Dr. Anthony and Diane Pollard

By Brian Sodoma

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 | 3:38 p.m.

Coming to Las Vegas in the late ’80s, Dr. Anthony and Diane Pollard were able to take advantage of immense opportunities. The city was growing rapidly, and Anthony, a family practice physician, and Diane, a high-school educator, both were in high demand career fields. But with career success also came a drive to do more for the community. Today, the couple is well-known for promoting its African-American roots and positively impacting the lives of low-income, at-risk youth.

Started in 2007, Rainbow Dreams Academy, a valley charter school, was the product of the couple’s desire to make a difference with the growing number of at-risk youth in the valley. As high schoolers and elementary school students struggle with state standard proficiency exams, the Pollards decided to try to make a difference.

“It’s in third grade when we really start to see the problems a child may have,” Diane said. “Studies show it makes a difference when you focus on K through third grade. … Very few kids have the guidance needed in those years.”

This fall, Rainbow Dreams, located at the corner of Lake Mead Boulevard and LaSalle Street, will enter its third academic year; K-3 has been the focus so far. In the past year, a Parent Teacher Organization was

formed, and this fall, a fourth grade class will be added. The following

year, a fifth grade class will commence, while the school will continue with its emphasis on small student-teacher ratios, parent involvement and adding more humanities programs.

“When you can make that impression in those early years, it really spares you from having to do a lot of deprogramming later,” added Anthony.

The couple has worked tirelessly to raise funds for the school. One of its largest fundraisers is a well-known cultural event called the Juneteenth Festival. The date, which falls on the third weekend in June each year, is an annual celebration of the end of slavery. Started in 2000, the Las Vegas Juneteenth Festival attracted more than 10,000 visitors in 2008, who enjoyed live entertainment, soul food and a host of special guest appearances at the Sammy Davis Jr. Plaza in Lorenzi Park. Approaching its 10-year anniversary, Diane said the festival could triple in size soon.

“It’s a date that’s well-known in the African-American community. And we just want to share it with the entire world,” she added.