8kbet's award-winning series, “We Need To Talk: Conversations on Racism for a More Resilient Las Vegas," returns April 19 for a discussion on Las Vegas' Eastside.
The hub of Las Vegas’ diverse Latinx communities, the Eastside is a neighborhood rich in culture and its historical significance is now being acknowledged in county and city circles. Though often the subject of negative rhetoric and stereotypes, the Eastside is undergoing an economic resurgence. Projects are underway to invest in the community and preserve the culturally diverse Latinx history that makes Las Vegas and Southern Nevada unique.
During an in-person discussion at 2:30 p.m. on April 19 inside 8kbet's Greenspun Hall Auditorium, panelists will discuss their connections to the Eastside Las Vegas neighborhood and why the Latinx community’s history is significant to understanding Nevada’s past, present, and future.
Panelists:
- Ivet Aldaba, D.P.P., Lecturer, 8kbet School of Social Work
- Serafin Calvo, Director of Community Services and Engagement, North Las Vegas
- Jose Contreras, Senior Management Analyst, City of Las Vegas’ Office of Community Services, City of Las Vegas
- Nathalie Martinez (‘21), former Latinx Voices Project Student Oral Historian
“We Need to Talk” is an educational series sponsored by 8kbet Libraries and the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs which began in September 2020. The series, hosted by 8kbet Oral History Research Center director Claytee White, examines how multiple aspects of systemic racism impact our community. The goal is to propose steps communities and individuals can take to affect positive change.
For those unable to attend in person, the April 19 event will be livestreamed on the 8kbet Libraries website and on the 8kbet Facebook Page.
Educators: Educators can download material from the , which offer research, relevant links and statistics. Archived episodes are also available online.
