As Startup Champions Network prepares to gather in Las Vegas, we’re excited to explore one of the city’s most historically rich and resilient neighborhoods: West Las Vegas. Known for its deep cultural roots, entrepreneurial spirit, and unwavering community strength, the Historic Westside has long been a center of innovation—both in how it has confronted systemic injustice and in how it continues to chart a course toward equitable development.
The Soul of the Westside: Jackson Avenue
At the heart of this history is Jackson Avenue—once dubbed the “Westside Strip,” a vibrant stretch that rivaled the glitz of the Las Vegas Strip itself. During segregation, Black entertainers who performed at Strip casinos were barred from staying in those same venues. As a result, Jackson Avenue blossomed into a thriving district of Black-owned businesses, bustling nightclubs, and cultural venues where stars like Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole, and Pearl Bailey could unwind and perform freely.
Jackson Avenue wasn’t just a nightlife destination—it was a safe haven and a hub for economic empowerment. From barber shops and restaurants to community institutions and gathering spots, it embodied the Westside’s ability to build and sustain a parallel economy in the face of exclusion. Today, preservation and revitalization efforts are working to reclaim that legacy and reimagine the avenue as a modern hub for commerce, culture, and community.
Photo credit: Las Vegas Review Journal piece featuring Summit speaker Claytee White
Summit attendees will have the opportunity to see Jackson Avenue and a few other key landmarks in person during our Driving Tour of Historic Westside. During this immersive tour, you’ll hear from Claytee White, Director of the Oral History Research Center at UNLV and a leading voice on Westside history, Helen Norman, Principal of Norman & Associates and a long-time advocate for equitable urban development, and Paul Roberson, founder and CEO of Flo Unleashed, a tech startup founder born and raised in the Westside.
In addition to Jackson Avenue, our three tour guides will explore the Harrison House, a former safe haven for Black entertainers during segregation; Obodo Garden, a symbol of community resilience; Jim Gaye Park and Legacy Park, showcasing public investment in placemaking; and the future-forward New West Las Vegas Library, a hub for digital literacy, business incubation, and workforce development.
Innovative Community Solutions
Even as redlining, disinvestment, and policy neglect challenged the neighborhood, local leaders developed bold solutions to support their neighbors. Organizations like Nevada Partners have pioneered wraparound services that address housing, education, health, and economic mobility—helping thousands of families build stability and opportunity.
Through initiatives like the West Las Vegas Promise Neighborhood, the community has implemented data-informed, holistic strategies that center youth development and long-term well-being. These programs not only uplift individual families—they serve as national models for place-based innovation that addresses the root causes of inequality.
On Day 1 of the Summit, we will have lunch with Nevada Partners and hear from ecosystem builders who have been working to support entrepreneurship in the Historic Westside. During our “If We Ran It Back” series, we will hear firsthand from community builders and placemakers how innovation doesn’t always look like venture capital or flashy tech—it looks like legacy preservation, community healing, grassroots entrepreneurship, and systems change. It’s what West Las Vegas has been doing for decades.
A Vision for the Future
Today, the Westside stands on the cusp of a new chapter. Projects like the Historic Westside Rising and the Future Nevada Strategy seek to blend heritage with forward-looking investments—developing green infrastructure, cultural tourism, and inclusive economic pathways that honor the past while building toward a shared future.
From workforce development to small business acceleration, West Las Vegas continues to lead in demonstrating how innovation can emerge from community-led solutions—and how legacy, when embraced, becomes the foundation for the future.
Join us in learning from this remarkable community—and in reflecting on what it means to build ecosystems that truly work for everyone.