Who We Are
Purpose
A Team NV, founded in 2015 as a volunteer organization, was created to work with people with diverse disabilities and their families to self-advocate, create awareness of their needs, and support their full inclusion in the community. In 2022, the organization affiliated with The Arc of the United States and rebranded as The Arc of Nevada.
The Arc of Nevada was created to help ignite the passion and energy of people with disabilities and their families to self-advocate in an effort to promote the well-being and general welfare of people with developmental and related disabilities. Together we build a support network of people and organizations to promote people with diverse abilities.
Board of Directors
Margaret Covelli, DNP, RN, MHA
Dr. Covelli has over 30 years of experience in management and leadership in nursing. She received her BSN in nursing from Youngstown State University, then went on to earn her master’s in health administration (MHA) from University of St. Francis, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from University of Nevada Las Vegas. Over the years, Dr. Covelli has received several honors including Alumna of the Year, Nursing from UNLV, Outstanding Recent Alumni from University of St. Francis, Distinguished Nurse of the Year from March of Dimes, and VEGAS INC Healthcare Heroes in the nursing category. Dr. Covelli is currently the Assistant Chief Nurse Executive at University Medical Center.
Shirley Campbell
Shirley is the champion and advocate for her disabled son Thomas and many others in the Las Vegas area where she has lived for over 45 years. She has been a long-time member of Family and Friends of Opportunity Village and has completed the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities Partners in Policymaking course. Shirley has been an advocate and is a founding board member of the A-Team Nevada. She has led self-advocate groups to Carson City twice and Washington D.C. to champion the cause for people with disabilities.
Lizzy Samlowski
Lizzy was born with some medical and learning challenges, struggled to get through school, find friends, a fulfilling job, and to live independently. Through The Arc of Nevada, she has found a community that values and supports her.
She first learned basic work skills at OV, which then led to her job of over 7 years at a Starbucks café. If that wasn’t amazing enough, Lizzy was blessed to get an apartment at Betty’s Village, where she also happened to find The ARC folks, working hard upstairs at the clubhouse.
Lizzy lives with pride, confidence, and independence, works at a job she loves, and is part of a vibrant, supportive community that empowers her to accomplish big dreams. The ARC particularly has introduced her to new friends and activities, and although she is quite busy these days, she tries to participate in as many events with them as she can. Not only is she working at her beloved Starbucks, but she also happens to be the Mayor of Betty’s Village!
Lizzy’s Mom and Dad, and her brother and sister couldn’t be more proud of her!
Thomas Campbell
Tom is a person with a disability; a condition called Fragile X Syndrome. Tom resides with his mother Shirley and stepfather Fred at their home in Las Vegas. Tom has worked in numerous jobs, and received specialized services throughout his life. He completed the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities Partners in Policymaking course. His is also a supporter of Family and Friends of Opportunity Village and a board member of the A-Team NV.
Regina Daniel
Community IDD Advocacy Activist, supportive of disabled adult son. Serves on Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities (NGCDD), Voting member of Commission on Services for Persons with Disabilities (CSPD). Retired Housing Authority Budget Analyst. Part-time On-Air Radio Personality, Advocate Volunteer. Building Positive Lifestyles, Member, R-
|Cares, CEO, Las Vegas Bowling Senate President, Las Vegas Bowling Senate webmaster, Project COPE Coordinator , A Team Chapter Organizer, Special Olympics parent volunteer.
Amanda Shipp
Amanda Shipp, has over 23 years of working with people with disabilities. She has a degree in Psychology and a minor in Elementary Education from Arkansas Tech University. She worked as a Social Worker III at Conway Human Development
Center in Arkansas. She worked at Director of Program Services in Nevada for 11 years. Now, she started working at Capability Health and Human Services formerly known as Easterseals Nevada in 2015.
She is actively involved in the community and advocating for people with disabilities. She received 2015 MVP award from Best Buddies Nevada. She is currently serving her 10 year on Regional Transportation Commission TAAC
community.
She moved to Nevada in 2004 from Arkansas. She has 2 boys ages 13 and 16. She loves spending time with her family. Her oldest son is diagnosis with Autism. He was selected to ride on the Easterseals 100 th Anniversary Float during the Rose Parade in 2018.
Victoria Gonzales
Bio coming soon!
Dennis Silvers
Dennis Silvers, AKA, The Golf guru, has been the voice of golf in Southern Nevada for over 2 decades. His show is now the longest running golf talk show in the country! Dennis has won several awards that include The Golden Mike Award, for broadcast excellence and 2 Electronic Media Awards for excellence in both content and production. His show has been ranked at or near the top in content and production numerous times. Dennis is involved with several golf organizations such as the Golf Writers Association of America and the local PGA Chapter and UNLV Team Golf.
Courtney Moren
Ms. Moren graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science and Cornell University with a Work Incentives Practitioner Certification. She spent the beginning of her career in California working with various organizations that worked with children including ensuring a successful transition from foster care into independent living.
Ms. Moren currently works at Opportunity Village as the Family Engagement & Outreach Advocate where she has launched and facilitated new activities for families including a bio-monthly Family Support Group, monthly Family Connections, and quarterly Family Fun Days.
Samantha Johnson
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Samantha has always been drawn to the intersection of art, design, and communication. With a Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration she blends creativity with strategy to bring marketing initiatives to life.
As a Marketing Coordinator for an architecture firm, she collaborates with architects, designers, and business development teams to craft visually engaging proposals, presentations, and marketing materials. She thrives on transforming complex ideas into clear, impactful storytelling that highlights the firm’s expertise and connects with clients.
Beyond her role, Samantha is passionate about engaging with Las Vegas’ creative and business communities, supporting local initiatives that celebrate design, innovation, and the city’s evolving built environment.
Randolph M. Fiedler, Esq.
Randolph M. Fiedler is a Las Vegas public defender who represents individuals sentenced to death in their state and federal post-conviction proceedings, which has included representing individuals with intellectual disability. He is a past president and current Chair of Amicus for Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice, current member and past chair of the State Bar of Nevada Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, and a board member for the Asian Bar Association of Nevada and the Nevada Coalition Against the Death Penalty. He likes ramen, spam musubi, and reading about ramen and spam musubi.
Michelle Gorelow
Michelle Gorelow has been an advocate for women and children’s healthcare issues for almost 25 years and has been an active member on several committees and boards including Nevada State Maternal Child Health Coalition (co-chair), Southern Nevada Maternal Child Health Coalition (chair), Tobacco Prevention Coalition (secretary), Advisory Council on the State Program for Wellness and Prevention of Chronic Disease, Clark County Children’s Mental Health Consortium, and many more. In addition, Michelle has served three terms representing Assembly District 35 in southwest Clark County. Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Wilmington College and Master’s in education from University of Phoenix. Michelle recently celebrated her 21st wedding anniversary and has two children, as well as three cats (Fat Eddy, Buffy the Vampire Kitty, and Gizmo), a fish (James Pond), and cockatiel (Bird).
Alex Hilke, MPA
Alex is a person with I/DD, a DETR-certified job coach/job developer, and a volunteer self-advocate at The Arc of Nevada. He has triumphed with the odds stacked against him all his life. Alex was born with Cerebral Palsy and Right Hemiplegia; his parents were told he would never be able to walk or talk. Instead, by the time he was four, Alex rewired everything in his brain and stormed into his neurologist’s office, bragging about passing every test. By the time he was twelve, Alex was reading at a PhD level. It is why Alex strives every day to leave the biggest positive impact on the world he can and has spent his entire career advocating for more disability services. Alex has seen the impact the ADA, IDEA, and Section 504 have had on his life and others like him.
Alex has an MPA from CSU, Dominguez Hills, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Sacramento State, earning double honors from Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Alpha Alpha in grad school. He has spent 17 years working for several disability services non-profits. Specializing in Workforce Development, Wraparound Services, and Social Isolation within the Disability Community.
Alex currently lives in the southern Las Vegas, with his white little fluff ball, Tilly. In his downtime, Alex loves to eat out at fine dining restaurants around Las Vegas, catch the latest big-budget tentpole event on streaming and the theater, or at a once-in-a-lifetime rock concert on The Strip.
Kamilah Bywaters, M.Ed., M.Div.
Kamilah Bywaters, M.Ed., M.Div. is a passionate advocate for equity, inclusion, and justice, dedicated to uplifting communities through education, leadership, and service. She has worked in the field of special education since 2007, using her experience to empower others and inspire meaningful change. A lifelong Las Vegas resident, Kamilah draws strength from her deep family and community roots to lead with compassion and integrity. Guided by faith and purpose, she strives to create spaces where every individual is seen, heard, and valued.
What We Do
We are people with diverse abilities interested in sharing our passion for life. We are individuals with unique experiences working to be engaged in our communities. We have families, spouses, children, siblings, cousins… We have jobs and hobbies. We promote the well-being and welfare of people.
We work to foster the development of support services designed to engage people with diverse abilities.
We work to create awareness in the community about the rights, needs and capabilities of all people.
We work to educate, advise, and aid members in the planning, development and execution of their life goals.
We work to advise and educate those who care for people with specialized needs to ensure that the people they support are, at all times, respected, protected, sustained, and honored.
We work to build a support network of people and organizations to promote individuals with diverse abilities.
How to Help
Be engaged — in your community. Participate in community events and activities.
Share your story — with everyone who will listen. Awareness is essential to the development of supports and the elimination of barriers.
