Clark County Commissioner Jim Gibson will host a special ceremony at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign on Monday, Nov. 3, at 8 a.m. to raise awareness about youth homelessness. The iconic landmark will be illuminated in purple and gold to honor National Homeless Youth Awareness Month and recognize the resilience of young people experiencing homelessness.
“National Homeless Youth Awareness Month reminds us that too many young people in our community face the dangers and uncertainty of homelessness,” said Commissioner Gibson. “By lighting this landmark in purple and gold, we recognize that homelessness among youth is a serious issue—and we want every young person struggling to know that they are not alone. We encourage them to reach out, and we reaffirm our community’s commitment to helping them find safety, stability, and hope.”
“Over the last nine years, since Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth launched the Movement to End Youth Homelessness in Nevada, it's been incredible to see so many leaders including Clark County, the City of Las Vegas, the Nevada legislature, and many others come together to help raise awareness of the issue of youth homelessness, not only here in our community, but across our state,” said NPHY CEO Arash Ghafoori. “NPHY and the Movement have been raising the bar on how we respond to this growing challenge, working to ensure that young people not only have the resources they need to overcome their situations, but that the resources available are accessible, high-quality, and tailored to them. We are committed to identifying and addressing barriers from all angles, strengthening collaboration across systems, and, most importantly, making sure young people know they have people who believe in their potential and are dedicated to supporting their success. We want them to know that they are not alone or forgotten and this event here at this iconic symbol of our city is just another way for us to show them.”
Thousands of young people across Nevada experience homelessness each year, facing immense challenges in accessing safety, stability and opportunity. Youth homelessness impacts every community in Nevada and is often hidden, as many young people couch surf, sleep in cars or stay in unsafe situations to avoid being on the streets.
About ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ Sign
The iconic 25-foot sign, designed by Betty Willis in 1959, stands on the Las Vegas Strip south of Russell Road. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, the Googie-style landmark continues to welcome visitors to Las Vegas while celebrating the community's diversity and pride. The sign, like the rest of the Las Vegas Strip, is located in unincorporated Clark County.
About Clark County
Clark County is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to providing top-quality service with integrity, respect and accountability. With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation’s 11th-largest county and provides extensive regional services to 2.4 million citizens and 45.6 million visitors a year (2022). Included are the nation’s 7th-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services and the state’s largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The County also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to 1 million residents in the unincorporated area. Those include fire protection, roads and other public works, parks and recreation, and planning and development.