Vol. 80 - No. 24

75 CENTS

OMAHA STAR

THE

Celebrating 80 Years

1938 2018

Dedicated to the Service of the People that NO Good Cause Shall Lack a Champion and that Evil Shall Not Go Unopposed

Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Vol. 80 - No. 24 Omaha, Nebraska

Friday, November 30, 2018

As We Enter the Holiday Season, Let’s Work to Inspire Humankind to Resist Hate.

75 cents

Author and Political Strategist Donna Brazile to be Featured Speaker at Lunch for The Girls Donna Brazile, veteran political strategist, syndicated columnist, television political commentator and author of the new book “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics,” will be the featured speaker at Girls Inc.’s 18th annual Lunch for the Girls. The luncheon will be held Dec. 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the CHI Health Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. Sharing the stage with Brazile will be political strategist and CNN commentator Symone Sanders.

Sanders is an Omaha native and is an alumna of the local Girls Inc. program.

Sanders will introduce Brazile, who will address the audience. Following Brazile’s remarks, Sanders will facilitate a Q&A session with her and

Donna Brazile

selected Girls Inc. members.

Brazile is passionate about encouraging young people, especially women of color, to vote, work for inclusion, and run for public office.

Along with Yolanda Caraway, Leah Daughtry and Minyon Moore, she co-authored “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics,” a sweeping view of American history through the eyes of four African-American women who have lived and worked behind the scenes of politics for more than 30 years.

Symone Sanders rose to prominence during her tenure as National Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders’ (no relation) 2016 presidential campaign. Still in her twenties, she has been featured on NPR, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC, BET, TV One and CNN for her perceptive analysis on political and social issues.

“Both Donna Brazile and Symone Sanders felt a passion for advocacy and civic engagement at a very young age. We are proud that Girls Inc. had a role in fanning the sparks of interest in young Symone into the career she has today,” said Roberta Wilhelm, Girls Inc. Executive Director. “Symone has said of Donna that ‘she is the reason many people like myself have a seat at the table today.’ Both strong, smart, and bold women are real life examples to the girls we serve that the dreams you have as a young girl really do

Local Comedian Carlos Tibbs Inspires Commnuity to Laugh Over Their Sorrows This Holiday Season Local Comedian Carlos A. Tibbs has been inspiring people in the Omaha community to laugh instead of cry this holiday season. Tibbs believes that laughter is the best medicine to help navigate through the tougher times in life. Born and raised in Omaha, Tibbs has always been known to be a jokester.

Voted the class clown his senior year in high school, it’s no surprise that Tibbs would venture down the path to becoming a comedian.

It began in 2012 when Tibbs started his show on a local radio station. He interviewed politicians and gospel artists, as well as pastors in the community.

Tibbs then partnered with Reverend John Lucas on his weekly radio program, which inspires listeners to Carlos Tibbs laugh on their way to church. Once Tibbs finished his time on that show, Karen Mitchell – a friend from church – invited Tibbs to do his first comedic set during her woman’s conference at the College of St. Mary.

According to Pastor Dr. Cedric L. Perkins of Pilgrim Baptist Church, “Carlos is an upcoming talented comedian who can reach you on your level with relevant information for life challenges. He has a serious message with a twist of humor enabling you to digest the truth when it hurts.” Tibbs says, “Laughter over sorrow came from a bible verse, Job 8:21, at a time when Job was going through chaos and right before giving up Job was promised by God that He would restore joy and laughter to his life. I believe that God wants to do that with everybody.”

According to UNO Psychology Professor Dr. Jessline Anderson, “Laughter is therapeutic because it aids in healing and is an invaluable form of preventative medicine because it provides natural defenses against illness.”

(Anderson, 2018) Dr. Anderson also believes that if people laughed more, they’d feel better, as laughter helps us to be positive and teaches us to choose to live and be at peace with others, with our own self and with our current situation. It helps us build resilience to stress and helps us to find meaning in life.

For Tibbs, his family and other families across the Omaha area, holidays are set aside to honor and enjoy family. Unfortunately for some, holidays are See Tibbs continued on page 2

Equal Opportunity Day Awards – Dec. 7.

See In the Village for details.

matter – that with hard work and perseverance, you can make a seat at the table for yourself and for other women and girls who look like you to follow.”

Girls Inc. is honored to welcome Brazile and Sanders to its signature fundraising event. Past Lunch for the Girls speakers have included Malala Yousafzai, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Madeleine Albright, Billie Jean King, Nicholas Kristof, and Warren Buffett.

Sanders has appeared at the Lunch before: As a Mercy High School student and “Girls Inc. Girl,” she introduced Bill Clinton at the 2006 event, causing him to remark that she spoke so well that he “really hated to follow her.”

Reservations for Lunch for the Girls are now available. Reservations for per-person or patron seating can be made online through the Girls Inc. of Omaha website (https://girlsincomaha. org/events/lunch-for-the-girls), by phoning Girls Inc. at 402-457-4676, or by submitting a downloadable form (available on the Girls Inc. website) by mail or fax.

ABOUT GIRLS INC All proceeds from Lunch for the Girls support the educational, cultural and recreational opportunities for girls ages 5 to 18 at Girls Incorporated of Omaha, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit

Symone Sanders

organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be “Strong, Smart and Bold.”

Girls Inc. opened its first center in 1975, and currently operates two locations in north and south Omaha.

Serving over 2,000 girls through its centers and outreach programs, Girls Inc. provides transportation from more than 50 local schools in the Omaha area.

Girls Inc.’s programs cultivate learning and skill development in the areas of academic support and enrichment; career and life planning; self-reliance and life skills; health and wellness; leadership and community

action; and culture and heritage.

Curriculum and activities are chosen to be intrinsically appealing to girls and to engender interest and enthusiasm.

Athletic and enrichment activities are carefully chosen to complement our academic offerings as well as to develop physical health and fitness and to promote teamwork.

In 2016, Girls Inc. collaborated with Nebraska Medicine to open an on-site health clinic, striving to improve the health outcomes of Girls Inc. girls, and reduce barriers to preventative care.

Beware: Phone Scam May Pick Up Over The Holidays Omaha Public Power District continues to receive reports from customers of phony bill collection calls.

And those calls are picking up steam over the holidays as thieves get more desperate to bring in money.

The con has targeted utility customers across the region and the nation for several years now, with several variations. Generally, callers falsely tell customers they are overdue on bills and that they need to run and purchase a payment card of some sort and call back with the numbers. They threaten failure to do so will result in disconnection of services.

If past trends hold true, the calls could increase through the end of the year.

The con-artists may be trying to take customers’ money to increase their own

holiday spending budgets, or they could simply be taking advantage of families and businesses that don’t want to be without power during this busy time of year.

OPPD stresses these callers do not work for the utility. Authentic call center representatives would never cold call a customer demanding immediate payment in such a threatening manner.

If customers were truly overdue on their bills to the point where service could be disconnected, they would receive written notice first.

OPPD advises residential or business customers to never give personal or financial information to a stranger during an unsolicited telephone call.

If such a person should appear unannounced at your door claiming to

work for the utility, do not allow them to enter. Always ask for identification or verification. OPPD employees always carry identification. Failure to produce identification should always be a tipoff to the customer that something is wrong.

Customers with any questions about making a payment or on their account, in general, should always call OPPD directly. Within Omaha, the number is 402-536-4131.

As always, any customer service inquiries may be addressed with the local rural offices during business hours, as well.

After hours, or outside of Omaha, customers may also call 1-877-5364131.

Will Amber Guyger Be Charged with Murder?

By Nigel Roberts The newly elected Dallas County district attorney was probably feeling more than a little pressure to deliver justice in the racially charged case of former police officer Amber Guyger killing Botham Jean in his own home nearly two months ago.

John Creuzot, who is AfricanAmerican, recently said “the most appropriate charge” for the white Roberts woman who fired the fatal shot at an unarmed Black man in his own apartment was murder – not manslaughter. But his comments came, admittedly, without being intimately familiar with the investigation into one of the most unusual police shootings in recent history that he will begin overseeing after he’s sworn in next year.

Until then, he’s only privy to the same information as the rest of the public. And that’s precisely why one of Creuzot’s predecessors, former Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins, said he may want to tone down any rhetoric that might prove hard to back up. Either way, convicting a cop of

anything has always been an uphill battle.

“You can’t determine what direction you would go in by news accounts because they don’t have all the information and evidence,” Watkins, Texas’ first elected Black district attorney, told NewsOne in a recent interview. “So it may be somewhat premature and maybe irresponsible to basically make that kind of statement without knowing all the facts.”

In case there was any confusion about his comments, Watkins, a Democrat who served from 2006 to 2014, made himself clear: “It’s a precarious situation to make a statement that it should be a murder case without knowing the facts.”

Guyger claimed that on the night of Oct. 6, following a long shift, she mistook Jean, 26, for an intruder after walking into his apartment thinking that it was her own home. She actually lived one floor below him. Police consequently appeared to grant Guyger favorable treatment that invited suspicions of a cover-up, prompting demands for transparency and justice from Dallas’ Black community to officials from Jean’s native Caribbean island of St. Lucia. Her arrest was inexplicably delayed and she was fired nearly three weeks later, but not before she was allowed time to move out of her apartment and allegedly try to scrub her social media accounts clean of any See Guyger continued on page 3

NAACP Freedom Fund Look for Holiday Holiday Soiree – Events in the Dec. 14.

December 14 Issue.

See In the Village for details.

Page Two

LOCAL NEWS

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Tibbs continued from page 1 difficult due to grief and it becomes hard to laugh when someone close has left this earth. It’s in these moments that comedians thrive and have the privilege, as Tibbs calls it, to bring laughter and joy to the lives of others. He states “The good thing about laughter, you don’t have to be a comedian to create laughable moments. That’s why holidays are great. Family gatherings create amazing opportunities for laughter and love. Those moments help to relieve some of the sorrow that comes with grief.”

Tibbs has hopes to continue to spread joy and laughter to the world. He believes that God has given him a special gift and a unique perspective on life to help him utilize that gift. His mission is to give back what has been given to him. That way when it’s time to leave earth, the world can say Tibbs provided laughter over sorrow.

Tibbs is slowly but surely making his mark all over the map, with shows in Omaha and Arizona. Last week, he performed in the Big Apple at the Late Dangerfield’s Comedy Club for Rodney Dangerfield’s birthday and at the infamous Broadway Comedy Club.

For more information, visit https://tibbsviewpoint.wixsite. com/tibbsviewpoint.

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Board Scheduled to Meet and Certify Results from Statewide Election

LINCOLN – Members of the Nebraska State Board of Canvassers will convene in the Governor’s Hearing Room at the State Capitol 1:30 p.m. on Monday. The purpose of the meeting is to certify results of the statewide general election on Nov. 6.

The board consists of all state constitutional officers, except the Lt. Governor. Governor Ricketts will serve as chairman. The meeting is open to the public.

Once county canvassing boards have met and certified their results, local election officials will submit the certified results from local, state and federal races to the Secretary of State’s office. Results will be compiled and presented to the State Board of Canvassers for final approval. Only results for offices filed through the Secretary of State are included in that report.

If any final certified results of a race fall within the parameters of an automatic recount, the board will order that a recount be carried out starting at 9 a.m. on Dec. 5.

A copy of the Dec. 3 agenda is available online at https:// www.nebraska.gov/calendar/index.cgi and by request through the Secretary of State’s office.

Heartland Family Service Among First To Receive Bezos Grant

Heartland Family Service has announced it has been selected to receive a $5 million grant from Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos’ Day 1 Families Fund to expand innovative solutions to end homelessness.

“This transformational grant from the Day 1 Families Fund will allow Heartland Family Service to build upon best practices THE OMAHA STAR believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national to stem the flow of families experiencing antagonism when it accords every man, regardless of race, color or creed, his human and legal rights. homelessness, quickly rehouse families Hating no man, fearing no man in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as one is held back. that do enter the homeless system, and deliver support services to help families avoid returning to homelessness in the The United States provides opportunities for free expression future,” said Heartland Family Service Vice of ideas. The Omaha Star has its views, but others may differ. President Joanie Poore.

Heartland Family Service will use the Therefore the Omaha Star ownership reserves the right to Day 1 Families Fund grant to: 1) expand publish views and opinions by syndicated and local columnists, prevention and diversion services; 2) professional writers and other writers whose opinions are solely their own. Those views do not necessarily reflect the policies dedicate rapid rehousing resources and position of the staff and management of the Omaha Star specifically to families with children; and 3) develop a transition support team to meet newspaper.

Readers are encouraged to email letters to the editor commenting needs related to children’s services, peer on current events as well as what they would like to see included in support, and income and workforce supports the paper. Those emails should be sent to: phyllis@omahastarinc. to support resilience and expand skills that com and must include the writer’s name, address, email address keep families housed.

“We are incredibly grateful to Jeff and telephone number. The ownership has editorial rights and and MacKenzie for their extraordinary does not guarantee that all submissions will be published.

Please be advised that the Omaha Star ownership does not generosity,” said Heartland Family Service employ staff writers who charge for preparing and submitting President & CEO John Jeanetta. “Heartland articles for the general public. Should you encounter such, please Family Service, and the many agencies with whom we partner through our local advise Phyllis Hicks at 402.346.4041.

Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless (MACCH), will make good use of these funds by building on the diversion, prevention, emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and supportive service strategies we’ve In order to be included in the Omaha Star, all articles and announcements must be submitted by e-mail to fwilliams@ omahastarinc.com no later than two weeks in advance of the event. All articles and announcements should be prepared in a word document using Times New Roman, 10 pt. Submissions must be limited to 500 words. Any accompanying photographs should be submitted in a jpeg or pdf file. The deadline for all articles is Monday at 3:00 p.m., two weeks prior to the event date. Articles and announcements will not be accepted at the Omaha Star office. The Omaha Star is now published bi-weekly on Fridays. The Omaha Star business office hours are MondayThursday, 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

November 30, 2018

been implementing to end homelessness, particularly for families. We know this award will have a transformative effect, and countless children and families will benefit as a result of it.”

Heartland Family Service is one of 24 nonprofits to receive the first Day 1 Families Fund grants, totaling $97.5 million. Founded

by Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos, the Bezos Day One Fund consists of two programs: the Day 1 Families Fund that provides grants to nonprofit organizations fighting homelessness, and the Day 1 Academies Fund that will fund and build a network of pre-schools in low-income communities across the country. The Day 1 Families Fund’s vision comes from the inspiring Mary’s Place in Seattle: no child should sleep outside. A small group of expert advisors provided input to the Bezos Day One Fund team to select these organizations. The Day 1 Families Fund will be awarding grants annually. For more information, visit www.

BezosDayOneFund.org/Day1FamiliesFund.

About Heartland Family Service Heartland Family Service currently delivers an array of services to help end homelessness throughout the Omaha and Council Bluffs community. These programs include prevention/diversion, street outreach, navigation, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and lowbarrier emergency shelter targeted to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Heartland Family Service rapid rehousing programs

Salvation Army Winter Night Watch Begins The Salvation Army’s Winter Night Watch, a volunteer-driven program that helps make cold winter nights bearable for homeless and near-homeless individuals, began its 31st season on Monday.

Winter Night Watch takes aid right to the streets of Omaha, providing people with hot meals and warm clothing via Salvation Army mobile canteens. The program runs Monday-Friday from 6-9 p.m. through March 1.

Three canteens departed from The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services building, 10629 Burt Circle, at 6 p.m. Monday.

Volunteers arrived at 5:30 p.m. to load the canteens with meals and winter gear. The canteens made multiple stops along three different routes – central, north and south.

The Salvation Army expects to feed as many as 300 individuals per night at the height of the season.

Supplies needed for the Winter Night Watch program include: men’s coats (especially size XL, XXL, and 3XL), new tube socks, hats, gloves, and blankets. Donations can be dropped off at Emergency Disaster Services building Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Monetary donations are also needed to purchase food, fuel and paper products. Donations can be made online at www.salarmyomaha.org or mailed to The Salvation Army, 10755 Burt St., earmarked for Winter Night Watch.

To volunteer for Winter Night Watch, visit https://centralusa. salvationarmy.org/omaha/volunteer/ Canteen drivers are also needed; if you would like to drive for the program, please phone 402-898-5894.

Omaha Star Philosophy: At the Star we look at ourselves as the documentarians of African-American news in Omaha.

We strive to make our readers and our advertisers proud they support a publication that portrays the African-American as a multidimensional person capable of excelling in areas other than sports, entertainment and politics.

serve 324 households at any one time and permanent supportive housing serves 129 households at any one time.

From July 2016 through June 2018, their prevention programs served 263 households with 715 individuals. 89% of those served via prevention programs exited to permanent housing and 96% did not return to homelessness after one year.

Rapid Rehousing programs served 879 households with 2,013 individuals. 77% of those served via rapid rehousing exited to permanent housing and 86% did not return to homelessness after one year. Permanent Supportive Housing programs served 174 households with 354 individuals. Nearly 90% maintained or exited to permanent housing and 85% did not return to homelessness after one year. Connections, Navigation, and Homeless Street Outreach programs served 440 households with 626 individuals. 73% exited to permanent housing.

The mission of Heartland Family Service is to strengthen individuals and families in our community through education, counseling, and support services. Founded in 1875, Heartland Family Service currently serves more than 52,000 individuals of all ages each year from more than 15 locations in east central Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Our 50 programs provide critical human services to the individuals and families who ultimately shape the future of our community in the following focus areas: Child & Family Well-Being, Counseling & Prevention, and Housing, Safety, & Financial Stability.

Angel Tree Toy Drive Now Underway

The Salvation Army Angel Tree Toy Drive, a program that provides holiday toys for children in need in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area, began placing Angel Trees in homes and businesses last week. The drive runs through the week of Dec. 9.

Donors can pick up a tag with a child’s age, gender and suggested gift items from The Salvation Army Angel Tree donation sites. Newly purchased, unwrapped toys can be placed in the donation boxes located at those sites.

More than 100 local businesses – including Village Inn, College of St. Mary, La Petite Academy, Sam’s Club, AAA Life Insurance, and CVS Pharmacy – are serving as Angel Tree donation sites this year.

Angel Tree donation boxes are also located at Oak View Mall and Westroads Mall.

In Council Bluffs, new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at The Salvation Army Council Bluffs Corps, 715 N. 16 St., Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Angel Tree gift tags are also available at the Corps. Phone 712-328-2088 for more information.

Toys collected via Angel Tree are used to supply The Salvation Army’s Toyland distribution event in December – in which lowincome families are invited to pick out toys for their children at no cost. The Angel Tree program has been helping local families since The Salvation Army began serving the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro some 130 years ago. It relies entirely on the generosity of the community.

For more information on the Angel Tree program – or if you, your business, or your organization would like to host an Angel Tree – please phone 402-898-6083. Go to salarmyomaha.org for a list of locations.

Submissions to Express Yourself must include the writer’s first and last names as well as the writer’s address and telephone number. (Addresses and phone numbers are not published.)

Submissions written anonymously will not be printed.

Submissions may be edited at the publisher’s discretion.

Submissions to Express Yourself or the commentary page may also appear on the Omaha Star Facebook page. Email submissions must be typed in a Word document and sent to the publisher at: phyllis@omahastarinc.com

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November 30, 2018

LOCAL NEWS

THE OMAHA STAR

KETV Family Festival Showcases Downtown Attractions

KETV Channel 7 is proud to present Omahaarea families with the opportunity to experience an afternoon of fun – for free – at a variety of Omaha’s leading downtown attractions. This year’s Family Festival will be held Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Families can park at any of the six participating venues to access a free heated trolley service provided by Ollie the Trolley to connect the sites. All offer free admission and family activities.

The KETV Family Festival is part of the series of events comprising the annual Holiday Lights Festival. Families are encouraged to “Shine the Light on Hunger” and donate nonperishable foods and household goods to be distributed to families in need through Food Bank for the Heartland. In support of the campaign and to provide community members with additional access to food collection barrels, The Durham Museum, Joslyn Art Museum and Omaha Children’s Museum will host a collection barrel or bin.

“The KETV Channel 7 team is excited to serve as this year’s Family Festival sponsor,” Ariel Roblin, KETV’s president and general manager, said. “The Family Festival has become an annual tradition for many area families that showcases great downtown venues. We are happy to support this event and are looking forward to being part of the fun.”

The 2018 Family Festival will feature the following attractions and special programs at these locations:

Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. • Active play in the museum’s exhibits • Carousel or train rides (small fee) • Visits with Santa and his elves • Free Freezing Cold Science Shows in the Science Theatre

Downtown YMCA, 430 S. 20th St. • Interactive Activity Tour with stops for: health/holiday-themed crafts, bounce houses, dancing and tumbling, simple fitness training for adults and kids, hot chocolate/coffee and cookies with Santa

Omaha Police Mounted Patrol Barn, 615 Leavenworth St. • Stable tours and visit with Santa

Page Three

Guyger continued from page 1 potential damning evidence of implicit bias toward Black people.

Watkins lost his re-election bid to Republican Susan Hawk in 2015. After she resigned about a year later for mental health reasons, the governor appointed the current district attorney, Faith Johnson, a Republican who became the first Black woman lead prosecutor for Dallas County until her loss on • Meet-and-greet and photo opportunities with Election Day earlier this month. Johnson has been widely criticized for how she’s handled the case, yet she still said she wants to continue being involved after Creuzot takes over. That could actually turn officers and horses out to be a blessing in disguise for Creuzot, Watkins suggested.

• Riding demonstrations “I would want to basically be cautious in the direction I would go in because once the new DA gets • Free Swiss Miss hot cocoa in and finds out all the evidence, he may come to the same conclusion as the old DA,” said Watkins, • Pony rides with LaRue’s Little Horse Ranch who is also a criminal justice system reformer and critic of police corruption.

Pony Rides The reality of the situation was that securing a conviction against Guyger for manslaughter is far • Face-painting and balloon art from a slam-dunk. Getting a jury to convict a cop of murder, especially in the Lone Star State, has been even tougher.

There are roughly 1,000 police shootings every year in the United States, but officers seldom face The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. justice.

According to CNN, only 80 cops were arrested on murder or manslaughter charges for on-duty • “Christmas at Union Station” theme shootings between 2005 and April 2017. However, only 35 percent of those arrests led to convictions showcasing the wonder of the season in that 12-year period. Guyger was off-duty at the time she killed Jean.

• Omaha’s largest indoor Christmas tree and A Texas jury surprised many in August when it found white former police officer Roy Oliver guilty visit with Santa of murder in the 2017 shooting of an unarmed Black teenager named Jordan Edwards. It was the first • Holiday Cultural Trees exhibit, an annual time in 40 years that a Texas police officer had been convicted of murder for an on-duty shooting. The favorite highlighting the holiday traditions of jury heard from several witnesses, plus there was video evidence.

That scenario will probably not repeat itself with Guyger’s case, which apparently has no witnesses various cultures in the Omaha community • Temporary exhibitions including Thomas D. other than the former cop herself.

To win a murder conviction, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Guyger Mangelsen: A Life in the Wild AND Fighting for went into Jean’s apartment intending to kill him. On the other hand, Creuzot would only have to prove the Good Life: Nebraskan Memories of World Guyger was reckless when she shot Jean in order to win a manslaughter conviction. The difference is War I literally a matter of Guyger’s life, which could be spent behind bars forever with a guilty verdict for murder.

W. Dale Clark (Main) Library, 215 S. 15th St. “I think it’s noble of the new DA to want to pursue the highest charge. DAs in the past have been • Meet-and-greet and photo opportunities with irresponsible to acquiesce to the police unions,” Watkins said. “I think he will vigorously prosecute in Elephant & Piggie and Omaha Public Library this case.”

(OPL) mascot Scamper • Free children’s books while supplies last • Live holiday music, coloring activities and The University of Nebraska Medical Center’s below, the public is asked to first check to see if the storytelling by OPL librarians outdoor ice skating rink will open today (Friday) and rink is open by going to Facebook at https://www. will remain open through Feb. 10. facebook.com/theiceattheunmc or by phoning 402Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. The outdoor rink, which is open to the public, is 559-0697.

• Exhibitions including Pattern and Purpose: located just east of 42nd Street, midway between The rink is closed on Tuesday, Wednesday and American Quilts from Shelburne Museum and Emile Street and Dewey Avenue on the north side Thursday evenings for the UNMC student broomball Some Illustrator! Pictures by Melissa Sweet, of the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science and curling leagues. The rink also will be closed on Education. Admission includes skates (cash or credit Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Sibert medalist and Caldecott Honor winner Free parking is available in Lot 15 (surface lot • Pop-up exhibition of quilts from the card only – no checks or debit cards).

William Lawlor, assistant vice chancellor for on 40th Street between Dewey Avenue and Emile International Quilt Study Center & Museum in business and finance, noted that the UNMC Ice Street) located on the north and east sides of the Lincoln, Nebr., featuring traditional American Rink has purchased new skates, so that will be an UNMC Center for Healthy Living. designs dating to the mid-19th century; Pattern important new feature this year.

This year, the 24-hour UNMC Skate-a-thon for and Purpose is a ticketed exhibition free for Hours of operation are: Parkinson’s will begin on Friday, Jan. 25 at 2 p.m.

Monday – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and end Saturday, Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. It will mark the children and with a special discounted admission Tuesday – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ninth consecutive year that UNMC has hosted the for adults during the Family Festival only Wednesday – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

24-hour event that raises money for Parkinson’s • ART WORKS: A Place for Curiosity offering Thursday – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. research at UNMC and assists families dealing with nine creative project stations with connections Friday and Saturday – 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Parkinson’s. to works of art found in Joslyn’s permanent Sunday – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

More details will soon be available at the website collection “The outdoor ice rink is only open for about 10 for Parkinson’s Nebraska, the lead organization on • Hands-on activities and opportunities for weeks, so we want to maximize its usage,” Lawlor the event – http://parkinsonsnebraska.org/. said. “It’s the premier outdoor skating rink in our For more information about the UNMC Ice Rink, children to create their own works of art community. We want people to use it.” go to https://www.unmc.edu/cfhl/activities-events/ Anytime the weather is consistently above 50 skating.html or contact Candace Peteler at candace.

For more information, visit holidaylightsfestival. degrees or there’s a wind-chill of zero degrees or peteler@unmc.edu or 402-559-5192. org.

UNMC Ice Rink Opens Today

PRAISE, WORSHIP, DEVOTION, OBITUARIES & INSPIRATION 70th Birthday Bash For Rance Allen

Page Four

THE OMAHA STAR

John P. Kee really knows how to throw a party.

Recently, the legendary recording artist threw a concert celebrating the 70th birthday of his mentor and gospel icon, Bishop Rance Allen. Kee hosted Jason Nelson, Yolanda DeBerry, Isaiah Templeton, Shawn Bigby and Zeeksong for a spirited and packed-out concert at his New Life Fellowship Church in Charlotte, NC. For those artists who couldn’t appear in person, they sent greetings via Instagram. A Korean soul music quartet, Korean Seoul, serenaded Bishop Allen with an a cappella rendition of the Rance Allen Group’s signature tune, “Something About the Name Jesus.” Multiple re-postings of the video have amassed over 150,000 views: https:// instagram.com/p/BqXyYfOhm2N/ Kirk Franklin, who wrote the song, wrote on his IG wall, “the greatest opportunity of my life was to work with you sir. Forever grateful for what you made this song become.” The original and various re-recordings of the song by The Rance Allen Group have earned over 50 million streams.

“Thank you for all that you’ve done for me and many others like me to blaze trails out here, so we can sing our songs today,” Brian Courtney Wilson said on his IG page. R&B artists ranging from Ruben Studdard and K.C. Hailey (of K-Ci & JoJo/Jodeci fame) to Tank and Lalah Hathaway, all sent Instagram messages as well. “You have been one of my favorite singers all of my life,” Hathaway said in her post. “I don’t know if you remember me as a ten-year-old, but you were one of my favorite singers even then.” Super Producer, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, said, “I’ve got the Stax vinyl records and I listen to them jams man and you were ahead of your time with the grooves you were making and your singing, your style of singing was ahead of your time.”

The stars kept on shining and sharing Instagram anecdotes about Bishop Allen. PJ Morton, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Kierra Sheard, Tasha Page, Fred Hammond, singer/songwriter Eric Dawkins, comedian Not Karlton Banks, worship leader Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Le’Andria Johnson, Lena Byrd Miles, and Erica and Warryn Campbell, among others.

Joey “Beanz” Little of The Rude Boys posted a video too. “I’ve followed you ever since I was a kid,” he said. “A part of my makeup of who I am

Deaths & Funerals

Magnolia Edwards center.

85, passed away Thursday, Nov. Ms. Magnolia Edwards, age Graveside Service: 1 p.m. 22, at a local care center.

93, passed away Sunday, Nov. Tuesday, Nov. 27, Omaha Survived by son: Perry 18, at her residence.

National Cemetery.

Stanfield, Omaha; daughters: Survived by daughter: Erma J. Arrangements by Thomas Evaline, New Orleans, La, Ross; other relatives.

Funeral Home.

Michelle Stanfield, Omaha, NE; Funeral Services were held *** 5 grandchildren, 11 great-grand, 12 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, at the Ashley Parris 2 great-great-grand, nieces, mortuary.

Mrs. Ashley Parris, age 28, nephews, other relatives.

Cremation passed away Sunday, Nov. 18, Funeral Service: 1 p.m. Friday, Arrangements by Thomas in Kansas City, MO. St. Mark Baptist Church, Rev. Funeral Home.

Arrangements are pending.

Darryl Brown, officiating. *** Arrangements by Thomas Interment: Forest Lawn James Nelson Evans Sr. Funeral Home.

Cemetery Mr. James Nelson Evans Sr., *** Rance Allen and friend at birthday party Arrangements by Thomas age 81, passed away Saturday, Betty J. Stanfield Mrs. Betty J. Stanfield, age Funeral Home. has got something to do with you.” Actor Josh October 20, at a local care Eason, who’s acting in Kee’s new movie, “The Lost Song,” also made a video. As did Anthony Hamilton, Bishop Carlton Pearson and Israel Haughton and Adrienne Bailon.

Clark Sheard, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Twinkie Clark,

By Jacksonville Free Press Big-name pastors such as Bishop Charles E. Jacky Clark Chisholm and Denise Clark Bradford Blake, Travis Greene and Bishop Joseph Walker The story of the Clark Sisters, coming to – have inspired many of today’s divas including saluted Allen via Instagram. “What you’ve done television in early 2019 as a Lifetime movie, will Mariah Carey, Beyonce and Faith Evans. Denise is can only be imitated but never duplicated because no longer associated with the group, though there follow the gospel legends’ rise to fame. you are really the best at what you do,” Greene The legendary gospel siblings will be the subject has been talk of the group performing with her said. of an upcoming Lifetime biopic, “You Bought again.

“What do you say about a voice for the ages?”

The Clark Sisters were honored at the 2016 the Sunshine,” produced by heavyweights Queen scholar Michael Eric Dyson asked in his IG post.

Essence Music Festival. They also performed at Latifah, Mary J. Blige, and Missy Elliott. Sunshine “What do you say about one of the most poignant, Aretha Franklin’s funeral earlier this year. will tell the story of their rise to fame. piercing plangent tenors that runs up and down the “You Brought the Sunshine” is the title of The The Detroit-based Grammy Award winners are scales? The arpeggio, the melisma, the incredible Clark Sisters’ eighth studio album, which was the credited for helping to bring gospel music to the sonic timbre, the tone that resonated the deep group’s first album to be certified gold. mainstream. and profound soul of Detroit. With a voice and a “It is with great anticipation group that conjures the majestic heights and the that we share with you the sorrowful depths to which we could descend and story of the Clark Sisters,” ascend the extraordinary power of gospel to reach the group announced in an beyond a barrow sectarian region of the church.”

Instagram post.

The Rance Allen Group which is comprised of No actresses have been Bishop Allen and his brothers, Steve and Thomas, attached to the project as yet. is currently planning new music to release in Daughters of the legendary late 2019. In the meantime, their latest project, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, these “Live in San Francisco,” continues to sell well dynamic trailblazers have and is available at this link: http://smarturl.it/ given us hits such as, “You’ve LiveFromFrisco Stay up-to-date on Rance Allen at Brought the Sunshine,” his Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/ “Endow Me,” and “Is My realranceallen Living in Vain.”

The five sisters – Karen The Clark Sisters – Karen, Dorinda, Twinkie

Clark Sisters Biopic Coming in 2019

Kids Talk About God

How Do You Respond When People Make Fun Of You For Doing The Right Thing?

By Carey Kinsolving And Friends “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).

“When I had the flu, I gave my sister my Popsicle,” says Halle, age 9. “I got a spanking.”

Ouch! Halle, I’m sorry your sharing got you into trouble. Let’s hear from Adrianna, 8: “It means when people ignore somebody when they’re doing the right thing and don’t play with them, God blesses those people because they’re doing the right thing.”

“Once I was opening the door for people, and some teenagers were saying that I didn’t need to do that,” recalls Carson, 9. Three cheers for you, Carson. If you want to join the bandwagon, conform to peer pressure and make decisions based on popularity polls. But if you want to do what’s right, expect resistance because you’ll have to go against the crowd.

Salmon is my favorite food for three reasons: One, it tastes great; two, it’s full of brain food called marine lipids; and three, I like the idea of eating a fish that swims against the current.

Being mocked, ridiculed or socially ostracized for doing what’s right is swimming upstream.

This isn’t nonconformity just to be different. It’s desiring, thinking and acting differently because you’re living in a relationship with a righteous God. Tertullian, a Christian leader who lived about 150 years after Jesus, wrote: “We (Christians) have a reputation of living aloof from crowds.”

Social life is not all Christians lost in the early days of the church, says Langdon, 11: “A man named Paul used to capture people who talked about the great Jesus Christ. One man named Stephen got stoned and died. One day, Paul changed. He didn’t capture people anymore. He believed in the great Jesus Christ. He went to different countries and cities to tell people about Jesus Christ. Many times, he and his friends got

November 30, 2018

put into jail, but they escaped a lot.”

God likes paradoxes. He took the greatest persecutor of the early church and transformed him into its most acclaimed evangelist, the Apostle Paul.

“People are blessed for telling about God even when you might get hurt or killed,” says Kate, 10.

“For this, you will be honored.” Indeed you will, Kate. In fact, the Apostle Luke says you should “leap for joy” when people hate and exclude you because of your relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Leap for joy? Yes, because “your reward is great in heaven” (Luke 6:23).

Only those who are believers can rejoice in the midst of persecution. They can do this because believers filled with God’s life can love and forgive those who hate them. Since Jesus rose from the dead and went back to heaven, the Holy Spirit has been given to live inside every believer.

The power of God’s love transforms believers’ hearts.

Compassion replaces brutality. Greed gives way to generosity. Understanding prevails over prejudice. Hope drives out despair.

Hunter, 10, tells the story of Jim Elliot, a missionary martyr who died in the jungles of Ecuador. “When his wife heard about it, she cried for a long time. A few years later, she made a Bible in the language that the natives spoke in that country.”

God’s love came to this remote tribe through Elisabeth Elliot, the wife of the man whom they murdered. Only God’s power working in a person could make that person love those who murdered her husband.

Point to ponder: God rewards those who suffer for doing the right thing.

Scripture to remember: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).

Question to consider: When you suffer for doing what’s right, can you rejoice that God knows and will bless you?

Time Does Not Slow Down For Anyone

By Dr. William Holland Growing older is like a train rolling down the track and no matter how many Botox injections, vitamins, or hair plugs, we cannot stop the reality of our mortality. There is nothing wrong with trying to look young and we agree that dieting and exercise would surely be a healthy and positive lifestyle but the hourglass only contains so much sand. As the days keep ticking away, we are reminded to not put off until tomorrow what we can do today because we are not sure how many tomorrows we will have.

If you want a big juicy steak for heaven’s sake go have one. If you have thought about helping someone or have a desire to say or give them something, do not fall into the someday excuse and never do it. If you feel a burden to write a letter, make a call, invite someone to dinner, or ask someone to forgive you for something you did or said, by all means, do it today. Delay is a sure way to miss a golden opportunity.

There are certain aspects that I miss from my youth like being free from worries, along with having boundless energy and vitality. Now that I’m older, I cannot see as clear, I get winded pretty easy and sometimes I cannot remember people’s names. I love to take naps and when I watch Jeopardy, the answers are given before I can even think. Then there are the mistakes I wish I could forget. I realize it does no good to live in regret but I cannot help but wonder what could have been. I recall being more occupied with the present than concerned with the future and I can only imagine how much more I could have done if I knew then what I know now. The past is gone and even if I were given a do-over, I would probably make more of a mess than I did the first time. God has always been there for me and all in all, even without winning the lottery, I’m happy with where I am in my journey. Sure, we dream about what we could do with large amounts of money but then we snap back into the real world and realize the most important meaning of life is our personal relationship with

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God. As the scripture says in Matthew chapter 16, “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

I am not rich by any means but I am also not poor and there again is the compassionate and amazing grace of our heavenly Father.

As you and I face the prospects of growing older, we will ask ourselves questions like, “What should I be doing now to prepare for a time when I cannot take care of myself?”

Along with these practical decisions are also considerations for our spiritual life that speaks bluntly and boldly to the deepest recesses of our heart. Truth does not intend to be mean or cruel but desires to awaken us to the possibilities of purpose. The fact is, without change, we will be then what we are now. If you are not becoming a person of faith, love, and kindness now, you will not be that type of a person then. If you are a negative and grumpy person now, you will not suddenly become a positive and generous individual then. If you are not learning, growing, praying and developing an intimate personal relationship with God today, unfortunately, you will not walk with him then.

We will change when the agony of conviction to be transformed becomes greater than the apathy and contentment to stay the same. Charles Bancroft wrote this encouraging poem, “God loves the aged. He gives them greater visions than the young: He puts words of wisdom on their tongue: And keeps His presence ever by their side, from dawn to dusk, and on through eventide. God helps the aged. Within their home, his spirit dwells: Their mellow hearts are touched like chiming bells: He calms their fears, then worries disappear because they know his help is always near. God keeps the aged. With hearts of gold, and silver tinted hair: And earnestness, and greater faith in prayer: He keeps them as a shepherd guards his sheep, till in his fold they gently fall asleep.”

(Read this article in its entirety at billyhollandministries.com.)

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PRAISE & WORSHIP DIRECTORY

November 30, 2018

Rev. Benjamin R. Finnell

Rev. Benjamin R. Finnell Presiding Elder and Pastor Tammi Tate, Public Relations Chairperson 2842 Monroe St. Ph: (402) 502-8003 Fx: 934-8581 Sunday School....................................9:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship...............................10:00 a.m.

Thursday Bible Study..........................8:00 p.m. via teleconference, dial-in number 563-999-2090 and access code 576989

ST. MARK BAPTIST CHURCH

MOUNT CALVARY COMMUNITY CHURCH

ALLEN CHAPEL A.M.E.

THE OMAHA STAR Page Five

“Jesus is the light of the world” mtcalvarycommunitychurch.org

Pastor Jarrod S. Parker 3616 Spaulding Street, Omaha, NE 68111 Phone: 402-451-0307 Email: smbcsecretary@stmarkbaptist.org

5112 Ames Avenue Omaha, NE 68104 Ph: 402-457-4216

Sunday School – Sunday 9:00 a.m.

Sunday School .................................................... 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Morning Worship Experience ......... 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday Food and Fellowship.................... 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday (WOW) Word On Wednesday... 7:00 p.m.

Worship Service – Sunday 10:15 a.m.

Children’s Church (except 2nd Sunday) Holy Communion every 1st Sunday Prayer and Bible Doctrine Study Midday - 12:00 noon; Evening – 7:00 p.m.

Pastor Jarrod S. Parker

Televised Broadcast – Sundays at 6:00 p.m., KPAO Cox Channel 22 & CenturyLink Channel 89 Our Mission: “To exalt the Savior, edify saints, evangelize sinners and elevate society.”

“Where Life is for Everyone” Drs. Mar n & Lynnell Williams

MT. MORIAH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

Founders & Lead Pastors SUNDAYS Prayer 9:00 AM Worship 10:00 AM

WEDNESDAYS Prayer 6:00 PM Worship 7:00 PM

Dr. Ralph B. Lassiter, Pastor 2602 N. 24th St. Off: (402) 451-8800 - Fax: (402) 451-8522 mtmoriahomaha.net pastorlassiter@gmail.com

www.ambassadorswc.com 402-341-1866 5417 N 103rd St. Omaha, NE 68134 Rev. Ralph Lassiter, Sr.

Sunday School ...................................... 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Worship ..................................10:45 a.m.

Overcomers in Christ...............Sunday 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday Bible-Prayer Service 11:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m

BIBLE TRUTH MINISTRIES

Pastor Rordy Smith Pastor Ramona Smith

“Strengthing Families for Victorious Living” Pastor Rordy Smith Pastor Ramona Smith PO Box 1703 2402 Franklin St. Bellevue, NE 68005 402-292-9499 Web: www.BibleTruthMinistries.org Sunday School..................................9:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship Service...............10:00 a.m.

Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study......6:00 p.m

Weekly Services Sunday Morning Worship Service ..................................8:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.

Children’s Church (2nd & 4th Sunday) .............................8:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.

Life Development (Sunday School) .....................................................10:15 a.m.

Wednesday Word and Worship (WWW) ............................................ 6:30 p.m.

MT. NEBO MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

“The Church Where Fellowship is Real” Pastor Terry L. Arvie 5501 N. 50th Street Ph: 402-451-4245 Fx: 402-451-2130 office@mtneboomaha.org www.mtneboomaha.org

TABERNACLE OF FAITH CHURCH Pastor Barbara Mitchell 2404 Fort Street, Omaha, NE 68111 402-455-1800 Church 402-455-3390 Fax

Pastor Terry L. Arvie

“Come Get Your Hilltop Experience” Rev. Portia A. Cavitt, Pastor 5544 Ames Avenue, Omaha, NE 68104 Telephone: 402-451-8322 • Website: www.cmumc.net Email: clairumc@cumc.omhcoxmail.com Sunday School………………………8:45 a.m.

Sunday Worship Experience………...10:00 a.m.

Monday Bible Study…………………6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Bible Study….…….…….7:00 p.m.

Pastor Barbara Mitchell

Rev. Portia A. Cavitt, Pastor

3131 Lake Street Omaha, NE 68111 402-455-1000 www.salembc.org

Rev. Dr. Selwyn Q. Bachus

Sunday Morning Worship ...................................9:00 a.m.

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting .....................7:00 p.m.

Wednesday Night Church School ......................7:30 p.m.

Youth/Children Ministry Focus (Wed.) ............7:30 p.m.

CLAIR MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH Serving God and One Another in the Spirit of Excellence Rev. Dr. Selwyn Q. Bachus Senior Pastor

PLEASANT GREEN BAPTIST CHURCH

8:30 am Early Sunday Morning Worship 9:30 - 10:15 am Sunday Morning Breakfast 10:15 - 11:15 am Sunday School 11:30 am Sunday Morning Worship 6:30 pm Wednesday Bible Study 8:00 pm Friday Night Service Noon day prayer Thursday - Saturday

“Where CHRIST is Preeminent and the Word Prevails!”

Pastor Brian Page 5555 Larimore Avenue Church: 402-346-8427 www.pleasantgreenomaha.org

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Rev. Kent H. Little, Lead Pastor Services on Sundays at 8:30 am & 10:50 am

Rev. Kenneth A. Allen, Pastor

Wednesday: Prayer Power Hour ......................................12:00 p.m

7020 Cass Street, Omaha, NE 68132 402.556.6262 www.fumcomaha.org First United Methodist Church is a welcoming and inclusive community, inspired to grow with and in God.

ZION BAPTIST CHURCH

Pastor Brian Page

Thursday: Youth For Christ ............................................6:00 p.m Prayer & Bible Study ....................................7:30 p.m Rev. Kent H. Little

Televised Broadcast Sunday @ 10pm on KPAO Cox Communication channel 22 & Century Link channel 89

Sunday: Worship..............................................8:00 a.m.

Sunday School..................................9:30 a.m.

Worship............................................11:00 a.m.

2215 Grant Street Omaha, NE 68110 Ph: 402-346-1502 Fax: 402-344-2720 SUNDAY Sunday Morning Worship……………9:00 A.M. Sunday School……………………...11:15 A.M. WEDNESDAY 11:00 A.M. ~ Hour of Power Bible Study Wednesday is Family Night!

6:00 P.M. ~ Prayer & Praise Service 6:30 P.M. ~ Feast & Fellowship (Light Meal) 7:15 P.M. ~ Discipleship Academy (Classes for ages 5 & up)

Pastor Kenneth A. Allen

ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH 2423 Grant St. Omaha, NE 68111 Ph: 402-348-0631 • Fax 402-342-4451 Sunday Mass: 9:00 a.m.

Reconciliation: Sunday after Mass or by appointment

HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH Missouri Synod 2723 N. 30th Street 402-453-1583 Sunday School................................10:00 a.m.

Church Service...............................11:00 a.m.

YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME

Rev. Vitalis Anyanike

& HOLY NAME CATHOLIC CHURCH

2901 Fontenelle Blvd. 68104 Ph: 402-451-6622 • Fax 402-457-6901 Mass Schedule: Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m., Sat. 8:30 a.m. & 5:00 p.m.

Sun. 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. & Noon (Spanish) Reconciliation: Sat. 4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. or by appointment

JOY OF LIFE MINISTRIES COGIC Pastors Eric and Cynthia Butler 6401 N. 56th Street • Omaha, NE 68104 Ph: 402-399-9628 E-Mail: Jolpastor@aol.com Sunday School...................................9:30 a.m.

Sunday Worship...............................10:30 a.m.

Sunday Evening Worship.................6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Night ..............................7:00 p.m.

Bible Study and Youth Ministries

Pastor: Rev. Vitalis Anyanike

Pastor Eric Butler and Co-Pastor Cynthia Butler

MORNING STAR BAPTIST CHURCH “Where Christ Jesus Is the Center of Attention” Rev. Dr. Leroy E. Adams, Jr. Senior Pastor 2019 Burdette Street Omaha, NE 68110 Ph: 402-342-0018 Fx: 402-346-9300 Radio Broadcast: 101.3 fm 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. each Sunday Worship Service .............10:00 a.m.

Rev. Dr. Leroy E. Adams, Jr.

Sunday School .................8:45 a.m.

Excluding First Sunday Tuesday Evening Service.........7:00 p.m.

THE WORSHIP CENTER

Dr. Stan Rone Senior Pastor

North 24th Street Church of God “Presenting the Never-Changing GOD to an ever-changing World!”

Dr. Stan Rone - Senior Pastor 2021 N. 24th Street • Omaha, NE 68110 (402) 341-4297 Sunday Kingdom Academy 9:00 a.m.

Worship Celebration 10:15 a.m.

Tuesday Prayer Hour 7:00 a.m. & 12:00 noon Wednesday Power Hour (Prayer/Bible Study) 6:30 p.m.

Youth and Children 6:30 p.m. www.theworshipcenter24cog.org

Page Six

THE OMAHA STAR

COMMENTARY

November 30, 2018

Two Years Until The 2020 Elections – Time To Get To Work

By Oscar Blayton Most readers will be familiar with this scenario.

A white politician that you have not heard from in two years starts to show up at Black churches, gladhanding the pastors, reciting for the congregation his or her accomplishments that you’ve never heard of and reminding you to vote for him or her in the upcoming elections.

It’s a scenario that is played out in most political districts where Blacks make up a significant portion – but not the majority – of the electorate. We know very little about these absentee politicians except that they are “the lesser of two evils” – the choice offered to those Black folk allowed to vote, since the end of the Reconstruction.

The question is: Why are we consistently faced with only being able to choose between the lesser of two evils each election cycle? Or put another way: “Why can we not have more options when selecting who will represent us?

The answer is that we do have more options. We simply must constantly stay politically “woke” and not wait until the last minute to pay attention to who the potential candidates are. Politicians interested in running in 2020 already are lining

up at the starting gate. People aspiring to become the next president of the United States already have advance people in Iowa and other key states in preparation for the primary elections. Those eyeing congressional seats, state and local offices are organizing their political teams in order to hold on to those offices or to unseat an incumbent.

2016 has shown us that if we do not get engaged, we are in danger of being saddled with a lying racist, bent on erasing all of the gains people of color have made during the last five decades.

2018 has shown us that when people organize, they can overcome many of the obstacles that are strewn in our paths to equal justice and the freedoms promised to us by the U. S. Constitution.

2018 also has shown us that there are those who would deny people of color justice and freedom by blocking us from our guaranteed right to vote.

The Georgia governor’s race shone the light on how bigots and racists will go to any lengths to tilt the vote in their favor by removing voters from the rolls and by making it more difficult for voters to get to the polls to cast their ballots. Republican Brian Kemp ran for governor of that state while refusing to step down as its secretary of state, the office that oversees elections in Georgia. Over the

Op-Ed Films Examine Racism in Omaha The other night in my Metropolitan Community College Nebraska Screen Gems class I screened two of the most powerful films ever made about race in America: the documentary “A Time for Burning” (1966) and the dramatic feature “Wigger” (2010). The films were made in Omaha at two very different times. “Burning” was shot here in 1965 and “Wigger” was produced locally in 2009. They are very different and yet complementary slice-of-life looks at the nature of racism in America as a whole and as it applies to Omaha in particular. These films would make great talking points for public discussion-panel programs or classes around racism. Best of all, the filmmakers themselves and/or key participants in the films could be available to lead or join in the conversation along with experts.

“Burning” is an intimate, black-and-white cinema vérité exposition of the unraveling that occurs within a white congregation – Augustana Lutheran Church – when a new pastor attempts fellowship with black neighbors, including members of two nearby black churches. The black churches were Calvin Memorial Presbyterian and Hope Lutheran. The conflict results in the pastor at Augustana resigning and the church being severed in the aftermath of members confronting their own troubled consciences on racial matters. The intensity of the experience is captured in such a real time and close detail way that all these years later the discomfort is still palpable. Calling out white Christians for their hypocrisy is a young Ernie Chambers, who became a national figure because of this film. The church in question, Augustana Lutheran, sat on the edge of the geographic color line in Omaha. Though in close proximity to the black community, the church did not interact with its black neighbors and for all intents and purposes was a far distant island unto itself. When the new pastor tried reaching out, his own congregation turned against him.

“Wigger” is a dynamic color film that explores an authentic strata of the black experience from the prism of a young white dude, Brandon, who identifies more with black culture than white culture. He tries getting his fledgling hip-hop music career off the ground with the help of his black manager and best friend Antoine and he gets involved with a black woman. With his speech, dress and vibe reading black and him still being undeniably white, he runs up against resistant, even outright hostility from strangers, friends and, most acutely, his virulently racist father. Things eventually come to a violent head, though the story leaves the promise for finding a peaceful resolution through the morass. In the wrong hands, this set-up could have resulted in a real mess of a film, but writer-director-producer Omowale Akintunde lends it great depth and nuance. The characters stand on their own as real individuals and their situations ring true. On the micro level, Akintunde gets all the details right as they apply to these people and their predicaments and to the northeast Omaha and north downtown scenes they inhabit. And on the macro level he nails the whole white privilege, unconscious bias and systemic racism problems head on without ever making us as the audience feel preached or lectured at.

The folks who made “Burning” – Bill Jersey and Barbara Connell – were master documentary filmmakers. “Wigger” was Akintunde’s first and only feature and it is comparable to some of the best debut feature films I’ve ever seen. While “Burning” earned much exposure and acclaim at the time of its release, including an Oscar nomination for best documentary and later airing on PBS, “Wigger” has been little seen. It deserves a much larger audience.

Each film stands on its own and can be used to frame a discussion around race. But I think both films screened together can provide an even stronger framework for a more robust discussion. I strongly recommend that schools and community organizations convene programming around these films. I have DVDs of each and I would be interested in helping facilitate events around them.

Though made nearly 50 years apart, the films resonate strongly with each other and with where we are still today in terms of race in this country.

A third, more recent race film made in Omaha

– a short called “I Do Not Use” by Jason Fischer – is another powerful piece of work that uses potent, metaphorical words and images to convey the psychic and soul toll of racism. The film is a stunningly realized interpretation of one of local poet Frank O’Neal’s best known works. It could also be used in conjunction with the longer films in programs/events/classes.

From a programming perspective, the two longer works have relatively short running times that allow for some flexibility in terms of scheduling: “Wigger” is 90 minutes; “A Time for Burning” is 60 minutes.

The short film “I Do Not Use” is about 5 minutes in length and could easily be shown with one or both of the other films. It just depends on the length of the program and its format.

Enough time needs to be incorporated into a session to allow for some contextual intro comments and post-film discussion. Whenever possible, the filmmakers should be present. That would be very feasible with “Wigger” and “I Do Not Use” since their directors live here. Bill Jersey, the director of “Burning,” does not. But he does these kinds of programs all the time and has come to Omaha before. Ernie Chambers is a prominent part of the film and his participation in any program would be desirable. Also, members of Augustana Lutheran Church and the two black churches who experienced the events of the film are still around.

If you or your organization would like to host an event with these films, I can provide “Wigger” and “A Time for Burning.” I am also quite conversant about each film as far as its cinematic merits and social-cultural-racial themes. I can also facilitate contacting the filmmakers and other participants.

If you would like “I Do Not Use” to be part of the mix, we can contact Jason Fischer about screening it and having him appear.

On a personal note, it was great to have Omowale Akintunde at class. It made for a very special experience to have the filmmaker present and to have him talk about the project. He got very emotional during and after the screening because of the strong response his film elicited from those on hand. He was asked some very telling questions and his answers gave us an appreciation for how he got the film made and what he hoped to convey through the story.

I hope to have the opportunity to present more Nebraska Screen Gems and to have their makers talk about their feature films, made-for-TV movies and series in community forums. Stay tuned.

While we’re at it, wouldn’t it be great to have public screenings and conversations around other black film-TV professionals from Omaha?

Gabrielle Union, Yolonda Ross, John Beasley, Monty Ross, Carleen Brice, Randy Goodwin, Kevyn Morrow, Jade Jenise Dixon, Timothy Christian, Cathy Hughes, Chanelle Elaine, Amber Ruffin.

I would be happy to help organize and present programs around these figures and their work.

By extending the focus to Omaha black media members, producers, authors and playwrights, the field grows larger yet: Rudy Smith, Llana Smith, Walter Brooks, Michael Scott, Mike’l Severe, Camille Steed, Aaron Gum, Symone Sanders, Damon Benning, Serese Cole, Peta Sheerwood, Shawnte Passmore, Waverlie Monroe, JoAnna LeFlore, Steve Gordon, Beaufield Berry, Denise Chapman, Peggy Jones, Kim Louise, Makayla McMorris, Monique Farmer, etc.

The more that professionals like these have a forum for sharing their experiences, the more they demystify the process and inspire others to follow their own dreams.

Let’s give black creatives the spaces and platforms they need to express their voices and visions in the spirit of expanding the conversation and opening minds.

Leo Adam Biga Author-journalist-blogger-presenter 402-445-4666 leoadambiga.com (Editor’s Note: The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the policies and position of the staff and management of the Omaha Star newspaper.)

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years, Kemp systematically removed Black voters from the rolls through various questionable means, giving himself a clear advantage by increasing the percentage of would-be voters who were white.

There are those who will try to cheat us out of our rights, including our right to vote. There are those who will try to steal elections in the way that Trump did in 2016 with the help of Russian interference. These people can be stopped, however. They can be stopped by you and by me. They can be stopped by your parents and your voting-age children – and by your aunts and uncles and cousins and friends.

The way we stop them is by looking for people qualified to run for office in federal, state and local elections and helping them to win. These people can be found among your parents and your voting age children – and your aunts and uncles and cousins and friends. They must be identified and then encouraged to run for office. And when they run, we must support them. We must support them with our time, our labor and with our money.

There may not be many of us that can give much of any of these things, but we can each give something.

If we make more of an effort, we can get more

elected officials of the type we want and deserve.

The proof is in the pudding. 2018 saw a record number of women of color elected, and it is expected that these women will work to steer America back on the correct course to fulfilling the promises of our Constitution.

According to the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, women of color now will occupy 38 seats in Congress, 9 statewide elective offices, 456 state legislative seats and 10 mayors’ offices in some of the nation’s 100 largest cities.

We, as people of color, are in a pitched battle for our rightful place in this nation. And it is a battle that we will not win if we do not enlist as many people as possible in the fight. If we do not identify, enlist and support candidates who champion our best interests, then we deserve the callous and unjust treatment that we receive from elected officials who do not respect us.

The clock is running and so are the same tired old politicians. It is time we bring some serious champions into the fight.

(Oscar H. Blayton is a former Marine Corps combat pilot and human rights activist who practices law in Virginia.)

Mentoring Matters Pursue Meaningful Mentoring With A Purpose

By Debra L. Shaw A mentor is not someone who walks ahead of you to show you how to reach your targeted goals. A mentor walks alongside of you to show you what you can do to complete your goals. Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”

Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson said, “All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and someone who believes in them.” Whoopi Goldberg said, “We’re here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark.” Mentoring with clear intentions, influential purpose and powerful determination, will certainly afford all youth in any type of economic or social circumstance to succeed.

The ‘Mentoring for Meaningful Results: Asset-Building Tips, Tools, and Activities for Youth and Adults’ paperback book by Kristie Probst has a wide range of resources to explore for building a meaningful mentor/mentee relationship.

This book and the description can be found on the following site - https://www.amazon. com/Mentoring-Meaningful-Results-AssetBuilding-Activities/dp/1574828754/ref=sr _1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1543187723&sr=83&keywords=youth+mentoring/. Mentoring

gets a face lift in this handbook for fostering a healthy, successful mentoring program.

Developed with input from Big Brothers Big Sisters and MENTOR/The National Mentoring Partnership, this guide provides a comprehensive approach that factors in the needs of the entire mentoring team, including program leaders, mentors, mentees, parents, and caregivers.

Ideal for schools, organizations, and communities starting new mentoring programs or seeking fresh ideas for an existing one, the included activities address such topics as mentor recruitment, the mentor’s role, conversation starters, low-cost activities, and practical ways for parents and caregivers to influence the mentor–mentee relationship. More than 50 reproducible materials provide program leaders with easily administered, ready-made tools and activities. This book is a good read for anyone associated with a mentoring program or with students enrolled in a mentoring program.

“A lot of people have gone farther than they thought they could because someone else thought they could.” This anonymous quote has deep meaning to anyone who volunteers as a mentor and for those who are seeking volunteer opportunities regarding youth and their educational goals. There are plenty of organizations such as 100 Black Men, Kids Can Community Center and Partnership4Kids.

Visit this site for details about volunteering as a mentor – https://mmpomaha.org/.

Mentoring Matters!

Trump’s Rude Theatrics Overshadow Questions on Voter Suppression

By Caleb Gayle April Ryan, White House correspondent for American Urban Radio Networks, and other journalists of color have not been favorites of President Donald Trump. From telling Ryan to shut up a meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus when she asked if he planned to meet with black members of Congress to calling her a loser, President Trump has displayed his contempt for Ryan.

In his post-midterm press conference, Ryan became the target of Trump’s ire yet again. But this time what the President did was show more than displeasure with black female reporters – his theatrics overshadowed a key issue that Ryan was trying to address: voter suppression. While his rage, his diminishing of the credibility of these black, award-winning journalists, and his stupidity in calling their questions “racist” minimized what was actually happening: Trump was committing racism by omission.

Ryan’s question was simple, “Mr. President, what about voter suppression?” She stood up after Trump acknowledged her question but was promptly told “sit down.” While pundits opined about Trump’s mistreatment of black women journalists, many missed that Trump refused to answer the question about voter suppression, which is poisoning our democracy and disproportionately disenfranchising communities of color.

The reality is that suppressing votes has become a hallmark of most of the Republican electoral strategy. Their politicians refuse to engage with communities of color, and instead embark on strategies to diminish our power at the voting booth. We can all see it. But the President uses his bully pulpit to create distractions that shield scrutiny of this undemocratic tactic. Moreover, it allows him to avoid questions about the strategy that he has happily endorsed and enacted with the Republican Party.

As a reminder, Republicans have not been particularly shy about their voter suppression efforts. For example, Ben Nadler of the Associated Press broke news in October that in Georgia, approximately 53,000 voter registration applications were sitting on hold at the office of Brian Kemp, Georgia’s Secretary of State and Republican nominee for governor. Nadler’s team at the AP identified that most of these applications were those of black voters.

Voter purges are supposed to be used to eliminate people who become ineligible to vote usually because they move or because of a death or incarceration. But in some states like Ohio, voter purges have wrongfully removed people who have not voted in the past few elections. In the run-up to the midterms, some 32 counties in Florida violated the law by not providing bilingual

ballot assistance.

More egregiously, states like Kansas use the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck (Crosscheck) to identify duplicative voter registrants across numerous combined voter rolls and subsequently purge those duplicates. Expanded under Kris Kobach – the outgoing Republican Secretary of State and failed gubernatorial candidate – Crosscheck, which had an error rate of 99.5 percent, uses a loose name matching that disproportionately targets voters of color for purging. According to a study by the Brennan Center for Justice, “African-American, AsianAmerican, and Latino voters are much more likely than Caucasians to have one of the most common 100 last names in the United States.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 16.3 percent of Hispanic people and 13 percent of black people have one of the 10 most common surnames, compared to 4.5 percent of white people. An ongoing lawsuit on this is underway and being pursued by Demos.

And in states like Alabama, voters are up against photo ID laws, which disproportionately affect black voters, limited access to offices to issue IDs in black areas, and more. Clarity around where to vote, how to vote, and eligibility to vote become even more significant when these impediments make voting disproportionately harder for black people.

According to a study by the Public Religion Research Institute, “black (nine percent) and Hispanic (nine percent) Americans are three times more likely than white Americans (three percent)” to report complications with voting for them or someone in their household because of identification issues. In the same report, “black (15 percent) and Hispanic (14 percent) Americans were roughly three times more likely” to have trouble locating their correct polling place than white Americans (five percent).

As president of the United States, Trump had an opportunity to explain his views on voter suppression when Ryan asked her question.

Because of his inconsistent application of the truth, one can expect the truth would be stretched or he would offer up unverifiable facts. Instead he exhibited the Trump brand of racism – racism by omission, refusing to acknowledge that voter suppression exists and is spreading across the land in states predominantly controlled by Republicans.

Voter suppression is a weighty issue, especially for African Americans, whose ancestors marched, protested and died for the right to vote. For President Trump, to simply dismiss voting suppression by assailing Ryan, is a racist slight to all people of color, and our forefathers.

(Caleb Gayle is the Emerging Voices Fellow at Demos.)

Editor’s Note: The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the policies and position of the staff and management of the Omaha Star newspaper.

LOCAL/NATIONAL THE OMAHA STAR Tommie Frazier and Cox Provide Civil Rights Group Subpoenas Thanksgiving Surprise to ‘Apprentice’ Owners for Tapes Local Teacher of Trump Using Racial Slurs

November 30, 2018

Local educator and Cox Communications customer Jennifer V. received an extra special Thanksgiving week surprise when former Husker football star Tommie Frazier arrived at her door. Jennifer was the lucky winner of a fall promotion by Cox Communications and the University of Nebraska.

While Jennifer knew she had won a generous prize package featuring a free year of Cox’s Contour service, a new 55” TV, VIP Tickets to a 2019 Husker game and a signed Tommie Frazier football, she was not aware that the former Husker quarterback would deliver the items in person. Video of her surprise delivery was featured in a Nebraska Huskers Facebook video that debuted Friday.

More than 6,000 Husker fans engaged in the enter to win sweepstakes online posts, which ran on Facebook for 30 days in October and November. Contestants were encouraged to share how they got “game day” ready.

“We are thrilled to celebrate football, family and community with this campaign and gift to Jennifer,” said Lynne Sangimino, market vice president for Cox Communications.

“At Cox, we believe life is better when we have more moments of real human connection.

Today, we were able to provide those connections – by offering services and technology that will connect Jennifer with the best in entertainment, sports and news, and by bringing Tommie here to surprise and delight a long-time Husker fan.”

The Contour video service included in Jennifer’s prize package provides her household access live TV, DVR, On Demand and Netflix content – in one place. It also has innovative features like Voice Remote, Fantasy Football Hub and a DVR with up to 1,000 hours of storage.

‘Because of Them We Can’ Launches First Subscription Box for Kids

Page Seven

Boston, MA – In what is believed to be the first demand made in a pending federal lawsuit, Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) have issued subpoenas to MGM Holdings Inc. and Trump Productions, LLC, demanding that they immediately produce to LCR “any and all unaired video footage … created during the production of The Apprentice in which Donald J. Trump … uses racial and/or ethnic slurs.” The subpoenas are part of a lawsuit, Centro Presente v.

Trump, alleging that Trump’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a life-saving humanitarian program for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador, and Honduras, was racially motivated and, therefore, unconstitutional.

Numerous individuals, including a former Apprentice producer and former contestant Omarosa Manigault, have publicly confirmed that the video footage subject to the subpoena exists. However, MGM has thus far refused to release any outtakes from the show, citing unspecified “contractual and legal requirements.”

“Trump’s racially biased views are central to our TPS case in which the President is a named Defendant,” said Oren Nimni, LCR’s attorney litigating the case. “Access to these videotapes will help further demonstrate that Defendant Trump holds racially-biased views that impact his policy- and decision-making,” noted Attorney Nimni.

Bill Pruitt, the producer of Seasons 1 and 2 of the Apprentice, has publicly stated that during the taping of the show, Defendant Trump made “unfathomably despicable” racist comments and that those videos “are somewhere, in some warehouse.”

Attorney Nimni also noted that producer Pruitt has indicated that Defendant Trump’s derogatory comments were “very much a racist issue,” making the tapes highly relevant to the pending legal action.

LCR’s lawsuit was filed in February on behalf of Centro Presente, Haitian Americans United, and courageous individuals with TPS, a humanitarian program providing immigration relief for individuals from designated countries that experienced armed conflict or natural disasters. The lawsuit is pending before U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper, who in July 2018 rejected the Trump Administration’s attempts to dismiss the case and to dismiss Trump as a named defendant in the case.

Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole Selected as Chair and President of NCNW Washington, DC (BlackNews.com) – The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) selected Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole as its chair and seventh president during the closing session of their 58th Biennial National Convention in Washington, D.C. Ms. Ingrid Saunders Jones, who served as NCNW’s chair for more than six years, will continue to serve the organization as the immediate past chair.

“At this moment when I have the exceptional honor of beginning my service as the chair of our beloved National Council of Negro Women, I am thinking of a proverb from the Swahili Coast of that great continent that is the cradle of humanity: Africa,” said Dr. Cole during her acceptance remarks.

“It says, it does no harm to be grateful. My heart is overflowing with gratitude for this honor to serve as the seventh president of this organization that has been a voice of and for Black women since it was founded in 1935 by the amazing and grace-filled Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and lead so brilliantly and soulfully for more than 50 years by the unconquerable Dr. Dorothy Height.”

Dr. Cole’s path to becoming NCNW’s new chair began during her childhood when she and her sister had the privilege of being mentored by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, a longtime friend of her great grandfather. Dr. Bethune counseled the young sisters about the importance of education and being of service to others.

She heeded Dr. Bethune’s advice as her career and service exemplifies.

“When social justice is on the menu, I promise to ensure that NCNW has a seat at the table and I’m committed to preparing the next generation of women leaders so NCNW can continue to be an influential power in the ongoing struggle for equality,” said Dr. Cole.

“As a lifetime member of NCNW, Johnnetta is well suited to steward the legacies and promises of Dr. Bethune and Dr. Height,” said Ingrid Saunders Jones. “With more than 650 delegates representing more than 200 sections and affiliates from across the country coming together in unity to achieve the smooth transition of leadership, including the acceptance and installation of a slate of 22 officers by affirmation, NCNW is in good hands.”

A woman of many firsts, Dr. Cole served as the president of both historically Black colleges for women in the United States, Atlanta-based Spelman College and Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina. She served as director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Dr. Cole was

(Washington, D.C.) – Because of Them We Can, a platform that creates and curates content highlighting and amplifying Black history and excellence, announces the launch of their first interactive monthly subscription box, just for kids. Each month kids can use the contents of the box to transform into a trailblazer and leader, or learn about an organization or movement and their cultural impact with items like branded apparel, educational activities, props and more.

The box will be available for kids ages 5 to 12 and will arrive just in time for them to unwrap their imagination during the holidays.

Excited parents, aunts, uncles and friends can sign up at botwcbox. com to be the first to purchase the box, which is officially on sale today. Subscriptions are a monthly fee with free shipping; however, a limited number of boxes will be available for inaugural members at a discounted monthly cost while supplies last. Adults who sign up for the first box will COLLECTING UNFINISHED STORIES: receive a special gift.

In 2013, Eunique Jones Gibson launched the “Because of Them AFRICAN-AMERICAN & JEWISH We Can” campaign during Black History Month to counter COLLABORATION AND CONFLICT the images and stories in the media that painted Black people in a negative light. By featuring photos of kids dressed as African American figures like Janelle THURSDAY DECEMBER 13TH 7-9 PM Monae, Langston Hughes, Rosa COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CENTER, UNO Parks and more, the campaign aimed to change the narrative and Institutional and extra-legal violence--boost the self-esteem of children.

Since then, BOTWC has evolved restrictive covenants and redlining---school into a platform community and desegregation and tensions over neighborhood now, a subscription box that schooling---the rise of nationalism---the impetus allows kids to deepen their for and complex legacy of the Northern urban connection to history makers past and present in a fun and engaging riots---gentrification way.

“For the last five years, we’ve traveled across the country, This special event will feature students giving presentations on engaging with thousands of oral histories they conducted with Jewish and African-American children, visiting elementary and community members in Omaha. classrooms and educating young people on trailblazers they never Emmaline Sabin, a double women's studies and black studies heard about or knew looked major, who attended Central High School said, "It was amazing like them,” said Jones Gibson. to get the opportunity to speak with A'Jamal Byndon whose mother was part of a lawsuit to desegregate OPS. It humanizes “These engagements helped us the long struggle for equality here in Omaha." realize that Black history was only being taught during Black The presentations will be followed with Q&A with the community.

History Month, if at all, and The event is cosponsored by the Schwalb Center for Israel & when it was, the subjects were Jewish Studies, the Black Studies Department, Criss Library typically relegated to slaves or Archives, Service Learning Academy, and the History the same cast of historical figures. Department - all at UNO. Refreshments will be provided.

After receiving requests from educators for innovative tools For more information contact Jeannette Gabriel at 402-554-2800 and seeing young people expand their aspirations after exposing them to a broader range of history makers, it was clear that we needed to create something that would engage children on a national scale with consistent content curated just for them.”

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(L to R) Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole taking her oath, with Ingrid Saunders Jones holding the Bible and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman, a senior advisor to NCNW, administering the oath of office.

Photo credit: Summerland

the first African American to serve as chair of the board of United Way of America. She also served on a number of other corporate boards: Nations Bank South, Home Depot, Merck; and was the first woman to serve on the board of Coca Cola Enterprises. She has authored and edited several books and numerous scholarly articles; and has received numerous awards, including a NCNW Uncommon Height Award and 68 honorary degrees. Dr. Cole is principal consultant with Cook Ross, Inc., a consulting firm in Silver Spring, Maryland, and is a member of the board of Martha’s Table. She is a fellow of the American Anthropological Association; and holds memberships in several diverse organizations including the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; and the Links, Inc. She resides on Amelia Island in her home state of Florida.

About The National Council of Negro Women Founded in 1935 by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, NCNW is a coalition of some the nation’s most powerful and influential women’s groups. Its mission is to lead, advocate for and empower women of African descent, their families and communities. To learn more about the organization, please visit www.ncnw.org

Help the Omaha Star Find Its Missing Issues Complete the Nebraska State Historical Society Archives On June 2 representatives of the Nebraska State Historical Society took bound copies of some of the Omaha Star’s earliest issues with them to Lincoln. The five bound books will complete issues missing from the state archives for the past sixty years, ranging from September 17, 1938 through October 26, 1951.

The Mildred D. Brown Memorial Study Center (MDBMSC) Board is working with the Nebraska Historical Society to create a complete Library Archive of the past and current issues of the Omaha Star. Although many years of newspapers have been microfilmed by the Omaha Public Library and the Nebraska Historical Society, many issues are missing. We are asking readers, who may have copies of the issues that are listed, to please bring them to the Omaha Star to be microfilmed. The issues will be returned to you.

The MDBMSC was formed to continue the legacy of Mildred Brown the founder and publisher of the Omaha Star. The purpose of the Study Center is to provide area students with scholarship support and opportunities to envision career possibilities in journalism and communications through educational programs, field trips, tutoring and mentoring. They are also provided access to resources and inspirational archive materials.

The Omaha Star and its affiliated foundation, the Mildred D. Brown Memorial Study Center, are seeking any copies of the following issues: July 8, 1939 to Mar. 15, 1940 May 3, 1940 July 4, 1952 June 29, 1962 Feb. 14, 1964 Apr. 29, 1967 Feb. 29, 1968 Mar. 21, 1968 to Mar. 28, 1968 May 2, 1968 May 23, 1968 July 18, 1968 Aug. 8, 1968 to Aug. 15, 1968 Nov. 14, 1968 May 29, 1969

★

Our office will be closed Jan uar th in observance y 18 , of Martin Luther Kin g holiday

OMAH STAR A Ben Gray to speak at Martin

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Dedicated to the Service of the Shall Lack a Champio People that NO Good Cause n and that Evil Shall Not Go Unoppo Nebraska’s Only sed

Festival Self-Empowerment St. Paul Baptist Church July 13th, 2010

Luther King Day event

Black Owned Newsp aper

Omaha City Councilman Ben Gray will commemorative 2 Omaha, Nebraska deliver a address on the Monday, Jan. UNMC campus Thursday, January 18, to on Rev. Martin Luther honor slain civil rights leader, 7, 2010 50 cents King Jr. Gray’s speech, which is sponsored The Nebraska Medical Center, by UNMC and Truhlsen Campus will be in the Events Center Center. in the Sorrell “We are pleased The Partnership to bring a city For community volunteer leader and tireless non-profit organization Our Kids, a Schools.” to campus,” Newland, M.D., that provides disadvantaged director of UNMC’s said Myrna “The Partnership The mission of students For Our Kids Staples Foundation and coordinator of Equity Office academic enrichment with positive works to for the Learning provide Martin Luther Inc. is to teach, Commemoration King Day received a $10,000 experiences, has mentary school disadvantaged ele- inspire. train and Committee. “I Founded in 2002, grant from Staples students with positive believe our campus Foundation for the founda- can look forward to an Learning, a private academic enrichment experiences,” tion has contributed inspiring and more than $17 speech.” foundation created relevant said Briana Curran, million to national and manager, Staples The Funding from SFFL by Staples Inc. Foundation that provide educational local charities best annual address is regularly for Learning. will support the one attended events “Staples and opportunities Winners Circle Foundation for on Martin Luther of the city’s job skills for all program, which Learning supports King Jr. Day. people, with a This year, the event starts pro- Winners vides underserved the special Circle program, at noon, is free which cre- youth. emphasis on disadvantaged to the public. Guests dents with access elementary stu- ates an environment and open can park in Lot to rigorous math, Staples Foundation the visitor parking where youth are 15V, which is reading and citizenship recognized for for area located on Learning has also their achievements the south side developed lasting the Student Life Center increase their academic activities to teachers, peers, by relationships of at the corner of parents and the achievement.

40th & Jones com- of America, with Boys & Girls Clubs Streets.

“The Winners munity.”

Circle program Earth Force, Hispanic Gray is a first-time ensures disadvantaged Winners Circle students have for the 2nd District. elected city council member and All Our Kids Heritage Foundation, and the the resources and Initiative joined forces in for a Competitive support needed 2007 to form Prior to his election, Inner City. In addiOmaha City Councilman to Partnership develop an enthusiasm The tion, Staples Nebraska Gray had a 30-year For Our Kids, to Ben Gray Foundation for a television for learning,” Vol. 72 - No. 28 Omaha, help dissaid Beth Smith, career as Learning photojourna list nered with Executive Director, advantaged students. The Partnership supports Ashoka, an organization “Kaleidoscop and host the emergency Winners Circle e” on Omaha’s of Nebraska that develops and supports department at Program of The creates a community of caring ABC’s KETV Medical Center affiliate NewsWatch social entreprefor stu- neurs Partnership For station, dents from pre-kindergart to use intervention The Our Kids. “With around the world, discussions about 7. The show featured passionate gies to decrease youth strateen through sup- high school in nine port from Staples violence, such a variety of to help more disadvan- tries: Argentina, Belgium, coun- Gray has Foundation for as immediate community issues. engagement after violent won multiple Learning we can Brazil, incidents to reduce Canada, France, local, regional tion attempts. continue to increase taged youth graduate and pursue awards retaliaGermany, and as a reporter, photojournal grades and standardized national higher education to the In 1998, Gray become employable Netherlands, Spain and the test scores for ist Gray dedicates and his wife, youth throughout productive citizens United much of his time and host.

States. For more Freddie, began ing with the African-Ame Omaha Public lives of severely who give back information about to foundation their community. at-risk youth and to improving the to close rican Achievement workthe or how to apply gang members. the achievement Council for a grant, is the emergency team He Omaha gaps of children visit www. staplesfoundat Community Connection, director for Impact Public School in the ion.org.

(OPS) District.

Inc. — a non-profit, One A sought lence prevention vio- his Martin after motivational speaker, organization.

Its members Gray titled Luther King part- Love,” Jr. Day speech, after one of Dr. “Strength to King’s most read books.

Vol. 72 - No.

Partnership For $10,000 grant Our Kids receives from Staples

★OS THE

MAHA TAR

Cause of the People that NO Good Dedicated to the Service that Evil Shall Not Go Unopposed Shall Lack a Champion and

Newspaper Nebraska’s Only Black Owned

KS Science Fair

Details on page 4

meeting canceled Empowerment Network has been cancelled. The next meeting will

Network Monthly Meeting will begin at 9 a.m.

This Saturday’s Empowerment Breakfast and networking High School - Viking Center. be held Aug. 14 at North meeting will begin at 9:30.

Displays to help Parents, and the interactive community Development. Tables and Partner.

Education and Youth become a Mentor or Adopt-A-Class The focus will be on Opportunity to sign up to Presentations & Families, Students & Community. to help students succeed PLUS Special Interactive ways Learn more about specific a.com.

Discussions. the web at www.empoweromah 502-5153 or visit us on For more information call

50 cents

Thursday, July 8, 2010

ates Omaha Star Celebr 72nd Anniversary

Excellence Winn ers

North Omaha Boys & Girls Club Welcomes Club Members New and Old for the New Year

Special Thanks

MILDRED D. BROWN 9, 1938

Dr. Marguerita L. Washington,

Founded Omaha Star July

Publisher

homes as you are hardly can continue to repair and buy I On Jan. 4 the of the people that no good money and invest it North Omaha now doing, save your “Dedicated to the service Boys & Girls new and old Club believe that the that evil shall not go bonds that you Club opened members. The its doors tocause shall lack a champion and wisely. Buy more Savings a new year with Omaha Star has Club staff looks if and when things new Club parents forward to beginning may be comfortable unopposed.” age appropriate been in existence for and members. programs for We offer a variety change. kids ages gram areas such seventy-two years of a former pastor of to the newspaper, Mildred as, Sports, Fitness, 6-18. We offer five core Reverend Joseph Forbes, Leadership Developmen pro- In an introduction and I have been the & Recreation, said, “Mildred was t, Education & Character & Gilbert wrote: St. John A. M. E. Church Life Skills, and publisher for the Career Developmen It is with profound pleaThe ... she made her paper t, Health To the Citizens of Omaha: from certain schools Arts. We are also offering [sic] a friend of the pastors last twenty years. It a platform. She FREE transportatio& sure that the Omaha Star Publishing Co., and available anytime we needed In order to qualify in the Omaha metro area seems like yesterday n (please well trained journalistic ministry. She believed that a paid program for this special service all Club call for a listing). organization of energetic, by saw her work as a that I started after my One entire page membership fee members this day a paper of the people, had given her a calling.

Brown God Spring program and a valid membership must have minds, give to you Mildred wish aunt now of and We here fee is $30.00 devoted to the work card. Our the people and for the people. that will be valid Club hours are its was per edition was expired. Some of submitted by from 3-8 p.m.

Jan. 4 - May the Omaha Star dedicates For more Club the churches in the community, 7. Our to have you know that and ask for Mr. you have been supthe general public in information call Dave 342-2300 existence to the task of serving the pastors.

Happy New Year Felici, Unit Director. porters almost from It shall be our policy the struggle for and we hope to Among her concerns was every way humanly possible.

Others of see you at the the start.

Brown’s primary path of duty in the behalf Club! racial equality. Mildred to move in an unerring became supporters it already had. She worked bringing to you the local Star was in selling Many others became supportfoothold in Omaha than early role in the Omaha Black America in Omaha, for equalas the years went by. sincere it, as well as the national an excellent salespermany organizations to work you I want to give my news of the city as we find of tirelessly with of ads. She was not only the National The African American ers recently. To all of backing for the welfare could use the ads as a tool She was a member of son; she found that she highlights, promoting and to ity and peace.

Career and Scholarship Achievement Council Colored People thanks. to sell newspaper ads Black America in general.

The Omaha will have its 4th for the Advancement of Fair on Saturday her activism. She refused the citizens of Omaha and the a newspaper is fascinating.

She Association Annual at advenHigh Magnet Association, workers.

Working journalistic black from of Publishers sea employ 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. School, 4410 because this is our paper.

(NAACP), the Black As we launch out into the of companies that did not N. 36th at North St. Those seeking Star is especially fascinating her readers to procan the support of the general League, the Urban League employment should Anyone who is interested also used editorials to encourage and she challenged National Business ture, we sincerely request and dressed for Plains Black museum.

This paper is about us. come prepared in when we as a group must military success. Lunch Nebraska, and the Great with a resume and issues. Where else test the segregation of the public. The time is at hand was will be provided. information call submit their story, events Congratulations the Martin Bomber plant During the time during which it was active, she Omaha Star a firm founda557-4470.

To RSVP or for Since the recent recession, to...the King them to apply for jobs that begin to build. Give the and also She more Science & Technology Science Fair. this State can this happen? and reading support and in Bellevue, Nebraska. for the De Porres Club, rollerStudents wrote at Offutt Air Force Base tion by way of subscribing an emotional, financial Magnet students remem- the spokeswoman in the Omaha Star building after school congratulate detailed the paper has also been in turn will build an enterpersevere.

Washington, who is widely it to meet who won awards we will assure you that we d the eight Award reports, conducted experiments and a hired Charles but we are determined to their own facility. reporter and allowed times a at for as mouthpiece support emony. Pictured a to their coaster rights, funds civil of projects for out of Excellence and presented the club ran in to contact us concerning are the Awards bered for his work prise worthy of consideration, winners and in the commua display board the annual 7th & 8th grade Alec Williams; I encourage the public who was the executive 25 first place spent countless hours working fifty commuLuke Armitage; of Excellence winners (l or even if you want to to at least two columnist. Whitney Young, force for the people of Omaha. winners with before eventu- She to r): hundred and Emily Beck; complaints, recommendations are certainly apprecithe Star as a mouthpiece of the Omaha Urban League and Katie Cramer. Nick Schultz; Ian Brummel; a Breakfast of Champions judges. The nity, receiving over one In addition to offering us. Your comments in Omaha, the secretary of the National the “Unsung Heroine director awards cerMadeleine Dangerfield including compliment community executive awards, the community nity service ally becoming for the African-American in behalf of the ; Martha Winterer; by the NAACP, one of editorials. the community to realize ated. The staff is working Award” for service awarded Urban League, contributed Gilberts also encouraged a better and more enlighten honored power 16,000 Africanboycotts to call attention only thirty-five people in the country to be and trying to always have The country’s The paper supported and is an outstanding the positive effect the buying was cater largest film Our staff is very small, and her staff were often with this award by the time of her death. She paper. if they would carefully she and have festival for you. could children and to discrimination, Americans working to satisfy including traditional, teens will be Lyndon B. Johnson as a businesses that employed team and they are always to making stop in Omaha also appointed by President their purchases only to CGI, collage support base and I wish well. beginning in January a tour stop-motion styles.

East Germany to investigate and Live Action. treated the community We have a large religious goodwill ambassador to Film Streams African-Americans and More than when tries are for the support of the churches In English. Australia; following the conpresents the Best issue of the paper, Edward express sincere thanks, represented, including ten coun- Recommend alleged human rights violations worked to improve 95 min.

Specifically, in the second of the New York Internationa clergy leaders. ed ages: 9 to adult. works from She also Australia, members of the North Omaha l in the community and the our struction of the Berlin Gilbert pointed out that (NYICFF). From Children’s Film Festival Germany, Denmark, Finland, least, I want to thank carriers and her office an ice cream shop Last but certainly not France, Jan. 9 to March the lives of the newspaper Latvia, Sweden, black community were patronizing which would be there would not be Streams’ Ruth 18, Film U.K. that someone did not have Switzerland, the Feb. 6-7, 11, 13-14, 18 — Ice Cream, advertisers. Without advertising, Sokolof Theater, and workers. If she learned of at 24th and Lake, Reed’s published. Advertisements nonprofit cinema, Omaha’s within the U.S. Tickets for all screenings Azur & Asmar Directed hiring practices over she would buy them bags an Omaha Star Newspaper enough food at home, will screen five Best targeted for their discriminatory an

by Michel Ocelot. the printing of the publicabest programs larded The newspaper carriof the for seniors, of NYICFF are $9 general, Porres Club. Gilbert spent and retail sales pay for from groceries to supply their a decade later by the De $7 advertisers have stuck with students, teachers A dazzling animated Christmas or Easter party series continues the 2009 NYICFF. The dren, shop and counted at least tions. Many of our older us. ers often received a special and chilhour outside the ice cream Film Streams’ feature about and $4.50 Newer ones have joined work, when they might approving of their Young family two Forever Members. for Film Streams boys raised as brothers, us throughout the years. adverin gratitude for their hard one hundred African-Americans and children’s who set off on that they don’t have to dangerous quest were given all year. their purchasing power. which is made program, Streams’ All screenings will occur a Others have the feeling receive the only gifts they through faraway hiring practices through we will give them and possible in part at Film find Omaha Star Ruth Sokolof lands to Gilbert divorced in 1943, of her death in 1989, the and free the port from Lincoln because as African Americans with sup- the time Edward tise the and Theater, the At at Mildred in look 30,685 located at Animation.

Fairy of the Star readers corner of 14th Financial Group. a circulation of her maiden name, Brown.

Djinns. our business anyway. Omaha and Mike Fahey Founded in 1997, and had a staff of twenty, and Mildred resumed using for those who support us Mildred Brown wrote, (for- Recommend In English. France; 99 min.

NYICFF is dedicated merly Webster) Streets, Omaha Star, the longest advertising in the paper to promoting thirty-nine states. In 1969, As the publisher of the one block south ed ages: 6 to adult. from those advertisers.

Cuming Street. persist? The answer intelligent, of newspaper run by a woman, we encourage them to purchase or think our readers passionate, “Why then do Negro publishers of his press, all of provocative cinematic operating black-owned refuse More information deprived neighborhood news and works for audiences For those advertisers, who is clear. If the Negro is Mildred Brown provided ages 3-18 and on all five programs Feb. 20-21, 25, 27-28, to market to, we encourage through the years since within Best helping to define than fifty years. The paper March 4 — are not important enough NYICFF Kids the tortuous gains achieved of NYICFF commentary for more compelling f a more online and tomorrow’s Negro can Flix shop to ask those merchants by calling attention to ilm experience emancipation will be lost, at www.f ilmstreams.be found our readers when they his served an important function A kaleidoscop continue forces, they Juried by such for kids. www.gkids.

If commupowerful of the they don’t? ic collection people in the black well-known filmmakers that do not advertise Why youth will be at the mercy our tv/tour. For questions,org or animated short the accomplishments of of the John Turturro, man the ramparts of bigthe Omaha Star, I urge values. The newspaper as contact Casey films from around best Susan Sarandon, North and South that still to refuse to advertise in $$ nity and emphasizing positive Logan at 933-0259 please world, featuring Mildred Brown awards, or got Schamus, Matthew the James email their products. Remember traditional animation, individuals who received x11 or CGI, otry, prejudice and discrimination.” to do so. From readers to stop buying at recognized Modine casey@film closed been and collage, and stop-motion Sant, the festival compelled Gus streams.org. had previously persisted because she felt The schedule: speak. new jobs in industries that has been described Van civic . In English.

65 min. Recommend she had established readers, supporters, merThe New York It announced acts of by the first edition of her newspaper, Thanks again to my staff, ed ages: 3 to 8.

Times as being to African-Americans. good writers and all others They highlighted one She guided the newspa- a challenge to herself and her staff, “that no “devoted to the kind of fare chants advertisers, contributing labeled “troublemakers.” pride and community charity. not Jan. 9-10, 14, of that may be found March 6-7, 11, the continued existence eras of the Civil Rights cause shall lack a champion and that evil shall 16-17, 21 — week in order to continue Academy Awards at the Razzle through the tumultuous 13-14, 18 — who lend support to making neighborhood family per staff were but not at the Dazzle Directed On the occasion per to the demonstrations Your help is greatly appreciMildred Brown and her tiplex.” local mulby Darren Ashton. NYICFF Party Mix in to foster a sense of community. Ms. Brown again Movement, from segregation the Omaha Star possible. for late go unopposed.”

A mockument of their community, Brown to the racial unrest of the bright and continued future An all-animated ary skewering Best of NYICFF of the 1950s and 1960s, of the Star’s ninth anniversary, ated. I look forward to a the certainly champions outspoken voice in the wilderthe absurdiprogram featuring features one live-action ties of competition community, congratulated The Omaha Star reported ious, hilarcomedy and particular. She was an 1960s and early 1970s. pledged her support to the not the Star in the Omaha community.. youth dance troupe between kids on the vokingvisually stunning, and thought-pro four animated of its businesses and that occurred both locally ness that the tortuous gains of their emancipation programs, involved circuit – and the triumphs and the tragedies North Omaha on the growth shorts, specifically end. up this advice for her Mildred Brown was not are lost, and she worked tirelessly toward that hyper- older parents who intended for and throughout the nation. fast development, and offered audiences. In live through further a any get Seniors English them. titles.

Alexis Page and interested in letting discrimination neighbors.

75 min. Recommend or English subAyomide Adekunle and queen at wishes to urge that you ed ages: 9 to 16.

Central High were crowned The Star on its anniversary Homecoming on Sept. 12, 2009. king

Career & Schola rship Fair

Best of the New

York Internationa l Children’s Film

North Omah a Developme nt Project Community Meeting is scheduled for January 28th Details on page 10

Festival

On Monday, January 11 on NET1 and NET-HD, Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye See page 2 for details

hip 2010 Awards

City of Omaha 's Annual MLK, Jr. celebration will be at the Holland Perfor ming Arts Cente r See ad on page 10 for more information

Women of Color in Leaders

and Engage, Business Success “Power to Lead: Leverage, for the Perpetual stewardship. the theme Adopt & Deliver” was Winters advised the in Leadership steps to 3rd Annual Women of Color Awards group of eight Summit & legacy of Leadership at the Inclusion on their per25, 2010 jourLuncheon held on June Center. sonal diversity Holiday Inn Central Conventionluncheon neys; the Over 200 people attended 1. Know self first – was Marywhere the keynote speaker am I? What do I of CEO’s Who Who Quaites-Ferris, Dr. Marguerita Frances Winters, Author for? What makes (L-R) Tanya Cook, Vicki from the Heart stand Get It; Diversity Leadership Leadership Award Recipients: Winters me “me”? the of Crowder President and Soul and Washington, Annette 2. Value self – What can become? enhance who I am and gifts?

Group.

How are other ences Inclusion are my unique 5. Learn about others – What can learn from differences? circle to Ms Winters spoke on Women’s is my best self? your different from me? How today. She gave Who 4 . individuals/groups 7. Include others – Expand in the business world 3. Acknowledge your Tawanna Black and Dr. Winters continued on page 2 to sustained sucmy are they the same? examples of eight steps How do differ- See Leadership to change – What are prejudices – In what 6. Value differences – contribute to Open yourself be my best self? cess: Motivation, Passion/commitment, do I exclude? How do I opportunities to grow? To Magnitude of the ways What are my blind spots?

In-depth Inquiry, and and transforming, intolerance? gap, Resolve, Learning

on July 9, 1938 History was made

Please contact the Omaha Star at 402.346.4041 or by email at Phyllis@omahastarinc.com if you have complete issues, or any portion, of these missing issues.

LIFE & STYLE/HEALTH & WELLNESS November 30, 2018 New Book Encourages Understanding & Film Review: Creed II Love After A Year Filled With Hate

By Dwight Brown

Page Eight

THE OMAHA STAR

This year brought conversations about gender and racial inequality to the forefront. From the recent synagogue shooting to the Kavanaugh hearings to the numerous cases of gender and racial discrimination, the time is up for injustice! People of all ages, races and sexual orientations need to see their human rights respected and this starts by having compassion for those whose paths we have not walked. “All the Women in My Family Sing” helps build bridges of understanding that our culture so desperately needs right now. The anthology is a collection of prose and poetry by 69 diverse women (African American, Native American, Asian American, Muslim, Cameroonian, Kenyan, Liberian, Mexican American, Korean, Chinese American and LGBTQI) from ages 16 to 77.

From Nothing But The Truth Publishing LLC, this book is an anthology documenting the experiences of 69 diverse women at the dawn of the 21st century. It is a vital collection of prose and poetry whose topics range from the pressures of being the vice-president of a Fortune 500 Company, to escaping the killing fields of Cambodia, to the struggles inside immigration, identity, romance, and self-worth.

Contributors include America Ferrera, Samina Ali, Natalie Baszile (Queen Sugar), Porochista Khakpour (Sons and Other Flammable Objects), Lalita Tademy (Cane River), Mila Jam, Marian Wright Edelman (Children’s Defense Fund), and many more.

While the subject matter of the book is powerful and inspiring, it is easily consumable. The stories are not sequential; each essay stands on its own and can be read in one sitting. The format of this book makes it ideal for easy reading.

“All The Women in My Family Sing” is a watershed title, not only written but produced entirely by women of color, including the publishing, editing, process management, book cover design and promotions. Editor Deborah Santana is on a mission to empower underrepresented voices and to impact the world of publishing in America – particularly important in a time when 80% of people who work in publishing self-identify as white (as found recently in a study by Lee & Low Books, and reported on NPR).

“A vivid ode to American identity in all its shades. In a time when the words ‘me too’ have become a hashtag that signals solidarity among women, ‘All the Women in My Family Sing’ illustrates how that phrase encompasses so much more.” – USA Today Deborah Santana, the editor of “All the Women in My Family Sing,” is an author, business manager and activist for peace and social justice. Her non-profit, Do A Little, serves women and girls in the areas of health, education and happiness. With a passion to provide educational opportunities for girls and women, Ms. Santana collaborates with organizations that work to prevent and heal relationship and sexual violence, improve the lives of America’s abused and neglected children, and a worldwide community of artists and allies who work for empowerment, opportunity, and visibility for women artists.

For More Information Visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077722F6Y/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_ encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Good Books Café

Prayers Up: Gregg Leakes Refuses Chemotherapy Treatments for Colon Cancer

By NewsOne Staff On this season of “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” Nene Leakes’ husband Gregg Leakes is fighting colon cancer. Now it has been revealed that he has decided not to endure chemotherapy treatments.

People.com reports he had a portion of his colon removed due to the stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis. Although a doctor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston advised him to undergo chemotherapy treatments, he refused.

The 63-year-old explained, “I’m deciding to really take my life and use it as a mouthpiece for other people. I just want to use my life in a way to help someone. So I can say, ‘I’m Gregg and I have cancer,’ but I will be a survivor.”

Nene Leakes, 50, said, “Chemo is not something that Gregg is thinking about doing at the moment. Obviously, we hear all the reports of people doing chemo and being very sick. So he feels like if there’s any other options that he can take, he’d rather take those options and let Photo Credit: blackdoctors.org chemo sit on the back burner for now.”

Imaging tests did reveal that after the surgery there was no evidence of cancer in his body. Nonetheless, the doctor strongly recommended chemotherapy so the cancer does not return.

According to BlackDoctors.org, African-Americans have a 20 percent higher risk of developing colon cancer and a 45 percent higher mortality rate.

Prayers up for Gregg, Nene and their entire family.

NNPA Newswire Film Critic This follow up to the very popular boxing film Creed (worldwide gross $174M) throws a lot of left hooks, right jabs and uppercuts, but only a few connect and none land a knockout punch.

Count on the mass appeal (young, old, urban, male and female) of Creed II to put viewers in seats. But, will they enjoy what they see? Yes, somewhat, if patience is one of their virtues.

There’s a key difference between the first and the second chapters in this franchise. The exceptional director/writer Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Black Panther) left his imprint all over the first one: heavy emphasis on relationships, emotions, performances, pacing, style. The second one is directed by Steven Caple Jr., whose resume is filled with short film and TV credits.

His interpretation of Cheo Hodari Coker’s (TV’s Southland and Luke Cage) script has a similar feel, but not as organic or fresh.

Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) has finally become the Heavyweight Champion of the World.

He’s got his significant other Bianca (Tessa Thompson), the singer/ songwriter, by his side. The mentorship he received from his coach Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) is tight. Life is good on the outside, but Photo: MGM something eats at him from within. It’s an insecurity that flares when a skeezy boxing promotor, Buddy Marcelle (Russell Hornsby, Fences), tempts Adonis into a fight with Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu, a German-Romanian boxer/actor), the son of boxer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren, Rocky IV), the man who beat Adonis’ dad Apollo Creed to death.

The taunting that ensues gets into Adonis’ head, stirring up old thoughts he hoped he was over. With the press, Marcelle and the Dragos baiting him, the young boxer has some farreaching choices to make that could make or break his career and test his bond with family and friends.

Audiences will wish that this fight film started with an explosion. It doesn’t. The footage rolls, the plot is disseminated and the mundane, everyday drama on view goes on for way too long. For a boxing movie, a lack of action is the kiss of death, and little of note arises until Act III. The languid pacing (editors: Dana E. Glauberman, Saira Haider and Paul Harb) will leave audiences tapping their toes collectively and waiting for an adrenaline injection. The boxing choreography is unoriginal – never electric. The Rocky-themed music blares loudly to no avail.

The visuals (cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau, Game of Thrones) lack the splendor DP Maryse Alberti (The Wrestler) brought to Creed. The exception would be a dazzling entry in to the final brawl, when a stunning lighting affect forms a triangle and the Creed team enters.

Cocker’s script is competent and respectful of all the characters, some of which have been around for over 40 years. That said, nothing in his screenplay takes the individuals’ storylines to a new place that’s worth a trip. Adonis and Bianca’s partnership evolves. The Dragos’ father/son dynamics is of mild interest. Adonis’ conflicts with Rocky cause a bit of a stir. But none of it will make you cry, impose fear or instill anger. Of course, Rocky still has his words of wisdom, “If you want to give pain, you have to take pain.” But nothing he says is truly profound. The best dialogue is reserved for the repartee between apprentice and crusty coach as they casually joke with each other like old friends.

If this sequel has a savior, it’s the superb acting, which is so good it should be captured and taught in acting classes. Almost single-handedly, Michael B. Jordan takes this film the distance. In gestures, attitude and a wide range of expressions, he makes Adonis far more complex than the film itself. His performance never blinks, even when the film flounders. He is always on the beat, firm, determined and authentic to the character.

Jordan’s unflinching portrayal rubs off on every actor he encounters. Scenes with Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad, who plays his adoptive mom Mary Anne Creed, feel intimate and warmly familial. Stallone stumbles around the sets like an aged punch-drunk boxer. He’s convincing throughout, and his acting goes up a notch in his sequences with Jordan.

Director Steven Caple Jr. doesn’t do anything wrong. Most of what’s on view, from the drama to the fights, is competent. It’s just not magical. That’s the intangible force that Ryan Coogler brings to every film he makes. Once you leave the theater after a Coogler movie, you feel touched by his genius, drawn into his values, artistry and dedication. After a Coogler movie you want to know what happened to the characters. You want more. The direction, script and technical credits for this follow-up do not have that staying power.

Considering the history and popularity of the first Creed, which was also released around Thanksgiving, its successor should pull in a sizable crowd. After viewers see it, will they want more? We shall see.

(Visit NNPA News Wire Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com and BlackPressUSA.com.)

3 Reasons to Avoid – Or Delay – Knee-Replacement Surgery

Hitting your 50s or 60s can bring several life changes, and increasingly those include artificial joints. For much of the aging U.S. population, knees in particular are wearing out.

More than 600,000 knee replacements are performed annually in the U.S., according to The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. That number is expected to swell to 3 million by the year 2030, the publication’s study reported, partly because people are working longer and obesity is on the rise.

But while knee replacements are becoming a popular elective surgery, some studies estimate 20 percent or more of recipients aren’t pleased with the result. Medical experts question

whether replacement surgery is being done too soon – or whether some people need a new knee at all.

“Surgery should only be done as a last resort,” says Dr. Victor Romano (www.romanomd.com), an orthopedist and author of Finding The Source: Maximizing Your Results – With and Without Orthopaedic Surgery. “A knee replacement can be life-changing, but they can also be painful, wear down prematurely and become infected.

“If you have debilitating pain and difficulty walking because of degenerative arthritis, surgery may be your best option no matter your age.

Otherwise, there are sound reasons to avoid a knee replacement, or at least

to postpone it until a more appropriate time.”

Romano says there are three main reasons to avoid or put off knee replacement surgery: • Plastic debris. A total knee replacement consists of metal moving on plastic. The plastic wears down over time, and that can be a pain – physically and financially – to patients who may have to get the prosthesis replaced once, twice or more. “The plastic debris accumulates in the knee joint,” Romano says. “The more active you are, the heavier you are, the more debris. The white cells, which attack foreign invaders, start attacking the surrounding bone. When it’s time to

Meet The Certified Holistic Coach Who Is Helping Black Women Fight Endometriosis (BlackNews.com) – Certified Holistic Health Coach and Aromatherapy expert Renee Hughes specializes in educating and coaching women with endometriosis, fibroids and other chronic conditions.

She guides them to holistic approaches to find understanding of their condition and to support relief of some common symptoms such as lack of sleep, chronic discomfort, depression, anxiety and imbalanced hormones.

Endometriosis is one of many silent and chronic illnesses often misdiagnosed. Gynecologists around the globe are telling black women that their cyclical pain, heavy bleeding, bloated bellies, and extreme nausea are “normal.”

Black women are tired of accepting that poor health is the “norm” for them and they are ready to help their bodies fight back and to be educated on how to care for themselves naturally. These beautiful women are shouting “There is nothing normal about not being able to get out of bed for weeks at a time, nothing normal about packing a go bag for the emergency room not knowing how long your stay will be at the hospital. We want answers, we want relief.”

Renee is very passionate about supporting the Black community. “I know what that pain feels like and I remember at one point working with a holistic specialist that cost $200 an hour. I wanted our community to have a better option and now they do,” she says.

For more details about Renee Hughes or her services, visit TheAromaSpecialist.com.

Renee Hughes

replace the plastic joint, we also have to replace the bone – and that’s a significant and unpleasant surgery.”

• A prosthesis doesn’t last 30 years.

This is a key reason why Romano thinks younger replacement candidates should wait as long as possible. “A total joint replacement in a 70-year-old patient will typically last 15 years,” Romano says. “With the average life expectancy being 85, chances are this would be the only knee replacement that patient would need. But for a 40-year-old who’s more active, it may only last 10 years.

And remember, recovery is challenging.

So it’s better to wait for technology to catch up. As it does, the better the knee replacements will be.”

• Other remedies may work. Many people experiencing chronic knee pain are overweight or obese. “A healthy diet and exercise program can bring the weight down and take pressure off the knees,” Romano says. “Also, a hinged knee brace, supplements that aid in repairing worn cartilage, and injections such as cortisone or hyaluronic acid could reduce pain and restore quality of life.”

“There are ways to at least buy time,” Romano says. “And there are patients who were told they needed a knee replacement, but with conservative therapy options, happily discovered otherwise and returned to their favorite activities without pain.”

The Wellness Feed

Happy Belated Thanksgiving From The Wellness Feed!

By Taylor White-Welchen, MPH Happy belated Thanksgiving! What are you thankful for? For me, apart from my family, I am extremely thankful for my health and wellbeing! In these last few articles, I’ve discussed the importance of taking charge during doctor visits and establishing/maintaining a transparent patient-provider relationship. Taking charge and a strong patient-provider relationship are important because we ought to take care of our body, prioritize our health and strive to achieve a high quality of life.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC, describes several different elements of health-related quality of life. Mental, physical and spiritual health/wellbeing are elements of individual health-related quality of life. Community conditions, practices, perceptions and resources are elements of community health-related quality of life. This means striving for a high individual quality of life is not only an important aspect of maintaining your own health and wellbeing, but also of maintaining the community’s health and wellbeing.

Being thankful for family and being thankful for your health and wellbeing, it’s all a part of taking charge. It’s important to remember a community is simply a collective of individuals. So, to emphasize, again, we should take charge of and prioritize our health because we are a part of a greater vibrant community. In the upcoming articles, I will talk a bit more about the relationship between our individual health and the public or community’s health. I will also offer some health-related tips and strategies to make the most of your doctor visits and your workouts.

Take care and happy Thanksgiving!

November 30, 2018

EVENTS/CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING THE OMAHA STAR Page Nine Concerts Celebrate The Season During Joslyn’s Annual ‘Holiday Under Glass’

In The Village!

Things to do, people to see, places to go.

Dec. 1 – Christmas in the Village Dec. 1-2 – The Union for Contemporary Art, 2423 N. 24th St., hosts UNIONMADE: An Artist Market from noon–4 p.m. Stop in and browse a wide variety of handmade art for sale from Union teaching artists, Co-Op members, Fellows, and staff. 20% of all sales will be re-invested in the Co-Op Studios, with the remainder going directly to the artists.

Dec. 2 – The Christmas tradition continues at the Holland when the Salem Baptist Church choir offers new music and holiday classics during “Joyful Noise: A Gospel Christmas.”

Performances are at 4 and 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the Holland box office.

Dec. 5 – Enjoy the Omaha Symphonic Chorus during Holiday Under Glass, Joslyn Art Museum’s annual holiday luncheon concert series held in the Museum’s glass atrium, from 12-12:45 p.m. A Guided Public Tour, Pattern and Purpose: American Quilts from Shelburne Museum will be available at a minimum cost.

Dec. 6 – The Union for Contemporary Art, 2423 N. 24th St., hosts a one-time only performance: Dominique Morgan – 788401 Minutes: Music From The Inside, from 6-8 p.m. Join Fellow Dominique Morgan in the Wanda D. Ewing Gallery for what is sure to be an unforgettable musical performance. Morgan will share songs of strength and redemption composed during the 788401 minutes he spent on the inside of Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. RSVP on the Union’s Facebook page.

Dec. 7 – Urban League of Nebraska hosts their Equal Opportunity Day Awards Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at Hilton Omaha, 1001 Cass St. The keynote speaker is Eartha Johnson, JD, who has worked at Exxon and United States Department of Justice as an attorney before becoming the CEO of Risk Mitigation Worldwide- an award winning corporate liability company. For tickets, visit: www.urbanleagueneb.org Dec. 7 – Enjoy Bellevue East High School Take 2 & East Street Jazz during Holiday Under Glass, Joslyn Art Museum’s annual holiday luncheon concert series held in the Museum’s glass atrium, from 12-12:45 p.m.

A Guided Public Tour, Pattern and Purpose: American Quilts from Shelburne Museum will be available at a minimum cost.

Dec. 7-15 – Union Fellow Ashley Laverty + Kerfuffle present 6 performances of Nested – Theatre for the Very Young at The Union for Contemporary Art, 2423 N. 24th St. As part of Ashley’s theatre company, Kerfuffle, Nested is

created intentionally for children under 6 years old and their caregivers. All performances are pay what you can, with proceeds going to Nebraska non-profit organizations. Seating is limited. For performance times and to reserve seats, visit eventbrite/e/nested.

Dec. 8 – Residents living in the area bounded by 15th St. on the east, 27th St. on the west, Lake St. on the south and Binney St. on the north are encouraged to attend the OIC Neighborhood Association MEETING & A MOVIE from 1-4 p.m. at Love’s Jazz & Arts Center, 2510 N. 24th St. This is an opportunity to meet your neighbors, learn about happenings in your neighborhood and enjoy a family friendly holiday movie. Refreshments will be served. Meetings are held monthly.

Dec. 12 – Enjoy the Central High School Hand Bell Choir & Strings during Holiday Under Glass, Joslyn Art Museum’s annual holiday luncheon concert series held in the Museum’s glass atrium, from 12-12:45 p.m. A Guided Public Tour, Mystery & Beauty of the Ancient World will be available at a minimum cost.

Dec. 14 – Enjoy the MasterSingers Omaha during Holiday Under Glass, Joslyn Art Museum’s annual holiday luncheon concert series held in the Museum’s glass atrium, from 12-12:45 p.m. A Guided Public Tour, Pattern and Purpose: American Quilts from Shelburne Museum will be available at a minimum cost.

Dec. 14 – Omaha Branch NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet and Holiday Soiree at the Omaha Marriott Regency, 10220 Regency Circle. Social hour is 6:30 p.m., with the formal program and dinner beginning at 7:00.

The Soiree will follow dinner. The keynote speaker is Redditt Hudson, NAACP Regional Field Director of Region IV Diversion and Alternative Sentencing. For ticket info, phone 402-345-6227.

Dec. 19 – Enjoy the Omaha Symphonic Chorus during Holiday Under Glass, Joslyn Art Museum’s annual holiday luncheon concert series held in the Museum’s glass atrium, from 12-12:45 p.m. A Guided Public Tour, Pattern and Purpose: American Quilts from Shelburne Museum will be available at a minimum cost.

Dec. 21 – Enjoy the Central High School Singers & Bel Canto during Holiday Under Glass, Joslyn Art Museum’s annual holiday luncheon concert series held in the Museum’s glass atrium, from 12-12:45 p.m. A Guided Public Tour, Pattern and Purpose: American Quilts from Shelburne Museum will be available at a minimum cost.

Enjoy the sounds of the season during Holiday Under Glass, Joslyn Art Museum’s annual holiday luncheon concert series held in the museum’s glass atrium. The 2018 series begins Dec. 5 and continues every Wednesday and Friday through Dec. 21, from noon to 12:45 p.m.

Optional tours of special exhibitions and the permanent collection follow the concerts at 1 p.m. Joslyn’s Café Durham, located in the atrium, is open from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (guests purchasing lunch to enjoy during the concert are encouraged to arrive early**).

The concerts and permanent collection tours are included in free general museum admission; admission charge for general public adults and

college students for tours of Pattern and Purpose: American Quilts from Shelburne Museum. For groups of 10 or more, phone Joslyn at 402-6613823 in advance; some dates have already reached their group reservation limit. The concerts will feature holiday favorites and classical arrangements performed by area musicians, including high school, university, and other music groups. **NEW THIS YEAR: Guests can “skip the line” by pre-paying for a boxed sandwich or salad lunch if they wish. For details and to order, contact Heather Tedesco, Director of Catering & Café Durham, at 402-6613842 or htedesco@joslyn.org. **See In the Village for the 2018 Concert Schedule.

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MCC to Host 34th Annual MLK Celebration Jan. 16 Metropolitan Community College will host the 34th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Jan. 16, noon1:30 p.m., at the Institute for the Culinary Arts on the college’s Fort Omaha Campus, 32nd Street and Sorensen Parkway.

The event will feature musical entertainment by Jason Wagner II and keynote speaker Rev. Michael W. Combs, Ph.D., senior pastor at Mt. Zion Baptist Church and professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

To reserve a seat at the event, phone 531-MCC-5231 or register online at mccneb.edu/MLK. Seating is limited. Reservations will close when full or on Jan. 8.

General admission and student pricing are available.

For additional information, contact 531-MCC-2253 or bvelazquez@mccneb.edu.

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INVITATION TO BID

Alberici Constructors, Inc. requests bids from qualified and certified MBE/WBE/ DBE/ SEB subcontractors for the following project: OPW 52049 (CSO): Saddle Creek Retention Treatment Basin The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, construction of a fully functioning retention treatment basin with a 160 MGD capacity and includes screening and grit removal facilities, cast-in-place concrete construction, masonry, structural steel, interior finishes, paint and coatings, excavation and backfill, landscaping, plumbing, HVAC, electrical and instrumentation, fencing and site improvements, and other miscellaneous associated work.

Bids are due on: December 18, 2018 by 5:00 PM CST To: bids@alberici.com For more information, please contact: Precious Jackson at pjackson@alberici.com or 314-406-7988 Joe Giron at joe.giron@flintco.com or 720-778-5570

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Alberici Constructors, Inc. encourages all Small, Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises to participate in this project and hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this project, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit proposals in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color or national origin in consideration for an award.

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YOUTH/EDUCATION NEWS November 30, 2018 Gensler Scholarships Girls get STEM Exploration Gensler, recognized as one of the world’s largest and leading collaborative design firms, is also committed to the education of emerging design talent. The firm offers two U.S. scholarship opportunities annually for architecture and interior design students.

Experience at North High Magnet One of the scholarships offered is Gensler Diversity Scholarship. Gensler believes diversity ignites

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A week before Thanksgiving, approximately 60 girls grades six through eight got handson exposure and experience exploring STEM activities geared toward igniting their interest in potential, future STEM careers.

North High Magnet School hosted a series of workshops for the girls during a fall, evening camp at the high school Nov. 15. Each workshop was led by a high school student ambassador and a facilitator through the Pathways Program at North High Magnet. The girls discovered career tracks in areas such as computer science, engineering and biomedical sciences.

“Some students have told facilitators that they are tired of being the only female identified in their robotics or biochemistry classes,” said one of the facilitators. “We’ve learned that youth lose interest in STEM-related topics as early as middle school. If we can catch them early enough, we can help encourage them to learn more. The purpose of these workshops is to introduce STEM careers and hopefully encourage them to pursue them in post-secondary education.”

Throughout the evening the girls rotated between three workshops with hands-on activities for each. In engineering, the girls learned how to build stabilized bridges using books, paper clips, wooden blocks and bound paper. The Computer Science group learned about how the internet works with routers, emailing, programming databases and the use

of communication towers to send information.

Girls in the Biomedical group learned about clogged arteries and how to clear them using balloons, playdoh, straws and cardboard tubes.

Youth Ambassador Jalaya is a junior at North High Magnet and taking courses through the Pathways program, as well as getting her certificate to be a licensed CNA upon high school graduation.

“This program is really fun because we can teach the younger girls how to be problem solvers and also show them what kind of careers they can have as an adult. We want them to know they can have fun too,” Jalaya said.

While North High Magnet is the only high school with Technology as a magnet focus, the youth who participated came from throughout the metro – OPS schools, private schools and home-schooled students. The workshop series takes place every fall. The high school also hosts a week-long youth camp open to any student in the Omaha metro in June.

Parents interested in getting their student involved in STEM careers can attend North High Magnet’s Open Houses Jan. 13, 2019.

Students need not participate in the fall program to be considered for the summer camp. Girls can attend either program, however, the summer camp is open to both boys and girls. Parents can check with their student’s counselor to find more information on how to register.

innovation in design. Gensler also believes in bringing people of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and points of view to work at Gensler.

The Gensler Diversity Scholarship awards underrepresented and minority students enrolled in U.S. not-for-profit NAAB-accredited architecture programs with academic scholarships and summer internship opportunities.

Another scholarship offered is the Gensler Brinkmann Scholarship which was established as a memorial to Don Brinkmann, an inspirational and gifted interior designer who personified the essence of design, vision, and leadership.

In this spirit, the Gensler Brinkmann Scholarship awards students enrolled in U.S. not-for-profit CIDAaccredited interior design programs with academic scholarships and summer internship opportunities.

Applicants must apply online and must complete the requirements that include a resume, a nomination letter from the dean or chair of the program confirming that the applicant meets the eligibility criteria and describe his/her professional excellence, and an advanced-level commercial interior design project with a written description (500 words and 10 pages, maximum).

Gensler is a global architecture, design, and planning firm with 48 locations and over 5,500 professionals on five continents. The firm has more than 3,000 active clients in virtually every industry and delivers projects in architecture, interior design, brand design, product design, planning and urban design, and consulting. For over 20 years, Gensler has awarded hundreds of academic scholarships to students and graduates.

The deadline for this scholarship is usually in December of each year, and the award amount is usually up to $20,000.

For more details, visit www.gensler.com/scholarships.

UNO Accepting Applications for Andy Awards The University of Nebraska at Omaha is now accepting applications for the 2019 Andy Awards for International Journalism.

The awards are open to journalists interested in funding for stories with an international scope.

The winner receives up to $5,000 to fund travel and other expenses. Application deadline: Dec. 21.

More information can be found at http://world.unomaha. edu/andy.php.

Completed applications should be emailed to Katie Kresha at kbreen@unomaha.edu.

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