LIVING THE COVENANT
The key challenge is for
every individual, family,
and leader to make a
difference by committing to
live the covenant.
Do your part...Live the
Covenant.
What is the Network doing?
Article reprinted from May
2008 Revive! Omaha
Magazine...
Empower Omaha! Update
Despite the challenges and
issues that continue to
persist in our community,
this is an exciting time to
be alive. Many promising
solutions and initiatives
are coming together in an
unprecedented way in Omaha.
Faith communities are coming
together and moving outside
the walls of the sanctuary.
Promising education and
youth development
initiatives are heating up.
Legislative action is
helping to move us closer to
a community that will treat
all students equally.
Economic development plans
and strategies are moving
past the flip chart, slide
show and story board phase.
It’s a time of transition
and transformation. Let’s
keep it rolling. Let’s move
forward with a sense of
urgency.
Omaha, this is our time.
This is our time to move
past what has separated us.
This is our time to not be
limited by what has held us
back for far too long. This
is our time to walk out in
faith and embrace the
possibilities that God has
for us. We must think
different. Act different.
Most of all, we must work
together!
April 27, 2008 marked the 1
year anniversary of the
public launch of Empower
Omaha! Empower Omaha! is an
initiative created and
developed by the
African-American Empowerment
Network following 9 months
of community meetings,
forums, summits, surveys,
research, and testing. The
Network consisting of
leaders and neighbors from
all areas of the community
was established with a
three-fold strategy:
Empower African-Americans,
Empower North Omaha, and
Empower the Greater Omaha
area. At the very first
official meeting, we made a
commitment that we would be
positive, proactive, and
build partnerships. We have
had some solid successes and
great learning experiences
over the past year.
Overall, we have stayed on
track and are beginning to
see strategies come to
life. It’s always
challenging to convert plans
from paper to action. It’s
encouraging to report that
things are coming together.
The mission of the Network
is to Connect, Communicate,
Coordinate, Collaborate,
Create, and Celebrate our
way to a total
transformation of our
neighborhoods, community,
city, state, and region. We
will build on the great work
that so many individuals,
organizations, ministries,
and businesses are doing
every day. We will do it
through strategic planning
and collaboration. We will
do it by coming together,
praying together, working
together, and celebrating
together. We will do it one
person, one home, and one
block at a time.
In the past year since the
launch, over 1,000 leaders
and community
representatives have
contributed to the
development of the Empower
Omaha! Covenant.
Progress has been made on many fronts. New partnerships have been
formed. There’s a lot of
work still ahead of us, but
we are building momentum and
with God on our side, we
will see the tangible fruit
of our labor.
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 year.
Here’s just a sampling of
the type of work that has
been completed:
-
Helped bring together
over 300 organizations
and over 1,000
participants;
-
Presented the State of
African-Americans in
person to over 1,000
individuals;
-
Distributed over 3,000
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;
-
Led prayer walks and
community outreach
efforts in targeted
neighborhoods;
-
Partnered with churches
to launch adopt-a-school
and adopt-a-block
strategies;
-
Hosted meetings,
conferences, and major
events engaging hundreds
of participants;
-
Helped to enhance,
develop and promote
existing and new
communication and media
vehicles;
-
Coordinated an important
economic and community
development networking
trip to Kansas City;
-
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;
-
Partnered with the North
Omaha Voters project to
help increase voter
turnout and
participation in the
state’s first caucus;
-
Hosted the 2nd
Annual Rebuilding the
Village Conference,
including 3 national
speakers;
-
Hosted
the Stop the Violence
Conference: 2nd
Annual Crime Prevention
Summit;
-
Participated on Crime
Prevention site-visits
to Milwaukee, Chicago,
and Kansas City;
-
Helped
raise over $5 million
dollars in commitments
to assist with making
the covenant a reality;
-
And, partnered with
participating
organizations to support
other major events and
efforts.
The first year was a time of
connecting, communicating,
and building the
foundation.
Connecting…
It’s incredibly important to
bring people together and
even more important to
develop strong
relationships. Hundreds of
organizations and over 1,000
individuals have
participated in meetings,
summits, and conferences
hosted by the Network.
Meetings, planning sessions,
and networking opportunities
occur every week for at
least one of the covenant
areas. The Network Planning
Team meets every month on
the 2nd Saturday
to discuss strategies,
updates, and next steps for
implementing the covenant.
Empowerment Network Leaders
meet twice a month to review
strategies, direction, and
partnership opportunities.
To build on the progress, we
will look to create more
opportunities for
relationship building.
Connections have not only
happened within
African-American
organizations. The Network
has worked to build bridges
and partnerships though-out
the Greater Omaha area.
Partners from every area of
Omaha have agreed to work
with the Network to help
implement the Covenant.
Communicating…
One of the weaknesses
identified early on during
one of the community
meetings was the lack of
consistent, timely
information. To answer this
challenge, a new web-site,
www.empoweromaha.com,
was launched to help share
information about the
Network and the Covenant.
In addition, e-mail
distribution lists were
created to inform Network
participants of important
events, activities, alerts,
and opportunities in a more
timely fashion. We also
partnered with the Omaha
Star,
omahaurbanconnection.com,
and other local media to
help spread the word.
Through the web-site,
www.empoweromaha.com,
participation in parades and
other community events,
partnerships with churches,
and feature stories in the
media, over 100,000 people
have been exposed to the
Empower Omaha! message.
Coordinating and
Collaborating…
Year 2 will focus on
Coordination, Collaboration,
and Creating new projects,
initiatives, and efforts to
make the covenant a
reality. Goals have been
set. Strategies and plans
are in development. New
partnerships and
collaborative efforts have
already been launched as a
result of new relationships
developed through the
Network. Even more
partnerships are in
process. Unified efforts in
areas of Employment,
Housing, Crime Prevention,
Education, Youth
Development, Voting,
Neighborhood Restoration,
Health, and building Healthy
Families are underway.
Moving Forward…
Major investments will be
needed to help transform our
community. Omaha has
pockets of incredible growth
and a few areas that have
been totally left behind by
the progress. The Network’s
vision is that all citizens
of our city will be
empowered to walk in their
purpose and fully utilize
their God-given talents,
strengths, and gifts.
We know it will take
millions upon millions of
dollars to make this
covenant a reality.
Significant financial
commitments have now been
made to help jump start
specific efforts. We
believe it’s just the
beginning. Moving forward,
we will actively seek
financial partnerships to
help raise the funds
necessary to accomplish our
objectives. While we will
work to partner with others
throughout the region and
nation to bring resources
into our community, it’s
equally important that we
use our own resources to
help make the change we
desire possible.
Imagine this.
African-Americans in the
Omaha area spend an
estimated $700 million each
year in this economy. What
would happen if we made a
commitment to put just 10%
of that back into the
community? We would have an
instant and annual pool of
$70 million to work with to
rebuild our community. Just
as importantly, we will need
individuals, families, and
organizations to make
commitments to be mentors,
volunteer to serve, come
outside of their homes and
churches, get involved in
neighborhood programs,
participate in neighborhood
cleanups, build strong
relationships with youth,
support and look out for
each other. In a sense, we
are calling on everyone to
do their part and Live the
Covenant. That is the only
way that we will, Rise Up
and Rebuild the Village.
We thank God for every
person, church,
organization, and business
that has given of their time
and resources to partner
with us. Your commitment,
dedication, and leadership
are having an impact. The
momentum is building and
we’re just getting started.
It will take all of us
working together to totally
transform all areas of our
community. Don’t Just Talk
About It, Be About It.
Let’s get to work.
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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