INTRODUCTION to the EMPOWERMENT NETWORK

African-Americans have made great progress in many areas.  Through many challenges, African-Americans have pressed on and persevered.  There are over 64,000 African-Americans in the Omaha metro area.  We spend an estimated $700 million dollars each year.  We have elected officials at the local, county and state level. We have administrators, principals and teachers in our schools.  We have strong churches, large and small. We have professionals, business owners and skilled workers.  We have health care professionals, social organizations, churches and others who are working every day to minister to and help those who are impacted, yet, in some areas we are going in the wrong direction.  We have resources, organizations, ideas, visions, and much more.  We have many success stories.  Yet, we still lag when it comes to education, employment, housing, wealth, health, voting and other core areas.

Since the fall of 2006, over 400 leaders and concerned community members have discussed key issues and opportunities facing African-Americans in the City of Omaha and the State of Nebraska.  These individuals represent over 200 different organizations.  As a result, an informal group, the EmpowerOmaha!  African-American Empowerment Network, has been formed.  We believe that by working together, collectively and collaboratively, we will produce greater results than if we act independently.

The Empowerment Network has helped to facilitate us coming together to develop and implement solutions that will dramatically and tangibly impact the lives of African-Americans, North Omaha, and the city of Omaha as a whole.  Things will not happen overnight, but we strongly believe that the Network and Covenant are vehicles that will help us to accelerate our progress!

We have made significant progress on a covenant (agreement) and strategic plan (action plan) to help address key challenges and take advantage of the opportunities.  The covenant follows the model of the best selling book, Covenant with Black America, produced by Tavis Smiley.  We have worked hard to gather the thoughts, ideas and involvement of our community to localize, create and implement our own covenant.  We have identified issues, but have focused our attention on solutions.  We have said from the beginning that we will be positive, proactive, and build partnerships.  Our strategy has three parts:

          1)  Empower African-Americans in the Greater Omaha Area
          2)  Empower North Omaha
          3)  Empower the City of Omaha and Beyond

We have been presented with unprecedented opportunities. Omaha has received international attention because of the education debate. The police department and community are working to respond to recent increases in violent crime and answer questions regarding community/police oversight issues. A recent announcement from the Omaha Chamber of Commerce regarding a major new economic development plan has stirred interest.  The official numbers show that African-Americans and North Omaha had significant increases in voter turnout during the recent election.  Wealthy community leaders have stepped forward with an impressive plan to help improve educational opportunities for youth.  City-wide, there are a number of initiatives and projects underway to help transform the Greater Omaha area into a model city.  Omaha has an incredible opportunity to create a new level of partnership.