Sticky Note Conversations

With the 2026 midterm elections just weeks away, host Erika Washington revisits a powerful conversation from earlier this season with former Nevada Assemblywoman Claire Thomas (District 17). Claire shares her journey from Brooklyn to Las Vegas by way of the U.S. Air Force, her experiences with racism and sexism in the military, and how she unexpectedly stepped into public office after the passing of Assemblyman Tyrone Thompson. She holds nothing back — from being called a "token" by a commanding officer, to being one of only four legislators to vote against school expulsion bills AB 285 and AB 330, to her thoughts on the current state of the Nevada Democratic Party and what real leadership should look like. This is a conversation about community, courage, and the cost of standing up when everyone else sits down.

Episode Summary A replay episode ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, featuring former Nevada Assemblywoman Claire Thomas. Claire discusses her military service, her path to the Nevada State Legislature, her fight against school expulsion bills, and her candid assessment of the Democratic Party's direction in Nevada.

Key Topics

• Midterm voting mindset: Erika opens with a call to think beyond yourself when voting
• Replay introduction to Claire Thomas, former Nevada Assemblywoman
• Claire's Nevada roots and what made her fall in love with Las Vegas
• The Air Force reality check: Little Rock, missile maintenance, and broken promises
• Racism and sexism in the military: the "token" experience at Little Rock AFB
• Military progress today: Claire reflects on changes (and setbacks) for women and Black service members
• Running for Assembly: stepping into Tyrone Thompson's seat after his sudden passing
• "Not a seat warmer": Claire on pushing back against party expectations
• School expulsion bills AB 285 and AB 330: why Claire was the lone voice saying no
• Restorative justice fallout: COVID's impact on students and why AB 169 was abandoned
• How laws actually get implemented (or don't): the reality of unfunded mandates
• Why CCSD struggles: top-heavy leadership and the funding problem
• State party problems: Claire's candid take on the Nevada Democratic Party's decline
• "Mean girls and cliques": what caucus culture really looks like
• What democracy means: Claire's reflection on freedom, community, and what we're throwing away
• Closing credits

Guest Bio

Claire Thomas is a former Nevada Assemblywoman for District 17, a U.S. Air Force veteran, and a longtime Las Vegas resident of 43+ years. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Claire served as an air traffic controller at Nellis Air Force Base before becoming deeply involved in Nevada's Democratic Party and community advocacy. She served two terms in the Nevada State Assembly, where she was known for speaking up on education, labor, and community issues. Claire is a proud member of SEIU and a mother and grandmother of native Nevadans.

Host

Erika Washington — Host, creator, and executive producer of Sticky Note Conversations.

Credits

Editing by Black Gypsy LLC. Special thanks to KUNV 91.5 in Las Vegas. Sticky Note Conversations is powered by Make It Work Nevada, a project of Tides Advocacy.

With midterm election season in full swing, host Erika Washington sits down with North Las Vegas Mayor Pro Tem Scott Black, who is running to become the city's next mayor. Born and raised in southern Nevada, Black shares his vision for a "complete city" — one where residents can live, work, play, go to school, and thrive without ever leaving North Las Vegas.

From his fourth-grade book project titled How Billy Became Mayor to nine years on the city council, Black traces his leadership journey and makes the case for why local government matters more than most people realize. The conversation covers economic diversification beyond gaming, the transformation of the old Texas Station site into Hilo Park, innovative education partnerships with CCSD, approaches to homelessness and affordable housing, the data center debate, small business support, and what it means to govern in a nonpartisan seat. Black also reflects on democracy, the American dream, and the legacy he hopes to leave.

Show Notes:

About This Episode Midterm elections are here, and local races affect your daily life more than you might think. This week, we're talking with Scott Black, Mayor Pro Tem and City Councilman for Ward 3 in North Las Vegas, Nevada, who is running for mayor.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why local government engagement matters — and how municipal decisions reach your life faster than federal policy
• Scott Black's background: growing up in North Las Vegas since the fourth grade, his family, and his passion for the outdoors and old Volkswagens
• What a Mayor Pro Tem actually does (and how it prepared him to run for mayor)
• The transformation of North Las Vegas from its 1980s "bedroom community" reputation to Nevada's third-largest city
• The Hilo Park development on the former Texas Station and Fiesta casino sites — shopping, housing, and a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment complex
• Economic diversification: industrial growth in the Apex area, logistics, and the push for more manufacturing
• What it takes to build a "complete city" where you never have to leave to get what you need
• Education initiatives: microgrants for teachers, the Homegrown Teacher program, and how a city government can support schools without being the school district
• Addressing homelessness through the HOME Team (Homeless Outreach Mobile Engagement) and investing in affordable housing
• Community concerns on the campaign trail: affordability, public safety, and data centers
• The data center debate: water consumption, power usage, and the city's filter for new industrial development
• The Small Business Connector at City Hall — nearly 900 minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses helped
• Why municipal elections are nonpartisan (and why Scott's slogan is "It's not about R or D, it's about NLV")
• Ballot fatigue and why you should start at the bottom of the ballot
• Scott's fourth-grade book, How Billy Became Mayor, and his leadership journey from student government to city council
• Thoughts on democracy, the American dream, and legacy
  • (00:00) - Midterms and Change

• (00:00) - Midterms and Change

Host: Erika Washington

Credits: Hosted and produced by Erika Washington. Edited by Black Gypsy LLC. Special thanks to KUNV 91.5. Powered by Make It Work Nevada, a project of Beyond Impact.

Voting Reminder: Check your voter registration, find your polling location, or request your mail-in ballot. Nevada offers multiple ways to vote — use whichever works best for you.

This week on Sticky Note Conversations, we're revisiting our conversation with award-winning journalist Michael Lyle — a discussion that feels more urgent than ever. As press freedom faces unprecedented challenges, Erika and Michael dig into what it really means to be a truth-seeker in today's America.

From covering the October 1 mass shooting on the Las Vegas Strip to interviewing people experiencing homelessness in 115-degree heat, Michael pulls back the curtain on the realities of journalism that movies never show — the hours of public records requests, the door-knocking anxiety, and the emotional weight of asking people in their hardest moments to tell their stories.

They also dive deep into housing policy as a policy choice, why poverty is intentional, the book Invisible Child by Andrea Elliott, why AI will never replace human journalists, and what democracy really means (and whether we actually have it).

Plus: dream interview bucket lists, the difference between politics and policy, and why Michael will never stop calling it Twitter.

Show Notes:

In This Episode

• (00:00) - Show Intro Teaser

Guest

Michael Lyle is an award-winning journalist and reporter at Nevada Current, part of the States Newsroom network of nonprofit newsrooms filling news deserts across the country. He was named the 2011 Journalist of Merit by the Nevada Press Association. His work focuses on housing policy, homelessness, politics, and social justice issues in Nevada.

• 📰 Read his work: nevadacurrents.com
• 🐦 Follow on Twitter/X: @mjlyle

Books & Resources Mentioned

• Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival, and Hope in America's City by Andrea Elliott
• Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
• Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
• The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
• The Meth Lunches by Kim Foster
• States Newsroom — nonprofit newsroom network (statesnewsroom.com)

About the Show

Sticky Note Conversations is hosted and executive produced by Erika Washington. Music, mixing, and editing by Black Gypsy LLC. Special thanks to KUNV 91.5 in Las Vegas. This show is powered by Make It Work Nevada, a project of Tides Advocacy.

Follow the Show

• Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
• Connect with Make It Work Nevada at makeitworknevada.org

Kelly Garrett is back on Sticky Note Conversations for a second time, and she's not holding back. The former mayor of Lathrup Village and current mayor pro tem is now running for the Michigan House of Representatives in District 18 — and she's already cleared the primary.

In this episode, Kelly sits down with host Erika Washington to talk about what drove her to run for state office after 15 years in local government, the 40–50% water bill increase devastating residents in her community, and what she'd prioritize first in Lansing: paid leave, healthcare access, and carrying forward the work of Mothering Justice.

They also dig into the fractures within the Democratic Party — moderates vs. progressives, the Michigan Senate race fallout, why Black women are consistently asked to deliver votes but rarely given a seat at the top of the ticket, and whether the party truly understands what its base wants.

Plus: Kelly's secret book club she's never attended, her guilty pleasure reality TV picks, the Mel Robbins "Let Them" theory, and what joy and freedom look like right now.

Show Notes

Guest: Kelly Garrett — Former Mayor of Lathrup Village, current Mayor Pro Tem, and Democratic candidate for Michigan House of Representatives, District 18. Director of Development for Major Gifts at Rochester Christian University. Board member of Mothering Justice and the South Oakland YMCA. Founder of the Chandler Gibson Memorial Endowed Scholarship, which has surpassed $80,000.

Host: Erika Washington

In This Episode:

• Why Kelly decided to run for State Rep instead of State Senate — and what she heard from God about where to start
• A breakdown of Michigan's District 18: Lathrup Village, parts of Oak Park, Farmington Hills, Farmington, and Southfield
• The affordability crisis: rising property taxes, aging infrastructure, and a water bill increase of 40–50% that's hitting fixed-income residents hardest
• Stepping back as mayor: why Kelly chose to step aside and what she learned from 15 years in local government
• Running a "listening tour" campaign — door knocking, phone calls, and meeting voters where they are instead of making promises she can't keep alone
• The two-year term reality: why Kelly's next race will fall on a presidential election cycle (and why that scares her)
• First priorities if elected: paid leave (her "baby" from Mothering Justice), healthcare access, and carrying forward Rep. Valena Scott's Hope Zone legislation
• Life between home and Lansing: a one-hour-and-eight-minute commute and big plans for audiobooks
• Democratic Party divisions: the Michigan Senate race between Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed, primary fallout, and "Democrats for Mike Rogers"
• What does it mean to be a Democrat? Is the party keeping the status quo while its base diversifies?
• Representation on the ticket: why Michigan's top of the ticket is devoid of Black women — and the larger pattern of Black women being asked to deliver votes but not given leadership roles
• Money in politics and whether "rule by the people" still applies
• Kelly's American Dream: housing, food, water, and a good-paying job for everyone — and personally, to be an effective legislator who leaves a legacy connected to her late son, Chandler
• Joy is freedom: what's bringing Kelly joy right now

Books & Media Mentioned:

• Let Them (also called The Let Them Theory) by Mel Robbins
• Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
• Where Is the Lie? (possibly Listen for the Lies by Tessa Cottinger-Irving)
• The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin
• Look Closer by David Ellis
• Billy Porter's memoir (Unprotected)
• Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
• Jenifer Lewis's memoirs

Credits: Hosted and produced by Erika Washington. Edited by Black Gypsy LLC. Special thanks to KUNV 91.5. Powered by Make It Work Nevada, a project of Beyond Impact.

• (00:00) - Podcast Intro

This week on Sticky Note Conversations, Erika Washington sits down with Gerald Mayes, Executive Director of NAACP Las Vegas Branch #1111. From growing up on the west side of Las Vegas to serving in the Marines and becoming a father at 21, Gerald shares how his personal journey shapes his approach to community leadership.

They discuss rethinking Black parenting for the next generation, the NAACP's vision for bridging the gap between civil rights legacy and youth engagement, and why holding elected officials accountable requires more than just showing up to vote. Gerald breaks down Nevada's Ballot Questions 6 and 7, the importance of civic education, and what it means to build political power that reflects the full spectrum of Black life in Las Vegas — from 89106 to the affluent neighborhoods alike.

Plus, details on the upcoming NAACP Food & Fun Gala luncheon and Black Campaign School with Jessica Byrd.

Segments:

• Meet Gerald Mayes — connector, father, and community servant
• Growing up in 89106: from Western High School to the Marines
• Fatherhood, "normal," and giving kids what wasn't given to you
• Rethinking Black parenting: breaking the cycle of fear-based discipline
• The NAACP's vision: bridging generational gaps in civil rights work
• Youth programs, partnerships, and building infrastructure across organizations
• What the Executive Director role actually does (and why the branch created it)
• Civic education, midterm elections, and holding officials accountable between elections
• Do Black voters still have political power? A candid conversation
• Ballot Question 6 (reproductive freedom) and Question 7 (voter ID) explained
• Defining democracy — and whether we actually have it
• Engaging Black men in civic life: listen first, don't criticize
• Gerald's version of the American dream: let people live
• Upcoming events: Food & Fun Gala (Oct 10) & Black Campaign School (Sept 17–19)

Guest: Gerald Mayes — Executive Director, NAACP Las Vegas Branch #1111

Links & Resources:

• NAACP Las Vegas: naacplasvegas.org
• Food & Fun Gala Luncheon — October 10 at the Culinary Academy (tickets on website)
• Black Campaign School with Jessica Byrd — September 17–19 (free to attend, register on website)

Host: Erika Washington Produced by: Erika Washington Edited by: Black Gypsy LLC Special thanks to: KUNV 91.5 Powered by: Make It Work Nevada, a project of Beyond Impact

• (00:00) - Gerald Mayes Sr. - "Mind Ya Business"

In this episode of Sticky Note Conversations, host Erika Washington sits down with Kamilah Bywaters, a Las Vegas native, educator, and community leader running for Nevada Assembly District 2. Kamilah shares her journey from special education teacher to political candidate, discussing the systemic challenges plaguing the Clark County School District, the workplace politics that drive good teachers out of the profession, and why she decided to run for office again after a painful loss in her 2024 school board campaign. The conversation covers education equity, the state of democracy, voter priorities in District 2, and Kamilah's vision for representing her community in Carson City.

Show Notes

Episode Title: Sticky Note Conversations — Kamilah Byrates on Education, Equity, and Running for Assembly District 2

Host: Erika Washington Guest: Kamilah Bywaters — Candidate for Nevada Assembly District 2; licensed special education teacher, PhD candidate at UNLV, co-chair of the Las Vegas Alliance of Black School Educators

Duration: ~60 minutes

• (00:00) - Show Cold Open

Episode Description:

Assembly member Reuben D'Silva (District 28 — East Side & North Las Vegas) joins Sticky Note Conversations for a wide-ranging discussion about his dual life as a public school teacher and state legislator. Reuben shares stories from 14 years in the classroom at Rancho High School, his path from immigrant kid to Yale graduate to elected official, and why he believes the Democratic Party needs to deliver more than just resistance. We dig into the 2025 legislative session — including the daily room cleaning bill and the failed film tax credit — student walkouts over ICE detentions, the Moms for Liberty attack that backfired, and what bills he's already filing for 2027. Plus: what democracy means today, whether the American Dream is still alive, and how Reuben defines the middle class on a teacher's salary.

Show Notes:

Guest: Assemblymember Reuben D'Silva, Nevada State Assembly, District 28 (East Side & North Las Vegas)

Host: Erika Washington

In this episode:

• Introduction — Cold open and welcome
• Meet Assemblymember Reuben D'Silva — Erika introduces Reuben's background: Nevada Assembly since 2023, Education/Government Affairs/Revenue committees, veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and longtime community activist
• Life as an Educator at Rancho High — Reuben on teaching at his alma mater for 14 years, following in his mother's footsteps, and why being a teacher is his core identity
• Teacher Pay & Education Policy — Reuben's experience starting at $34,000/year with two Ivy League master's degrees, the bureaucracy driving great teachers out of public education, and what policy changes could attract and retain the best
• Student Engagement & Immigration Issues — How students at Rancho are affected by ICE crackdowns, the walkouts that followed a parent's detention outside the school, and how Congressman Ro Khanna stepped in to hold a town hall with students
• The Walkout & Moms for Liberty — Reuben's viral video supporting his students' right to protest, the national backlash from Moms for Liberty, and why he pushed back hard
• Path to Politics — From immigrant kid with no papers to student government leader at Rancho, the Hispanic Student Union, and the mentors who shaped his political awakening
• Running for Congress — Reuben's two Congressional runs (2016 as an independent, 2018 as a Democrat), his Bernie Sanders-inspired progressive platform, and what he learned from losing
• The Future of the Democratic Party — Why resistance isn't enough, the case for Medicare for All, paid family leave, and economic populism, and how the party can reconnect with working voters
• Legislative Session: Room Cleaning & Film Tax — Inside the daily room cleaning bill fight, why Reuben polled his district before voting, and the missed opportunity of the film tax credit bill that lost by one Senate vote
• Balancing Teaching & Legislature — The reality of Nevada's biennial session: unpaid leave, no benefits, finding long-term subs, and the case for a full-time legislature
• Looking Ahead: 2027 Session Bills — Reuben's pre-filed bills: a CSN license plate to fund athletics and food security, and a Nevada Asia Pacific Trade Commission to build international economic relationships
• Democracy & The American Dream — Reuben on demos kratos, the threat of Trump-era authoritarianism, the need for de-Trumpification, and whether the American Dream is sick or dying
• Defining the Middle Class & Closing — What middle class actually means on a teacher's salary, discretionary dollars vs. income, homeownership as wealth-building, and Erika's sendoff

Mentioned in this episode:

• Rancho High School (Las Vegas, NV)
• Clark County School District (CCSD)
• Congressman Ro Khanna — immigration town hall at St. Christopher's Church
• Moms for Liberty
• Bernie Sanders 2016 campaign
• Senator Cannizzaro — EDUCATE Act
• CCSD trustee bill
• Sony & Warner Brothers — proposed Las Vegas studio expansion
• College of Southern Nevada (CSN)
• New Deal-era policies, GI Bill, Glass-Steagall
• Make It Work Nevada / Beyond Impact
• KUNV 91.5

Follow Reuben D'Silva:https://www.instagram.com/reuben.dsilva_/

• Nevada Assembly District 28 — East Side & North Las Vegas

Sticky Note Conversations is hosted and produced by Erika Washington, edited by Black Gypsy LLC, with special thanks to KUNV 91.5. Powered by Make It Work Nevada, a project of Beyond Impact.

• (00:00) - Introduction

This week, Erika sits down with Brenda Zamora — deputy director of Make It Work Nevada, Clark County School Board trustee, and one of Erika's favorite people — for a wide-ranging conversation about wearing many hats and staying human while doing it all.

Brenda opens up about life as a caregiver, a mom of teenagers, and an elected official navigating the realities of the sandwich generation. She and Erika dig into the new school bell schedule and its ripple effects on working families, the importance of workplace flexibility, and why setting boundaries is essential — especially when you're in public office.

They also discuss the Clancy case and what it reveals about postpartum depression, the healthcare system's failures, and why advocating for yourself at the doctor's office is a skill we need to teach the next generation. Brenda shares her personal journey with therapy, finding the right provider, and learning to stop trying to be a superhero.

• (00:00) - Show Intro

Eboni Taylor joins Sticky Note Conversations to reflect on her first run for Michigan State Senate District 3 — what she learned on the doors across Detroit's east side, Highland Park, and Hamtramck, and why she made motherhood the centerpiece of her campaign. Erika and Eboni dig into the affordability crisis, DTE's monopoly and record profits, the "progressive" label, Michigan's role as a swing state, the Democratic Party's struggle to connect with working families, and what democracy and the American dream really mean when people are just trying to survive.

• (00:00) - Intro

Host Erika Washington sits down with Leo Murrieta — former Executive Director of Make the Road Nevada and proud "recovering executive director" — to talk about what real organizing looks like, the price of citizenship, and why staying moderate is a losing game.

Leo shares his journey from arriving in the U.S. as a week-old baby to navigating notario fraud, discovering he'd been a citizen for a decade without knowing it, and leading one of Nevada's largest Latino power-building organizations for nearly nine years. He also opens up about the night of the Route 91 massacre — and what it taught him about who gets left behind.

From grassroots base-building to the 2028 presidential primary, Leo and Erika get into what's broken in progressive politics, who the real leaders are (hint: they're not in the title), and what the American dream means for a queer immigrant who's spent his career fighting for others.

• (00:00) - SNC S3 Leo Murrieta - "Ordinary People"