Sticky Note Conversations

Erika Washington

To keep my thoughts in order and my to-do lists remotely manageable I create arrays of sticky notes on my desk and wall. New idea? Stick note! Someone I want to meet with? Sticky Note! Need to remember to pay a parking ticket? Write it on a sticky note. Over the course of the last year, I have wanted to create a podcast that allowed me to dive deep into conversations with interesting people.. I wanted to have real conversations that were more than sound bites or regurgitated talking points about fluffy topics. My hope is that each episode feels like old friends catching up. Revealing great information but also humanity, struggle, victory, joy, grief, and possibly, a flicker of transcendence. I hope you will enjoy these as much as I do creating them. Join me here every Saturday as I pull a new sticky note off my desk.

  1. 3d ago

    Gerald Mayes Sr. - "Mind Ya Business"

    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 servantGrowing up in 89106: from Western High School to the MarinesFatherhood, "normal," and giving kids what wasn't given to youRethinking Black parenting: breaking the cycle of fear-based disciplineThe NAACP's vision: bridging generational gaps in civil rights workYouth programs, partnerships, and building infrastructure across organizationsWhat the Executive Director role actually does (and why the branch created it)Civic education, midterm elections, and holding officials accountable between electionsDo Black voters still have political power? A candid conversationBallot Question 6 (reproductive freedom) and Question 7 (voter ID) explainedDefining democracy — and whether we actually have itEngaging Black men in civic life: listen first, don't criticizeGerald's version of the American dream: let people liveUpcoming 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.orgFood & 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" (00:05) - Show Intro (01:29) - Meet Gerald Mays (02:56) - Fatherhood and Roots (05:41) - What Normal Means (08:26) - Parenting Young Adults (14:27) - Rethinking Black Parenting (17:09) - NAACP Vision Today (20:20) - Youth Programs and Partnerships (23:49) - Executive Director Role (26:46) - Civic Education and Midterms (30:56) - Accountability Beyond Voting (35:10) - Black Political Power (43:28) - Ballot Questions 6 and 7 (46:47) - Defining Democracy (48:22) - Engaging Black Men (51:33) - American Dream Reimagined (54:10) - Events and Closing

    Gerald Mayes Sr. - "Mind Ya Business"

  2. Sep 5

    Kamilah Bywaters - "Lesson Learned"

    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 (00:43) - Welcome and Midterms (01:20) - Meet Kamilah Bywaters (02:42) - Conversations Not Interviews (03:29) - Who Is Kamilah (05:30) - Why Education and Special Ed (07:33) - New Teacher Hazing (10:20) - Workplace Politics Explained (17:27) - Tattle Phone Break (18:20) - CCSD Problems and Equity (20:20) - Power Blocks School Reform (24:53) - Why Keep People Down (29:58) - Lessons From Campaigning (31:05) - Words And Censorship (31:51) - Campaign Loss Lessons (33:35) - Thick Skin Strategy (35:38) - Why Run Again (39:28) - District Two Map (40:55) - Voter Priorities Issues (43:15) - Costs Economy Pressure (44:41) - Governing Approach Limits (47:09) - Bills Caucus Reality (52:08) - Democracy And Dream (56:05) - Pitch To District Two (58:10) - Closing Thanks Credits

    Kamilah Bywaters - "Lesson Learned"

  3. Aug 29

    Reuben D'Silva- "History Has It's Eye On You"

    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 welcomeMeet 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 activistLife 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 identityTeacher 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 bestStudent 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 studentsThe 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 hardPath 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 awakeningRunning 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 losingThe 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 votersLegislative 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 voteBalancing Teaching & Legislature — The reality of Nevada's biennial session: unpaid leave, no benefits, finding long-term subs, and the case for a full-time legislatureLooking 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 relationshipsDemocracy & 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 dyingDefining 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 sendoffMentioned in this episode: Rancho High School (Las Vegas, NV)Clark County School District (CCSD)Congressman Ro Khanna — immigration town hall at St. Christopher's ChurchMoms for LibertyBernie Sanders 2016 campaignSenator Cannizzaro — EDUCATE ActCCSD trustee billSony & Warner Brothers — proposed Las Vegas studio expansionCollege of Southern Nevada (CSN)New Deal-era policies, GI Bill, Glass-SteagallMake It Work Nevada / Beyond ImpactKUNV 91.5Follow Reuben D'Silva:https://www.instagram.com/reuben.dsilva_/ Nevada Assembly District 28 — East Side & North Las VegasSticky 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 (00:42) - Meet Assemblymember Reuben D'Silva (04:01) - Life as an Educator at Rancho High (09:02) - Teacher Pay & Education Policy (12:55) - Student Engagement & Immigration Issues (22:38) - The Walkout & Moms for Liberty (28:38) - Path to Politics (31:58) - Running for Congress (38:01) - The Future of the Democratic Party (43:19) - Legislative Session: Room Cleaning & Film Tax (50:18) - Balancing Teaching & Legislature (55:33) - Looking Ahead: 2027 Session Bills (59:33) - Democracy & The American Dream (01:04:47) - Defining the Middle Class & Closing

    Reuben D'Silva- "History Has It's Eye On You"

  4. Aug 22

    Brenda Zamora "Where Does The Good Go?"

    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 (01:02) - Welcoming Brenda Zamora (03:04) - How Are You Doing? (07:09) - Sharing Stories & Vulnerability (09:50) - School Schedule & Working Parents (16:11) - The Clancy Case & Postpartum Depression (21:36) - Advocating for Yourself in Healthcare (28:14) - Setting Boundaries as an Elected Official (34:00) - What Do You Love About the School Board? (37:43) - Social Media & Public Scrutiny (40:53) - Hopes for the Future (45:20) - Closing & Credits

    Brenda Zamora "Where Does The Good Go?"

  5. Aug 15

    Eboni Taylor - "Sleep to Dream"

    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 (00:43) - Meet Eboni Taylor (03:05) - Motherhood & Identity (05:16) - Michigan State Senate District 3 (07:33) - Issues on the Doors (09:21) - Why I Decided to Run (12:14) - The "Progressive" Label (18:43) - Utility Crisis & DTE (28:09) - Michigan's Political Landscape (36:17) - The Democratic Party's Future (43:45) - Defining Democracy (53:29) - The American Dream (56:24) - Running Again & Closing

    Eboni Taylor - "Sleep to Dream"

  6. Aug 8

    Leo Murrieta - "Ordinary People"

    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" (00:41) - Introduction (02:39) - Who Is Leo Murrieta? (03:59) - How Leo Got Into Politics (07:27) - The Citizenship Journey & Notario Fraud (16:30) - Route 91 & Make the Road Nevada (25:55) - Lessons from Nine Years as Executive Director (27:44) - Leadership, Power & the Political Landscape (40:08) - Grassroots Organizing vs. Voter Mobilization (51:22) - Nevada as Second in the Nation & 2028 (59:49) - Rejecting Moderate Politics (01:08:16) - What Is Democracy? (01:13:59) - The American Dream (01:19:11) - Closing Reflections

    Leo Murrieta - "Ordinary People"

  7. Aug 1

    The Best Of Sticky Note Conversations Season Three

    Time is flying — Erika Washington can't believe we're already halfway through the year. In this special roundup episode, host Erika Washington revisits the most powerful conversations from Season 3 of Sticky Note Conversations, a season that explored what it takes to build stronger, more resilient communities while defining and demanding democracy. From organizers to writers, historians to community leaders, this season's guests proved that real change begins with honest conversations and the courage to fight for more. Relive the throwbacks: Alvin Hill – Boys Don't Cry: A raw conversation on masculinity, grief, and parenting, challenging the idea that strength means hiding emotion — especially for Black men.Gwen Frisbie-Fulton – Coal: A firsthand account of living next door to neo-Nazi recruiters, unpacking how economic hardship fuels extremism and how communities can fight back.Tomás Garduño – We Built This City: 25 years of grassroots organizing wisdom, distilled into hard-won lessons on humility, timing, and courage.Claytee White – Fight the Power: A tribute to the late Dr. Ruby Duncan, tracing her legacy of welfare rights organizing and the Black women who powered the movement behind the scenes.Dawn Blagrove – This Woman's Work: An unflinching take on electoral strategy, accountability, and building lasting community institutions beyond crisis response.Cecia Alvarado – Pura Vida: An honest look at immigration, identity, and why authentic outreach matters in reaching Latino voters.Erika closes with a personal reflection on what it means to stay engaged — and why she refuses to just watch from the sidelines. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you stream audio. (00:00) - Intro (01:54) - Alvin Hill - Boys Don't Cry (09:47) - Gwen Frisbie-Fulton - Coal (26:31) - Tomás Garduño - We Built This City (39:48) - Claytee White - Fight the Power (47:29) - Dawn Blagrove - This Woman's Work (51:29) - Cecia Alvarado - Pura Vida (58:29) - Erika's Final Word

    The Best Of Sticky Note Conversations Season Three

  8. Jul 25

    Vanecia Boone - "The World is Coming to a Start"

    In this episode of Sticky Note Conversations, host Erika Washington sits down with actress, director, theater educator, and MFA artist Vanecia Boone for a wide-ranging conversation about building a creative, fulfilling life on her own terms. Vanecia opens up about raising her eight-year-old son as a single Black mother — from navigating hypermasculinity and code-switching to the tough decision to pull him out of traditional school for homeschooling. She shares how motherhood transformed her from a free-spirited "couch surfer" into someone deeply intentional about safety, routine, and presence. The conversation moves through Vanecia's lifelong love of theater, her upcoming role in Purlie Victorious at the International Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, NC, and the plays that changed her life. She and Erika dig into AI's growing role in the classroom and in playwriting, the acting techniques she teaches her students (and her son) for "taking off the mask," and her path to becoming an herbalist after her own mother's death. They close with a candid discussion of reproductive justice, birth stories, legacy, and what the American dream really looks like for a 38-year-old single Black woman building community, land, and freedom for the next generation. Topics covered: Becoming a mother and redefining herselfRaising a Black son with self-awareness and freedomHomeschooling and navigating judgment as a parentHer journey into theater and upcoming performance in Purlie VictoriousAI's impact on education, playwriting, and authenticity in artMental health, acting technique, and "weathering"Herbalism, reproductive justice, and her birth storyLegacy, identity, and reclaiming her name after lossLearn more about the International Black Theatre Festival at NCBlackRep.org. (00:00) - Introduction (01:38) - Meet Vanecia Boone (04:03) - Who Is Vanecia? Values and Faith (07:44) - Becoming a Mother (09:36) - Raising a Black Son (18:01) - Parenting Never Stops (21:29) - Her Journey Into Theater (26:28) - Plays That Changed Her Life (29:52) - Black Theatre Festival and Purlie Victorious (33:25) - Balancing Rehearsal and Motherhood (36:18) - The Homeschooling Journey (44:09) - Teaching the Next Generation (50:39) - AI, Theater, and Authenticity (56:42) - Masking, Weathering, and Mental Health (01:01:52) - Becoming an Herbalist (01:06:02) - Reproductive Justice and Her Birth Story (01:16:45) - Legacy and the American Dream (01:18:20) - Closing Thoughts

    Vanecia Boone - "The World is Coming to a Start"
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

To keep my thoughts in order and my to-do lists remotely manageable I create arrays of sticky notes on my desk and wall. New idea? Stick note! Someone I want to meet with? Sticky Note! Need to remember to pay a parking ticket? Write it on a sticky note. Over the course of the last year, I have wanted to create a podcast that allowed me to dive deep into conversations with interesting people.. I wanted to have real conversations that were more than sound bites or regurgitated talking points about fluffy topics. My hope is that each episode feels like old friends catching up. Revealing great information but also humanity, struggle, victory, joy, grief, and possibly, a flicker of transcendence. I hope you will enjoy these as much as I do creating them. Join me here every Saturday as I pull a new sticky note off my desk.

Information

  • Creator
    Erika Washington
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    122
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Make It Work Nevada
  • Show Website
    Sticky Note Conversations