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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 KU NV 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 more the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education. You
Music 0:30
you can see what's going great
Dave Washington 0:50
day Las Vegas. Great day Las Vegas. This is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. This is Dave Washington, your host. I know my voice sounds a little scratchy. Some new medication, vitamins. They got me on from MD Anderson as marsh and I went down last week and got myself checked out. Everything is good. I'm pleased to report. Thank God. Also we know that Jason Beatty always does a disclaimer. Dave Washington, say is something that is not agreeable. In fact, I don't speak for the university at all. I'm speaking on behalf of me. Dave Washington, host of Veterans Affairs, plus some 91.5 jazz and more, as I mentioned last show I were to get Dr Kwame. He's a retired 38 year fire service that you have, LA City Fire Department. I'm gonna make a few announcements, and then we'll get him on because I thought it was important. We didn't get enough time to really go into a little bit of detail. And as it relates to de and high so are you there? Dr, Cooper, Chief, my brother, yes, sir. All
Kwame Cooper 2:00
right, I'm here at chief Washington. Great,
Dave Washington 2:02
great, great. Once again, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. I always like to give a few birthday shout outs, and I left my entire list that Marsha prepared for me. But anyway, we do know that destiny one of our grandchildren, her birthday is this month. My deceased mom, Eugenia, Washington white. She's an ancestor now, but we never forget her, because she did some things that instill a lot of good in all of her children and grandchildren. For that matter, also Kenyon, he's grandson. He's the he's the youngest of the Granny's. So his birthday is this month. So just want to wish all those good folks happy birthday. I want to talk very briefly in the show for the following week, we're going to have our middle daughter, Angel, who did a documentary on my journey with pancreatic cancer and whipple surgery. It was an overwhelming success. So we're going to talk a little bit about that. And I that now. Voluntold, as Wes my producer and director, said I volunteered Amber, she'll be on the show as well. She's our youngest daughter. She's sitting over there, Kwame a new control booth, looking at me with a crazy smile. But also I want to acknowledge, once again, the Whitson family, they had one heck of a home going celebration for Daphne, who was a good friend of our family, to include our daughter Amber. And then finally, as far as condolences, I want to say condolences the family of Dr Ruby Duncan, she transitioned just a few days ago, and her services will get some information on in our show for next week, but it's coming up toward the end of May, and of course, and I hope we won't have time, but I certainly want to acknowledge the fact that EDI is celebrating 35 years of existence. Kwame is an instructor. He's a board member as well, and we will have a EDI golf event down in New Orleans. So Carl Holmes, edi.org We got a lot of activities going on through the leadership of our executive director, Carla homes, President, Eugene Campbell, Vice President, and it and so with that, again, I think it's important for Dr Cooper, who is an expert. I know he is. He's a scholar. When they when they get their PhD, they've done a lot of work, a lot of research, so we didn't get an opportunity to go into more as much detail as I thought we should last week. So Dr Cooper. Let's talk about the first of all, give a little bit quick background of your service in the fire service. And then you left LA and then went to New York.
Kwame Cooper 4:53
Yeah, thank you, chief Washington. And I'll just be very brief with it. I was blessed to join the fire department. Uh in Los Angeles Fire Department in December of 1980 in which the LA City Fire Department was under a consent decree for discriminatory hiring practices preceding 1974 and it was in 1974 that the consent decree started. So I was part of a batch of brothers we unfortunately got hiring women back then who were hired as part of the consent decree. I spent 38 years of service with the LA City Fire Department, and after that, during my retirement, I completed my doctorate degree during covid with a study on organizational leadership and development with an emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion. And subsequently in 2022 was asked by the mayor of New York to take a position with the FDNY as the Deputy Commissioner for dei in the city of New York,
Dave Washington 6:06
excellent, excellent.
Kwame Cooper 6:08
And finally, Dave, and I'm not sure how long it's going to last, but I retired again in December of last year, and so back in Los Angeles and enjoying sleeping late, projects here and there, taking care of my wife and family. A lot of traveling,
Dave Washington 6:28
absolutely
Kwame Cooper 6:29
waiting to see what the next chapter beholds.
Dave Washington 6:31
Oh, for sure. And like you said, I heard I picked that up. I picked up on this retirement you don't know how long it's gonna last. I love it, man, but, you know, I think it's good to keep the keep the mind rolling. So talk a little bit about going towards your PhD, and then I want you to explain or share with our listening audience something about your experience as you served with New York?
Kwame Cooper 7:02
Yeah, I it's really interesting because, you know, we never know what life is going to steer us into it. And I'm certainly not my ambition as a young black fellow growing up in New
Dave Washington 7:16
York to
Kwame Cooper 7:16
pursue a doctor's degree. I was, I was, you know, I barely graduated from high school, to be quite frank about. But I will tell you that it was a journey, you know, pursuing my education at the age of 50, you know, through my bachelor's, master's in doctoral degree, that I'm glad I did it right. It's a exercise, not in how smart you are. Say that again to all the listeners, it isn't just it isn't as much as how smart you are in as much as it is your ability to be disciplined and stick with the rigor of the work. And so it causes you to understand and look at things in a much more analytical way, both academically and in life. And certainly, it has blessed me with the ability to contribute now to situations like fire services, where we still have a tremendous amount of work to do when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion,
Dave Washington 8:29
right? And you mentioned something, and I'd like to share this with our audience, a word that I'll double underline was rigor. I remember Cornwall was a part of as we re instituted our mod six, and he spoke of we've got to have more rigor for those students who are in that because it challenges them, for sure, but yeah, on the D, and I think it's just important for you to share some of your experiences, if you could, with respect to your three year what three years you served there In New York?
Kwame Cooper 9:00
Yeah, so in New York, I served as the Deputy Commissioner for dei and I reported directly to the commissioner as part of a court settlement with a Vulcan Society of New York. The Black firefighters sued the FDNY and won a lawsuit based on the discriminatory written test that was given and other systemic practices that then and currently has the FDNY under a court monitor shift to ensure that they put in the systems and practices in place that's going to perpetuate fairness for everybody. So it was a fascinating experience. As much as you know, I love the FDNY, I also will say that they have a lot of work to do. However, in that regard, the leadership of the FDNY is not shying away from what needs to get done that's on. They're working with the court monitor and all the other affinity groups right to address unfair hiring practices, promotional practices that have, have, have and still does adversely impact right people of color, black folks primarily, and women.
Dave Washington 10:20
Once again, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more for another two minutes, we have Dr Kwame Cooper, retired fire service professional. So quant, what would you share with our listening audience? Because we have, we do have a number of firefighters who listen to the program that may be having issues with D and I on their particular departments. What would you share them if you could?
Kwame Cooper 10:42
So you know, there's two things. One I would say, to understand what your hiring practices and policies are, and look at the data on the on the other end to see if it's perpetuating fairness. So in other words, if you say that you value diversity in your organization, but your organization is 98% white male, then you have to fundamentally ask yourself a question about, what is it in the system, right that's perpetuating this outcome that isn't consistent with what we espouse in terms of our values? So the first thing is for an organization to do, is to do your own organizational assessment. You could hire someone to do it, or you could pull together smart people and do it, but you have to look at the data, and you have to look at the policies and make the necessary adjustments accordingly, because in the court of law, oftentimes, fire departments will say, well, we didn't mean to discriminate, even though their practices are, you know, inherently discriminatory with regard to departments that are resisting. Fire departments like FDNY and Lafd have come a long way. They still have a long way to go, but they are in a better place, and if they continue that trajectory right, then their fire departments will reflect the diversity of the communities that they serve. And so it wasn't for the lack of challenges, which I could talk about those for hours. I'll talk to you about it in New
Dave Washington 12:23
Orleans,
Kwame Cooper 12:23
but the experience was fascinating. The folks that are in leadership positions, they love what they do, but we as leaders have to look at our systems to make sure that they perpetuate what we say we value
Dave Washington 12:39
Excellent. Once again, Las Vegas. This is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5 jazz and more we had. Dr Kwame Cooper, 40 plus year veteran in the fire service. We appreciate you, Doc, and we'll get you back on, because I think you still you have so much to share, and I think it's very important for us, because we do, once again, have a lot of firefighters out there that listen to the program. So thank you once again, sir,
Kwame Cooper 13:04
yes, sir, always. And thank you for having
Dave Washington 13:06
me all right. Once again, Veterans Affairs checking out, we will be on the other side. We're going to have Karen and Amira armagan. Once again, Las Vegas. This is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. In our second segment, we have Miss armor gun, Amira armor gun and Karen armor gun, these are my grandchildren. They were voluntold by their mom, particularly you, Amira, you said you wanted to be on the radio. Your brother's been here before. So anyway, I got a couple questions of you. Who are your parents?
Amira 13:46
Nathan Armageddon and Amber Armageddon.
Dave Washington 13:49
Okay, so what is, what kind of business have your father got? Karen,
Kiran 13:54
he has, like, this business for, like, the, like, casinos and stuff. And now it's like really starting to expand out of like Vegas and help people get like jobs. You know,
Dave Washington 14:06
cool. Well, let me tell you guys the reason why I asked you to be here. Your mom suggested it. I talked to you guys because you're both getting ready to make a big transition. What do you think about your transition? You going from where to where,
Amira 14:19
from elementary, fifth grade to middle school, sixth grade.
Dave Washington 14:24
Okay, all right. So what do you think that's gonna be like?
Amira 14:28
I don't think anything's gonna be like, changing a lot, but I guess just more work. Gonna have to go to different periods, and that's gonna be horrible.
Dave Washington 14:39
Oh, so you right now you stay in one classroom,
Amira 14:42
yeah.
Dave Washington 14:42
So when you go to middle school, they start to move you around. Is that the Okay, that's not bad. Karen, how about you the transition? What do you think
Kiran 14:52
middle school, eighth grade, to high school, ninth, yeah, ninth grade, I think it's gonna be pretty chill. You know, gonna meet lots of new people. Probably just have a good time, you know.
Dave Washington 15:06
Okay, so you just had a birthday when
Kiran 15:10
April 30.
Dave Washington 15:12
So how old are you now?
Kiran 15:13
14?
Dave Washington 15:15
Excellent, excellent. So Amira, how about school? What is your favorite subject?
Amira 15:23
Um, actual subjects, or do you mean like lunch and recess,
Dave Washington 15:27
no subjects, lunch and reset.
Amira 15:31
My favorite subjects are reading and English because I hate math. I hate
Dave Washington 15:39
math. Your favorite subject again as well
Amira 15:41
reading in English.
Dave Washington 15:42
Oh, good. Okay, all right. So what school do you go to right now?
Amira 15:48
It's an art school.
Dave Washington 15:49
Art School. So why did you pick an art school? Why do you think art is important
Amira 15:55
to embrace yourself, I guess, and to make money.
Dave Washington 16:02
So is there, is there something that you aspire to do from an art standpoint, from an artistic standpoint,
Amira 16:10
Well, right now, I'm just drawing, so I don't really know,
Dave Washington 16:15
you know, and I'll say this, and I'm not just bragging because she's my granddaughter, but she is an excellent drawer. So is Karen and KJ, our other grandson. He's a good drawer, so that's something, the art, the physical drawing, is something that's important to you as a person, as a student,
Amira 16:33
yeah, well, I just do it for
Dave Washington 16:36
fun, so it just comes natural, pretty much Excellent. And the other, the other thing that you do that you like, did you say English reading?
Amira 16:47
Yeah, I just don't like to read at home. I just like to read at school and stuff. But my mom forces me sometimes. But yeah,
Dave Washington 16:56
okay, Karen, favorite subject,
Kiran 16:59
I probably say history and algebra, not like I like history, but I don't really like algebra that much, but I like the class because of the teachers.
Dave Washington 17:13
Hmm, so what about, what is you like about history?
Kiran 17:16
It's just night good to know history so you don't repeat it.
Dave Washington 17:22
Interesting. So where's your school? What's the name of your school? Levitt, Middle School. Levitt, and that's so you're going, that's a middle school?
Kiran 17:34
Yes.
Dave Washington 17:35
So have you guys decided on a high school?
Kiran 17:37
Yes.
Dave Washington 17:38
What
Kiran 17:39
faith? Lutheran High School.
Dave Washington 17:41
Oh, you're on the faith. So you went from private to regular public school. Now you're going back to private school.
Kiran 17:50
Yes,
Dave Washington 17:51
what did you find that there's any difference in terms of private versus public?
Kiran 17:57
I'd say in public, like, if like, something is happening, I'd say like, they don't really care what you do that much,
Dave Washington 18:06
but
Kiran 18:07
they'll, they'll try to teach you, try to help you learn. But like, if you're fighting or anything stuff like that, they don't really care that
Dave Washington 18:16
much. Once again, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and Moore have a mirror and Karen armagon on the show, and they're talking about their transition, going from elementary, in a mirror's case, to middle school, and Karen from middle school to high school. So is there anything that you would share, if you could, with one of your fellow students, or your whole student body, what is something that you feel important to share with them, from your personal perspective as a student,
Amira 18:48
like, like, encouragement, stuff, I guess, just believe in yourself.
Dave Washington 18:56
That's a good point. That's excellent.
Amira 18:58
And just just pray.
Dave Washington 19:02
And let me say something, yeah, prayer is good. Let me tell you something else about a mirror that she's being very humble, not speaking of she's very talented. She is very creative. If you see some of the the dresses in different pieces she's put together, like, wow, this girl is pretty sharp. And how old are you
Amira 19:20
10?
Dave Washington 19:20
So what is about? What is you like about designing, etc? Because I think, I think from what little I know, designing and drawing kind of goes together,
Amira 19:30
I don't know, I usually do that stuff for fun, and then it just turns into actual good
Dave Washington 19:35
stuff. So you just do it for fun,
Amira 19:39
yeah, but then it turns into something actually nice
Dave Washington 19:43
and that you
Amira 19:44
can actually get paid for.
Dave Washington 19:46
Well, so you can monetize. Is that a good thing to be passionate and like something, and then ultimately, with the possibility of turning into something can be monetized? That's pretty cool. So where they come from?
Amira 19:59
Mm. Know,
Dave Washington 20:01
just, just your personal thought,
Amira 20:03
I guess my brain,
Dave Washington 20:04
yeah, your brain absolutely came from internally. Have that drive, and you're pretty feisty too. You know that we talk about you as the second coming of my mother, Eugenia Washington, white, because she always was a feisty woman. And in fact, her birthday is this month. So Karen, tell us a little bit about some of your talents to include and to share with our listening audience. You got a big award from for basketball this year. Didn't or last year. Now tell us about it, or tell the listening audience
Kiran 20:38
last year, I had one Defensive Player of the Year for my old school.
Dave Washington 20:45
So tell us about that. What were you doing? You say defensive player doing what
Kiran 20:52
I was getting blocks, I was getting rebounds. So
Dave Washington 20:56
is basketball?
Kiran 20:58
Yes,
Dave Washington 20:58
okay, so you played a little bit of football too. I remember,
Kiran 21:02
yes.
Dave Washington 21:03
So what's the plan for upcoming as you, as you move into high school? What's your thought? You must have some plan in mind.
Kiran 21:14
I plan on playing football. Gonna be first year playing tackle football.
Dave Washington 21:21
It's
Kiran 21:22
gonna be nice to try that.
Dave Washington 21:24
Okay, so how about as far as any particular goals in mind, as relates to school itself? Or, let me say this, let me ask you this, if you had one goal that you could share with us, what would it be that you want to do? You can do two things, one from school and one outside of school. What would they be? So you think about yours too.
Kiran 21:48
School wise,
Dave Washington 21:50
probably
Kiran 21:51
just get good grades. You know, study
Dave Washington 21:55
excellent
Kiran 21:56
and out of school wise, I probably say get closer to God.
Dave Washington 22:00
Speaking of God, didn't you do? You did something. You spoke at a church deal not so long ago.
Kiran 22:07
Yes,
Dave Washington 22:08
okay, how did that come about?
Kiran 22:10
So like the day I'd or like the days before I was gonna switch to Levin from my old school. I had gone to my mom's friend's house, and we're just talking about it. And then she my mom's friend, had asked me, like, what I wanted to do. I said, Wherever the Lord takes me. And then she asked me if I wanted to do a sermon thing at her church. And I just said, Sure,
Dave Washington 22:42
okay, yeah, I saw that on video. Did a good job. So Amira, give us go school outside of school.
Amira 22:50
Hey, so I want to continue to get good grades. And me and my friends were thinking about doing cheer together, but they want to do competitive cheer, and I don't want to get hurt. But I was thinking normal cheer or elite cheer. But
Dave Washington 23:10
so what's the what's the difference between normal cheer and, what did you say elite cheer? Those are two different techniques or forms. So
Amira 23:17
competitive cheer, you have to, like, you couldn't get hurt a lot. And there's, like, a bunch of stunts. I like stunts because I was a flyer when I used to do cheer, but they be flipping you over and stuff. So
Dave Washington 23:34
that's, that's what flyer means. Yeah,
Amira 23:36
I was a flyer, but I didn't have to do any, like, flips in the air. But, yeah, in elite tier, I'm thinking it's more safer. You
Dave Washington 23:48
think the elite would be more safe,
Amira 23:50
or, like, just normal cheer, because I was a normal cheer, and I was, like, safe, but you could still get hit by people flipping.
Dave Washington 24:00
So as you prepare to go from from elementary to middle, have you guys selected a school that you're going to go
Amira 24:07
to? No
Dave Washington 24:08
still working hard. Are you excited about it? Or what's your thought?
Amira 24:12
I'm just excited for the summer so I can have some summer parties and stuff. I don't want to go to school.
Dave Washington 24:17
All right, so, Carrie, what do you think about the transition and you're making that next move?
Kiran 24:26
I just think it's gonna be just a new experience. You know?
Dave Washington 24:32
You think what?
Kiran 24:33
I just think it's gonna be a new experience.
Dave Washington 24:35
Okay? And do you know anything about the school in terms of its population or student body. Numbers wise,
Kiran 24:45
not really.
Dave Washington 24:47
What is there anything particular that they're known for as a school? And do you know anything about the sports activity that occurred here, and how many they got, football, basketball? What all do they have? Sports wise? Is, or do you
Kiran 25:00
I know they have, like, all the major sports,
Dave Washington 25:04
like
Kiran 25:04
football, basketball, tennis, soccer, all that stuff. And recently, I don't know what's the division name, but faith, Bishop Gorman and all the other like public schools used to be in like, the same division,
Dave Washington 25:24
okay,
Kiran 25:24
but now it's like switch. So like, all the privates play each other for football, and all the public play each other for football, but it's only for football, though. Reproducer,
Dave Washington 25:34
well, we have about four minutes left, so let me ask you guys this, as we prepared, as Angel prepared the documentary. Give us some thoughts about that, because we just saw it this past week. Yeah, because you all put both of you participated in it,
Kiran 25:52
yeah, what
Dave Washington 25:52
do you think
Kiran 25:53
I say it's a very good documentary, especially with what she had to work with. And it was just a really good thing that it was highlight, highlighting your battle, you know,
Amira 26:10
I think it was really good. And everybody started laughing when I said, at least I make money for that. For like, when I said that you make us work outside. And then, like, after I said, I make at least, I make money for that. And then I said, I still love you. And then everybody started laughing.
Dave Washington 26:32
Oh yeah, they just thought that was funny. Your remarks. But there was cool, you know, this once again, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz more I have a mirror. And Karen armagon Mirror going from elementary to middle school. Karen going from middle to high school. And I appreciate you guys coming on any final thoughts that you want to share with our listening audience, any your fellow students that may be listening like my classmates? Yes. So, I mean, listen, you'll tell them about it.
Amira 27:02
Some of y'all are annoying.
Dave Washington 27:04
Well, okay, go ahead, carry anything you want to say,
Dave Washington 27:09
because
Dave Washington 27:10
I'm gonna, I'm gonna share this with you guys. It'll, it'll come on on Saturday, and I'm gonna share with you guys. You can send it to your friends. Karen,
Kiran 27:17
I'd say just keep trying, like, push towards your goals and trust in God.
Dave Washington 27:24
All right, once again, this is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5 jazz and more. I appreciate Wes coming over and helping y'all get them mics and them earphones together so y'all can hear him give me orders on time frame. So, once again, Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5 jazz and more, signing off, and we will talk to you guys next week. And coming up, we're going to have Angel Washington, The documentary producer, director. So thanks everyone. You
Music 28:22
Oh, the smoke in the air, till the hate when they stare, all the pain that we bear.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai