Wendell P Williams was born in Saint Joseph Louisiana and received both his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Southern University at Baton Rouge LouisianaAfter locating to Las Vegas Nevada, he worked as a classroom teacher and community organizer. His work in education earned him the Crystal Apple Award and among other things the highest award from the National Education Association as well as the MaryMcCloud Bethune Award from the NAACPIn 1987 he was elected to the Nevada Legislature becoming the first teacher in Nevada history to serve in that body. In his freshman term he introduced and passed two paid state holidays, FAMILY DAY and the Dr Martin Luther King state Holiday. Among dozens of countless bills, he authored legislation to rebuild all schools in Las Vegas that were built before 1970.

During his 18 years in the Nevada legislature, he served as chairman of theEducation Committee and Judiciary Committee. He later became the first AfricanAmerican to serve as Speaker of the House.His work in the community includes membership in the Masons, the Order of the Elks theOmega Psi Phi Fraternity among a few. He was a columnist for the Las Vegas SentinelVoice Newspaper and was the founder of Power 88 Radio’s first community affairs talkshow.His community work resulted in the Clark County School District in 2002 opening the first2 story elementary school in the state in his honor “Wendell Phillips Williams ElementarySchool” in his honor. And in 2004 the City of Las Vegas dedicated Wendell Williams Way anew street in his honor. And among his other awards in 2025 President Joseph Biden presented him with the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR SERVICE.1n December of 1981, Williams founded the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Committee of LasVegas as well as the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Birthday Parade. Starting with just 13 Entries the Parade has grown to what is considered the largest King Parade in America. And the celebration spans over 10 days with a mart summit that attracts up to 1000 students and the scholarship gala has helped countless students attain higher education over 40 years.The organization was successful among other things changing the former Highland Blvd to what’s now Martin Luther King Blvd. and the opening of Martin Luther ElementarySchool.However, Mr. Williams feels that his greatest achievement in life in his life was convincing former Jet Magazine Beauty of the Week, Zelda Pur ear to become Mrs. Wendell P Williams.

About our guest … Leon Ravin, MD is currently serving in the position of

Statewide Psychiatric Medical Director for the Division of Public and Behavioral

Health, DHHS, State of Nevada. In addition to Dr. Raven being a board-certified

general adult and forensic psychiatrist Dr. Raven also serves as a member of the

Statewide School Safety Task Force for the State of Nevada and a member of

the Executive Committee of the Medical Directors Council of the National

Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. Dr. Ravin served for four

years as a member of the LAI work group for SMI Adviser, an APA and SAMHSA

initiative that offers researched, vetted and verified guidance to the best

resources on SMI. Since 2010 Dr. Ravin has been a member of the Conference

Committee for the Annual National Psychopharmacology Update, the largest

psychopharmacology conference in the United States. Additionally, since 2013

Dr. Ravin has been one for the lead trainers for the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)

training for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Influential ResourcesIzaac credits several books for shaping his artistic mindset and career. Early on, works like Think and Grow Rich and How to Win Friends and Influence People taught him the power of manifestation and networking. Books such as 48 Laws of Power and Mastery reinforced the importance of focus and continual skill development. Other impactful reads include The Power of Habit, The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, Origins of Creativity, and Algorithms to Live By. Together,these resources helped him navigate the challenges of being an independent creative, a path that requires both mental resilience and adaptability.Mission and philosophy At the heart of Izaac’s work lies a mission to highlight social issues and spark dialogue. Through the ambiguity of his art,he invites viewers to extract personalized meanings, often resulting in interpretations that reflect opposing perspectives.Far from being a flaw, Izaac sees this duality as a reflection of human complexity and the contradictions that define society.For Izaac, art is a tool to illuminate these nuances and hypocrisies, providing a medium capable of capturing the layered realities of the modern world.Jan21thIzaac Baron Zevalking Artist

About our guest … Mason Van Houweling Mason Van Houweling serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada (UMC), providing leadership to a diverse team of nearly 5,000 employees who dedicate their careers to delivering Nevada’s highest level of care. While guiding Nevada’s most respected academic medical center and its many off-site clinic locations, Mason’s strategic vision supports the organization’s ability to save and improve the lives of community members. UMC remains dedicated to offering exclusive and highly specialized services, including Nevada's Level I Trauma Center, only Verified Burn Center, and only Center for Transplantation. As a result of his commitment to innovation, UMCnow serves as Nevada’s most sophisticated healthcare system, offering the latest breakthroughs in clinical technology. Mason brings 30 years of healthcare experience to UMC, from small community hospitals to those with more than 1,000 beds. He has a proven track record of balancing a hospital's financial performance while providing uncompromised patient care. Mason’s hospital administration career began at Orlando Regional Medical Center and continued progressing with Tenet Healthcare, CarolinasHealthcare System, and Universal Healthcare. Before joining UMC as Chief Executive Officer, Mason was a Senior Leader at Spring Valley and Valley Hospitals in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Get ready for an enlightening episode of No Laughing Matter with Cuba Pete as we

welcome innovator and Creative Director, Jose Gomez is also known as “Drix”.

In this episode of "No Laughing Matter with Cuba Pete," Joe is joined by José Gomez,

known professionally as Drix, to discuss his journey to art and his work as the

Creative Director of UNAPLGTIC. Drix shares his inspiration behind the design of the

GENESIS Apple Art Car, focusing on its innovative theme of Technology.

Join us for an engaging conversation that explores Drix’s life, his passion for art

innovation, and his creative participation in shaping a better future for all. This is an

episode you won't want to miss!

In this episode of "No Laughing Matter with Cuba Pete," Joe engages in an enlightening conversation with Dr. Jonathan E. Sherin, M.D., Ph.D. They explore Dr. Sherin's extensive advocacy work, spanning local, state, and national levels,
focusing on vulnerable populations such as veterans, mental health, and
homelessness. The discussion also touches upon the significance of a new medical school in
Southern Nevada. This episode provides profound insights into Dr. Sherin's
impactful background, and career. It sheds light on critical issues affecting
communities, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in healthcare, advocacy,
and societal well-being.

They will also discuss the importance of establishing a new medical school in Southern Nevada. This episode offers valuable insights into Congresswoman Lee's multifaceted contributions and promises an engaging exploration of education, community service, and healthcare initiatives. Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation!