They are ordinary people who come to the United States from distant parts of the globe with hope for a better future. They grow, they teach, they learn, and in many ways they contribute to the future of the country.
This zip code: 29.5%
Whole state: 15.8%
The district commissioner Chris Giunchigliani said that one reason behind the migration to the area is that it still has affordability.
“Also, there may be family members already in the area and that attracts other family members to live nearby,” said Giunchigliani. “Finally, there is some form of transportation compared to other parts of town for folks without cars.”
Giunchigliani views the community as “wonderfully diverse, but also needy.”
“Out of town owners and rental properties haven’t been kept up which creates a ‘worn-out’ look,” she said.
However Giunchigliani added that she is currently working on setting up pride zones to help neighbors to get to know neighbors regardless of their cultural background.
“It will be a community in transition depending on economical downturn and length of the job losses,” she said.
Ardyth Broadrick Sohn, professor and director of the UNLV Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies, also fears for the problems many face.
“I know many have immigration questions, but no time or ability to seek good information that might be available to them at UNLV,” said Sohn. “My hope is that we can begin systematically and collectively to reach out and truly make UNLV part of the neighborhood. Many faculty, students and staff just drive into and out of the neighborhood to work and class. We need to begin to see this as our community…because it really is,” she added.
Today, there are many immigrants who live and work in the UNLV neighborhood, making one of the oldest Las Vegas areas a melting pot of the world.
While some choose this particular location because of its proximity to the healthy job market of the Las Vegas strip, there are others who have somewhat different reasons behind being part of the community.
Danny’s story in his own words.
Danny Aghadjanian, 42-year-old Armenian for example, manages the Mediterranean and Eastern European food store, L.A. Price Market, located on 4972 S. Maryland Parkway.
He came to the United States in 1989 along with his family. They lived in California for 10 years before moving to Las Vegas. Aghadjanian and his brother owned a grocery store in Los Angeles, but decided to move from the big city because of competition.
“We have a friend here (in Las Vegas) and we saw it was easy and less expensive,” said Aghadjanian. “We decided to come and open another store with my family,” he added.
Despite the fact that his business is now expanding and his family is prospering, Aghadjanian still misses his native country and childhood friends. Yet at the same time he is happy to be in the United States and feels welcome in the country.
“I like it here because of the freedom and the opportunity to grow,” said Aghadjanian. “I have young kids and they can go to school here, they can get wherever they want to get.”
Aghadjanian does not recall having had major obstacles since his arrival in America. His goal however is to keep his family happy and together. He considers this to be the biggest challenge in his life.
“It doesn’t matter where you stay, America or elsewhere, the main thing for me is my family,” he said.
There are many others like Aghadjanian who have come to the United States seeking freedom and opportunity for growth.
Erika Solis, 35, had left her home town of Vera Cruz, Mexico and had come to the United States in 1990 along with her cousin.
Similarly to Aghadjanian, she first lived in California where she met her husband. They moved to Las Vegas in 1999 and she now works for an apartment complex in the UNLV neighborhood.
“The hardest thing was coming here without my parents,” said Solis. “I had to work, to go to school. Sometimes around 9 or 10 o’clock at night I go home with no car, no bicycle and have to walk alone at night time.”
Although Solis misses her family and friends whom she left behind more than 15 years ago, she admits that she has always felt welcome in the country.
“It is important how you treat the people,” said Solis. “Even if they are black or white, from Hawaii or from any state, I treat everybody the same way,” she added.
Her goal is to stay in the country as long as possible in order to provide an opportunity for her children to obtain good education and a better future.
“I think the reason we are here is because we have something in mind, we were not happy at the place we were born,” said Solis. “Sometimes you get married here; you make your own family…Immigrants are not coming here to take somebody’s job or to hurt somebody. I think people are here for one reason, everybody wants to make money, wants to make a better future.” she added.
Giunchigliani feels that Americans often fail to consider the fact that people from foreign countries come to seek a better life and that they are not necessarily illegal.
“We have a cultural clash. Many of our older, long term Nevadans are scared and angry about the changes from language to advertising. Some folks think just because you don’t speak English you are undocumented and that isn’t true,” said Giunchigliani. “I came from Chicago where we had enclaves of immigrants that never learned English, from Italians, to Greeks, etc. But overall most people want everyone to live and prosper,” she added.
Despite how some people feel about the immigrants in the UNLV community, the colorful atmosphere and cultural variety strike curiosity and appreciation in many others.
Giunchigliani said she has always lived on the east side because of the variety of cultures and neighborhood feeling.
Sohn, on the other hand, finds the neighborhood to also be a “great untapped resource for journalism students who want to better understand a global perspective.” She recalls her experiences and conversations with foreigners to have been “fascinating.”
“… I talked with students from Serbia and Ukraineabout unrest in their countries and we exchange political news as we receive it,” said Sohn. “To have the opportunity to discuss current events with very informed and committed citizens of other countries is a marvelous situation to me,” she added.
