The Empowerment Network partnered with the City of Omaha, Omaha Serves and many other organizations during MLK Week 2012 Honor the Legacy - Take Action Now! Thank you to all of the partners that worked on MLK Week 2012. Thank you to the community for supporting a full week of inspiring activities and events. Thank you Mayor Jim Suttle and Henry Westbrook Stacy for the vision to INNOVATE.

Thank you Vicki Quaites-Ferris for going above and beyond representing the Empowerment Network and planning our activities and events. Thank you Omaha Serves - Craig Howell, Patrick Jones, Deborah Teamer Bunting, Brigitte McQueen, Metro, Great Plains Black Museum, United Way, and others for the Get on the Bus Mobile Museum. Thank you Eric Mahmoud for showing us what's possible with INNOVATIONS in Education.

Thank you Mayor's Office, Stacy, Aksarben Cinema, Tuskegee Airmen, ConAgra Foods, and many others for organizing and supporting the RED TAILS event. Congrats to IMA, Creighton Univ., Metro Community College, UNO, UNMC, and others for wonderful and well attended events. 2012 is our year. Everyone doing their part! RISE UP! UNITE! REBUILD.

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Well over 700 attended the first Christmas in the Village at 24th and Lake which we believe will become a new holiday tradition and celebration in North Omaha. The feedback from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. Another exciting aspect was that over 20 African American businesses benefited from this event. We want to thank all who attended and supported the event in some way. It allowed us the opportunity to taste, feel, and see just a sample of what's possible at 24th and Lake.

Please take a look at this Christmas in the Village video on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFPHoJUY08w&context=C3528a0cADOEgsToPDskJ...

Since day one, we have focused on Rebuilding the Village. One of the main accomplishments in 2011 was the approval of the North Omaha Village Zone Revitalization vision that includes the redevelopment of 24th and Lake into a Cultural Arts, History, and Entertainment District. With the approval of the Planning Board and City Council, now is the time to move forward and make the vision a reality. Christmas in the Village is just one sign of other exciting things to come.

We want to thank you for partnering with us and we ask that you will continue to collaborate with us as we move into the next major phase. The focus for 2012 is Do Your Part! We have a lot of work to do, but there's no question that we will accomplish great things as we continue working together.

God Bless you, your family, and our community!

Support North Omaha Businesses!
PARTNERS: Empowerment Network, Mayor Jim Suttle’s Office, North Omaha Collaborative Elected Officials, Omaha Economic Development Corporation, City of Omaha, Love’s Jazz and Art Center, Impact One Community Connection, Revive! Omaha Magazine, ConAgra Foods, Nebraska Arts Council, North Omaha Arts Alliance, American Harvest, Pastors, Ministers, and Faith Leaders Covenant, Family Housing Advisory Services, Omaha Star, Styles of Evolution, North Omaha Neighborhood Alliance, Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, Omaha Small Business Network, 24th Street Businesses, Frontier Bag Company, NAACP, 100 Black Men of Omaha, Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, Zion Baptist Church, the Last Few Holiday Jazz, Anonymous Donor, OPPD, Christmas Decor, Vic Gutman & Associates, Chef Mike’s Café, Big Mama’s, Kitchen & Catering, Brotato’s, Davis Companies, Charlie’s Fraternity Shop, and others are joining daily!

Call (402) 502-5153 for more information.