways. But until these things are needed, and you have to search out, you know, these are the places that you can come to, and we can guide you to those things. So American Legion can guide you to different health programs.

And you know what? I want to study and read a little bit more on that, because from time to time, I'm going to plug that Fisher House here, because I would imagine that there are some people who would come to town who may or may not know, but I think it's important for us to share and ask others to share that that vital information to those who may come and need a place to stay,

etc. It's kind of like on the same lines as a Ronald McDonald House, you know, right? It's on that same line, but it's basically for veterans and their veteran family. So if you really want to understand what it is that's what it's all about. Great,

absolutely great, great. So what else going on, my friend? Well,

we're just getting back from Phoenix, Arizona. We attended a inter post visitation where all the posts from Nevada, Arizona and California, got together for a weekend, and again, the same thing, sharing what information is working for you? What's the latest and greatest out there and veteran community, what we need to do as veterans and veteran organization to help our people? You know, again, you spoke on the benefits. We do want to encourage that, because you've earned those. And

the fee for being a member is nominal. What would it cost a year? It

varies post to post, yeah, whatever their their needs are, so much we have to pay to the national group, and then so much for your locals, but it's a lot that comes with it. That's a membership that you can get through any other American Legion worldwide with too. So, and that's a key, because some of them, when you go to they want to see that card I remember, and if you're not, or if you can come in, but you can't purchase anything, can't do anything. It's negative protected, protecting those that protected us. That's basically it. Also, we just had a veteran stand down here that. Um, World Market Center last week, and 1000s of veterans came through there. Got a lot of help. I didn't get to make it down there as far as representing post 10, but the information I got back, it was just so many people there that we as post 10 need to be at these different events. And we are normally Adam,

you know, and I caught that late, because had I known, and do they do it more than once a year? Yes, yes. The next one's coming up. It's going to be one out in Laughlin at a post 60 on April 12. See, I want to make sure I plug there, because I did. You told me about it last year, and I did get by. And, man, it's phenomenal to see all the different tables of information that sharing and helping veterans is really a sight to see. And I mean, veterans are coming in there too, you know, getting all kind of needs met. And I think it's important, because sometimes, you know, and I've been very, very critical, and I don't care who knows about how America has treated its veterans, I you know, I'm very forward about that, and I don't care who, who said he should shut up. Well, I'm not going to shut up, as long as, God, give me this platform. Me and I, I'm going to challenge our country to take care of these folks who, as you say, protected us.

Yeah. And the thing is, I hope it doesn't get any worse. It's to some of us. It was a choice to join some of it. It was not right. And then the things that we had to endure, you know, some things you wish you can forget, but that you can't. And people need to understand that it's, you know, I don't regret a day that I've served in the military. But the thing is, don't penalize me from this day forward as I go on, because, you know, I did out of my heart, and I still do out of my heart Absolutely.

You know, I had two of my colleagues who encouraged me to seek a fire chief position, Al Nero and John Ryan. And John Ryan told me he went into the he joined and went to Vietnam. He only went one tour. And he said from 1819, years old, he became 35 and he said he knew he didn't want to go back over there, but he said it made him grow as a man like in short order. And he said he saw some things that he wished he could forget. So I understand your point,

yeah, and even I went to Desert Storm, can't say a lot of things there that I want to forget, but even stateside, of tragedies that happened with your co workers right in front of you, or everything. We were one big family. So when something happens to one, we all feel the effects of it. So lost a lot of good friends while I was in and they were serving. And again, it's one of those things that I'm proud of every day I serve for the United States Air Force. And I, you know, I encourage young men to take, young women to take that step and absolutely.

Well, you know how time goes. I just saw Wes give me two fingers. He didn't give me the single finger. I'm happy. So we got two minutes give us some closing remarks.

Jeff, we were talking about some of the things that are coming up. I want to speak on a poker run that post 149 is given. They're located in the letter that club out in Chinatown. And on the 29th of this month, starting at nine o'clock, they will be doing a poker run. That's a big fundraiser. And again, that money turns around and goes back out into the community. So if you are a biker and want to come out, or just want to come out and register and follow behind them in the car, as our district commander said, do that come out and fellowship? And like I said, that money is going to go to good use to help the community, veteran community and local community. Well,

once again, Las Vegas, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. We just had the pleasure of having our commander, my commander, post 10, Jeff Jones, in the house. So we appreciate you, Jeff, and you're welcome here anytime, man, because I do a lot of work on the plus side, but there's also the importance of talking about and dealing with the needs of veterans. So we appreciate you, my friend. And again, you're always welcome. All

right. Appreciate the opportunities. All right. Take care.

Once again, good day. This is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. Dave Washington, your host, I'm here with my second guest. Miss Aaliyah. Aaliyah, please give our listening audience your last name, because I don't want to

Aaliyah Fafanto 14:16
butcher Yes, no problem. It's Aaliyah. Favoto

Jeff Jones 14:20
Aleah, I happened to hear you the other day on ladies first with Cheryl Lightfoot, and I said, Man, and I heard you mention that folks call you an old soul. And I don't know how old you are, but I can tell you this, you are an old soul. I'm like this. This young lady is so sharp I say I would not be doing my job as a talk show host if I don't try to run her down. Look her up. In fact, Don Marquez and I, we're good friends. And you know, I said, Man, would you please get a hold of Cheryl and see if she can hook me up with this young lady? And it came to Fauci. And, yeah, and, you know, the wild and crazy thing that God always makes a way, because I had, I had a different show in mind. In fact, Rosemary Pat Linda Arlene for Women's History Month. Rosemary is Caucasian. Pat's Hispanic. Linda and Arlene are black, but I was, these are all former Secretaries of mine doing my 33 year career with Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, and that was going to be my big thing. That's amazing, but they're all retired, and try to get all these cats in the basket at one time. I can't. I got this appointment. I got that appointment. I'm like, Well, I gotta abandon that ship, man, because this ain't gonna work. And then when you came through, I said, Thank You, Lord God, thank you so much for making this happen. So tell our listen audience a little bit about

Aaliyah Fafanto 15:49
you. Yes. So first, thank you for having me. And yes, Divine Alignment, truly, because I work right where you record.

Jeff Jones 15:56
She said, I work at you. And every year, that's perfect. And

Aaliyah Fafanto 16:01
this is at the time I'm off. So beautiful. Um, so yeah, I'm 26 I'll be 27 in about two weeks. But who's counting? And I originally got my start in education. I went to school here at UNLV for secondary education. I taught for about three to four years, I was over CCSD for a while because it was such a challenging experience between staff admin, it was just a really tough experience, and I was so young dealing with so much, it was stressing me out, right? So I've always been an artist, always been a creative, and I was so mentally and emotionally drained teaching that I didn't pursue any artistic endeavors. So it wasn't until I really started cracking down on my artistry that I realized I can go further than what I thought, and I can even incorporate art into my work. Being a teacher. At the time, I was teaching history, but it just began feeling like I was a mentor, and that's where I feel the ball started rolling.

Dave Washington 17:17
Okay, and so, born and raised here in Las Vegas, born and raised. So where'd you go to school? At high school, elementary, etc. I was

Aaliyah Fafanto 17:25
a Myrtle Tate Tiger. Then I was a Von Tobel Tiger, then I was a Canaan springs pioneer, yes, and it wasn't until after my sophomore year at Canaan springs. It was always full of large class sizes, but I was one out of 777 kids just in my sophomore class, and my parents just saw my academic progress slowly declining because I had teachers who weren't there. You

Dave Washington 17:55
weren't and you were probably weren't challenged either. Oh yeah, it

Aaliyah Fafanto 17:58
was, it was a wreck. We didn't even have enough seats in our classroom, so I was moved to California. Gardena California, I lived in Inglewood. Shout out to Inglewood, and I got my education there at a private Catholic school, Sarah. And it made me love education, because I finally saw what good education looks like and that's where I began loving education cool

Dave Washington 18:24
and shout out to Inglewood. We my wife, marsh and I was just over a few weeks ago to celebrate the life of Mr. Bucha Washington, 93 years of age, when he passed away his son Burt Washington was one of my colleagues at Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, just an outstanding individual, and found out he was from Scottsville, Texas, and my aunt, I got an aunt that lives in Scottsville, Texas, wow, but he left there a long time ago. But the bottom line is, there's only, like 4050 people in a whole little town. Anyway, I want to, I want to move very quickly because of time a documentary you have, yes, how was it put together? Why was it put together? And let's talk about that a little bit, or explain, or tell our listening audience a little bit about how you came to do that.

Aaliyah Fafanto 19:15
Yeah, sure. So Black Butterfly metamorphosed life journeys of women. It was really inspired by my time as an educator. My students and I only had about a nine to 10 year age gap, and they were constantly asking me what to do in life. In regards to just life, what do I do? Do I go to college? Do I go to trade school? How do I become what I want to be? And at the time, I realized they were making me look internally that I was in the position I was in, because I was told to do that. That was the path that was set out for me. You go to school, you go to college, you get a job, you're out. And I did those steps, but I was so unfulfilled. So I looked to my community, all of the. Amazing women and men. Specifically for this film, the women, though, because as I mature into an adult black woman, I wanted to call on the adult black women in my life who could possibly mirror what what to do, right? And so that inspired the why for the documentary, because I wanted this to be a source of mirroring back to our community, everyone can learn from everyone. It wasn't like a children need to learn. It was more like, what could we learn from one another and pass down? Yes, so just really wanting it to fall on the ears who were looking and soul searching, just as I and my students were. You know,

Dave Washington 20:40
it's interesting that you would say that, because I, I've had a colleague that me and him used to go around and around because he didn't think that if you didn't have what's called a gold badge and these gold bars, you can't, you can't teach me nothing, right? Are you kidding me? You can learn from a child. Literally, that's right. Every day in my mind try, I try to keep my mind open, to learn. Every day I try to study, because studying and trying to be a better person, you have that obligation to me and responsibility to your fellow man and human, yeah. I mean, it's just some people just they get so high falutin about themselves that, you know, I can't learn. Man, that's not true,

Aaliyah Fafanto 21:17
right? It's stagnant energy. They're just stuck. So tell me. So

Dave Washington 21:21
how did you get this thing done? Because it's done now, right. Yes, start doing some what do you call them? Will you show them what it was? Yes, screening,

Aaliyah Fafanto 21:29
screening, yes. So I've had on Saturday will be my fourth screening at left to center art gallery, a black owned Art Gallery, and that sold out twice now, and my premiere also sold out. And I've also shown it here at Barrick Museum, and it was a great turnout. I feel like once I put it out there that I wanted to do it. I'm so determined, like Aries, energy fire, I gotta go get it. I gotta do it. And I again, relied on my community. I went to Mr. Ellis, who has been an extreme mentor

Dave Washington 22:06
for years. He is a good start. He's with the City of Las Vegas for years, years and years. Yeah, we worked on some projects together. Just an outstanding individual. I love him,

Aaliyah Fafanto 22:16
and honestly, he's a dream maker, like I came to him with the dream, and it was organized, and it almost was like, I know as an elder, he could have been like, well, you need to do more. I noticed that a lot, when I ask anyone, it doesn't even have to be an elder, just someone older than me, my dreams and aspirations, they tell me the next 10 steps I have to do. But Mr. Ellis was like, Okay, let's get it done. And sure enough, March, we started. We filmed all in one day in his house, in his production studio, had interviews, prepared, cameras, lights, action, literally. And by October, it was not only edited, but premiering.

Dave Washington 22:59
You know that is very interesting. I just went to a screening last month, no in February, in Santa Barbara. I know they had a it's been going for 3040, years. Santa Barbara Film Festival. It's called, and it was about some firefighters who had gone to this program, the EDI program. They got inspired by a class that they had taken there, and they put together a class that's been going now for 15 years. If I'm not, I think I'm correct. I could be wrong. But around that time, time frame, well, these guys, their documentary, took 11 years. So that tells me, in my mind, about the comparison, there's there's no need to compare, right? Because there's a need for what you need to have done. And, for example, it took 11 years, but over the 11 year period, it showed a number of things to include those who did not make it through the program, right? And that's real life. Sometimes you have everything comes out. So perfect, blah, blah, blah, right? That ain't always the case with life, right? And so the because some people thought, oh, 11 years, no, 11 years for that program was appropriate. And it tells me, too that your few months was appropriate for what you had, what you had in mind, and you got it done. Yes, ma'am. God, man, I'm just telling you, you got my juices for him, because this program, I keep telling my board, we need someday somebody's going to do a documentary on the Carl Holmes executive development institute. Yeah, it needs to be us, right? Who's better to tell the story than those who've been actively involved? Because otherwise, somebody going to tell a story that the way they want to tell it, right? Will they be, will it be all truths, or what have you right? It could be some stretches. It could be some some loss of information that wasn't that should have been in the documentary, right? So you did this in a few months. You and Alec Ellis,

Aaliyah Fafanto 24:56
yes, he, um, we really crunch. Down on time. And I also had the intention of October as the premier date, because that's when butterflies are actually so use time migrating, yes. So I really wanted it to be full circle. And back to your point. I really wanted to understand that the community's point of view of these women is in my hand, and I wanted to handle that with care Absolutely, because it is their stories and their vulnerability. And

Dave Washington 25:26
you know what, the producer, director of this program, or the documentary, Mimi, she said she didn't think, and it's really to your point, they actually was into people's homes, and they say they are vulnerable, and you got to be sensitive. You got to be extremely sensitive to people and their humanity,

Aaliyah Fafanto 25:45
creating a safe space. Yes, yes, because

Dave Washington 25:48
these people are talking about things, and I'm like, Oh my goodness. And one young man, he was around your age. He wasn't 34 DUI, wow. And I'm thinking, What is wrong with you, right? Because he was so talented, but he couldn't get out of his own weight. And that's the reality of life, right? See, sometimes everybody won't think that everybody was success. Success comes with a lot of work, right?

Aaliyah Fafanto 26:09
And that's why I wanted to highlight these women, because I was coming to them thinking that they were already as evolved as they could be, you know, their highest self, their best self, their established self. And then when they get into their own personal stories, they talk about the struggles, the roadblocks, the vulnerability, the things that we don't see in the journey that sometimes makes us feel inadequate, right? But in reality, they shed light on the journey and let us know everyone has to go through the journey. So how long? How long is the documentary? Uh, run time is 55 minutes. Five minutes.

Dave Washington 26:43
Yes, all right, so how do you plan now you're doing the screening, etc. Do you hope to get it marketed to a point where somebody will pick it up? I'm talking with some of the big boys, yeah, right, with all these different because there's so many different channels in there. There's so many different movies, yeah, and I think there's a space for everyone, but I know those doors don't just open up, pop open

Aaliyah Fafanto 27:04
right right now my focus is getting it into film festivals, for sure, because again, I feel like community has benefited. And then longer term, because I see this as a multi series, like I would love to do, one on black men. There's not a lot of black male representation in our community that's positive. And also black children, queer black folks. You know, there's so many intersectionalities. I don't want to just group us. So hopefully, with those projects, moving forward, it'll be the catalyst to maybe a production studio picking it up or wanting to find it.

Dave Washington 27:43
Girl, you got big ideas. I love it. You gotta think big. But also, what if you don't get here, you fall into place somewhere. We got about a minute left, so give us some wrap up, if you would.

Aaliyah Fafanto 27:52
Okay, um, yes, so please be on the lookout, if you can, for the upcoming film Black Butterfly. It's most likely going to be a screening near you. I want to thank everyone who has supported it already and understood that there's no next one without supporting this one, and you can definitely follow me for more on my social media, on Instagram at Alia Fauci, that's a, a, l, i, y, a, H, F, A, F, A N, T, O, and

Dave Washington 28:24
that came directly from Wes, my producing director. He made sure that she would follow through with that. Thank you. Wes, and this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. We have the young person, Leo, who was put together a documentary called Black Butterfly. Thank you, young lady, I appreciate you so much.

Aaliyah Fafanto 28:43
Thank you so much.

Music 29:02
Hey, all the smoke in the air till they hate when they stare all the pain that we build all you will.