It was funded by the Department of Labor.” The funding allowed a mock miniature casino to serve as a training tool to teach various games of chance, paying people while learning the skill. David Hoggard, an Assistant Superintendent of Schools, a schoolteacher, two attorneys, a doctor, and two other individuals.ĭavid Hoggard, one of the first local black police officers and the first black to head the Economic Opportunity Board, explained that “since there were no Black people employed on the Strip, we wrote a proposal for training dealers under the Concentrated Employment Program. Before they could get the funding, though, they needed to have a board. I gave her all the information I possibly could, which amounted to quite a bit regarding the need for certain types of training and for childcare, and whatever other conditions existed that I thought could be aided through the program.”Īt first, EOB had four different projects they wanted the funding to be used for Head Start, Operation Independence had a manpower program, and different community service programs. I told her about the situation involving poverty in West Las Vegas and many other problems that I thought might be important for securing funds for the community. She may have spent time in Las Vegas, but I’m sure she was not at all familiar with West Las Vegas, and she needed a lot of help… I helped as much as I could.

Walbroek at the very beginning of EOB’s inception. EOB moved into the Westside community and became the largest non-profit agency in Nevada.Įlaine Walbroek, from Berkeley, California, came to Las Vegas and served as the first EOB executive director. His administration hoped to relieve economic distress and poverty in city communities. It started as a small team with big dreams to fight the problems of poverty.ĮOB received its funding under the Economic Opportunity Act, a part of the Johnson Administration War on Poverty Program.

It opened its first office on April 5, 1965, with a staff of 4 persons and a program development grant of $25,000. The Economic Opportunity Board (EOB) was incorporated in the State of Nevada in September 1964.

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