99 Reasons ‘To Stay Positive and Appreciate All You Have’
Date posted: September 12, 2025
Las Vegas icon Anna Bailey marks a milestone birthday!
There was an enormous milestone celebrated on August 26: Las Vegas icon Anna Bailey celebrated her 99th birthday.
She is admired for her many accomplishments, which include being: one of the original dancers at the historic Moulin Rouge Hotel and Casino, the first integrated hotel in the country; the first Black woman dancer on Las Vegas Strip, having also performed at the historic Apollo Theater; a businesswoman, landowner, and Girl Scouts leader for one of the first all-Black troops in Las Vegas; an original founder of the local Links organization chapter; a producer of the first dance TV show in Las Vegas, “Disco Express”; and so much more.
She was married to Dr. William H. “Bob” Bailey before his passing in 2014, and mother to Kimberly Bailey Tureaud and John Bailey.
Born in Savannah, Georgia in 1926, Bailey grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York. She has appeared in Oprah’s Daily Magazine and recently danced in the Follies Stage Production honoring historic showgirls of Las Vegas.
According to Bailey, her secret to longevity is, “To stay positive and appreciate all you have.”
Happy birthday, Anna Bailey!
Stronger Together: Parents + Teachers + Community = Student Success
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By Cherelle Williams Espinoza and Myron Mingo
The back-to-school season always brings excitement, fresh opportunities, and — let’s be honest — a bit of chaos. Between adjusting to new schedules, after-school activities, and bedtime routines, both parents and teachers are asking the same question: How can we work together to set students up for a successful year?
Parents: Setting the Stage at Home
Success in the classroom starts long before the first bell rings. Children need the basics — a nutritious breakfast, the right supplies, and, most importantly, quality sleep — to thrive during the school day.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 9-12 hours of sleep for school-aged children, yet studies from the CDC show many fall short. Inadequate sleep doesn’t just make kids groggy — it can contribute to behavior challenges, difficulty focusing, and even long-term health concerns such as obesity and ADHD.
The good news? A consistent bedtime routine can make a world of difference. Parents should create a wind-down ritual that signals “it’s time for sleep” and helps kids reset for the next day. And don’t forget the power of communication: staying connected with your child’s teacher can help identify and address academic or behavior concerns early on. Research is clear — parental involvement has a positive impact on academic achievement.
Teachers: Building Bridges at School
For educators, the classroom is more than a learning space — it’s often a lifeline. Students arrive with unique backgrounds and challenges, from single-parent households to experiences with poverty or the foster care system. These circumstances can make it harder for families to provide essentials like school supplies or meals, leaving schools as a critical support system.
That’s why building relationships and open communication is key. Teachers should get to know their students’ needs, reach out to families, and, when necessary, connect students with wraparound services.
If a student struggles academically, collaboration with counselors or the special education team may be needed to explore supports such as an IEP or 504 Plan. Every conversation, every partnership matters — because no student’s journey should be walked alone.
Community & Resources: Knowing When to Reach Out
Parents and teachers don’t have to do it all alone. Knowing when —and where — to ask for help can build resilience for students and families alike. At Mingo Health Solutions, families have access to a wide range of supports designed to make the back-to-school transition smoother.
Counseling services are available for children experiencing stress, anxiety, or difficulty adjusting to new routines. For students who need extra academic or behavioral support, MHS offers guidance with the IEP and 504 process, helping parents navigate school systems and advocate for their child’s needs.
Skills coaching and parent workshops provide practical tools for building routines, improving communication, and developing healthy coping strategies at home. When challenges like food insecurity, transportation, or school supplies arise, MHS has community health workers available to connect families with community resources and coordinate with teachers to ensure no student is left behind. By combining counseling, IEP/504 support, parent education, and wraparound services, Mingo Health Solutions helps families feel equipped, supported, and ready to thrive throughout the school year.
The bottom line: Back-to-school season works best when it’s a team effort. With parents providing consistency at home, teachers fostering connections at school, and communities offering support when needed, we create the strongest foundation for every student to thrive.
Please donate to Solutions of Change at www.solutionsofchange.org (a non profit organization providing free and low cost therapy for those who dont have insurance or can’t afford it.)
‘This is How We View It’
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A photo essay by Terra Ishmael captures the richness of the 15th annual reunion for residents of the Valley View community.
Look at the smiling faces: longtime residents and homeowners of the legendary community gathered for the 15th Annual Valley View Reunion. Under the theme of “This is How We View It,” community members who grew up in the historic neighborhood came together to enjoy a delicious potluck and engaging fellowship.
HEALTHIER YOU: Awareness of ovarian cancer
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BY DR. MARGUERITE BRATHWAITE OB-GYN
The word “cancer” always raises an alarm. It is scary because there is so much unknown.
Awareness and early detection are key survival factors, and that begins with basic knowledge. There are five main types of cancer which affect a woman’s reproductive organs: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. Each gynecological cancer is unique — with different signs, symptoms, and certain risk factors, including heredity.
All women are at risk for gynecological cancers — and that risk increases with age. The signs and symptoms are not the same for every woman. When gynecological cancers are found early, treatment works best; which is why it is important for women to pay attention to their own bodies and take note when something is not normal or seems out of the ordinary.
Ovarian cancer makes up around 2.5% of all cancers found in women. But it causes about 5% of cancer deaths in women because it’s often found late, after cancer has spread.
A little less than 1% of Black women may get ovarian cancer in their lifetime. They have some of the lowest rates of ovarian cancer, compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Per 100,000 people, here’s a breakdown of how many U.S. women may have ovarian cancer each year:
- Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native women 11.4%
- Non-Hispanic white: 11%
- Hispanic: 10.3 %
- Non-Hispanic Black: 9.4%
Ovaries are mostly made of three kinds of cells: epithelial, germ, and stromal. Each of these cells can cause a different kind of cancer.
For example, Epithelial tumors form in the tissue around your ovaries. This is the most common kind of ovarian cancer found in women of any race or ethnicity. There are four major types of epithelial ovarian cancer:
- Serous
- Endometriosis
- Clear-cell
- Mucinous
Black women with epithelial ovarian cancer are diagnosed most often with high-grade serous tumors, the most aggressive kind.
All women should have regular healthcare checkups. Make your appointment today by calling Innovative Women’s Care at (702) 413-7740 or visit us at 851 S. Rampart Blvd., Suite 165 in Las Vegas.
YOU! HOLD THE KEY TO CHANGE | Supporting Our Leaders: The 3 C’s Rule
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BY DR. ELLEN BROWN
Recently, I have been taking a moment to think more carefully about the increasing number of people who show up in various leadership positions around the country. I am not focusing only on their skills, knowledge, and power, but also on the reasons behind their choices. Whether these individuals are chosen or they work their way into the spotlight, once there, the expectations of their value in the positions will surely be assessed. They need our support.
Leadership requires giving: knowledge, time, money, energy, privacy, and opinions, to name a few. Though I may disagree with a valid leader and their constituents, my opinion category will undoubtedly consist of both supporters and non-supporters.
No one is perfect. John 8:7 is an oft-cited Bible verse about gossip and condemnation of our words and deeds: “He that is without sin among you, let him cast first a stone.” In this story, the victim is a woman targeted by accusers; but Jesus saw the leaders as the accusers. He challenged them to look first at themselves and the importance of their own power as leaders.
Leadership consists of a collection of initiatives — including beliefs, loyalties, trust, commitment, communication, and reliability. Here is a rule of leadership that I came across on the internet, centered on character, competence, and commitment.
We follow those we trust, who hold the legitimate title of leader — whether they are teaching, leading, protecting, delivering the Word, serving our country, or keeping our children safe at crosswalks. It is a partnership.
In our Las Vegas community, we are fortunate to live in a place of strong leadership — of capable people willing to share their time and knowledge, as well as resources, to make this a better place. When questions of decisions come up within our leadership community, assess their commitment to the 3 C’s and the benefits we receive.
CHARACTER. Who are they? What do you see that supports the character of leadership? Get to know them! Anyone can sit around and talk about individuals in positions without knowing who they are and what they stand for. Character always shows itself. What you conclude is your impression. If you have questions, connect more with who they are and what they are doing that matters to you.
COMPETENCE. The résumé. What has been accomplished? This goes for personal, professional and within the connection you are making to them. It is this category that will give you hard and fast data on the abilities of the person seeking leadership positions through your support. Seek out this information in more than one way.
COMMITMENT. What commitment will I make? As we wrap up our Vegas Summer and prepare for the work we have ahead in 2025-26, let us embrace the foundation of commitment along with support. Create questions you may have about the leadership promises and ask for answers. Questions, rather than statements — or worse, leaning on hearsay and past vs. present in pursuit of the current truth. How often do we hear the phrase: “So, this is what ‘They’ (or ‘You’) should be doing”? Both leaders and followers are positions we each hold every day, and the 3 C’s of Leadership is a template needed to accomplish the role and the goal.
When the Leadership topic comes up during campaigns and elections, consider the following: If not you, who? If not me, why? If not here, where? If not now, when?
This article aims to raise awareness of this initiative. Please share it with your friends, family, business contacts, congregations, and community members. Together, we can make a difference. I welcome your input, questions, and ideas for topics; feel free to send them to ebrown.nci@gmail.com
Community Leaders Tour New Library on MLK!
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The Executive Director of the Las Vegas Clark County Library District, Kelvin Watson and John Vino, general services director, recently gave a tour of the new West Las Vegas Library being constructed on the Historic Westside at 1861 N. Martin Luther King Blvd.
A number of community leaders and iconic Las Vegas notables participated in the tour of the facility set to open to the public on December 9.
The new state-of-the art West Las Vegas Library branch will double the size of the previous library, currently on West Lake Mead Boulevard, which was built in 1989. The new building will be a place where our children and generations to come can enjoy story times, arts, cultural events, live performances, after-school tutoring, and STEM activities.
Steinberg Diagnostics Joins Caravan for Mammogram
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FREE Breast Screenings for Caravan Participants
Las Vegas Black Image will host the 8th Annual Las Vegas Caravan for Mammogram, a free event taking place October 4 in the Valley Hospital parking lot at 700 Shadow Lane. The festivities begin at 8 a.m.
Las Vegas Caravan for Mammogram was founded by Las Vegas Black Image publisher Kimberly Bailey Tureaud, a longtime advocate for preventative health care.
“Every study shows that Black women die disproportionately from breast cancer, and early detection is critical to defeating and surviving this terrible disease” says Bailey Tureaud. “We are determined to remind women in our community to take care of their breast health and be proactive with preventive measures.”
This year’s Caravan for Mammogram will also feature an important addition: for the first time, Steinberg Diagnostics will provide FREE breast screenings for those who wish to take advantage of this wonderful offer. Ladies who wish to take part in the breast screenings must bring an official medical order from their personal OB-GYN to the event.
More than 200 Black women come together each October for the Las Vegas Caravan for Mammogram, gathering to decorate their cars in pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The ladies drive their cars and caravan down the Las Vegas Strip in parade formation to remind all women to take care of their breast health with annual mammograms and medical checkups.
There is no cost for participating in Caravan for Mammogram, and all participating ladies will receive a big pink bag full of decorations to decorate their cars. There will also be a wonderful free lunch at the end of the caravan, where participants and community members can dine together and network.
If you are interested in participating in the 8th Annual Las Vegas Caravan for Mammogram, get your free entry form by calling (702) 810-5631 or sending an email to cdalasvegas@gmail.com.
Under the Glittering Lights
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Audiences thrilled by ‘Miss Hattie’s Porch’
Playwright Stanley Jackson recently showcased his hit musical, “Miss Hattie’s Porch,” to a sellout crowd at the Clark County Library Main Theater. Over 750 people attended the masterful stage production — which the Nevada Arts Council called “a touching homage to the spirit of community, bridging the past and present through the universal themes of love, faith, and the strength found in togetherness.”
Silver State Smiles give students free dental checks
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Nevada Partners recently held its annual “Back-to-School Fair,” and over 1.600 Southern Nevada students attended and received school supplies and backpacks. Noted as one of the largest community service programs in Clark County, Nevada Partners hosted Silver State Smiles dental professionals during the back-to-school fair whereby students and parents received free dental screenings.
Students took part in the Silver State Smiles dental screenings after meeting the wonderful dentists who explained best practices for dental health. Parents received information about their children’s dental needs and the affordable “Silver State Club” dental insurance that guarantees quality and comprehensive dental care.
With nine Silver State Smiles dental practices in Southern Nevada (including Henderson), families were delighted to learn that dental care for their children would be consistent and convenient.
For more information, visit SilverStateSmiles.com or call (702) 470-1775.
HISTORIC BLACK VEGAS: 16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama
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BY CLAYTEE D. WHITE
Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley were murdered when their church was bombed on September 15, 1963. The large, prominent edifice, 16th Street Baptist Church is located downtown near Birmingham’s commercial district and City Hall. Built in 1911, this sanctuary served as the headquarters for civil rights mass meetings and rallies.
At one time, Birmingham was the most segregated city in the United States. (I wonder how that fact was documented.) Las Vegas was segregated to the extent that most, if not all Blacks lived on the Westside gradually moving into North Las Vegas before integration took place in 1960.
Birmingham’s focused desegregation campaign had taken place in the spring of 1963 and was a vicious fight. Students ranging from 8 years of age to eighteen were met by police who arrested thousands of children. The Sunday of the bombing was Youth Day at the church. I imagine that the excitement tinged with jittery nerves must have been thick in the air as young people prepared to take part in the adult service.
That program never happened — because just before 11 a.m., the time of Baptist services throughout most of the South during that time period, congregants were knocked to the floor. A bomb, planted by the KKK, exploded under the steps of the church.
The four young ladies — three of them 14 years of age, and one of them 9 — were in the basement. They died there.
Because of national politics and the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover, their murderers were not brought to justice until Robert Chambliss was convicted in 1977, Thomas Blanton in 2001, and Bobby Frank Cherry in 2002. Herman Cash died in 1994 having never been prosecuted for the murders.
This Birmingham campaign, like numerous others during the Civil Rights Movement, was staged to address issues that we have forgotten but may be on the verge of returning to if the country does not reawaken. Civil rights leaders pressured business owners to open employment to all races, urged school systems and city officials to end segregation, and fought to allow all to register and vote. Sit-ins and marches provoked mass arrests. When jails filled up, the police brought out water hoses and attack dogs. These efforts resulted in the ouster of the city Commissioner of Public Safety, Eugene “Bull” Connor, and ushered in the desegregation of public accommodations. And above all, paved the way for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibited racial discrimination throughout the country.
Las Vegas was in the midst of the desegregation of public accommodations as well but achieved that goal in 1960, over three years before the national Civil Rights Act. Black leaders threatened a march on the Strip, negotiated with organized crime and government officials for two weeks, and the doors opened. But this mandate occurred after small steps by activists, entertainers, and the Black community began at the dawn of the city. However, equal hiring practices did not begin until 1971 with the enforcement of the federal consent decree filed by Nevada’s first Black attorney, Charles Kellar.