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Veteran's Affairs Plus discusses the issues that veterans in Las Vegas deal with on a daily basis. Your host, David L. Washington connects listeners with relevant community resources and information that they need to help veterans or themselves.
Announcer 0:00
This is a KUNV Studios original program.
Wesley Knight 0:04
You're listening to special programming sponsored by Making Moves Life Coaching Services. The content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 Jazz and Moore, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education. Pick it back and
Music 0:30
pick it south. Come on, talk to me, so you can't see what's going on. Yeah, what's going on? Tell me what's going on. Great day, Las Vegas! Great day. This is Veterans Affairs Plus on 91.5 Jazz and more.
Dave Washington 0:55
I'm Dave Washington, your host, and I got two guests that I'm absolutely pleased to have one, and I kind of threw them a curve. I was going to do them individually, but we'll we're going to do Miss Nia's, and she's a young lady I happened to see at a at a church service this past weekend where she spoke, and I'm like, oh my goodness! And the program that I like her to to kind of enlighten our public to is well. I let her tell you, but Miss Nia, how you doing?
Nia Sanford 1:27
I'm doing well. How are you?
Dave Washington 1:29
I am well. Look, why don't you give the folks out there in our listening audience a little indication of who you are, who your parents are, where you go to school, and then we'll talk about that special program that you're involved in.
Nia Sanford 1:40
Okay, so my name is Mia Sanford. I'm a senior at Nevada State High School. My mom is Brittany Bryce, and then my dad is Dietrichson.
Dave Washington 1:50
Okay, so what year are you in school?
Nia Sanford 1:53
This is my 12th grade year, so I'm a senior.
Dave Washington 1:56
You're a senior. So, what is there a specialty that you like, and in from our conversation and from your discussion, you mentioned that you will be completing a not only your high school, but come out with an associate's degree. So, tell us a little bit about that. What what that degree is, and tell us our listening audience, if you will, about that particular program. I think it's important to share.
Nia Sanford 2:21
Yes. So Nevada State High School is a public tuition-free charter school for 11th and 12th graders, and they give you the ability to get your high school diploma as well as an associate's degree when you graduate. So when I graduate, I'll be graduating with an associate's of arts as well as my high school diploma.
Dave Washington 2:42
Excellent. So, associates of arts.
Nia Sanford 2:45
Yes. So you get to pick from associates of science and arts, and I've picked arts like tailored to the classes that I wanted to take.
Dave Washington 2:55
Why? Why did you do that? What was your interest?
Nia Sanford 2:58
So right now I'm getting my associates of Arts at CSN College. The Associates of Arts gives you more electives to take, so I wanted to take more biology courses, and that lets me do that.
Dave Washington 3:12
Okay, great, great. So you can go in at in the 11th grade, finish up 12th grade with an associate's degree, and you got two different disciplines you can be involved in.
Nia Sanford 3:25
Yes, and then you can also take courses at TMCC and Great Basin College if you would like, and not just CSN.
Dave Washington 3:33
Okay, all right, Doc, you got any questions of our young guests here, and and then I'm going to do something that I that I failed to do. I generally I was so excited to have you guys on. There's some there's some announcements that I generally make. So after you have a few words with her, Doc, I will get those announcements done. Then I'll introduce you to to give us some words of wisdom in in regards to the program that you're running.
Sonya Douglass 4:00
Sure. Well, I have to say this is my goddaughter's little sister.
Dave Washington 4:04
Oh, ain't that something? What a small world!
Sonya Douglass 4:06
So I'm so excited to hear all of the amazing things that Nia's doing, as well as her big sister Ari, and just encouraging her to stay on the right path. I know her mom has certainly been a great mentor to her, and have had these young ladies really excel academically, and as you can see, the way that they kind of conduct themselves and think about and plan for their future. So I'm just so proud and excited for what is to come for for her.
Dave Washington 4:37
Oh, excellent, excellent. So, Miss Neil, any any remarks you'd like to share with our listening audience before we let you go?
Nia Sanford 4:47
Of course, I just like to say that this program has allowed me to be more responsible, and it helps me with independence, and it's great for students who don't feel like they fit into traditional high school. Because you can pick your own schedule if you want to do online or in in person, so I just think it's perfect for those type of individuals.
Dave Washington 5:08
Excellent, excellent, and we appreciate you so much for coming on, particularly at the last moment, and you did a great job. Announcements that I failed to give when we started, Doctor Wright is doing a 50 black men, 50 years in in the city of Las Vegas. He's putting together a special program that'll you'll hear more about in the coming weeks. Also, Dr. Douglas, I like to announce and give credit to those who are having birthdays in the month of whatever month it is, and of course this one happens to be August. Our firstborn, April, her birthday is this month. Jocelyn Oates, Melvin Beadle Ennis, and he is an ancestor now. And we got Deanna Cooks, Stephanie Simmons Johnson, Gwen Walker, who is running the Black History Museum, and also Pandora Beeman, and then I got a couple more: Renee Edwards, Eddie Mae Bates, Miss Anna Baileb. Believe it or not, Doc Anna Miss Anna Bailey is turning 100 years of age. What a blessing that she's
Sonya Douglass 6:20
wonderful! Yes, she looks amazing. I've seen her on social. Yes,
Dave Washington 6:24
yes, Kim, her daughter Kimberly keeps her out there. In fact, she's doing a big celebration of her life here coming up as she continues to live, and we hope that God continues to bless her. Then we have Danielle Hogard, former fire service personnel with Clark County Fire. Then we got Gregory Towers, longtime community member, and then Ramona Rezar. She is one of those dance teachers where Marsh and my wife goes to these. She goes three times a week, Doc, and and tried to convince me early on to go to girl Marsh. I know about four dances. I'm too old to be trying to learn anything new, so leave me out of it. And then finally, right. And finally, a couple couple other things I need to say real quickly is absolutely condolences to that officer who lost his life in the line of duty just a few days ago. So condolence to his family and the entire police department over there with the sheriff Kevin McMayhill, so condolences, and then to a dear friend and mentor of mine, Kelly Osby's husband, Chief Robert Osby. He passed away just a few days ago, so want to acknowledge that and express condolences also to his son Darrell. They this guy did a lot for people like me, encouraging me to pursue that highest level of fire chief. And then finally, thing the the final thing I want to say is I'm doing a voter education seminar workshop on august 28, excuse me 29, and november 24. That'll be coming up at the Sarah and Apartment Complex Senior Apartment Complex, and I got to get the exact. It's on H Street, but I'll get further information out to everyone. Now, drum roll, ladies and gentlemen. This is a dear friend, longtime friend, and the work that she's done. She is not only a professor; she is also an author. So we have Dr. Sonia Douglas. How you doing, sister? I'm
Sonya Douglass 8:34
doing well, Chief. Thanks so much for having me.
Dave Washington 8:37
Absolutely, absolutely. You're doing such great work, and I know that. Well, let me let me ask you to share with our listening audience: Where did you go to to to school at to include college?
Sonya Douglass 8:51
Well, I'm a proud product of the Clark County School District. So I went to Mountain View Elementary. I went to Quantum McCall Sixth Grade Center. I went to Del Robeson Junior High School, and I mean, yeah, Junior High School, and then El Dorado High School. I also earned my bachelor's degree in communications and journalism from Colorado State University, which is in Fort Collins, Colorado, and then I came back home to Vegas to get my master's in public administration at UNLV, as well as my doctorate in educational leadership. So Las Vegas is home. It has definitely been where I've received most of my education, and you know I think has prepared me quite well for the work that I'm doing now.
Dave Washington 9:34
Great. So those upper level degrees, you got both of those here at UNLV.
Sonya Douglass 9:38
I did. Yes.
Dave Washington 9:39
Excellent. Excellent. So I know you now. Your parents, where are they from?
Sonya Douglass 9:46
So my mother is from Seoul, Korea, and came to Nevada in I guess it was the early 70s, which is where she met my father, who is. Originally from Brownsville, Tennessee, but spent you know a lot of his years in St. Louis, which is where most of my family on his side currently stay. And yeah, they're a Las Vegas love story. They met here and are still together celebrating. I guess it's 52 years.
Dave Washington 10:20
Oh my goodness, Marsh!
Sonya Douglass 10:22
Maybe 53 years this year. Yeah, in Las Vegas. So again, it's home, and they've seen the city transform over that period of time.
Dave Washington 10:31
Absolutely. In fact, Marsh and I, june 10, we celebrated 54. In fact, got some plan. Yeah, got some plans for 55.
Sonya Douglass 10:40
Congratulations!
Dave Washington 10:41
Yeah, yeah, you know everything is everything, as they say. You know, life has life has peaks and valleys. Now, you got any brothers or just
Sonya Douglass 10:49
no, no brothers. I have a younger sister who
was in Las Vegas. You know, who was doing historic things.
Dave Washington 10:57
Absolutely, absolutely, cool. So, Doc, tell us a little bit about what you're doing there in the big city of New York.
Sonya Douglass 11:08
Well, I'm a professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, and Teachers College is our graduate school of health, education, and psychology. And so, I am a faculty member in the education leadership program, where we prepare graduate students who are interested in in going into leadership roles in education, so preparing superintendents, deputy superintendents, central office, as well as folks in higher education. So it's it's been it's it's just been a wonderful you know career in terms of being able to be in that role at all of the institutions that I've worked at, so I did start at UNLV, spent some time at George Mason University, and have now been at Columbia for 10 years. Wow! Just shocking how time flies, but
Dave Washington 11:54
no doubt.
Sonya Douglass 11:55
Yeah, it's been quite a run.
Dave Washington 11:57
So, in a particular classroom. I'm assuming these folks will be in a classroom setting or, or some sort. What's the number would would be a good number that you would deal with you and the staff in preparing and giving further or preparing these individuals to do greater work in the field of education.
Sonya Douglass 12:22
Well, we have cohort programs, particularly the ones that I teach in, where you bring in a group of students, probably 12 to 15, that are currently working in school systems that have a leadership role and teaching experience that want to take it to the next level. And so, for example, I co-direct our Urban Education Leaders Program, where we have this amazing group of 15 students from across the country that come together monthly during the regular year, and then do some summer intensives to learn more about research and theory around leadership. You know how to be effective leaders, how to lead for equity, and make sure that we're considering the background, the needs, the learning styles of all the students that are in our schools that are prepared to work with family and community and to engage them in ways that support students. So, again, very rewarding to kind of work with people who are on the ground every day, dealing with really difficult issues right now, as you can imagine, under the current national administration, and just have kind of this commitment to learning and to students, and yeah, it's just a great honor to be able to work with them and to engage with them in thought partnership and think about how we can improve the type of education that we're providing to our students, and whether it's public schools, charter schools, or school districts.
Dave Washington 13:43
Excellent. Once again, this is Veterans Affairs Plus on 91.5 Jazz and more. We have Doctor Sonia Douglas, who's running a program out of Columbia University in New York City. So, Doc, you said they come from. So, I'm assuming that the study is done Zoom wise, and then do they have to come to campus periodically or no?
Sonya Douglass 14:04
Well, for the program that I'm describing, they actually come to campus, so it is an in-person program. This this one we do have an online program for leaders, and we have multiple ones at Teachers College and in the department. I currently serve as the chair of our Department of Organization and Leadership, so under that, we have be preparing leaders for you know the work for job and industry business and industry, we have students who work in Fortune 500 companies, independent schools, you know a range of of organizations, nonprofit organizations. So again, it's exciting to be able to be in a space where we're learning about leadership across these different contexts. Another program that I run that I think you're probably most familiar with is the Black Education Research Center,
Dave Washington 14:46
which
Sonya Douglass 14:47
is the center that I founded at Teachers College, and we have been, you know, engaging in research and policy work to improve educational experiences for Black children. And the biggest project that we've worked on thus far is the. Development of the first Black Studies curriculum for New York City public school students. So we've been working on that for the last five years and have been focused on implementation and doing professional development with teachers and leaders to help prepare them to deliver this curriculum. And that's been very rewarding. We recognize that New York City is a special place in that their leadership funded this, because they felt it was important that all students, right, no matter their background, have access to flex everybody's contributions and history and knowledge. So it's been a real honor to be able to be a part of that project.
Dave Washington 15:38
Absolutely. So you said that the the students that you guys have they actually do come to campus, and is that a for a short period of time, or are they required to come here? Like any student coming in to go to Columbia would come in and be a student that would you know go semester semester. Is it one semester? Is it workshop? How what kind of setup
Sonya Douglass 16:00
is it? Well, we we have multiple programs. So the one I described is a doctoral program. So the students take courses for two summers and then two regular academic years, which is pretty compressed because they're full time professionals, right? So they meet on weekends once a month. They fly in for that, and then they will fly in for two weeks in the summer to do you know intensive coursework. So with a traditional doctoral program, they also after those two and a half years will then write work on their dissertation, and that can take from a year to three years on average for most students. So typically they could get their doctorate in four years, the way the program is structured, and write a dissertation that helps to address a problem of practice in education leadership, and so that's also exciting too. They're doing research around real life issues that they can then address as practitioners in school systems.
Dave Washington 16:53
Wow, that is that is something you got to really really be committed, and I'm assuming that maybe there's some scholarships available. You're talking about flying in every so often, and then coming to campus. Wow, that is a commitment.
Sonya Douglass 17:10
No, and that's what I'm saying. They're really special people. They're inspiring as well because they're doing that in addition to working in schools at a time when it's very stressful. Right, students are dealing with ICE picking up children, they're dealing with not being able to teach the truth about race, right, or slavery in classrooms, not being able to use certain words. So, because again, they're not all coming from New York City; they're coming from other states where a lot of this stuff is being prohibited. So, again, it's it's. I think it's important to remember what many of our educators are doing, the challenges that they are facing, and what they're able to do for our children, despite again the climate that we're in. And it's like I said, it's just nice to to be able to work with folks who have that kind of mission and purpose, and then want to develop themselves in order to better support their communities.
Dave Washington 18:00
No doubt, you know I've always admired in in my mind and and when I'm speaking and I remember one time my boss was there, Dr. Doug Selby, and I said we should be ashamed, American, and particularly here in Nevada where we downplay the salaries of of educators of teachers. We should be ashamed, and I looked over, and he just nodded his head because he knew I was telling the truth. We should be ashamed. I mean, there's no fire chiefs, there's no there's no Dr. Douglasses without educators, people who are willing to step up to the plate. And you would think that we would honor them with a decent with decent pay, man. You know, when you hit when because I know I've known teachers who have a part-time job. I'm like this. This is this is insane, you know. Yeah, we
Sonya Douglass 18:46
definitely need to compensate teachers better and educators, and and value what they contribute to you know not only schools but just our communities. Absolutely, is is so critical.
Dave Washington 18:56
Yes, once again, Las Vegas, this is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5 jazz and more. I am so proud to have Dr. Sonia Douglas on to talk about some of the programming that she's doing out of Columbia University in New York City. So, Doc, what what would you share with people who may have an interest in in education? Because I know that you know when I was getting ready to retire, my goal was to become a substitute substitute school teacher, and and and when I'm talking to this person today, oh, that's great, and you're a black man. Oh, we need oh English math. I said wrong guy. How about some geography, some civics, and some history? And she said, well, that's that's what I need is. And I start filling out the application, and I never went back. But to finish it, because it was so long, it seemed like it may have been 130, 140 questions, and I felt like I was being psychoanalyzed, which I probably was, because some of those were similar type questions. But I never went back, and I do know that to this day, I you know I feel somewhat bad. About that, because of the fact that there is a shortage, particularly of black men in the classroom, and I know that when you see it, you know you can be someone. That's why when teachers call me, even today, every at least once or twice a year, I might get called by some teacher to come and speak. I never hesitate to say yes because I think it's important for just them to see. Yeah, I'm former now. In fact, believe it or not, Doc, it'll be 20 years that I've been retired from Las Vegas Fire and Rescue.
Sonya Douglass 20:29
Is that right? Wow!
Dave Washington 20:30
Next year it'd be
Sonya Douglass 20:32
20 years.
Dave Washington 20:33
So, but I am proud to have have served our public, and I always try to do things that was and add young people to whatever programming we were doing with the department because I think it's important for them to get out and do things. And speaking of young people, our grandchildren, at least once a month, I have them. We we sit at the Marshes Cook dinner. We sit in a circle, and I have them to you know talk about what are you doing today, what's going on with you in your life? And 111 of the greatest experiences for me was my grandson called me about a month ago. Said, "Granddad, I can't thank you enough. What are you talking about, KJ? He said, "Those Sundays that you have us get up and speak, I was asked to speak and be a part of a documentary for my for my school for my college. I'm like, wow, and he thanked me. That made me, yeah, that made me feel real good that it's, it it has purpose to to make them stand up and speak before people. So, yes, very very important. In fact, speaking, I failed to mention when Neil was here, my grandson Karen spoke at that same program this past Sunday. We're proud of him. He's, you know, when when when young folks or anyone is prepared, they will be more comfortable in speaking. I tell people, if you, I get I get nervous sometimes when I got to go before a body of people, but I always try to have myself prepared. That's the key preparation, and that's what you are doing with these educators, and we greatly appreciate the work that you're doing.
Sonya Douglass 22:06
Oh well, thank you. It's it's really a pleasure, and yeah, we have so much work left to do, right? And I think some of the things that you describe are what are just the the simple things in a way that matter so much, and just kind of being in communication, understanding what children are experiencing, how we can support them, you know, is I think a lot of the work. Just knowing that we, them knowing that we care, and that we're there to support them to ensure that they're prepared.
Dave Washington 22:32
Absolutely, we got a considerable time left, Doc. I maybe I cut Miss Nia off too short, but we got Wes just told me we got about six, seven minutes left. So, again, the work that you're doing is so important. So, how does one go about applying for such a program? And I think it's important for you to share that with our listening audience because we have all sorts of people. Not even though this is a Veterans Affairs program, and I said Veterans Affairs Plus because I think there's other things that need to be spoken about, and you are one of those instances that I thought it was important to bring you on and we talk.
Sonya Douglass 23:08
Yeah, and I thank you for the the invitation. I think for those who might be interested in a graduate program at Teachers College, you can go to our website. There's so many different programs available, and you can also find me, and I can you know answer any questions that you might have. And then I would love for folks to get involved with the Black Education Research Center. If you go to Teachers College website, or you could just Google Burke B E R C at Teachers College, and you'll find us, and you can learn more about some of the exciting research that we have underway, we're going to be releasing a series of research briefs this fall from our fellows that focus on topics like Black homeschooling, whether or not students have a constitutional right to an education, given all of the you know the challenges that we're seeing with the federal government, as well as the need for you know school improvement and what that means for Black communities, and then we've got curriculum continuing. So on Wednesdays this fall, once a month, we're going to have our virtual learning series that's around Black Studies. So if you want to learn more about Black Studies, just in terms of your own knowledge, or if you're an educator that wants to get more content that you could share with your students, we invite you to to register and join. It's free, and we have like a nice group of New York City educators that come on because they're actively teaching Black students, and we've built a really nice community. So those are two ways that people could, you know, or three, I guess, ways that folks can can get connected to the work.
Dave Washington 24:40
Excellent, and you know I have an interest in because one of the biggest problems I think for our young boys, I'm talking about black boys in particular, is they don't know who they are, and I and I've watched and and and actually interviewed Tony Browder, and I look at what he's pointed out because I he was an. Advertising or marketing bachelors from from Howard University, if I remember correctly, and he got this big map. Like, did well, it's not really a map, but I forget what you call it. But it's kind of linear, and it points out the focus generally is on on we were slave. No, we were enslaved, and they don't go beyond that. And that's the the downside of our young people, they they think that they were just slaves, but no, no, no, no, no, no. We must read, and we must we must read, and we must study. And I'm working on something, as you know, and I'm going to continue to work. In fact, I got my my grandchildren. They're like my my pilot program. In fact, that same the same doctor, same grandson said to me last weekend when we were going through a curriculum because I have a curriculum. It's more contemporary, you know, like just back to the late 1800s, 1900s. They didn't even know who Booker T. Washington was. I'm like, what? You guys don't. But but he said, well, Grandpa, you know, I'm going to be aging out of this because I, you know, I told him that the age group, and I also have my granddaughters in it as well. But it's from 14 to 20. He'll be 21 next year. I said, "Boy, let me tell you something. You' gonna be in here till I turn you loose. You just calm down. And I'm and I make him read. Long
Sonya Douglass 26:15
learning, right, right.
Dave Washington 26:16
And we read. Every everybody has to read because that's another thing. Not just Black Americans, but Black people. I mean, people in general. I'm talking about American citizens. We don't read very much, and I'm talking about when you you cover all ethnic groups as a group, the entire American population. We don't we don't read at a high level, and and and not very much. That's why I encourage. I'm study building a library that I encourage them. I bring home books, and one thing I learned from my daughter April is, boy, because when I lost weight, doc, after this surgery that I had, this Whipple surgery for pancreatic cancer, I go and I don't care who knows about it. I go buy my clothes at Goodwill for golf because I'm like, I might, I'm expecting to get my 50 pounds back, and I'm not gonna go buy this expensive stuff. So anyway, I also learned from April that hey, guess what? They have all kind of books in there for like $1, $2. So I be buying all kind of books. Doc, we got about two minutes to go, and I want you to close it out for me. And once again, Las Vegas, this is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5 jazz and more, I thought it was important to have Miss Nea here to talk about a program that she's working on, and that's to get her associate degree as she graduates from high school this year. And Dr. Sonia Douglas, close it out for us, Doc. Give us some closing remarks, if you would.
Sonya Douglass 27:36
Yeah, thank you again. Thank you for having me. It's just always great to catch up, and I appreciate all the work that you've done in the community. Even I won't date you, but from my time, you know, in high school, just kind of knowing that she was out in the community, whether it was Camp Brotherhood, and just all the work that you and Marsha have done. So I just think that we have to get back to that. That we need to make sure that we are connecting with our students and families and communities and providing these opportunities for young people to know who they are. And one of the things that I'm also sharing this year is my scale framework for learning and liberation, and it focuses on the five aspects of scale, which are self-knowledge. Like you said, we need to know who we are, culture, agency, liberation, and ethics. And so, I think if we continue in developing ourselves in those areas and understanding what they mean, it will just make allow us to be better learners, better teachers, and better leaders.
Dave Washington 28:34
Absolutely, well said, Doc. Well, I love and appreciate your sister. You have you're doing tremendous work, and I think a lot of people are going to continue to salute you for the work that you're doing. So, once again, Las Vegas, this is Veterans Affairs Plus on 91.5 Jazz and More. Wes told me it's about time to sign off. So, Doc, thank you. We appreciate the work that you're doing. Take care of yourself, and we'll be in touch.
Sonya Douglass 28:57
It's my pleasure, and thank you. Take care.
Music 29:29
All the smoke in the air, feel the hate when they stare. All the pain that we bear on.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai