Public, private support for economic development corporation results in

$40 million in grant funds

Sankofa Innovation District, a startup nonprofit organization working to expand financial equity and inclusion for North and South Omaha, was recommended as one of 35 grant recipients to receive $40 million in grant funding as part of the Nebraska State Legislature’s Economic Recovery Act. The grant recommendations, which were announced in early January, are designed to help reinvest in communities that have been some of the most negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Founded in late summer/early fall of 2022, the nonprofit immediately began meeting with city officials and administrative leaders working in the private sector as well as in local educational institutions to share information about its mission and goals. The Sankofa board of directors includes representation from the community, technology innovation and entrepreneurial leadership, financial leadership, legal and other areas of discipline needed to support the mission and vision.

The organization is poised to invest in the economic viability of North and South Omaha with an aim to boost the short and long-term growth and sustainability of the city and state’s overall economic health. The nonprofit will be located in East Omaha within the 16th and Locust Street corridor. It will:

• start new black and minority-owned small businesses and grow existing ones • provide entrepreneurs with financial literacy and business education, access to capital and wraparound support to ensure they are positioned to succeed

• create jobs in our community that contribute to our economic growth

• attract talent and businesses

• upskill existing talent

• increase the number of businesses owned by black, indigenous and people of color in our community

Nebraska Legislative Bills 1024 and 450 have opened a route for additional investments to improve the city and state’s competitiveness and sustainability, said Sankofa’s executive director, Dr. Martin Williams.

“As a city and state, we are stronger together when everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed in life. We have a large-scale plan in progress to make this happen. Starting to help establish new, minority-owned businesses and investing in existing small businesses is the first step to building a better future for our community’s next generation,” Williams said.

“We know there is boundless opportunity for growth in North and South Omaha, especially as we enter this fourth industrial revolution where technology is seeing rapid improvement and innovation.”

Sankofa will convene innovators, entrepreneurs, community members and university support to collaborate, develop ideas and spur economic impact in the previously disinvested communities of North and South Omaha. Once the business innovation district is fully operational, the 10-year outlook could bring multimillion-dollar annual returns and position Omaha for $1 billion or more in follow-up investments.

About the Sankofa Innovation District

The Sankofa Innovation District is a startup economic development corporation that will work to expand financial equity and inclusion for North and South Omaha.

Sankofa is an African word that originates from the Akan tribe in Ghana. The term is expressed visually through a mythical bird. It means “it is never too late to turn around and start on a new path.” •

COVID is hanging around like a bad penny. The month of February signals Black History Month. As we say the shortest month of the year with the most history to fit in.

Have you seen the 1619 Project documentary? I will be watching this week. Ms. Jones’ book has been converted to a documentary and I am sure it will be on the “must see” list. Have you seen Emancipation? Another “must see.” The iconic photo of the slave man with whip marks on his back, this is his story.

The celebration of Black History was established in 1926 by Carter Godwin Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History which was the second week in February. Mr. Woodson believed that “if a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.”

In his book The Miseducation of the American Negro Woodson wrote “When you control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his actions.” Let that roll around in your mind…

Black History Month was first proposed by Black educators and the Black United Students at Kent State University in February 1969, the celebration took place a year later from February 2 to February 28, 1970. Six years later Black history Month was being celebrated all across the country and President Gerald Ford recognized Black History month during the celebration of the United States Bicentennial. President Ford said that we should “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” The Governor of Florida must not have received this memo from 1970…

After all that just think there are politicians who are trying to erase Blacks from text books and thus history. Listen “stand for something (our history being told and shared ) or you will fall for anything (we are not significant nor do our contributions matter).

Singer James Brown said it best “Say it LOUD I am Black and I am PROUD.

Nina Simone captured the sentiment and in closing I will share her lyrics “To Be Young Gifted and Black”:

Oh what a lovely precious dream

To be young, gifted and black

Open your heart to what I mean

In the whole world you know

There’s a million boys and girls

Who are young, gifted and black

And that’s a fact

“You are young, gifted and black”

We must begin to tell our young

There’s a world waiting for you

Yours is the quest that’s just begun

When you feelin’ really low

Yeah, there’s a great truth that you should know

When you’re young, gifted and black

Your soul’s intact

How to be young, gifted and black?

Oh, how I long to know the truth

There are times when I look back

And I am haunted by my youth

Oh, but my joy of today

Is that we can all be proud to say

“To be young, gifted and black

Is where it’s at”

Commit these words to your heart as we celebrate in the month of February, but remember our history runs 365 days a year!

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Bellevue Little Theatre presents Sweet on Soneheim

THE OMAHA STAR believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonism when it accords every man, regardless of race, color or creed, his human and legal rights. Hating no man, fearing no man in the firm belief

Disclaimer

The United States provides opportunities for free expression of ideas. The Omaha Star has its views, but others may differ. Therefore the Omaha Star ownership reserves the right to publish views and opinions by syndicated and local columnists, professional writers and other writers whose opinions are solely their own. Those views do not necessarily reflect the policies and position of the staff and management of the Omaha Star newspaper.

Readers are encouraged to email letters to the editor commenting on current events as well as what they would like to see included in the paper. Those emails should be sent to: publisher@omahastarinc.com and must include the writer’s name, address, email address and telephone number. The ownership has editorial rights and does not guarantee that all submissions will be published.

Please be advised that the Omaha Star ownership does not employ staff writers who charge for preparing and submitting articles for the general public. Should you encounter such, please advise Terri D. Sanders at 402-346-4041.

Bellevue Little Theatre will present ‘Sweet on Sondheim’, a benefit performance for the BLT on Saturday evening, Feb. 11, 7:30 pm, at the theatre, 203 W. Mission Ave. in Olde Towne Bellevue. The musical program will feature selections by Stephen Soneheim, the famed composer who passed away in 2021.

Wine and light refreshments will be served to those attending.

Participants will include cast members from the BLT’s upcoming production of ‘A Little Night Music’ which will open on March 10 for a three week run at the BLT. Other talented area songbirds, and members of the Omaha based Mastersingers will join the cast onstage for the musical benefit. All musical selections will be by Sondheim. Reservations are not required. The benefit is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted from those attending. •

College of Saint Mary to Reopen New President Search

College of Saint Mary will reopen the search for a new president using an aggressive timeline. The renewed search comes as CSM learned this week that Dr. Glynis Fitzgerald accepted the presidency at her current institution, Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania.

“As thrilled as I was about assuming the presidency at CSM, the unexpected opportunity to lead Alvernia as president is one I cannot turn down,” said Dr. Glynis Fitzgerald. “Staying at Alvernia during these next few years is the best choice for my academic community.”

“While this was unexpected, CSM is well positioned to expedite a renewed search process, and we have ample time to conduct a robust search,” said CSM Board Chair Sue Weiler-Doke ’85. “College of Saint Mary is excited to welcome its eighth president as we head into our next 100 years.”

College of Saint Mary – educating leaders since 1923. CSM is a Catholic university providing access to education for women in an environment that calls forth potential and fosters leadership. The University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in many of today’s highest-paying, in-demand fields, including physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, science, education, business and legal studies. Graduate programs are open to all.

CSM offers its student body an enriching collegiate experience that includes competitive athletics and a wide range of fine arts opportunities. A member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), CSM Flames student-athletes field teams in 11 competitive sports: basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball, golf, bowling, competitive dance, swimming, tennis, track, and cross country. Fine arts play a significant role in rounding out an academic experience, and CSM provides students with the opportunity to continue their passion for music, art and drama.

Located in the heart of Omaha, home of four Fortune 500 companies, CSM’s 40-acre campus is adjacent to Aksarben Village’s vibrant and bustling retail and entertainment space, as well as Baxter Arena. CSM is minutes from world-class attractions such as the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Joslyn Art Museum, Lauritzen Gardens and CHI Health Center Omaha.

To learn more about College of Saint Mary, see CSM. edu, or contact Leeanna Ellis, PR strategist and content writer. 402-399-2349 • lellis@csm.edu •

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