Let's Talk with Leaha & Rhonda

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You're listening to locally produced programming created in KU NBC Studios on public radio K, u and v. 91.5. The following is a paid program sponsored by Crawford management group and smart time consultants. Please be advised that the voices and opinions you hear did not represent the views of 91.5 Jazz anymore. The University of Nevada Las Vegas or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

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Hi, my name is Leah Crawford.

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And I'm Rhonda Nolan.

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And you're listening to the let's talk with Leah and Rhonda show for

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all the beautiful entrepreneurs out there. This is for you. Good morning. Las Vegas. Leah. How are you doing this fine Saturday morning,

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Rhonda. I've been cooking you have Yes. Oh my god. Yes, I have. Yes. So I made a salmon broccoli and rice. Chicken fettuccine from scratch. I didn't kill the chicken. I just had to go buy the chicken from the school. But I have been and I'm enjoying it. I'm enjoying it. And you know next week I started walking. Nope. Yeah. A week. Yeah, so I am excited. Hey, happy Happy New Year Happy New me new new me. New me new me Happy Happy New Year, y'all. We are at the end of the year. It's almost that time it's done. Notice it

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only got 48 hours

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or 48 hours. 48 hours they said is about 350,000 people come into destroy. I might partake and walk up and down the strip and look at the five hour Yeah, we just can go outside and walk. That's gonna be my three mile walk. That's good. That's gonna be my three mile walk. Be nice, too. I hope so. I hope so. So that I can see see to people and just giggle and laugh can Yeah, I'll have knives with me. So yeah,

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that'd be fun. Oh, yeah. My whole family be in town. So yes, your face. Yeah.

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I have to come by and see her to chat about life. Yes, you

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have to so she is coming. My brother, his wife, oh, families coming up here. You know, very soon sometime today. They'll be here to this fine Saturday, and they will bring in the new year we will bring in the new year together.

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Congratulations, gratulations. Well, today we have some special guests in the studio. Because literacy and the importance of just being just knowing how to read. We don't think about it every day you read all day long. But are you comprehending or do you have challenges we're reading and more importantly, can have children read? And are we reading to the baby? So I would like to introduce you to Miss Carol Santiago hack here.

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How are you? Welcome to the show.

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I'm happy to be here

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and the funny one, right? Funny one but the funny one funny one is here, mist. I'm gonna get it right Tamra Shiloh, right tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. Shiloh Kamara like

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yesterday, and today and tomorrow. Thank you. I'm happy to be here to Well, thank

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you. Thank you for accepting the invitation to come because I know we had to it was you know, we had to work it out. First of all, tell me about the bookstore because you opened up a bookstore on a historic west side of Las Vegas. Yes,

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we did. We were very fortunate to be located and 89106 the historic west side of town. We are a multicultural bookstore. And we are happy to be able to open up our doors to invite the community in. And our vision is to create a literacy community hub where where the community and children and parents and grandparents can come in and feel comfortable. And listen to stories read books. Just getting back to basics and understanding the importance of reading.

Unknown Speaker 4:00
We offer it is truly a multicultural bookstore. We have African American, Asian, South Asian and Native American Spanish. We have many of the genres probably all of them graphic novels, chapter books, middle grade, why a adult books, social justice, black history, LGBTQ babies, so we tried to make it a safe space for everyone to come in and have a cup of coffee with Carol. That's

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wonderful. So what made you guys decide to open up a bookstore? Well,

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I have the bookstore in Richmond. I've been there for six years and Carol and I've been friends for over 20 years and we've been going to do something big together. We do work now we collaborate with our after school and summer programs. She does literacy and I teach like history. So we just one day while over a glass of mine said probably open a bookstore here. And it was without a doubt going to be on the historic west side. And here we are. And we're very happy to be there. 2027 revered Las Vegas. So

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I watched tomorrow, if I can just let you know that I watched her build an incredible model, which includes not just selling, she's not just a bookseller. But she also works with seniors and caregivers. There's a there's Sunday event that she puts on each month. And she does storytime. And so when I saw those things happening in the great authors that were interacting with the children and reading stories, I said, Hey, we've got to do that here. I've worked in the community in the historic west side, from 2005 to 2019, in the after school programs, so I had a an idea of where our children are, and where they're at how they're scoring on major tests, standardized test. And I just know that there's a great need for what we're offering. The other

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thing about the model is 90% of the books in the store face forward. So when kids walk in, they can see themselves on books and realize that there are some fun books for them to read. Parents and teachers. They don't have to know the name of authors or titles. It's like we said, it's kind of WYSIWYG, but see is what you get, right. But they, you know, they can feel comfortable about walking around the store because they can see what we have there. So I think, if nothing else, that's one of the really key points to the store being what it is.

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That is super fantastic. So tell me what book are you reading right now?

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Jack Reacher is new book. Espionage and

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Jack Reacher I'm watching that on Amazon. Yeah.

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He has a new one. Yes, Tom. Follow this series of like David Bell hdaci walked up mostly on the Tamra Hill series. That sister's pretty cool too. Yeah, like that kind of stuff. Yeah. I don't like girly romances. Sorry. Any girl.

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You want to know what's not talking about me? I'm something I'm different. So like, I like heartland. Okay. So I'm like, you know, just the, you know, the grandpa and the granddaughter and the horses and being in nature. I like that type stuff.

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So okay. And

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no, it's okay. Because I think that that's why we read books. Exactly. Because you can go a lot of places do a lot of things and not leave your living room,

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then there

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is a cheap trip. Right? So ladies and gentlemen, out there in Las Vegas land if you'd like to visit the multicultural bookstore Las Vegas is located at 2027 Revere Street in the historic west side. And you could find the owners there every Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm. And if you'd like to visit their website, they're located at MCB L A. SV E. G, a s.com. So that's

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multicultural bookstore, the initials las vegas.com. That

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is correct. That's correct. So Miss Carroll,

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yes.

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Tell me what was your background like, tell us your your story, your journey.

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I'm an educator. Okay. I taught 32 years, 16 years at the elementary, 16 years at the middle school level for the Santa Monica. Malibu Unified School District. I retired in 2003 to Las Vegas, and took me a couple of years just to unwind because I was the kind of teacher I was always in my classroom. And near the end of my career, I was at school seven days a week. Wow. Okay, so that's a whole nother story. But I started working when I retired to here in Las Vegas. I started working with the Las Vegas Urban League in 2005 until 2019, and I was just privileged to be part of their education department and managed and directed the after school 21st century after school programs, and which was amazing, a great experience. And I got a chance that there were five year grants being given and we were we started in at Agassi and we went to several other elementary schools in the in the area. So that's what got me to thinking okay. Even before I left the Urban League, I founded my nonprofit edu global Inc. Because I wanted to continue the work that they are and Link was doing in the community.

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I knew that's where I knew you from you and I used to work together to Urban League, you know when we're talking about so do we. Very good. So tell me about your journey.

Unknown Speaker 10:16
Well, open the books bookstore with three other ladies. One decided she wanted to do just other things, the other one did decided she wanted to do other things. So I became the sole owner of bookstore, wow. And loved every minute of it. Like the model that we have. And I also have a nonprofit, nonprofit, just imagine kids, and I teach black history after school. And during the summer. And out of that, I realized that teachers needed help with teaching black history. So I created a black history course for ELL educators. And so it's now on Union Institute and University's online platform. Teachers, it's about a four hour class, and teachers get three CEUs, for taking the course. And the focus is on African American accomplishments and their contributions because I truly believe that children should be taught this first. So they can feel good about themselves good about their history, then you can move in and talk about slavery, the civil rights and all these other things. But our children need to feel good about being black. And they need to know that they can be anything they see any other race is and so and to know that, we've been doing all of that for a very long time. It didn't just start so I'm also not there. I read children's books about blacking vendors as scientists go figure. And yeah, right. The blackest you call them for the Post newspaper, and I have a podcast called Once Upon a Time in black history. Okay, so that's what you're doing now. But let's get a little bit deeper. Let's go back further. What did you do before that? Were you educator as well? No. No, I worked. My first job was at Naval Air Station, Alameda. I worked in the supply department and I used to read that yellow tape but those who wrote ride I worked in a slight supply department and then I went over to Kaiser Aluminum. I worked there for about eight years and in the HR department. And let's see, I knew Barney, he told you you know, she is she was the first not first she worked for the in Washington, in the youth education department and the postal department anyway, so she stopped, I worked with her at Kaiser then I started a business and I've been an entrepreneur doing all sorts of stuff. You know, and I actually lived here from 2000 until 2009 and I had a magazine called Desert diamonds and it was not during a good time because the recession and all that it was around 2005 or so. But I'm just one of those just done all sorts of stuff but I will say everything that I have done in the past has helped me today as us all to your and that's

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important for us to know is that what you're even if you're going through something because I know right now is the end of the year and some people you know out celebrating but some people might be having a hard time you might be having a hard time but just know that you can make it through it. You can you can make it through it and it's probably part of your story because making it through what is the story well

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do during so many things. Yeah. And trying to decide what you really want to do because every time you do this, you think that's what you really want to do. Right? But I actually I actually think I've found my passion and marbled young age. Ya know, and I enjoy every minute of it. I'm busy all the time. But I think we like what we do. I enjoy seeing the smiles on kids faces when they walk into the stores. I go right

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to the let's talk with me and Ron to show I am Lea Crawford.

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I'm Rhonda Nolan and we have two dynamic women here today from the multicultural bookstore Las Vegas. We have Miss Carol Santiago and this Tamara shot. They are in got it right we have the ladies here today and listen. It's located at 2027 Revere street and on the historic west side. And if you need to contact them before going over, they can be contacted at 702-604-0245

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But let's talk about budding artists or budding authors. Because a lot of people have written books. They put the Are they put their heart and soul into this novel? And I got a whole box of them sitting in the living? room because it's promotions. Right? You can have an amazing story. And I like to read. So I'll read almost anything. You have authors opportunity. Let's

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talk about that. Yes, yes. We are excited about being able to offer these opportunities to first time authors, seasoned authors. One of the things that Tamara, one major point she pointed out, when we had our first authors meeting greet, there were over 18 authors in the in the room, that was wonderful. It was amazing. But you reminded them that this is a business, you didn't write this book, like you said to stay in boxes, or are on the living room coffee table, you know, you you need your way to give them away, or to give away yeah, no, but you know, what, what you've put into your book should be available to the, to the community and to the public. So we have a few opportunities. One is we ask authors, so if you had your own meet and greet, what would that look like? Okay, and so, interestingly enough, you know, it really takes them, it takes them back a bit. And when they start thinking, we noticed that one person would say something, and then they started brainstorming on ideas. But it's a great time for an author to invite their family friends in and bring them in to let them know what they're doing. Also, we offer space for workshops, we have a couple of authors who have signed up to after their book signing, they're going to hold a book workshop, about their book. And of course, we have author sign, author signings, and then we offer shelf space for authors to be able to bring their books into the store. And what was the other thing tomorrow, book club, book clubs, of course, oh, another new a new idea, right? Where the author will create their book club books surrounding their particular book. So it will we explain it much better when you come to the store, but but it's a great time, an opportunity for authors to really get known. We provide in store marketing. So we are creating posts, blog posts, post their book, on our website, we have capability to do have on our television loop of PowerPoint loops so that their work is being advertised as people come into the store. And we'll be sending out either a news, email or social media blast. And

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we're also going to have some meet and greets or just workshops for authors who need help with editing with finding an illustrator with how to work with Amazon are getting on IPH. So there's a lot of things that some new authors aren't sure of. And, you know, we want to make sure that they have the information. So we will be offering that type of information for them. And that'll be free of charge. Yeah, that's fantastic. So

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if there any aspiring authors out there listening, you would really want to speak with these ladies. And again, they're located at 2027 Revere Street, and that is in the historic west side. And so authors don't forget, don't forget, they have several things for you. They have book signings, they have meet and greets. They have workshops, they have shelf spaces, they have book clubs, and they can also discuss your book with you and help you with your editing and things of that nature.

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And if you are an aspiring author, you can text off the word author to the phone numbers 702-929-5951. That's 702-929-5951 Say one more time 702-929-5951 and sparkle from Google urban. Las Vegas will respond to your call. Remember to text the word author, and she will respond.

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That's fantastic. So tell me a little bit. Why did you all open up this bookstore?

Unknown Speaker 19:43
Well, we actually had our soft opening on November 4, your brand so we're brand spanking new. brand spanking new in Las Vegas. Okay. And I let me tell you, I am just excited to see community the community coming in There was one gentleman passed by he actually put both hands on his head and, and, and looked into the window and said, and he came and he said, Oh, my God, I don't I can't believe this. So we are just trying to continue that. That community literacy hub that was actually started by Sam Smith, who had the owner of the native state of Sun bookstore. Yeah. Yeah. So it's so it's not just a bookstore. And we actually intentionally left space, so that we can have the workshops and book signings, so that space is available for the community, if they, let's say you, you have a book club, and you don't want to meet in, in people's homes, you could actually meet in the bookstore. So

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if I'm coming from somewhere else around the city, what landmarks would I look for if I'm looking for your store?

Unknown Speaker 20:55
Okay, well, we were right across the street from Nevada partner. Okay. The WsL, which was, yeah, the old 70s. But it's the WsL. So we're right, connected. And you also will see in our parking lot of a 15 passenger van that says C O D, a CODA, the church of divine appointment and so that that area is that shopping mall is known as the kingdom Plaza. So those are some of your landmarks.

Unknown Speaker 21:27
That's fantastic. Yeah. What are you going to lick? I see. You're a bit you love to read. So I know you're going soon to go check out some new books already

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been? So I've already been I was there before the book before the opening. Okay, because I heard that Carol had opened up a bookstore and I was just driving down revere and let me stop. And I was, it used to be the cobbler shop. Okay. And because I didn't, I'm like, well, where's, and I was like, Oh, my God, that's the carpet shop. Okay, let me go in and she was there. And we had a lovely conversation. The bookstores is cute, is quaint. I enjoyed it, and the books are facing forward, I didn't realize that that was a thing, because the books were facing forward. And it was an out. It was it was good to be in a bookstore, a bookstore out. Well, you know, I like to read. Yes, I like to read. Yeah,

Unknown Speaker 22:15
it's an intimate space. And we were designed by design because we wanted people to feel comfortable. And we have a corner that's dedicated to Sam Smith, round table, comfortable chairs. We haven't got the chess game in yet. But that's coming.

Unknown Speaker 22:32
I was getting it good. You gotta have to check your SAM but uh, you know, Sam was interesting, because when you would go into his bookstore on D Street, and you would say your name, he would run down your family history and tell you all about yourself. And it was like, Who are you? I know, Sam was with firefighters, because he helped a lot of a lot of a lot of people get on the fire department. A lot of people you know, are thankful to him for their careers because we also host as I told you, the native sons spelling bee. So it's an annual spelling bee that we have every year for third and fourth graders. And we'll talk about that in the later show. Bring them on so that we can really talk know, How do children get involved third and fourth grade spelling because you win prizes? Yes. If you are first, second or third place.

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So I'd like to invite the audience to just let us know if there's any way we can help. You know, what help what can we do to

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help make contact you? Yeah. So they can contact you at 702-604-0245?

Unknown Speaker 23:30
Yes, say it again.

Unknown Speaker 23:32
Again. 702-604-0245. And one more time 702-604-0245. What are the hours operation

Unknown Speaker 23:44
from 10am to 6pm? Tuesday through Saturday. So they are closed on Sundays and Mondays people so don't go barge over there on Sunday after church or on Mondays, because they will not be there. But they

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will be there. They will be there Tuesday through Saturday and why? Why is reading so important? Why is because that's because that's always why. Why is it important to learn how to read especially in English, let's start with just an English, right? The hardest language?

Unknown Speaker 24:10
Well, that's everything. Everything requires you reading at some level, right? You know everything. And just wanted to let you know that on the second, third and fourth Saturdays, we actually have storytime. And the parents are invited to stay with their children. So picture this, the author is on stage, the children of sitting in front of the author and behind the children are the parents. So the synergy in the room, the energy in the room, parents get to hear their children answer questions and discuss the story. And they and parents participate too. So So reading to go and getting back to your answer to your question rather, is important because everything you do requires reading everything. And so that's why we're there. Just want to help. And through with our summer bridge programs, we have an opportunity to, to help children and throughout the summer or even after school, work on their on the reading skills. What I find happening in schools today is that children are kind of rushed along. And so that whole idea and concept of mastery of concepts. Doesn't doesn't happen. And

Unknown Speaker 25:27
you were also talking, we were discussing at one time keyboarding children need to learn how to type in this new environment because they are being tested with Chromebooks, or their own computers. And if they don't know how to type

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based on their keyboard skills pick if they're pecking

Unknown Speaker 25:47
Yeah, and it's time to slow them down, slows them down. See, when

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I was in school, you had to take typing in high school, you had to take time to graduate you're able to pass fail, or you had to know how to do but that's

Unknown Speaker 25:58
high school you're talking about and middle school, sometimes elementary school, because they're these children are taking exams. Now they're not handwritten exams. everything is computerized,

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think it's third, fifth and often

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typing in elementary school. Make a lot of time quickly. Boarding boarding call keyboarding boarding,

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okay. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker 26:19
And I think you do something with that. Yes, we offer that in our, in our courses. It's, it's part of the program, one of the components, and it's a tight touch, type read and spell. So kids are not only learning keyboarding skills, but it introduces consonants, vowels, and they have excuse me, they build one syllable words, and they're learning phonics as well.

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That's fantastic. That's

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very excited.

Unknown Speaker 26:50
And I'm good. I'm glad to hear that when you do your programs on Saturdays that the parents are there with the children. So it's so important to be involved in your children's education. And kudos to those parents who take the time to make absolutely,

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absolutely. So

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I want to thank you ladies for coming on the show. Thank you for accepting the invitation. Do you have any closing thoughts for this new year?

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Or should New Year's resolution How

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about oh, that's even though

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I haven't made amends. I live each day to the fullest.

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But that's the resolute I'm gonna live each day to the fullest.

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Every day you got one funny one.

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Oh, that's funny. Yeah, that's a real.

Unknown Speaker 27:32
That's a real goal, though. All right, Rhonda. Thank you, ladies. Again, thank you, any events coming up, we got anything going on that we need to know about 100 Black men or we got the coop the class is coming up.

Unknown Speaker 27:43
So we have the 100 black men WellsFargo hands on banking, you can sign up now at www 100 black men in Las Vegas, we have a junior high class and a senior high class is going to start the first week in well, let third week in January. But you can sign up now on the website. And as you know, if the student opens up a savings account during the course of the class, if they put in up to $200 they 100 Blackman, a Las Vegas will match that $200 cannot connect.

Unknown Speaker 28:12
It's real. It's real. It really does happen. I've had children sign up. And that just the fact that teaching them about banking, teaching them about banking. So and they have learned if they let me they don't know skills, they learn skills. They learn by doing this, some of them maybe even learning how to read because you were in the class with someone you have to take a test at the end of it. So and it's pushing you because if you do that, and you put the two channels in the bank, they're gonna match you $200 measure $200 investment classes. Well,

Unknown Speaker 28:45
investment class has started, we started to top of December and we're moving right along. And as you know, the class will be competing against all the other 100 to make design Vegas. No, it's not too late. So it well, no, it's not too late. We have a we have a couple of slots open. So if you're still any one of those slots, okay, so if you're still interested, again, you can sign up on the website. We have two slots open. And so that would be fantastic. Got one. Okay, I have once I have one slot open, and so we will we're moving forward with the junior Investment Club and that is for students from 10 years old to 18. And again, we will be competing against all the other 100 black men in Las Vegas chapters across the country. Thanks so much you've been listening to Let's Talk with Lee and Rhonda.

Unknown Speaker 29:25
I'm Lea Crawford.

Unknown Speaker 29:26
I'm Rhonda Dolan. Have a great afternoon. Bye

Transcribed by https://otter.ai