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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.
Speaker 1 0:00
You're listening to locally produced programming created in KU NBC Studios on public radio K, u
Speaker 2 0:08
and v 91.5. 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 more the University of Nevada, Las Vegas or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Speaker 2 0:41
You can see what's going on? What's going on? What's going on? Good morning, Las Vegas. This is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5, jazz and more. I'm Dave Washington, your host. As usual, start out with a couple of announcements. One, I want to say that I had the opportunity and John Nash and service services a couple weeks ago and his fiancee, Magdalena, she did one heck of a job with this eulogy was in fact heartwarming. We'll miss brother John. And also I mentioned last week that Miss Elizabeth Turner Harris services were in bunkerville bunker vo No, that's out mo elbow valley. It said it was at Bunker brothers. And in fact, according to a brother Ramadan, you know it was listed that she was 105. She was actually 108 years old because she didn't get her birth certificate until she turned three years old. And this lady was such a monument within the burqa square community. In fact, Swayze Field said that she was a mother to all the children in that neighborhood. So may God be pleased with her work while he honored and condolences to a longtime friend, Mr. Mayfield, on the loss of their son he is a good friend though. Ray Feaster my AC man and just lost his son recently, so just want to acknowledge them. Look, folks, I am very excited because I you know, last month we had last week I should say we had Dr. Lonnie right on. And one of the things that I failed, failed miserably to talk to him about. And so I asked him if you'd come back for a few minutes today. So he's on the line now. Good morning, Doc.
Unknown Speaker 2:43
Well, you doing?
Speaker 2 2:44
I'm doing well doing well. But you know, I can't believe that with the work that you had done, or did with the Alumni Association. I didn't even cover that when we spoke last week. So I want to go back and address that if you would. And first of all, give us an indication just as background of your education again, just for the folks who may have missed last week.
Speaker 3 3:16
Yes, I got my undergraduate degree in Hotel Management. I was doing a basketball scholarship, play for three college coaches. You know, I was recruited by Roland Todd had to make John beers team and had to make Tarquinius team. My master's is in post secondary ed. And my doctorate is in instructions and curriculum.
Speaker 2 3:42
Excellent. Excellent. And who were some of your teammates on that on the team? Your last year?
Speaker 3 3:51
My last year? Well, I played with the four young men that came here as all Americans all freshmen, Jackie Robinson, Eddie Owens, who is still the all time leading scorer without the three point play, he still leads all scores. And I said Jackie Robinson, Glen gone to sick and Robert Smith. Oh, excuse me. And big Lou Brown. Yeah, not Robert, but big blue Brown. Those were the four freshmen that I played with and coach Tark set us in apartments. A senior with a freshman and Jackie Robinson was my roommate.
Speaker 2 4:46
Yeah, remember? Big Lou. I think he passed away. Not so long ago.
Speaker 3 4:54
The glue passed away. living on the streets man. Tribe received because he had all of that potential. But sometimes mental illness or, you know, different distractions will come your way to kind of throw you off a little bit. But he was a heck of a guy a great, great ballplayer. But Lou Marsh bought his own drum. And that's not a bad thing, right? It's just said he was very, very independent. He would drive coach tart, crazy. He may come down and go through his league with the basketball team. And back in those days, the big the big guy was supposed to get it off the board and give it to a guard. Exactly. We come down and go coast to coast. Yes,
Speaker 2 5:48
we trust me, me and Marsh recall, because we had season tickets way back when? What was it the Oh, convention center were to hold about 7500 Maybe? Yeah, man. So we went, we went way back with you guys, man. So look, you and again, this is and I apologize, not only to you, but to the to our listening audience out there, they need to know about this the tremendous work that you did with the Alumni Association, let's give us give a little background on it. And let's go into a little bit of detail if you would.
Speaker 3 6:21
And in the 70s and, and before, student athletes had four years to graduate. And that meant that you really, really even traditional students, kid, you know, a lot of them can graduate in four years. And when you're traveling everywhere and playing, you know, practicing three hours a day and trying to get your homework, you know, and and you and you have this thought that you go by your llama house, you don't go to the pros. You don't look at the statistical data of how many Division One players have come out every year and and is it really a reality but a lot of guys got caught not graduating or going to the polls. And so I formed an organization I founded an organization called the UNLV basketball Alumni Association, which we raise money to send our guys back to school to get their baccalaureate and, and as time went on, we added a master's program which I got my master's from that program started. And then we have one football player to get his doctorate from our program, but we would our main fundraiser was the UNLV basketball alumni games, which we would try I guess the best so we can fill up the Thomas and Mack so we played UCLA twice. I mean all the leftist ballplayers from UCLA, all the all Americans and all the guys that played in the pros. And we beat them twice. We beat North Carolina with with Michael Jordan, one year and Greyhound the next year, we beat them. We beat Georgetown twice. So it just goes to show you how great the runner rebels were. And we they had sleeping for the big healing and write them twice. So it we raised a lot of money. You know, Magic Johnson in Michigan State. They found a way to beat us. So they beat us but we played BYU. So we raised a lot of money and a lot of awareness to the NCAA. And I think the NCAA got the message. And they added one more year to the four year scholarship. So you had five years to graduate. So we kind of raised the consciousness of the NCAA. And at the same time because we were using a lot of NBA ballplayers. The NBA started looking at Las Vegas as a viable place to start playing basketball so on
Speaker 2 9:10
to so actually unwritten it appears as though what you did was really the stimulus or you know, the drop in the bucket to get the whole basket because we are a backup basketball Mecca now.
Speaker 3 9:24
Absolutely the the game that we started as a fundraiser to sell our athletes back to school and oh, by the way, we raised so much money that we included all the sports, the football men and women. Everybody was going back to school on the basketball Alumni Association money not only finishing up their baccalaureate, but getting their masters and a couple of people getting their doctorate as a student athlete, so we always emphasize student before athlete, your student first and being an athlete so Now with the with the tradition that we hopefully started and they adhere to, now we have about 95 or 85% of all student athletes graduating. So that's, that's a great thing. But you're right. Nobody really knows that great tradition that we started. And, you know, Michael Jordan and all those guys, they love what we were doing. They wanted to start in association at UNC. And we did start one at Fresno State and New Mexico with Michael Cooper.
Unknown Speaker 10:35
So how long did the program did you run it here?
Speaker 3 10:40
It ran for it started in 77. Ran to 90. Wow. And then we this we Yeah, 13 years, we raised over $3 million in those 13 years with the alumni game and over 100 student athletes graduated from our program with a baccalaureate or master's. So that's a tradition that UNLV should really be proud of, because no other university in the history of the NCAA ever came up with that idea to to address student athletes not graduating and just, you know, moving on and just using them now we have Neil name image and likeness, right where student athletes are, are now being paid. You know, I remember what I got every lunch, what 152 50 And I thought I was rich. You know, we live, we lived in a dorm for free, and we ate for free. So you know, we go to the movies with our girl and do a few little things, maybe go and buy a pair of shoes or something back in the day when shoes were cheaper.
Speaker 2 11:54
Right, right. Well, that is that is really something you ran a program for 13 years. And what inspired you to even start such a program? Do you recall?
Speaker 3 12:04
Well, you know, I, I had more football scholarships, and I had basketball, I was one of those tall ends that had a little speed and could jump up and get the ball. But, you know, when you jump up and get the ball, you're gonna get to build you know, get turned into a circle, you know, those defensive backs, go up under your leg and pull, you know, it goes 360 degrees in there, man. So I decided to go basketball but I have more football scholarships. And, and I was recruited by Maryland with lefty, forget, left his last name and has some pretty good basketball scholarship. But I wanted to play here, because rollin Todd, the Running Rebels was running way before target, you know, and love that brand new ball. And I wanted to play but when when I saw my little ring, right, my first disappointment was that the rolling tar went in play signing the contract in the pros. So it was kind of stuck. You know, right. Well, I
Speaker 2 13:21
tell you, man, what you did was Yeah, well, absolutely. Well, what you did was really very honorable on your part, man. Because I can tell you that I can imagine that those guys continue to salute you, man, those who came back and actually got their degrees with funding from your, from their program that you have put together. Any thoughts or suggestions that you would share with any student athletes that may be listening to the show today?
Speaker 3 13:47
Yes, so just synthesize the student before athlete, because when you look at the statistical data, everybody's not gonna go to the pros. But you know, nowadays, they have a lot of things that will kind of distract you because now they're paying a lot of money in China and over in Europe, and when I came out, I could have gone to Italy but they weren't paying the money that they're paying now. So I came back and started to organization and, and went on to get my degree and my undergrad. I had my undergraduate degree but I went on and got my masters through the program, but it's, it's, it's a wake up call for, for young people to really understand. Being a student athlete. It starts with student and being athlete. So get that that degree. Go for that degree first and everything else will work its way working. Self out.
Speaker 2 14:48
Great. Well, we appreciate those comments and those suggestions. Dr. Lonnie? Right. Once again, my friend I appreciate you and I just had to get you back in man because I think that a lot of people have forgotten about the work that you did. And we need to continue to acknowledge you for that. Because having that degree man is, is purposeful, particularly when you're an athlete because some people think that athletes are a bunch of dumb as they would if it was a little wordy. You say, a dumb jock
Speaker 3 15:17
is the very opposite. You have to really be thinking when you're out there playing any type of context for it's not for dumb jocks. But that's, that's stereotypes by those that can't play.
Speaker 2 15:29
Right. All right, doc. Well, we appreciate you, Lonnie. I mean, we'll see it brother and I just had to get you back on to kind of give the
Speaker 3 15:41
we have mutual admiration of brotherhood here, man, I, you and I grew up in this town and I am really, I take my hat off to you for being one of the first black chiefs if not the first black chief for our fire department here in Las Vegas, Nevada. So I you know, I take my hat off to you as well, you, you and your wife, you guys have always been activist.
Speaker 2 16:10
All right, brother. I appreciate it. And I'm gonna get you back on again, because you got a lot to say about our community. So thanks, Doctor. Right, and we'll talk soon. This is Veterans Affairs.
Speaker 2 16:26
Once again, good morning, Las Vegas. This is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5. Jazz and more. I am equally as happy as I was to get Dr. Lonnie right back on the show. But I have for the first time I guess, Mr. Michael Flores, young man from the neighborhood doing outstanding things. And I just wanted to get him on the show. Because I attended something that he's been doing for a number of years. And I trust that He will answer that question for us. Michael, how you doing?
Unknown Speaker 16:55
Good, Chief. How are you sir?
Speaker 2 16:57
Doing good doing good. Look, you're back to school program. What does it call it? How long have you been doing it? Because I know I missed a year or two because I was surprised when they were inside. Yesterday.
Unknown Speaker 17:10
Well, chi first off, thank you for having me honored to be talking to you and just grateful for your leadership and mentorship in our community for so long. But my name is Michael floors. I've been running the Nevada Youth Network for about 13 years now. And we do homework how for recreational work over in the Sherman gardens area. If you're familiar, it's right by Matt Kelly Elementary School off of about Eighth Street and Lake Mead are the biggest cross streets. And we've been real fortunate to work with the young people over there. And we have been partnered with Matt Kelly to do a big welcome back for the kids over there every school year. And we got the idea because in other parts of the country, men are gathering to welcome back these young people where there weren't too many male role models. And over in the mat kill area, there are about 91% of the heads of households are female, which that data alone demonstrates the lack of male role models. About five years ago, we had the idea and wonder what would happen and we were hoping for 25 to 30 men to show up and we had 150
Speaker 2 18:22
That was Yeah, yesterday even snag two United States senators. Rosen and Cortes masters and I saw Commissioner where's my mind going blank? McCarter heard it. Yeah, yeah. William McCurdy was there as well, along with, I saw a number of police. The fire chief was there who I'll have on the show. Next week. He was there, Fernando Gray, appreciate him showing up with he had a full crew. SO WELL, WELL DONE job with doing it for the young folks. And it is the principal, she seems to be very, very engaged because I was watching. You know how the key is you can tell when people love what they're doing. And you can tell when they're love as well by the students because they kept running up to her hugging her. And I'm like, Yeah, this is great, man. This is cool. So what is what inspired you again to do this program?
Unknown Speaker 19:20
Well, you know, to be honest, I did not have a father in my life growing up, and I know the impacts of not having a male role model in your life. So, you know, I've been real fortunate and blessed to have role models and mentors, like yourself and Commissioner weekly and others helped guide me and make sure that I stay on the right path and just wanted to figure out a way to do the same thing and pay it forward to some of these young people in our community. And I saw this in another city. I thought we could do this Vegas and we could do it even better. And you know, we got the Raiders out there. Yeah. Yesterday, we got all of our law enforcement and and firefighters out there. And, you know, Vegas is, you know, we're a tight knit community. So I knew if we made the call that our community would answer that call, and they did, and so kind of taken off, and we've seen this start to spread to other schools. And, you know, our hope is that it results in academic achievement that we see, you know, these students perform better in the classroom. You know, the more support they have, the more the better they're going to do in the classroom. Absolutely.
Speaker 2 20:34
President, Sandra, Douglas. Morgan was really, really nice to hear some of the words she had to say to the students, and she's been around is doing an outstanding job. So I trust that she will have the Raiders fully engage with our community. So a lot of respect for that young lady, for sure. Oh,
Unknown Speaker 20:58
absolutely. She, she had about 30 of our kids the day before, at the Raiders training camp. As a final thank you to the kids for doing such a good job during the summer and let them come out and see the Raiders practice is really incredible. And you know, you don't hear a lot about the NFL doing these types of things and other communities and don't have Sandra, who comes from our community, really bring the community into that Raiders nation has been really incredible to see. And unfortunately, a lot of our kids living in public housing don't get these kinds of opportunities. But you know, thankfully for us, we have somebody like Sandra and other leaders over at the Raiders to make sure they include us.
Unknown Speaker 21:44
Absolutely. So where were you born?
Unknown Speaker 21:48
I was born. I was born in California, but came over and at about a month old. My mom brought me over here and all of our family was here. And so this is this is my home is where I grew up and really grateful to be continued to serve the community.
Speaker 2 22:07
Absolutely. So what are you doing? Currently professionally?
Unknown Speaker 22:12
So my job is I'm the Vice President over at the University of Nevada, Reno. I've got the best boss in the world. Brian Sandoval, former governor who lets me work from Vegas. My job really is to interact and lobby with local and state and federal elected officials. And so I represent the university and make sure we're getting the opportunities for our babies to go to college. Oh,
Speaker 2 22:37
excellent. That is great work. Now, how long have you been involved in and working capacity.
Unknown Speaker 22:45
So I've been at the University, this will be my third year. And you know, really got lucky I, like I said, I came from a single parent household. And then I think I've seen this call is let alone work at a university. And so I just feel like I've been real fortunate to fall forward. And again, that comes back to role models like yourself pushing me to, you know, see what I couldn't see.
Unknown Speaker 23:09
Right. Any brothers and sisters?
Unknown Speaker 23:13
So, my father was busy, and I have 13 have brothers and sisters. Wow. And but just me and my mom. So no. Mediate siblings. But yeah, and I've met a lot of my siblings on my dad's side. And that's been an interesting journey. But you know, grateful for my path.
Speaker 2 23:38
Absolutely. So what inspires you the most out of you may have answered this a little bit. But what these young people these children may be getting out of the program, not only from the one that you did yesterday, with the welcoming that you and the principal kind of coordinate together, but in your mentoring program that you do inside the development.
Unknown Speaker 24:05
Yeah, I, you know, it keeps me humble, to be honest. And those is that I I have the privilege of working with. They just remind me, I see a lot of meat on them. Right. Like, there's so many roles we can go down and how important every choice is reminds me about why don't you stay engaged. And so they inspire me, I think I get more out of being with them than they do for me. But, you know, it's like the gym almost every time I go there. I feel like that was not a waste of time. Like I just feel better after having spent some time with those young people. And, you know, we have five kids to college Chief, I can't believe it. And you know, these are young people who all the statistics and data would have said that they would have ended up in jail or God knows where it Write that we've had a bit of an impact on that continues to inspire me and I get to do this work with my mom, my mom. She's the she makes the plays go. And it's a way that her and I continue to stay connected will
Speaker 2 25:14
salute to her as well. Any any closing remarks you'd like to share? With, with our listening audience, particularly those who are veterans? Is there anything that's going on from your professional standpoint, with respect to the University of Reno, as relates to veterans, this is the Veterans Affairs type show, and I try to encourage some of my guests if they have anything, in particular to address that group that they share that on here.
Unknown Speaker 25:42
Well, first and foremost, thank you for your service. I know you all hear that a lot. But I genuinely mean it. And we would not be afforded the opportunities that we have in this country, if it weren't for you all, and genuinely thankful and grateful for your service. And, you know, I would just invite you all, to continue to be engaged, you know, I'd love to have you all come visit my nonprofit, you can look us up online to Nevada youth network.com, or on any social media, learn about what we're doing and components here, our young people would love to hear your stories, I'd love to learn more about you. And I think you all would love to learn a little bit about them. And then on my professional side, you know, we do incredible work with our veterans on campus. And just, you know, I'm so proud of the work that they're doing, to to finish their education, we have a ton different opportunities for veterans to finish their, their education, we worked on legislation. So if you're a purple heart recipient, that you don't have to pay you you're able to get tuition waivers, at our institutional institutions in Nevada, and there's just so many things that we can be supportive of as, as veterans try to finish their education, it's, again, we'll be happy to connect with anybody to discuss this further. But she just grateful for you Your presence in my life and in the work that you continue to do and to inspire in our community. So thank you.
Speaker 2 27:11
Oh, for sure. And I appreciate that. But I can tell you that if we are not willing to help those who are coming behind us, so to speak, man, shame on us, because, you know, that's how you grow a better community when you spend some time when young folks who, as you mentioned might lose their way without some some driving force to give them a little bit of attention. And you know, you remember deceased young man, Melvin B. Lynas, he and I and at the time Councilman weakly started camp brotherhood. And we did that for a number of years. And one thing that we found is that kids needed young people needed just a little bit of attention. Some of these young folks had never been, you could tell by the way they reacted when you hug them, that they probably get very few hooks in their whole lifetime. And that is just ridiculous. So, again, appreciate the work. Is there a contact that you can give as relates to the veterans who are out there listening, that maybe will make some contact with this show can be heard anywhere in the world? In fact, it's on the podcast immediately after it airs on Saturdays at 7am.
Unknown Speaker 28:22
Absolutely, I would offer my email address, which is Flores am un r.edu. So S L O R E S, M, at U and r.edu. And I'll get back to you immediately. If you reach out with any with any questions or comments, we'll be happy to communicate with you there and I'm glad you brought up beetle I love beetle and he he was telling me you know someone who loves who likes you tasted the club, but someone who loves you takes you to church and it'll still lives in me and a constant reminder of the importance of mentorship. I appreciate you bringing him up and his memory. Absolutely.
Speaker 2 29:04
All right, Michael, we appreciate your time and give us again, the name of your organization.
Unknown Speaker 29:11
Absolutely. The Nevada Youth Network and appreciate you so much she Thank you.
Speaker 2 29:16
Alrighty. Take care. This is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5, jazz and more. We'll talk to you next week.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai