LIVING THE COVENANT
Accomplishments and Comments
from Participants...
An
informal group of leaders
and community members united
and made a commitment to
work together over three
years ago.
Here's a partial list of
accomplishments...
We thank God for His great blessings
and favor!
The
Network has worked together and
partnered to help continue the
transformation that is occurring
in our community and city.
Members of the Network have been
busy at work over the past
three years. Here’s just a sampling of
the type of work that has been
completed:
-
Helped
bring together over 500
organizations and 1,000's of
participants;
-
Presented
the State of
African-Americans in person
to over 1,000 individuals
and hosted three State of
African-Americans and North
Omaha Summits to update the
community on status and
progress;
-
Distributed over 10,000
copies of the Empower Omaha!
Covenant;
-
Met with
city leaders, elected
officials, business
executives, faith leaders,
and community organizations
to discuss plans to improve
the quality of life in
Omaha;
-
Supported
African-American businesses,
organizations and cultural
events;
-
Created
an Empowerment Network
web-site and e-mail blast to
provide community
organizations a new way of
connecting with leaders and
community members;
-
Helped
organizations and
individuals develop new
relationships and
partnerships through
networking events, meetings,
and forums;
-
Provided
the opportunity for
African-American and North
Omaha restaurants to
generate thousands of
dollars in revenue by
catering Network and
community events;
-
Supported
African-American cultural
arts, history, and
entertainment organizations;
-
Help
community organizations to
increase memberships and
participants;
-
Led
prayer walks and community
outreach efforts in
high-violence hot spots and targeted
neighborhoods;
-
Partnered
with churches and
neighborhoods to host
neighborhood block parties
and outreach, reaching
hundreds of residents;
-
Partnered
with churches to launch
adopt-a-school and
adopt-a-block strategies;
-
Partnered
with healthy family
organizations to launch
Marriage is Cool initiative
reaching hundreds of High
School students;
-
Partnered
with healthy family
organizations to create and
expand mentoring
initiatives;
-
Partnered
with housing organizations
to promote home ownership
and prevent foreclosures;
-
Hosted
meetings, conferences, and
major events, engaging
hundreds of participants
focused on economics,
health, education, violence
prevention, and voting;
-
Helped to
enhance, develop and promote
existing and new
communications and media
vehicles, including
newspaper, magazine,
internet, e-mail, etc.
-
Coordinated an important
economic and community
development networking trip
to Kansas City to support
cultural arts and
entertainment growth;
-
Provide
training opportunities for
churches, non-profits,
businesses, and other
organizations;
-
Worked
together to produce an
African-American physicians
directory and
African-American behavioral
health directory;
-
Partnered
with Building Bright Futures
to host the first
interactive community
outreach meeting and launch
significant community
initiatives to improve
academic success;
-
Supported
efforts to help hundreds of
High School students receive
college credits and make the
successful transition to
post secondary
opportunities;
-
Partnered
with the North Omaha Voters
projects to help increase
voter turnout and
participation in the state
first caucus;
-
Hosted
the 2nd Annual
Rebuilding the Village
Conference, including 3
national speakers;
-
Partnered
to host the National Stop
the Violence Conference;
-
Hosted
the Violence Prevention
Summit and Conference with
over 150 participants;
-
Launched
the Great Summer Program
providing life skills, work
experience, internships, and
educational training to over
300 youth and young adults
-
Expanded
the Great Summer Program
2009 to include summer
school, GED programs,
College Prep,
entrepreneurship, home
rehabilitation training,
weatherization projects,
internships, employment,
computer training, media
projects, and other
long-term projects...serving
over 150 high at-risk youth
and young adults.
-
Partnered
with African-American Unity
Fund to host workshops for
small, grassroots
organizations and
provide $300,000 to small
non-profits for community
work;
-
Raised
funds to help with
Neighborhood Redevelopment
efforts;
-
Raised
funds to assist with
Violence Intervention
efforts;
-
Assisted
organizations with grant
writing and capacity
building;
-
Partnered
to help register over 12,000
new voters;
-
Helped
generated record voter
turnout in targeted areas of
Omaha;
-
Hosted
the 1st North Omaha Green
Economy Workshop, focused on
jobs, job creation, housing,
neighborhood development,
business development, and
manufacturing opportunities,
providing the opportunity
for large and small
organizations to learn about
emerging trends;
-
Partnered
with other organizations to
host the 1st Omaha Economic
Summit with elected and
appointed officials, leading
business executives,
educators and
administrators, non-profit
executives, philanthropists,
and others to focus on
reducing employment,
increasing high school
graduation rate, moving from
jobs to careers, and
developing new
African-American and North
Omaha business;
-
Partnered
with Omaha Economic
Development Corporation to
develop and expand the
Economic Development and
Real Estate Planning Academy
for residents;
-
Received
local, regional, and
national attention from
media outlets concerning the
state of African-Americans,
North Omaha and development
of plans to improve the
quality of life in a
collaborative way;
-
And,
partnered with participating
organizations to support
other major events and
efforts.
DO YOUR
PART...GET INVOLVED...AND
LIVE THE COVENANT...
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MAJOR EVENTS & ACTIVITIES - 2009
North Omaha Neighborhood
Alliance Organized - September
2009
Unite and Rebuild: Jobs
and Education Summit - August
2009
Unite and Rebuild: North
Omaha Summit - July 2009
Great Summer Jobs Program - June
- August 2008 - 150 Summer Jobs
Harmony Week - May 2009 -
Over 500 Participants
Neighborhood Clean-up -
Highlander - May 2009
Justice Journey - April 2009
Meetings with Elected Officials
- March to July 2009
Governor, Mayor, City Council,
State Department Executives
Omaha Economic Summit - April
2009
North Omaha Green Economy
Workshop - April 2009
Empowerment Network Office -
February 2009
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MAJOR EVENTS & ACTIVITIES - 2008
Empowerment
Network Summit - December 2008
Pew Partnership Research
Released - December 2008
(Partner)
Building Bright Futures
Initiatives Launched -
Sept./Nov. 2008 (Partner)
Intervention Team Launched -
September 2008 (Partner)
Step Out and Serve - August 2008
(Partner)
Weed & Seed Clean-up - July 2008
(Partner)
Project 10,000 Voter
Registration - July to October
(Partner)
Great Summer Jobs Program - June
- August 2008 (Partner)
Violence Prevention Summit -
June 2008
Stop the Violence Conference -
May 2008 (Partner)
Rebuilding the Village
Conference - April 2008
Neighborhood Clean-up -
Highlander - April 2008
(Partner)
Housing Alliance Formed - April
2008
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A sampling of comments from
participants about the Network,
Covenant, and people
DOING THEIR PART...
"Being a part of the Network and
the Covenant has helped me to
agree with my wife to adopt.
We have started the adoption
process and I have changed my
schedule to attend the classes.
I have also made a commitment to
host singles' and marriage
conferences in North Omaha.
I will write about the Covenant
and continue to contribute
strategically at meetings."
- Femi Awodele, Author,
Speaker, President - Christian
Couples Ministry, Int.
"The Covenant has brought folks
together with varied gifts and
talents...with the goal of
improving our community.
It has brightened my spirit.
I have expanded my knowledge of
what is going on in all areas of
our community. I have
assessed my personal commitment
in all areas of the Empowerment
Challenge. I'm committed
to sharing the covenant with
others, staying involved with
the planning, and searching for
Federal economic opportunities
to bring to the table. We
need to keep the energy."
- Louise Latimer, Office
of Senator Ben Nelson
"The Network has given me
renewed energy and hope. I
have been an active participant,
promoted the work of the
covenant and contributed
financially to support the
Kick-off luncheon. Timing
for the Covenant couldn't be
better. We have formed a
housing consortium and alliance
that will advance the work of
providing better housing and
commercial development in North
Omaha."
- Michael Maroney,
President - Omaha Economic
Development Corporation
"A a part of doing my part, I
initiated a community walk.
Though our group is small in
size, we completed our 7 week
commitment to walk together 4
days per week. Now that we
have experienced the benefits of
regular exercise we are
continuing our walks. I'm
also working with the health team on
the Empowerment Walk."
- Gladys Harrison
"It's helped me to step up to
the plate and step out on faith
to help make our community a
better place for our families,
youth and our elders.
Looks like something is finally
going to happen in our
community. As a part of
doing my part, I'm working with
the Tuskegee Airmen to help open
a museum in their honor and the
Alfonzo W. Davis Chapter.
I will be supportive of the
Network, the Covenant, and work
to make this dream come true."
- Dr. Dennis Edwards
"It has provided hope to a
community...we can control our
own destiny and this personally
makes me feel good about
participating. The Network
has been extremely valuable.
I have gained knowledge, met new
people, and have increased time
to reflect on the future for
North Omaha and
African-Americans. I'm
working harder at staying
healthy, exercising, and
encouraging others to get
involved. I plan to stay
the course until we make
something happen to improve the
human and economic condition of
African-Americans in Omaha.
We will continue to help improve
the health status of
African-Americans and I will
serve in whatever capacity that
I am needed. The process
has been inspiring, informative,
challenging and fresh. We
must keep the momentum going and
begin to track our accomplished
outcomes."
- Dr. Richard Brown, CEO
Charles Drew Health Center
"Finding a network of
individuals that have similar
goals as mine and are determined
to make a positive change in
Omaha. I love how
everything is broken down into
groups...that way the Network
can focus on many areas at the
same time."
- Creighton University Student
"The covenant has provided hope
for our community. I'm
working to help bridge the gap
between the Omaha Police
Department and the community.
Seeing leaders come together has
been very positive.
Personally, I have supported
African-American owned
businesses by purchasing books,
dining at restaurants...
I'm also living the Covenant by
going into the schools to speak
to young people. I'm also
working to bridge gaps with the
broader community. I've
made a personal commitments to
see the Empowerment Network,
North Omaha Concerned Clergy and
Leadership Roundtable come
together on the issue of
violence in our community.
- John Ewing, Douglas County
Treasurer
"Witnessing various
African-American leaders coming
together for the good of our
people. I have had the
opportunity to work with leaders
in various areas to stress the
importance of behavioral health
as a component of health.
I'm reminded by the Covenant to
strive to be healthy and challenge
others to be healthy. My
personal commitment to do my
part is purchasing books from
the African-American Bookstore
and attending church. I'm
networking with other
African-American leaders,
participating in Network
planning meetings and inviting
others to join."
- Doris Moore, President
Center for Holistic Development
"Networking is crucial to the
success of the African-American
community. The planning
process has started with me
making a personal covenant and
commitment. I am
supporting the covenant events
and activities, spreading the
word, and volunteering to
support specific efforts."
- John Newsome, Community
Advocate
"The Network has made me more
passionate about what I'm trying
to do in the community.
I'm very hopeful that we have a
direction now and a movement has
started. I personally am
supporting more African-American
owned businesses...I'm
adopting-a-school, attending
meetings, spreading the word,
joined the NAACP and Malcolm X
Foundation, subscribed to
the Omaha Star and spend more
with African-American
businesses. We finally
have a plan."
- Willie Hamilton,
Founder - NANOSO, Black Men
United
"The Covenant has given me
great hope in the future...the
"like-mindedness" of leaders and
individuals to change things in
our community. Because of
the Covenant, I have shopped at
businesses that I didn't know
existed. It has required
me to think even more about how
my actions fit into the bigger
efforts of the Network.
I'm working on a "Second Chance
Summit" for ex-offenders to get
back into society. The
Network has been great...getting
a group of people to take
responsibility for the issues
and working together to move us
forward."
- Chris Rodgers, Douglas
County Commissioner
"I haven't seen the
community come together like
this...the entire time that I've
lived in Omaha. We are
positioned to make a real
difference. I thank God
that I've lived to see the day
when the community would work
together in a positive,
solution-focused way. It's
about community. It's
about people. We have to
embrace and address all areas of
life. Pastors are coming
together. Leaders are
working together. The
community is getting engaged.
It's a wonderful thing."
- Pastor Jeremiah McGhee,
Senior Pastor - Mt. Sinai Church
"The Network has motivated me to
personally commit to a weight
loss program. As a leader
I have helped to convene and
facilitate meetings. I'm
committed to continuing to
develop Healthy Marriage and
Teen Pregnancy programs.
I'm making a commitment to work
with others to help address
racial and ethnic health
disparities."
- Doris Lassiter - President -
DORAL Group
"This is the best
cooperative effort of Black
people that I've ever seen in my
lifetime in Omaha. The
Network is well-organized and
has done a great job of keeping
us informed. My hope is
that God will continue to
provide the leadership and
wisdom, and that we continue to
follow it. I personally
want to help launch community
block parties and figure out
ways to recognize, thank and
reward teachers and others who
are making a difference.
Since the covenant started, I
have become more active with
ministries in my church, started
my own business, spent more time
reading and less time watching
tv, spent more quality time with
my family, and I'm working on a
newsletter and web-site."
-Rodney
Nichols, Community Advocate
"I personally support the
Empowerment Network and the
development and implementation
of a Covenant and Strategic Plan
designed to empower
African-American to dramatically
and tangibly enhance our quality
of life and build a great future
for our children."
-Janice
Gilmore, Columnist - Omaha
World-Herald and Revive!
Magazine
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