COVID Conversations

In today’s conversation UNLV Urban Leadership Graduate Student, Stephanie Milliner interviews Angie Reese-Hawkins, President & CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington. As President and CEO, Mrs. Reese-Hawkins is responsible for over 2,000 employees throughout the course of a year (pre-COVID-19 changes). The Association’s 40-mile radius of coverage currently includes 17 primary sites in the District of Columbia and surrounding areas of Maryland and Virginia. A $55+ million operating budget places the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington as one of the largest community service organizations in the national capital area.

In this episode, UNLV Urban Leadership Graduate Student, Stephanie Milliner interviews Brooke Kidd, Founder of Joe’s Movement Emporium. Joe’s Movement Emporium founded in 1995 is a cultural arts hub for creativity and economic opportunity for youth and young adults.

In episode 5 of COVID Conversations, UNLV Urban Leadership Graduate Student, Ashley Garrido, interviews Mary Nelson- Assistant Director of Spread the Word Nevada. Spread the Word Nevada is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to promote childhood literacy in low income communities within Nevada. Spread the Word Nevada’s goals are to improve the access of books for underprivileged children and improve literacy skills through mentorship/reading programs.

In this fourth episode of COVID Conversations, UNLV Urban Leadership graduate student, Frankie Andres, interviews Sarah Gleich Executive Director of the Nevada Diabetes Association. Did you know every 17 seconds someone in the US is diagnosed with one of the forms of diabetes? The Nevada Diabetes Association (NDA) aims to improve the lives of people with diabetes through prevention, education and service. NDA offers camps, diabetes support programs, seminars, workshops, electronic resources and emergency diabetes medical assistance. NDA has saved the community over $6.5 million dollars in emergency medical supplies. NDA has been thriving for over 30 years to help people affected by diabetes live longer, fuller lives by avoiding complications that this disease can cause. NDA has a partnership with the California Diabetes Association – combined they provide over 100 days of free diabetes programming each year. To learn more, visit diabetesnv.org

In this third episode of COVID Conversations, UNLV Urban Leadership graduate student, Frankie Andres, interviews Missy Arendash, a new member of the Junior League of Las Vegas. Junior League of Las Vegas (JLLV) has been instrumental in transforming the Las Vegas community for 75 years. JLLV has contributed over 1.1 million hours of community service and raised more $1.5 million dollars for the community through service projects and monetary support. The organization is made up of more than 500 exciting and diverse women. The core of JLLV's mission is volunteerism with a focus on making an impact on youth ages 12 and over in the areas of homelessness, education and overall health and wellness. Some of their many projects include a partnership with the Shannon West Homeless Youth Center, Ronald McDonald House, Holiday Bear project, and the Little Black Dress initiative. To learn more, visit jllv.org

In this episode, UNLV Urban Leadership Graduate Student, Ashley Garrido, interviews Alexandria Brown - Executive Director of Southern Nevada Community Health Improvement Programs (Southern Nevada CHIPs). Southern Nevada CHIPs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social service referral program that is able to link social workers with first responders, which in turn, allows them to help struggling clients by “providing the RIGHT service for the RIGHT person at the RIGHT time.”

In part one of this episode, Leah spoke with Cynthia Lewis of The Just One Project. This nonprofit organization connects hundreds of people to volunteer opportunities each month. The Just One Project served 5.5 million pounds of food in 2020. In part two of this episode, Leah spoke with Vic Caruso of the City Impact Center This nonprofit organization works to positively influence the southern Nevada community by providing on-site access to programs, education, housing and wellness. During the pandemic, the City Impact Center went from serving 100 families a day to serving 300 families each day.