Vol. 81 - No. 3

75 CENTS

OMAHA STAR

“Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.”

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

~ Carter G. Woodson The father of Black History Month

Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Vol. 81 - No. 3 Omaha, Nebraska

Friday, February 8, 2019

75 cents

‘I See it First and then I Make it Happen’— Michael Beasley

By Lapacazo Sandoval You may not know his name but it’s a good chance that you know actor Michael Beasley by his face, and it’s a nice face even when he has three teardrops painted under his eye, a mark charting the number of people that he murdered. In real life, Beasley is a 6’3’’ lovable teddy Michael Beasley (courtesy photo) bear.

In Showtime’s “Escape at Dannemora,” directed by Ben Stiller, starring Benicio del Toro, Paul Dano and Patricia Arquette, who earned a Golden Globe for her role, Beasley plays the character ‘Murder,’ one of the main inmates at the Clinton Facility, a maximumsecurity prison in the sleepy town of Dannemora in upstate New York.

The series is based on true events and follows the 2015 prisoners’ escape of Richard Matt (Benicio del Toro) and David Sweat (Paul Dano). At the start of the story, Murder (Michael Beasley) and his closest friend, Kilo, are on seemingly good terms with Matt and Sweat. It’s later revealed that Matt snitches on Murder, which lands him in solitary confinement for a week. A now vengeful Murder gets together with the new tailor-shop patrolman, CO Frank, to set up revenge.

Beasley’s other acting credits include Netflix’s series “Bloodline,” a reoccurring role in HBO’s comedy series “Eastbound and Down,” a two-part episode run in CW’s drama series “Preacher,” Netflix’s “House of Cards” and “Superfly,” to name a few.

Here is what Michael Beasley had to share about seizing opportunities, making plans and telling the universe exactly what he wants.

Los Angeles Sentinel: Before we jump into talking about “Escape at Dannemora,” where do you call home?

Michael Beasley: Atlanta. Atlanta has changed a lot. When I first got started [in acting] everyone was telling me that I had to live in Los Angeles or New York. In New York, for example, you might have eight thousand actors auditioning for one role. That’s not the case in Atlanta and I wanted to create opportunities for myself here [Atlanta]. I had a plan. It didn’t just happen. It was a numbers game. The more auditions that you have, the more chances you have to book. Once the casting agents knew they could trust me, the work came in. I’m definitely about the work and having a plan.

LAS: I viewed the trailer for Escape at Dannemora, now on Showtime, and I am blown away. Unfortunately, they did not provide me access to watch the series.

MB: ‘Escape at Dannemora’ is now streaming, so hopefully you can catch it. I play a character named ‘Murder’ and he has three teardrops under his eye, which means that he has three bodies, three murders that he committed.

LAS: Three, that’s a lot. What was it like working with the cast? It’s an impressive ensemble.

MB: I love great actors and learning from them. It was a great thrill to work with such a great cast. Patricia [Arquette] won the Golden Globe Award [Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Limited Series]. And you know, Benicio [Del Toro] is a really nice See Beasley continued on page 3

Cathy Hughes to be Inducted into Broadcasting Hall of Fame WASHINGTON, D.C. – Cathy Hughes, founder and chairperson of Urban One Inc., will be inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Broadcasting Hall of Fame at the 2019 NAB Show.

The induction will occur during the Achievement in Broadcasting Dinner on April 8 at the Encore in Las Vegas.

Hughes grew Urban One, formerly known as Radio One, into the largest African-American owned, diversified media corporation in the nation. The company is an urban market leader with 59 broadcast stations across the country. As such, Hughes became the first woman to own a radio station that was ranked number one in a major market. Today, the company is run

by Alfred Liggins III, Hughes’ son.

Urban One Inc. also owns TV One, a television network serving more than 60 million households, and maintains controlling interest in Reach Media Inc. (blackamericaweb.com), which provides several syndicated programs, including the “Tom Joyner Morning Hughes Show.” The company also provides social content, news, information and entertainment through its digital platform, iOne Digital, with popular websites including “Cassius” and “Bossip.” Urban One maximizes its reach to more than 80 percent of the African-American market by offering cross-platform marketing opportunities with its marketing firm, One Solution.

Hughes began her radio career at KOWH-AM in her hometown of Omaha. In 1971, she became a lecturer at the newly established School of Communications at Howard University in Washington, D.C. During her tenure, Hughes served as general sales manager at WHUR-FM, Howard University Radio, increasing the station’s revenue from $250,000 to $3 million in her first year. She also became the first woman vice president and general manager of a station in the nation’s capital and created the format known as the “Quiet Storm,” which revolutionized urban radio and was aired on over 480 stations nationwide. In 1980, Hughes purchased her flagship station, WOL-AM, in Washington, D.C., and pioneered yet another innovative format known as “24Hour Talk From a Black Perspective.”

MCC Graduate Receives National Alumni Award Metropolitan Community College alum Hubert “Charles” Ahovissi has been named an Outstanding Alumni award winner by the American Association of Community Colleges. The award from AACC goes to community college alumni who have excelled in their chosen fields. Ahovissi is one of three community college alumni chosen to receive the distinction this year by AACC. He will be recognized for his achievements at AACC’s 99th annual convention on April 16 in Orlando, Fla. “Charles embodies what Metropolitan Community College is all about. He wasn’t the traditional college age when he came to MCC, but he had a goal in front of him. That goal was to earn an education and share the passion for his culture through the organization he founded,” said Randy Schmailzl, MCC president. “We are extremely proud of him and hope that he inspires many others to earn their Ahovissi education and make a difference in our world.”

“Community colleges shape the lives of millions of students, no matter their background, helping them reach their educational and career goals. The AACC Outstanding Alumni Awards honor just a few of those students who left our institutions and went on to make an impact on the world,” said AACC president and CEO Walter G. Bumphus. “This year’s Outstanding Alumni are as diverse as community colleges. From a successful businessman, to a selfless health care worker, to an immigrant sharing his culture with the Midwest, these alumni are truly deserving of the term ‘outstanding.’”

Ahovissi is a 2013 graduate from MCC, where he earned his associate degree in Liberal Arts. He is a professional artist, dancer, drummer, choreographer, educator, stage costume designer and tailor.

Born in Benin, West Africa, Ahovissi is also an approved teaching and performing artist through the Nebraska and Iowa Art Councils. He was also named the recipient of the MCC Distinguished Alumni Award last year, an honor given once a year to a former student of the college who has shown personal or professional achievement, gives back to the community and is involved with or supports MCC postgraduation.

Ahovissi began his career in 1984 when he joined the National Ballet Company of Benin before joining the Super Anges Dance Troop in 1987. With the dance group, he performed internationally before moving to Omaha in 2000. In 2006, Ahovissi founded the African Culture Connection as a nonprofit organization to teach African culture. He is the recipient of the 2010 Girls Inc Angel Award, 2012 Nebraska Governor’s Art Award for Heritage Arts, 2012 National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Award and the 2017 U.S. Air Force Excellence Through Diversity Award. He shares his passion through public performances, school assemblies, residencies and workshops in the Omaha community.

Clair Cares – Feb. 15.

See In the Village for details.

February is Black History Month

“Cathy Hughes is a truly remarkable broadcaster and entrepreneur whose contributions continue to greatly influence and drive our industry,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “We look forward to honoring Cathy with this well-deserved award at this year’s NAB Show.”

In addition to her professional career, Hughes continues her family’s work and legacy at The Piney Woods School in Mississippi, which was established by her grandfather in 1909. The school is the largest of only four African-American boarding schools in the country.

She also advocates on behalf of the homeless and minority communities, in addition to mentoring countless women.

Additionally, Hughes was awarded the NAB Distinguished Service Award in 2001.

Last year’s NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductee for radio was nationally-syndicated radio personality Elvis Duran.

About NAB Show NAB Show, held April 6-11 in Las Vegas, is the world’s largest and most comprehensive convention encompassing the convergence of media, entertainment and technology. With nearly 100,000 attendees from 165 countries and 1,700+ exhibitors, NAB Show is the ultimate marketplace for solutions that transcend traditional broadcasting and fuel the digital storytelling economy. From creation to consumption, across multiple platforms and countless nationalities, NAB Show is where global visionaries convene to bring content to life in new and exciting ways. For complete details, visit www.nabshow.com.

About NAB The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America’s broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.

5 Takeaways from Stacey Abrams’ Powerful Response to Trump’s SOTU Address

By Nigel Roberts Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams showed exactly why her party selected her as its standardbearer to rebut President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address fantasies about how he has made America “a winner, each and every day.”

We learned several things from her response.

Abrams is prepared for the national spotlight.

She wasn’t intimidated Abrams by the high-pressure assignment. USA Today noted that previous political rising stars who delivered a rebuttal of a president stumbled while on the big stage. Unlike them, Abrams was smooth, focused and engaging.

Unlike Trump, Abrams has an economic vision that can lift all Americans.

Trump tried to convince the nation that the US economy is booming thanks to him. However, what’s more accurate is that he’s overseeing economic growth that started under President Obama. Furthermore, the tax reform that Trump and Republican lawmakers enacted at the end of 2017 has mostly benefited the wealthiest Americans, according to the Center on Budget

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered. We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, Till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

and Policy Priorities.

Abrams spoke passionately about an America where opportunity is possible for all. She talked about the values that her parents instilled in her of striving for goals while making sure others are not left behind.

“In Georgia and around the country, people are striving for a middle class where a salary truly equals economic security. … But instead, families’ hopes are being crushed by the Republican leadership that ignores real life or just doesn’t understand it,” she said.

Abrams doesn’t tiptoe around issues.

Abrams was clear that Trump’s immigration policy isn’t really about security. “This administration chooses to cage children and keep families apart,” Abrams said. “America is made stronger by the presence of immigrants, not walls.”

The president vowed that he will continue to fight for his wall and immigration policies – supposedly in the name of keeping the nation safe.

But what’s really behind his immigration policies is preventing people of color from entering the country. Let us never forget his infamous “shithole countries” comment about Haiti and African See Abrams continued on page 3

Cocktails & Kisses – Feb. 16.

See In the Village for details.

Page Two

LOCAL NEWS

THE OMAHA STAR

February 8, 2019

THE OMAHA STAR, INC. Snowstorms may be Driving Increase in Utility Scam Calls THE VOICE OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY Editorial and Business Office 2216 North 24th Street Phone: 402.346.4041 Fax: 402.346.4064

MAILING ADDRESS: 2216 North 24th Street Omaha, Nebraska 68110

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Like Us on Facebook E-MAIL ADDRESSES: fwilliams@omahastarinc.com phyllis@omahastarinc.com tcooper@omahastarinc.com Notary Services available during business hours Monday – Wednesday – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Thursday – 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Member of the National Newspaper Publishers Association MILDRED D. BROWN: Founder, July 9, 1938 DR. MARGUERITA L. WASHINGTON: Publisher, 1989 - 2016 Phyllis Hicks: Publisher & Managing Editor Frankie Jean Williams: Copy Editor Tanya Cooper: Circulation/Retail Coordinator Carl Hill: Retail Distributor Debra Shaw: Social Media Administrator

Omaha Public Power District is receiving an increased number of calls from customers regarding scam phone calls. Scammers have been targeting utility customers across the country for years now, and the calls pick up steam several times a year.

Scams usually increase during or after a severe weather event. Callers may be trying to capitalize while customers are feeling vulnerable.

Be aware, the scammers use “spoofing” technology so that caller identification appears to show a legitimate OPPD phone number. They pretend to be utility employees and aggressively demand payments from customers that they claim are overdue.

Sometimes, they falsely claim customers need to pay for equipment, such as meters.

The scammers’ end game is to get credit, debit or checking account information from customers, or to get them to purchase a pre-

paid debit card from a nearby store and relay those numbers. They usually threaten to disconnect service if customers do not pay.

OPPD stresses that none of these people demanding payments or financial information works for the utility. The utility never cold-calls customers, demanding immediate payment.

The troubling trend does not appear to be slowing down. In 2018, OPPD logged a total of 714 reports from customers who had received phone calls from scammers. Sadly, 28 of those customers paid the scammers.

That compares with 480 reports of scam calls in 2017, where 10 customers paid the scammers.

OPPD advises customers: • Never give personal or financial information to a stranger during an unsolicited phone call.

• If such a person should appear

unannounced at one’s door, claiming to work for the utility, do not allow them inside. Always ask for identification or verification. OPPD employees always carry identification. Failure to produce identification should be a tip-off that something is wrong.

• Never turn off security systems for any reason if a stranger asks. Any customer who receives such a request should call law enforcement immediately.

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

Customers in our rural areas can talk with their local offices during business hours, as well.

Outside of Omaha, customers should call 1-877-536-4131.

Red Dress Luncheon Raises Awareness for Fight Against Heart Disease

Women and a few men donned their best red outfits to promote heart health awareness in recognition of Heart Health THE OMAHA STAR believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonism when it accords every man, regardless of race, color or creed, his human and legal rights. month. The Omaha Chapter Hating no man, fearing no man in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as one is held back. of The Links Incorporated sponsored the fourth annual Red Dress Luncheon with The United States provides opportunities for free expression approximately 130 guests in of ideas. The Omaha Star has its views, but others may differ. attendance at the University of Therefore the Omaha Star ownership reserves the right to Nebraska Omaha Thompson publish views and opinions by syndicated and local columnists, Alumni Center. This year’s professional writers and other writers whose opinions are solely theme was “Serving with their own. Those views do not necessarily reflect the policies Heart, Body and Soul.” The and position of the staff and management of the Omaha Star centerpiece of the campaign newspaper.

Readers are encouraged to email letters to the editor commenting is the Red Dress, the national on current events as well as what they would like to see included in symbol of women and heart the paper. Those emails should be sent to: phyllis@omahastarinc. disease awareness.

Keynote speaker Dr. Lauren com and must include the writer’s name, address, email address and telephone number. The ownership has editorial rights and Hicks Barton, MD, board does not guarantee that all submissions will be published. certified in Occupational Please be advised that the Omaha Star ownership does not Medicine and Chief Physician employ staff writers who charge for preparing and submitting at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles articles for the general public. Should you encounter such, please in Auburn Hills, Mich., shared advise Phyllis Hicks at 402.346.4041. information on the causes and symptoms of cardiovascular diseases, particularly in women.

Dr. Barton is currently serving as the Health and Human Services

DISCLAIMER

ATTENTION

Facet Chair of the Central Area of The Links Inc. and has been a member of the Oakland County Chapter for 28 years.

Native Omahan Shonna Dorsey, Senior IT Consultant for Mutual of Omaha Insurance, a Fortune 400 organization, served as the event’s mistress of ceremonies. Shonna is a graduate of Omaha North High School and an alumnus of the

From The Publisher: 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.

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I Be Black Girl (IBBG), a safe space for Black women and girls in the Omaha metro, is preparing to open grant applications using funds raised through its giving circle, I Be Black Girl Gives (IBBGives).

IBBG was created in the fall of 2017 shortly after founding members Ashlei Spivey and Jay Warren-Teamer, who both work at metro area foundations, knew the group was capable of raising dollars to support projects and organizations serving Black women and girls- and striving to change the face of philanthropy in the Omaha metro.

“We know that the people most affected by an issue are not the people making the decisions around solutions,” said Spivey.

“IBBGives is a space that allows everyday Black women, no matter their association, to invest in their community.”

IBBGives set an initial goal of $10,000 for its inaugural year, however, the group quickly surpassed this amount, raising more than $49,000 before Dec. 31, 2018.

“The response to IBBGives has been overwhelming. The smallest individual donation was $10, and the largest $1,500,” said Warren-Teamer. “It’s something really special - beyond anything I could’ve ever imagined.” IBBGives will open grant applications early March 2019.

For additional information, please contact Ashlei Spivey at 214608-8819 or ibeblackgirl@gmail.com. More information about IBBG and the Giving Circle can be found at www.ibbgomaha. com.

Omaha Star Publishing dates 2019 30 Americans brings together 60 works by nationally and internationally recognized contemporary African American artists. Calling attention to some of the most pressing social and political issues facing our country today, these artists address racial inequality; gender, sexual, and racial identity; and the underpinnings and effects of stereotyping.

Presenting Sponsors:

Walgreens

as well as on the chapter’s Facebook page: @omahalinks.

The Omaha Chapter received a sub-grant award from The Links Foundation Inc. to support the implementation of the HeartLinks/Heart Truth Program. This grant opportunity was made possible with funding from the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The Omaha Chapter has been working with the Heart Truth Program for approximately 8 years.

The Links Incorporated is a national organization with a strong commitment to educational, cultural, and civic activities. The Omaha Chapter has been in existence for 68 years in the Omaha community.

Terri D. Sanders serves as the President of the Omaha Chapter.

Omaha Black Women Giving Circle Raises Nearly $50,000, Changing the Face of Philanthropy

Pick up your copy of the Omaha Star at these convenient locations: Baker’s Supermarket

University of Nebraska Omaha.

Community Health Awards were presented to three health advocates. The Center for Holistic Development under the leadership of Doris Moore was the recipient of the Community Health Partner award; Jalei and Jeremiah Hobson received the Heart Health Ambassadors’ award, bringing awareness to organ and donor transplants; and Dr. Lauren Hicks Barton was recognized as the Women’s Health Advocate for her work in the field of health and medicine.

In addition to healthy food and speakers, the event featured vendors with handbags, jewelry, popcorn, and a photo booth.

In addition, volunteer private and confidential blood pressure screenings were available. The event is available on YouTube: OmahaLinksRedDressevent

Major Sponsor:

Contributing Sponsors: Annette & Paul Smith

Supporting Sponsors: Robert H. Storz Foundation

Additional support provided by Wiesman Development

February Friday

March Friday Friday

2200 Dodge St. | Omaha, NE (402) 342-3300 | www.joslyn.org

March 8, 2019 March 22, 2019

April Friday Friday

IMAGE: Mickalene Thomas (b. 1971, Camden, NJ), Baby I Am Ready Now, 2007, acrylic, rhinestone, and enamel on wooden panel, 72 x 132 in., Courtesy of the Rubell Family Collection, Miami. Photo

by Chi Lam. 30 Americans is a ticketed exhibition. Free First Weekends: March 2-3, April 6-7, May 4-5 — exhibition tickets are free for all.

February 22, 2019

April 5, 2019 April 19, 2019

May Friday Friday Friday

May 3, 2019 May 17, 2019 May 31, 2019

February 8, 2019

LOCAL NEWS

Abrams continued from page 1 nations.

Ending voter suppression is a top agenda.

Abrams, who had an historic run for Georgia governor as the nation’s first Black woman nominee of a major party, was among the wave of Black women candidates in 2018 who displayed their ability to compete effectively for office despite the obstacles.

Abrams fell short of winning the governorship – in a contest that was plagued with voter suppression targeting African-Americans. She said the “next battle for our democracy” is ending voter suppression.

Not afraid to champion progressive values like expanding quality health.

As a candidate, Abrams came close to turning deep red Georgia into a state where Democrats can compete and win because she was able to talk about healthcare, for example, an issue that matters to people of all walks of life. And she didn’t just talk about it with the base – Blacks, Latinos, and urban dwellers. She also goes out to rural white Georgians who wouldn’t normally talk to a Democrats.

Raising the issue of Black maternal health, Black mothers, she said, “shouldn’t have to risk death to give birth.”

‘More Than Neighbors’ New Play Explores North Omaha Divide and the Roots of Community

By Patrick Mainelli “What happens when people are ripped apart, pushed aside, and made to disappear because of a freeway?” asks Denise Chapman. The Omaha playwright is referring, of course, to the northern expansion of Highway 75 which forever changed the landscape of North Omaha in the early 1980s.

“More Than Neighbors,” Chapman’s original theatrical drama, chronicles the experiences of one North Kathy Tyree, Brandi Smith, Catie Zaleski and TammyRa star in “More Omaha family in the years Than Neighbors” on The Union for Contemporary Art Stage. surrounding construction of the north freeway. The play premieres Feb. 15 at The Union for Contemporary Art for an 11-night run.

Like many of their neighbors, the family at the heart of the play finds themselves abruptly torn in different directions – geographically and culturally – as a huge portion of their once-thriving community is paved over.

Though the characters are fictional, their story is well-rooted in lived experiences. Chapman crafted her narrative following months of research, including a deep dive into the archive of the Omaha Star, scouring dozens of articles contemporary to the freeway’s construction.

This, combined with several hours spent listening to the stories of those displaced by the highway, helped create a clear picture of the historical moment.

Though not a native to the city, Chapman moved to North Omaha as a child in the late 80s, shortly after the north freeway’s expansion was complete. For her, the play’s roots can be traced to this time: “It started with a lot of questions – Why all the empty lots? Why were some parts of this city being developed while my neighborhood was not?”

Questions like these yielded difficult answers: redlining, white flight, the intentional devaluing of properties. “Construction of the north freeway was part of a much larger national pattern within urban African American communities,” Chapman says. “The physical separation it caused had a direct effect on our understanding and practice of community that still continues today.”

Ultimately, the spirit of More Than Neighbors aspires to rise above forces of systemic injustice such as these. Though this may be a story of destruction, it’s also a story of growth, vibrancy, and the resilience of roots.

Near the play’s end, the character Alex (the youngest of her family’s three generations) reflects: “All my life I’ve heard stories about how great things used to be … Even with everything that happened … if we keep living, laughing, and loving each other like family then they didn’t win.”

“More Than Neighbors” runs Feb. 15 - March 3 at The Union for Contemporary Art. Showtime is 7 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays, and 4 p.m. Sundays. Tickets can be reserved in advance at u-ca. org, or in person at The Union, 2423 N. 24th St., 11a.m. - 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, or before showtimes. As part of The Union’s commitment to making the arts accessible to all, a limited number of cost-free tickets are also available at The Union box office on a first-come-first-served basis on the day of the performance.

UNMC Ice Rink Extends Skating Season through Feb. 17 Due to frigid weather forcing the University of Nebraska Medical Center Ice Rink to be closed for most of last week, UNMC officials have decided to leave the facility open for an additional week with the final day of skating now set for Feb. 17.

“We love to see people using our ice rink,” said William Lawlor, assistant vice chancellor for business and finance. “We think it’s the premier outdoor skating rink in our community.

“With the brutal weather, we basically lost a week of our skating season. It only seemed right that we extend the season another week.

Hopefully, we can get some better weather, and people will turn out in greater numbers.”

The outdoor rink, which is open to the public, is located just east of 42nd Street, midway between Emile Street and Dewey Avenue on the north side of the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education. Admission includes skates (cash or credit card only – no checks or debit cards).

For the next two weeks, the hours of operation for public skating will be: Monday – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tuesday – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesday – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thursday – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Friday and Saturday – 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Anytime the weather is consistently above 50 degrees or there’s a wind-chill of zero or below, the public is asked to first check to see if the rink is open by going to Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/theiceattheunmc or by phoning 402-559-0697.

The rink is closed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings for the UNMC student broomball and curling leagues.

Free parking is available in Lot 15 (surface lot on 40th Street between Dewey Avenue and Emile Street) located on the north and east sides of the UNMC Center for Healthy Living. For more information about the UNMC Ice Rink, go to https://www.unmc.edu/cfhl/activities-events/ skating.html or contact Candace Peteler at candace.peteler@unmc.edu or 402-559-5192.

THE OMAHA STAR

Page Three

Beasley continued from page 1 guy. He and I have several scenes together and he would turn to me and ask ‘Michael, what do you think about this scene?’ and I am thinking you’re Benicio Del Toro and you’re asking me? Working on this series really opened up my palette to a lot more things now.

LAS: What does that mean, to open up your palette in the context of acting?

MB: It means that I have a plan to go to the next level. I attended the Golden Globe red carpet, in LA, (“Escape At Dannemora”), and I got a sense of what the next level is. Now, I am working on that plan to get ‘there’ and to stay ‘there.’ First, you have to see it. Then you have to believe it. Then I plan it out and then I start working as if it’s already happened.

LAS: I think that you just gave me the headline for this story!

MB: You have to put it out into the universe.

LAS: Can you edit it down a bit for me?

MB: First, I see it and then I make it happen.

Editor’s Note: Michael, a native Omahan, is the son of John and Judith Beasley of Omaha. He is a 1986 graduate of Central High School. Like father, like son; John is a stage and screen actor whose career spans 30 years.

“Escape at Dannemora” is now playing on Showtime. Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/ RVbOjP1Ziec (This article originally appeared in the Los Angeles Sentinel.)

Nebraska has a New Secretary of State

NDOT Announces Online Crash Reporting System (Lincoln) – The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) wants drivers to know there now is a cheaper, quicker way to fill out a crash report. Thanks to NDOT’s online Crash Reporting Form, drivers no longer have to physically complete and mail the form. Instead, they can save on postage by going online at: https://ecmndorportal. nebraska.gov/ndot-crash-reporting to compete the mandatory report in five minutes or less.

The online form allows users to upload crash images, and it eliminates the possibility of errors when physical reports are entered into NDOT’s database. Plus, the system permits users to save a report and return to finish it. The system also notifies users if they have not completed the report within the 10 days mandated by law. Additionally, all submitted data is secure.

Users will have the option to receive a copy of their reports within 30 minutes between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Reports submitted after 9 p.m. will be processed the next day.

DOT has been testing digital reporting since last June to refine the process as well as address any submission issues encountered by users to ensure a smooth roll-out for comprehensive usage.

Now ready for full implementation, the system enables NDOT to streamline its operations for greater efficiency. It also provides digital access our users have come to expect.

Previously, all driver-submitted crash reports had to be scanned and manually entered by NDOT staff. With over 50,000 crashes annually in Nebraska, manual entry was a monumental task. Moreover, most of those crashes are two-vehicle incidents, resulting in two crash reports per crash for processing.

In addition to permitting efficiency, enhancing accuracy and increasing timeliness, electronic driver reporting enables NDOT to respond more quickly to crash trends. Further, it mirrors the electronic reporting system previously developed for law enforcement’s crash investigators.

Law enforcement’s digital reporting proved so effective and efficient, NDOT moved to offer the public similar capabilities.

(Lincoln) – For the first time in 18 years, Nebraska has a new Secretary of State.

Bob Evnen, a Republican, was elected in the November general election.

Incumbent Secretary of State John Gale chose not to stand for reelection.

Evnen is a Lincoln attorney who has had a long history of public service.

Previously he served for eight years on the Nebraska State Board of Education.

“Since the election, I have been working closely with retiring Secretary Gale to make sure Nebraska doesn’t miss a beat in this transition,” Evnen said. “My commitment to Nebraskans is to protect the integrity of our elections and to advance the interests of our great state.”

The Secretary of State has many and varied duties. The Secretary is the chief election officer of the state, the state’s protocol officer, provider of many business services, and keeper of the Great Seal of the State of Nebraska. The Secretary chairs the Nebraska Real Estate Commission and the State Records Board, and is a member of numerous other boards and commissions.

“One of the most important function of the office is serving as Nebraska’s chief elections officer,” Evnen said.

“I plan to take a year to thoroughly study voter ID laws in other states then bringing forward a proposal for Nebraska. I will focus on assuring safe and secure elections.”

Evnen also plans to work closely with Gov. Ricketts to increase international trade for Nebraska’s agriculture, industries and businesses.

United Way-Funded 100 Creighton University Student Volunteers Program will Help to Provide Free Tax Prep Assistance Soon it will be time for American households Heider College of Business, as well as 10 Individuals File to start filing their income tax returns, and the from the School of Law and five graduate 2019 tax filing season brings with it some of students in the university’s accelerated Masters the most significant changes to the tax code in of Accounting program.

Taxes for Free Filing income taxes can be overwhelming, and not everyone can afford to pay for expert advice to ensure they’re filing accurately and taking full advantage of available tax refunds. To assist these individuals, the Omaha Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition – a program funded in part by United Way of the Midlands – will oversee five free tax preparation sites in the metro area.

The Coalition, which is operated by Family Housing Advisory Services, prepares more than 6,000 tax returns for local residents annually. In doing so, it helps low-income individuals receive refundable credits such as the earned income tax credit (EITC), child tax credit and the additional child tax credit (CTC/ACTC) and the American opportunity tax credit (AOTC). In 2017, the EITC alone put approximately $305,000,000 back into the hands of Nebraska residents, an average of $2,360 per household.

At least one of five free tax preparation sites will be open every day throughout tax season until April 15.

The location at 3605 Q St. is open year-round to assist taxpayers.

Free Tax Preparation Sites: • Omaha EITC Coalition, 3605 Q St., Omaha, NE 68107 • North Acres Community Center, 5449 N. 108th Plaza, Omaha, NE 68164 • Al-Huda Islamic Center, 4735 NW Radial Hwy, Omaha 68104 • Timbercreek Mercy Housing, 6816 S. 137th Plaza, Omaha, NE 68137 • Habitat for Humanity, 1701 N. 24th St., Omaha, NE 68111 Individuals seeking more information about tax preparation sites and hours are invited to contact United Way of the Midlands’ 2-1-1 Helpline by dialing 2-1-1 or texting their zip code to 898211 (Standard msg and data rates may apply when texting).

Helpline specialists are available Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. - 8 p.m., and on Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.. They can assist individuals in more than 100 languages through the use of their tele-interpreter service. More information is also available at www.omahaeitc.org.

decades. Through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, an IRS initiative, 100 Creighton University student volunteers are available to offer free tax preparation services to help low-income individuals and families.

Four Saturday clinics will be offered throughout February and March at the Creighton University Harper Center. Creighton’s accounting department has coordinated with VITA to provide this service for more than 40 years. Eligibility for the free service generally applies to people who make $54,000 or less, persons with disabilities and individuals who speak limited English needing assistance in preparing their taxes.

“The program is mutually beneficial as it gives students the opportunity to apply lessons learned in the Principles of Taxation classroom on tax rules, applicable tax credits and deductions to make a difference in the lives of people in their community,” said Tom Purcell, PhD, CPA, professor and chair of the Creighton University department of accounting.

Student volunteers include approximately 85 undergraduate accounting students from the

People meeting VITA program requirements who would like to take advantage of the free service should bring the following information/ documentation to the clinics: • Government-issued identification • Social Security cards for yourself, spouse and dependents • All wage and earning statements (Form W-2) • 2018 federal and state tax returns (if available) • Bank routing number and account number for direct deposit of refunds February VITA Clinics Feb. 9 & 23 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Creighton University Harper Center Room 3023 March VITA Clinics March 2 & 23 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Creighton University Harper Center Ahmanson Ballroom

Nominations Open for Urban League’s African-American Leadership Awards The African-American Leadership Awards Planning Committee of the Urban League of Nebraska is accepting nominations for the 2019 African-American Leadership Awards.

The awards recognize the accomplishments and achievements of individuals in the African- American community who have made significant contributions to the City of Omaha in the following categories: Business, Community, Education, Faith, Government, Health, Young

Professional (age 21-40) and Youth (age 15 to 18) and Someone Special. Awards may be made posthumously. For a list of past winners go to www. urbanleagueneb.org/hall-offame A nomination packet is available at http://www. u r b a n l e a g u e n e b . o rg / a a l a nominations/. The packet includes nomination criteria and a nomination form. The deadline for nominations is Feb 22.

Award recipients will be honored at the African-

American Leadership Awards Gala the evening of May 31 at the Hilton Omaha. A cocktail reception begins at 5:30 p.m. and is followed by the awards ceremony at 7 p.m. Individual general admission tickets are $50 and reserved tables of ten are $1,000.

For questions about nominations or the awards gala, contact Kayla Toney, Marketing Specialist at the Urban League of Nebraska, 402-453-9730 ext. 24 or kayla. toney@urbanleagueneb.org.

Page Four

THE OMAHA STAR

PRAISE, WORSHIP, DEVOTION, OBITUARIES & INSPIRATION

Deaths & Funerals

Paulyne Y. Campbell Receives Presidential Award Dr. Paulyne Y. Campbell received the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance Presidential Award at the recent Martin Luther King Day celebration for her accomplishments in the community and across the nation.

In 2016, Dr. Campbell received an honorary doctorate from the Anchor Theological Seminary and Bible Institute. She is a Central High School graduate and a graduate of Boyles Van Zant Business College. She also attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), Grace College of The Bible, and Moody Bible Institute.

Campbell has served as church secretary for Pilgrim Baptist Church; secretary, Omaha Council of Churches; and staff assistant to the dean of international studies; staff assistant to the dean of academic affairs and adviser to Fulbright students, at UNO. Dr. Campbell has dedicated her life to serving in God’s Kingdom. For 20 years she served as editor of The Mission Study Guide, National Baptist Convention (NBC, USA Inc.) Woman’s Auxiliary. She has served as state president of the Woman’s Auxiliary, New Era Baptist State

Convention of Nebraska; first vice president, New Era Baptist State Woman’s Auxiliary; Bible instructor, New Era Baptist State Deaconesses; and New Era Baptist State Congress of Christian Education instructor.

At her church, Pilgrim Baptist, she has served as director of Christian education; deaconess; Director of Vacation Bible School; coordinator of Church in Study Extension Classes; and Adult Sunday School teacher. She also chaired the 50th church anniversary. Sister Campbell continues to serve her church as a deaconess, mission instructor, coordinator of Black History Month, and historian.

Through her outreach and evangelistic efforts, she has served on numerous levels in many different venues such as delegate to Sunday School Congress (local, national), and delegate across the country through the National Baptist Convention Inc. She has chaired and facilitated numerous seminars, workshops and retreats. She continues to volunteer as a Bible study teacher at the Open Door Mission, where she has served for the past 20 years.

Sister Campbell was married to Deacon Ernest Campbell (deceased) and she is the proud mother of Rev. Spencer Campbell (deceased) (Connie Campbell) and Pamela Campbell Yancy (Dr. Eric Yancy). The joy in her heart is found in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

‘The Young & The Restless’ Star Kristoff St. John Dies at 52

By NewsOne Staff Kristoff St. John, who has starred in the popular soap opera “The Young & The Restless” as Neil Winters, has been found dead at 52.

TMZ reports his body was found Monday. “Law enforcement sources tell us one of Kristoff’s friends went to check on him at the actor’s home in San Fernando Valley, and found his body.

Police and paramedics were alerted and responded to the house. We’re told Kristoff was pronounced dead on the scene. We’re told there was no sign of foul play. However, one source says alcohol might have played a role.”

The Emmy and NAACP Image Award winner had reportedly been struggling with mental health issues since his son, Julian, committed suicide in 2014. His son was only 25 years old. TMZ claims, “In 2017, around the anniversary of Julian’s suicide, Kristoff threatened to kill himself with

a gun. Cops placed him under a 72-hour hold for psychiatric evaluation.”

His wife, Mia St. John, told Entertainment Tonight at the time, “I want the world to know the truth about what is happening with Kristoff, because currently there is inaccurate and fabricated information being reported by certain online outlets. No parent should ever have to bury their child, and for those who do, it is a nightmare that haunts you forever. The death of our beloved son Julian has taken a toll on both of us. He is an actor and while he may appear whole on the outside, his heart is broken. As a society we need to start taking mental health seriously and realize that no one is immune.”

She continued, “Last week, an incident occurred that pushed him to the breaking point but was not accurately reported. I hope that at this moment we can all wrap our arms around Kristoff and help him in this time of need. Help him heal and move forward. This is not a ‘gossip’ story, or an interesting headline, this is a man trying to deal with a tragedy that has torn apart his soul. Right now what he needs is your thoughts and prayers.”

Award-Winning R&B Singer James Ingram Dies at 66

Alphonso Benjamin Sr. Mr. Alphonso Benjamin Sr., age 92, passed away Saturday, Feb. 2, at a local care center.

Survived by wife: Josephine Benjamin, Omaha; son: Alphonso (Deborah) Benjamin, Jr; daughters: Marilyn K. Benjamin, Sandra J. Benjamin, Omaha; 2 grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives.

Funeral Services: 1 pm Monday, Feb. 11, Clair Memorial United Methodist Church.

Interment: Forest Lawn Cemetery Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Home. *** Hollis Mae Bradley Mrs. Hollis Mae Bradley, age 72, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 16, at her residence.

Survived by husband: Walter Bradley, Omaha; son: Tracy (Lois) Bradley, Atlanta, GA; daughters: Debra (Jon) Lucas, Sherry Bradley, Omaha; brothers: Robert Floyd, Clarence

Howard, Mobile, AL, Tommie Lee, Evergreen, AL; sisters: Minnie M. McDougle, Omaha, Rose Robbins, Evergreen, AL, Lena Lawrence, Babylon, NY; 9 grandchildren, 7 great-grand, nieces, nephews, other relatives.

Funeral Services were held 9 am Saturday, at Mt Moriah Baptist Church, Rev Ralph Lassiter, Sr, officiated.

Interment: Forest Lawn Cemetery Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Home. *** Tina M. Jennings Ms. Tina M. Jennings, age 56, passed away Sunday, Jan. 6, at a local hospital.

Survived by children: Theodore Jennings, Marie Billingsley, Tremayne Jennings, Jatina (Robert) Bray; mother: Masonleen Jennings; brothers: William, Omaha, John (Trinita) Jennings, Atlanta, GA; sisters: Ruth Bush, Detroit, MI, Marleen Jennings, Omaha; 10

grandchildren; nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, aunts and cousins.

Funeral Services were held 11 am Tuesday, Jan. 15, at the mortuary.

Interment: Omaha National Cemetery Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Home. *** Roy D. Seals Mr. Roy D. Seals, age 85, passed away Thursday, Jan. 31, at a local care center.

Survived by wife: Jessie W. Seals, Omaha; sons: Curtis Seals, CA, Clyde (Connie) Seals, Los Angeles, CA; sisters: Shirley Tyree, Vyree (Karl) Russell, Omaha; grandchildren.

Funeral Service: 11 am Friday, Feb. 8, Morning Star Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Leroy Adams, officiating.

Interment: Omaha National Cemetery Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Home.

Do We Care About What God Wants?

By Dr. William Holland Is God always happy? Well, let me see, this is an unusual question but I would say probably not. Since he is not made of flesh we assume that he does not have emotions like us. But, on the other hand, we read about his demonstrations of compassion and anger so I guess this is still up for debate. It is my opinion that some things please him and others cause him disappointment and most of it is associated with the way people live. So, what do you think makes him happy? Well, again we have the scriptures which reveal his thoughts and these explain his desires. Remember, there was a time he became outraged when the people of Noah’s day were living like sinful Barbarians and he brought a flood that destroyed the whole world except for eight people. So, we can clearly see that when individuals follow sin instead of submitting to his voice this makes him very upset. Basically, He’s glad when we live for him and aggravated when we do whatever we want.

Here is a two-part question; do you believe he is happy with you, and do you really care what he thinks about you? Anyone can take the time and learn about God and what he expects from us. Yes, there is a problem with the world’s lack of spiritual understanding but there is also a huge issue with people who realize what is right but arrogantly refuse to do it. These individuals walk in the shadows and avoid God’s light on purpose because his holy truth exposes more

than what they want to deal with. They know deep down that he is not happy with them and yet they are content to live in denial far away from anything that will cause feelings of guilt.

You see, the Bible was given to us so that we could understand right and wrong and how much God wants us to be good. He is also not shy about explaining the consequences that will happen when we choose to be bad. One reason why it is so important to read his word (and exactly why many do not even open it) is that it empowers us to live up to God’s standards while eliminating our excuses. Charles Stanley is quoted, “To discipline ourselves is to simply say no to our desires when they conflict with God’s will.”

We realize that what and how much we know is the heart of the matter as Luke chapter 12 says, “To whom much is given, much is required.”

This means the more we discover about what God wants from us, the more responsibility we have to obey him and the amount that he is pleased with us will be measured by how committed we are to his instructions. Knowing his plan is one thing but demonstrating our knowledge is something completely different.

When we choose to take that first step of faith to live for Jesus we are accepting the basic fundamentals of salvation and can sincerely pray, “Lord, all things are possible with you.

Please save me, renew my mind, fill me with your Spirit and whatever you tell me to do, may I react according to your will – not mine, amen.”

Kids Talk About God

By Matthew S. Schwartz

Two-time Grammy winner James Ingram, whose signature timbre instantly evokes the classic R&B sound of the 1980s, has died at age 66.

Ingram’s passing was announced on Twitter by actress Debbie Allen. “I have lost my dearest friend and creative partner James Ingram to the Celestial Choir,” she wrote. “He will always be cherished, loved and remembered for his genius, his love of family and his humanity. I am blessed to have been so close.”

When he was 18, Ingram joined a band called Revelation Funk and tried to make it in Los Angeles, the Chicago Tribune reported in a 2012 profile. Comparing himself to his bandmates, Ingram underestimated his own vocal abilities. “I knew I couldn’t sing,” he said. “I wasn’t trying. I was just doing background.”

After the band broke up, Ingram stayed in L.A. and got great backup gigs, working with Ray Charles and Marvin Gaye. He would sing and write demos at a studio on Sunset Boulevard for $50 per song. The studio had a relationship with veteran producer Quincy Jones, who heard Ingram’s recording of “Just Once.” Jones, impressed, called Ingram.

“I hung up on Quincy,” he told the Tribune. “I was never no singer. I never shopped a deal, none of that. My wife said, ‘James, that was Quincy.’

He called back, and we started talking. I said, ‘Yeah, that’s me.’ He put that on his album.”

That was the moment Ingram was saved from “side-gig obscurity,” writes The New York Times.

Ingram ended up singing that song and “One Hundred Ways” on Jones’ 1981 album, The Dude.

Both songs ended up in the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Ingram’s performance of “One Hundred Ways” won him the Grammy in 1981 for best male R&B

February 8, 2019

Why Did God Create Brothers?

By Carey Kinsolving And Friends

performance. In 1984 he won his second Grammy, for “Yah Mo B There” with singer Michael McDonald. He also had two No. 1 hits: “Baby Come to Me” in 1983, which he sang with Patti Austin; and “I Don’t Have the Heart” in 1990.

Throughout his career, Ingram was nominated for 14 Grammys.

Ingram was especially in demand as a collaborator, co-writing the Michael Jackson hit “P.Y.T.” and enjoying crossover appeal with Linda Ronstadt. With Ronstadt, he added his soulful rendition of “Somewhere Out There” to the ending credits of the movie “An American Tail.”

While Ingram’s cause of death has not been formally announced, the entertainment news outlet TMZ reports the singer died after a long battle with brain cancer.

“There are no words to convey how much my heart aches with the news of the passing of my baby brother,” Jones wrote on Twitter. “With that soulful, whisky sounding voice, James was simply magical. He was, & always will be, beyond compare. Rest In Peace my baby bro. You’ll be in my heart forever.”

“They help sisters catch bugs,” says Katherine, age 7.

Actually, it’s to bug sisters, says Chelsie, 11: “God created brothers so they could annoy their sisters to death. He also created them so their dads could have something to do when they get home from work such as sports. If God had made only sisters, dads would be really bored.”

Manasi, 7, has a different slant: “God created brothers because sisters don’t get along.”

OK, we’ve got the annoying brother and the referee brother. Marshall, 11, introduces us to the Rocky Balboa brother: “If you have a big brother, it is to beat you up when you annoy him.

Sometimes he is nice, but it’s because your parents make him be nice.”

All right, enough with bugs, bugging and bullying. “God created brothers to ride bikes and to dig up stumps,” says David, 6. There’s more, says Emily, 5: “So people can grow up, paint houses and fix roofs.”

It’s not about bikes, stumps and houses, says Adrienne, 7: “God created brothers so they can keep the grass looking good.”

Hey, if it weren’t for lawns, boys wouldn’t have any money.

“God also created brothers so someone could watch or protect their sisters,” says Nathan, 10.

“God was smart to create brothers.”

Protection is one thing, but revenge is another.

“Brothers help you get revenge at people,” says Adrienne, 10.

Adrienne, I suggest you read the story of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob (Genesis 34). It’s not a pretty picture.

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Dinah’s brothers, Simeon and Levi, hatched a plot to revenge their sister’s honor. They promised Shechem that he could take Dinah as his wife if he and his people would become circumcised.

Because Shechem was the prince of the Hivite people and Dinah was the daughter of Jacob, the two peoples would become one.

It sounds like a sweet ending, except that the brothers had no intention of keeping their agreement. They murdered Shechem and the Hivite men while they were recovering from circumcision. On his deathbed, Simeon and Levi’s father called them “instruments of cruelty” because they killed in anger.

When you or someone you love has been greatly wronged, you’ll be tempted to take matters into your own hands. Resist the temptation. Revenge will rise up to bite you every time. Let God be God. “‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19). He knows exactly how to administer perfect justice. Don’t get in the way.

“I think God created brothers so their other brother or sister won’t be lonely,” says Kayla, 10.

“I would love to have a big brother because I like what boys do, and I would look up to him.”

A big brother can have a tremendous influence in the lives of his younger brothers and sisters.

They naturally look up to him.

“The brother I have is the brother Jesus wants me to love, and I love him,” says Jordan, 7.

Think about this: If your brother has wronged you, remember how God loved and pursued you in spite of your offenses against him.

Memorize this truth: “A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle” (Proverbs 18:19).

Ask this question: Do you love your brother?

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7909 Mormon Bridge Rd 402-451-1000.

Free Space for Veterans www.forestlawnomaha.com

Together, The Press And the Pulpit Can Give Us Full Citizenship Immediately

3920 North 24th St. Omaha, NE 68110 402-453-7111 www.omahathomasfh.com

Both Born Out of Necessity For Self-Expression

PRAISE & WORSHIP DIRECTORY

February 8, 2019

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 ....................................6:30 p.m Rev. Kent H. Little

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

Sunday: Sunday School.................................................9:00 a.m.

Morning Worship..........................................10:15 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

Charles Galloway - President, Rev John Deang - Pastor, Dr John Beasley - Elder

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

COMMENTARY/NATIONAL

THE OMAHA STAR

Legal Double Standards Keep Us in Shackles

Mentoring Matters

Cultivate Mentoring Conversations with Historical Acumen

By Debra L. Shaw In February, the nation celebrates Black History Month with many activities that highlight the widerange of accomplishments achieved by Americans.

Much of this information is not shared in depth within mainstream teaching environments. However, in a mentor/mentee relationship there is the opportunity to cultivate conversations about one’s ethnic heritage and/ or culture that speaks volumes to the tapestry of one’s background. This knowledge can be empowering when mentees realize the powerfulness in his or her lineage as goals to succeed are shaped for the future.

In 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson and the organization he founded, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, chose the second week of February to celebrate the contributions of African Americans throughout our country’s history.

They named it “Negro History Week.”

Woodson himself explained the significance of carving out a time period to commemorate African American achievements: “If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.”

In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially declared February the month that we celebrate the achievements of African Americans. But why February? It turns out, the decision to make February “Black History Month” was the result of a series of significant events

By Oscar Blayton

that all happened to transpire in the second month of the year. https://bestlifeonline.com/ this-is-why-black-history-month-is-celebratedin-february/.

Why is this important now? We live in a world of self-discovery and self-identification.

Young people need to know their history and to be aware of the struggles that occurred to reach the destination of success. Black History is not limited to the month of February; however, it allows the spotlight to shine on individuals like Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist, journalist, and public servant who was called the “father of the civil rights movement” and became the nation’s most famous African American; Alma Thomas, an educator and artist who was the first graduate of Howard University’s new art department; and Mary McLeod Bethune, who was an educator, civil rights leader, government official and chairperson for President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Federal Council of Negro Advisors. By the way, Bethune founded Bethune Cookman College by selling sweet potato pies. Who wouldn’t be proud to be descendants of this history? This information and more can be found in a book compiled

by Michael D. Woods titled, “366 Days of American History.”

Mentoring involves all levels of inspiring, motivating and encouraging the mentee to build a wealth of knowledge to navigate life’s obstacles and achieve greatness. Use mentoring relationships as a platform to endorse knowing facts about one’s history.

For mentoring opportunities, visit https://www. mentornebraska.org/. Make history, become a mentor.

Mentoring Matters!

Make a Financial Back-Up Plan As you’re planning for 2019, make one of your goals to start or build your emergency fund.

Emergency funds are useful in case you or a family member lose a job or have unexpected expenses like a sudden illness.

If you’re just starting your emergency fund, start with a small goal and build your savings over time. You should eventually try to save enough to pay your bills for three to six months. Even if you can’t work, you can continue to pay things like rent, utilities or a car payment by using those savings.

If you’re making a budget plan for the year, include your emergency fund. If you don’t create a formal budget, try to save some money from each paycheck. You can also put extra income,

like your tax refund, toward it, and even small contributions will add up in the end. Try eating out or grabbing a coffee one fewer time per week and putting the money you would have spent in your emergency fund. You can open an additional free savings account to better track your progress and keep your emergency money separate.

Veridian is here to help you understand where your money is going and how to manage it.

We’re a not-for-profit credit union, now with branches in Council Bluffs, Omaha and Papillion.

If you’d like to talk about how you can create an emergency fund – or discuss anything else about your finances – simply stop by a Veridian branch or phone 800-235-3228 and ask to speak to Areli to schedule a one-on-one consultation today.

Former American Diabetes Executive to Steer Operations at 100 Black Men of America ATLANTA, GA – 100 Black Men of America Inc. has announced the appointment of James E. Armstrong Jr. as Chief Executive Officer. The appointment is an exciting start to the year in which the organization is positioned to deliver greater mentoring and empowerment opportunities to youth and more community outreach through both longstanding and new partnerships.

Armstrong is a seasoned leader with a proven record of success in multiple nonprofit organizations, including fund development and global program delivery. In his most recent role as Executive Director at the American Diabetes Association, Armstrong oversaw fundraising, operations, program development, board governance and strategic direction for the states of Alabama and Georgia. John spent 17 years with the YMCA, working at local associations and the national headquarters. James E. Armstrong Jr. During his tenure with the YMCA John established collaborative partnerships with housing authorities, hospitals, colleges and universities. John raised over $30M to support capital projects, programs and annual support for YMCAs in the United States, Mexico, South Africa, China and Brazil.

“As the 100 continues to transform in order to meet the changing and growing needs within the communities we serve, our network of mentors and leaders stand ready to eliminate the obstacles and barriers that disenfranchised citizens face daily,” stated Thomas W. Dortch Jr., Chairman, 100 Black Men of America Inc. “We are excited to welcome CEO Armstrong aboard to support transformation and the development of new partnerships.”

The Chairman and staff of the 100 headquarters hosted a CEO Welcome Reception on Jan. 14 at The Gathering Spot in Atlanta. Armstrong was embraced by corporate partners and leaders from the business, education and civic communities, as members from the metro Atlanta chapters welcomed him to the organization.

“I’m excited to join the executive leadership team and bring to this CEO position the knowledge and perspective acquired as a former 100 chapter president, to build on the organization’s history and look forward, with great expectation, of furthering the mission of the 100,” stated Armstrong.

It will undoubtedly be an eventful year. CEO Armstrong has already proven he is up for the challenge. In his first 10 days he has participated in strategic planning, visited multiple corporate partners across the U.S. and attended an annual fundraiser hosted by 100 Black Men of Greater Houston.

Englewood, N.J. – JoJo Smith, who was born to dance and became known as the “Choreographer to the Stars,” died at 80 on Jan. 22 from complications resulting from a stroke. He transitioned around 4 a.m. at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, N.J. Smith emerged as a legend after serving as dance consultant for the iconic film Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta.

“JoJo Smith was a giant on the international dance scene. His technique defined ‘The Wave.’ He staged the biggest musical acts and TV specials that gained him national prominence. I was so lucky to train with him and be nurtured by him. We will forever be grateful to have known his genius and generosity,” said Debbie Allen, Smith’s former student and cousin, who is also

February 8, 2019

It’s time we stop lying to ourselves.

The lying has gone on much too long and every time the lie is repeated, we are all the worse for it.

The lie is that in America, everyone is equal under the law.

It’s time to pull back the curtain on this lie, but in order to do so, first we must have an understanding of what “Law” actually is.

In its most basic form, law is a process of authoritative control whereby certain members of a particular community establish and maintain a specific public order.

This definition may seem like a mouthful, but history can help us unpack it. Nazi Germany had anti-Jewish laws, the racist regime of South Africa had apartheid laws and the southern states in this country had Jim Crow laws. The Nazis, the Afrikaners and the Southern segregationists all had authoritative control over their respective national and state communities. And with that control, they each ordered their societies in the manner they desired.

In each of these instances, it is not difficult to identify those community members who sought to maintain a specific public order, nor is it difficult to identify the “specific order” they sought to maintain.

For Blacks in South Africa and the segregated southern United States, subjugation was the public order where they lived. And in the case of Jews living under Nazi control, it was extermination.

For these people, those were the laws.

A law need not be just or fair or benign to be the law. Law, like a gun or any other tool, can be used for good or for evil.

To disguise the fact that laws can be cruel, unjust and designed to harm certain members of our community, “Blind Justice” was the myth created to foster the notion of a fair legal system in America. But observations in most American courtrooms will instruct us that what passes for justice in this country is not color-blind.

Our laws are written with high-sounding words, full of dignity and sensibility, but words are not deeds. And as in courtrooms, the long arm of the law, embodied in the form of law enforcement officers, reaches out into the streets and neighborhoods where we witness the double standards that are applied in enforcing our laws written in lofty language.

Even though the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution ended slavery more than 150 years ago, people of color are still forced to wear the shackles that are the double standards in our country’s legal system. Bigots and racists use our system of laws and law enforcement to police Black and Brown bodies, making it clear to people of color that we are neither welcome nor expected to exist in white spaces.

Ohio maintains a specific public order that allows whites to walk the streets with automatic rifles unmolested by the police, but justifies gunning down a Black man who is purchasing a BB rifle in an open carry state. And it finds no fault in a police officer executing a 12-year-old Black boy for playing with a toy gun in a park. This is the law in Ohio.

Many cities and states maintain a specific public order that targets people of color for fines and the confiscation of property in order to fund local and state governments. Ferguson, Mo., was proven to use the disproportionate levying of fines on people of color to fund their municipal activities. That was the law in Ferguson. The state of South Carolina’s civil forfeiture law allows police to confiscate money and property from people merely suspected of having committed a crime. This is often done without a trial, and in some instances, without even an arrest. Black men are subjected to this law at a rate vastly disproportionate to their numbers in the general population. A statewide journalism project in South Carolina titled “TAKEN” reports that while comprising only 13 percent of that state’s population, Black men represent 65 percent of all citizens targeted for civil forfeiture. This is still the law in South Carolina.

The slave codes, the Fugitive Slave Act, the Jim Crow laws of years past and the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, just a few short years ago, are all part of a process of authoritative control by certain community members to establish and maintain a specific public order that keeps people of color in shackles. There are many more laws that do this, but the list is too long to discuss in this short commentary.

We must pull back the curtain to determine the true public order purpose of each law governing our lives and to identify those community members who seek to establish and maintain them. Once we do this, then we can ask ourselves, if this is the America we want for ourselves. And if not, what are we going to do about it?

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

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What Sheila Jackson Lee Scandal Means for the CBC and the New Congress

By NewsOne Staff

The political fallout following Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s abrupt resignation from two key posts could extend well beyond the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and end up having major implications for the Democratic Party.

After finding herself caught in the middle of a scandal surrounding an alleged sexual assault, Lee, a 13-term congresswoman, resigned as the CBC Foundation’s chairwoman and temporarily stepped aside from her House Judiciary subcommittee chairmanship, according to the New York Times.

Jackson Lee stepped down in part because one of her former interns sued her and the CBC Foundation this month over allegedly being sexually assaulted in 2015 by her male supervisor at the CBC Foundation. The lawsuit claims that the congresswoman fired her in retaliation after the then-intern threatened legal action.

The scandal threatens the political power of Democrats. Jackson Lee’s resignations came about three weeks after Democrats took over leadership of the House of Representatives and the CBC – with a voting bloc of 52 members – reached a level of political power in the House that it never had before.

The congresswoman denied the accusations in the lawsuit. However, if its claims are proven, the #metoo movement could apply enough pressure for Jackson Lee to resign from Congress, temporarily leaving Democratic lawmakers without her reliably liberal vote. Further, the negative attention surrounding the lawsuit could compel Democratic Party leaders to groom a replacement for Jackson Lee under the expectation that voters in the 2020 election – when she is up for re-election – will continue voting out establishment politicians.

After the lawsuit became public, members of the CBC Foundation’s board reportedly told Jackson Lee that they would hold a vote to remove her as chairwoman if she failed to resign voluntarily.

At the same time, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, a New York Democrat, appointed CBC Chairwoman Rep. Karen Bass of California to take over the Crime Subcommittee chair position from Jackson Lee, CNN reported. NewsOne reached out to Bass’ congressional office for comments but did not receive an immediate response.

The lawsuit said the anonymous former intern, identified in the legal document as “Jane Doe,” was in the CBC Foundation’s internship program in 2015 while studying as an undergraduate at Howard University.

She was majoring in politics and communications at Howard, according to the suit. The student, who was 19 years old at the time, accepted the internship “because she believed it would assist her in pursuing a career in politics or government relations, based on the program’s prestigious reputation of preparing college students for a career in politics,” the lawsuit said.

The woman alleged her internship coordinator sexually assaulted her during her participation in the program. The suit said she later secured a job in Jackson Lee’s office but was ultimately terminated.

She seeks at least $75,000 and said Jackson Lee’s office and the foundation “unlawfully retaliated” against her after she threatened to sue over her alleged assault.

Fallout for Jackson Lee extends beyond the center of political power in Washington. Liberal advocacy groups, including the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, also asked her to resign from leadership positions in their organizations, according to the Times.

Sheila Jackson Lee

JoJo Smith, Choreographer to the Stars, Dies at 80 a dance legend, choreographer, television director, producer and Fame star.

“My father was an exceptional dancer-musician who created a new style of jazz dancing. His unique personality and musicality are the fabric of his choreography and his contagious energy – a true classic and a legend! I will miss our times together hanging out, but I will forever be inspired by him,” said son Jason Samuels Smith, an Emmy Award winner and lead from Broadway’s Bring in Da’ Noise, Bring in Da’ Funk.

The phenomenal Eartha Kitt was part of Smith’s family. She was called Aunt Kitty by family, and toured together with his mother, Anna Grayson, who danced with the Katherine Dunham Dance Company for many years. It was Dunham herself who oversaw

some of Smith’s early formal modern and ballet dance training.

Smith’s dance styles incorporated a unique, energized blend of Dunham technique with jazz, musical theater, disco, samba, mambo/salsa and Black social dance.

As a black belt, he even added in some of his Karate moves.

With a career spanning more than six decades, some of Smith’s credits included playing lead Shark of the Puerto Rican teen gang in West Side JoJo Smith Story; dancing opposite Paula Kelly in Something More; and having a central role in Joyful Noise. Smith danced on

several television variety shows during the 60s and 70s. His own group, JoJo Smith and Company, staged shows and taught classes around the world, with residencies in Paris, Rio de Janeiro and several cities in Japan.

Smith has been credited with giving Hollywood and New York notables some cool dance rhythms.

During the 1970s disco craze, he was known as New York’s hottest dance teacher.

Among his famous disco dance students, who wanted to learn John Travolta’s dance moves, were Sylvie Vartan, Barbara Walters and Diane von

Furstenberg. He also coached many stars including Barbara Streisand for her nightclub scene in The Owl and the Pussycat; Joey Heatherton in Dancin’; and Melba Moore, Shelley Winters and Barry Manilow in their own shows.

Smith will most fondly be remembered as the founder of JoJo’s Dance Factory, known today as Broadway Dance Center, that he started with his former wife Sue Samuels. During this time, he became a strong advocate for a vegetarian lifestyle, even building a juice bar at the studio as a direct response to challenges with his own hips. Broadway Dance Center became one of the largest “dropin” dance training centers in the world by continuing the structure, as well as retaining many of the same teachers that flourished at JoJo’s Dance Factory. Smith’s

unique style has influenced generations of the greatest dancers and entertainers all over the world including the late, great Michael Jackson.

Smith was born in New York City on July 20, 1938, to Anna Margaret Grayson, a Katherine Dunham dancer, and Joseph Benjamin Smith, tap dancer and drummer, who performed in a family act with Cab Calloway and the famed Nicholas Brothers. He grew up in the Bronx and graduated from Evander Childs High School.

Smith is survived by his children Michael Smith, Monica Richard Smith, Elka Samuels Smith, Jason Samuels Smith and Rocky Smith; siblings in New York and St. Louis; grandchildren; cousins and scores of loving friends and students. He was predeceased by his son Christopher Smith.

LIFE & STYLE/HEALTH & WELLNESS THE OMAHA STAR Page Seven NFL Super Bowl, Gladys Knight and Colin 2019 Oscar Nominees: #OscarsSoBlack?

Beale Street Could Talk. Iconic filmmaker

By Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D. Kaepernick: It Ain’t What You Think It Is! Spike Lee along with co-writers Charlie

February 8, 2019

The 2019 Oscar nominations are out and it is safe to say the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is acknowledging the phenomenal work of black filmmakers and performers this season.

While there were some surprises – Ryan Coogler was not included in the Best Director category for Black Panther and John David Washington was excluded from the Best Actor category for BlacKkKlansman – there were many delights like Regina King’s nomination for Best Actress for If Beale Street Could Talk.

Ruth Carter earned a nomination for Best Costume Design and Hanna Beachler is nominated for Best Production Design for Black Panther. It is lovely to see Carter whose amazing body of work goes back to 1988 with Spike Lee’s School Daze, is finally getting the recognition she deserves, having long been honored in African-American film circles. Beachler’s nomination makes her the first AfricanAmerican to be recognized in this category.

Spike Lee’s first-ever nomination for Best Director for BlacKkKlansman is history making and the film’s producer Jordan Peele could take home the statue to match his Best Original Screenplay win for Get Out. Lee, who won an honorary Oscar for his body of work in 2016, has yet to win a competitive Academy Award.

Mahershala Ali, 2017 Academy Award winner for best supporting actor for his performance in Barry Jenkins’ Academy award-winning film Moonlight, scored a nomination for the same category for his role as Dr. Don Shirley in Green Book.

Peter Ramsey earned an Oscar nod for Best Animated Feature for co-producing Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which is the first time an African-American has been nominated in that category.

Academy award-winning writer Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) received another nod for best adapted screenplay despite not being nominated for Best Director or receiving a Best Picture nod for If

Wachtel, David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott also received a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for BlacKkKlansman.

Nominated documentary short Black Sheep examines race in the United Kingdom and Lifeboat takes a harrowing look at North African migrants fleeing Libya and attempting to make it across the Mediterranean Sea. Director and cinematographer RaMell Ross could bring home an Oscar for his documentary Hale County This Morning, This Evening, which explores the intimate lives of two black men in rural Alabama and their life choices.

Based on the announcements, it seems that we’re in the midst of a #OscarsSoBlack moment.

Fans familiar with the history of the Oscars and racial inclusion know by now that the Oscars aren’t the NAACP Image Awards and aren’t trying to recreate that experience for black fans. However, it is evident – at least this year – that Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences President’s mandate for more diversity and representation has been heard and is working.

Black filmmakers and performers have been working in the film industry for more than 100 years, so why shouldn’t they be acknowledged by the world’s preeminent motion picture association?

One of the great qualities about being black is resiliency which is reflected in black cultural production. While many are proud of these significant accomplishments, black filmmakers and performers will continue to make movies and memories for years to come, with or without Academy Award nominations.

(Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D. is entertainment and culture editor for NNPA/BlackPressUSA. A film and media scholar, Dr. Burton is founder and editorin-chief of the award-winning news blog The Burton Wire, which covers news of the African diaspora. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectualor @TheBurtonWire.)

By Tolson Banner (BlackNews.com) – This isn’t about Gladys Knight’s right to perform at the Super Bowl; it surely isn’t about the singing of the National Anthem and you can bet your bottom dollar this isn’t about Colin Kaepernick playing QB in the NFL again. This is about the dueling souls of Black folks and the psychotic behavior of America.

The famed scholar, Pan Africanist and sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois, in his classic work, The Souls of Black Folks, characterized the black dichotomy as, “twoness:” as an American and as an African; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideas in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder. As a result of this “double consciousness,” Du Bois adds, “African Americans suffer from a damaged selfimage shaped by the perceptions and treatment of white people.” Knight and Kaepernick evinced these opposing identities and superimposed these irreconcilable differences onto our TV screens on Super Bowl Sunday.

THE AMERICAN AFRICAN: Many people shun the idea that Knight decided to perform the National Anthem.

Nonetheless, there are just as many who believe Knight has “earned” the right to perform even though they too harbor some kind of resentment. However, it seems both camps watched the Super Bowl. So much for standing on principles.

Knight is a major contributor to the indigenous American Musical Art form known as R&B. Knight gave meaning and expression to the disillusionment many blacks feel daily about America.

You could hear her songs crooned by Doo Whoopers beneath street corner lamps across America’s Universities of Street Corners. Knight sang America thru her songs: believing America would live up to her promise.

THE AFRICAN AMERICAN: Kaepernick became the bane of the NFL

Knight

Kaepernick

brand. With his bush flopping in the wind, Kaepernick took a knee to bring much needed attention to the police killings of unarmed blacks. For this humanitarian genuflection, Kaepernick was vilified and eventually ostracized by the NFL – and America. Taking a knee is no sign of disrespect. It is the same posture we employ when we pray. There is no higher form of worship. But there were many who chided Kaepernick for interrupting sports with issues outside of the football arena. Much to their chagrin, the NFL gave focus and presence to Women’s Domestic Violence and Breast Cancer. I don’t see these issues as part of the team’s play calling on the football field – even though players are oftentimes wearing “pink” on their NFL uniforms.

This brings us to the National Anthem and what it does and does not represent.

According to news reports, before 2009 NFL players would stay in the locker room during the playing of the anthem.

In 2015, Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake released a report revealing that the Department of Defense (DOD) had spent $6.8 million between 2012 and 2015 on what the Senators called “paid patriotism.” It was part of DOD’s recruiting strategy.

There was nothing found in these contracts that mandated that players stand during the playing of the National

Anthem. Many blacks who defended this country fighting for what the National Anthem promulgates always noted how America fell short when they returned home.

Just recently, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis posthumously pardoned the black men known as the Groveton Four who were accused of raping a white woman in 1949. One of the men believed if he wore his military uniform, the marauding gangs of lawless whites would show leniency. According to Democracy Now! the white vigilantes hung him from a tree in his military uniform. OH SAY CAN YOU SEE “THE STRANGE FRUIT” BY THE DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT! I take a “MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA” – to the ATL – to attend the Super Bowl. I stopped watching NFL games when Kaepernick was dropped kicked out of the NFL for taking a knee so the rest of us could take a stand. Kaepernick is the Rosa Parks of the NFL. As for Gladys, “NEITHER ONE OF US” will be the first to say goodbye. There will be no “LOVE OVERBOARD.” We’ll just go “ON AND ON” reconciling our “double consciousness.”

(Tolson Banner is a writer and columnist. He can be reached at mobilifstyle1@gmail.com or 202-4136431.)

What You Need to Know About Allergens Hiding in Your Home

By Dr. Tony Sun Senior Medical Director, UnitedHealthcare of Nebraska

Home: It’s all about love, family, safety, comfort – and allergies.

Wait, what?

While outdoor pollens are a common cause of the sniffles and watery eyes during the spring, summer and fall months, millions of people battle year-round symptoms caused by indoor allergens, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. These can range from sneezing and an itchy, runny nose to coughing and chest congestion.

Common indoor allergens include pet dander, types of cockroaches, pest droppings, dust mites and molds. They can spread through the air in your home, settling into furniture and floors throughout the house.

In fact, a recent study found that a majority of bedrooms in U.S. households contained at least one allergen, and nearly 75 percent harbored three to six allergy-inducing culprits.

According to the Mayo Clinic, allergens

are not merely annoying. They can also cause allergic asthma, the most common form of asthma. The condition causes the airways to become clogged, making breathing difficult.

In serious flare-ups, it can be fatal.

We don’t often think about all of the allergens in our homes that we may react to, making us sneeze or cough. Unfortunately, allergens are common, but the good news is that there are ways to combat them! Here are just a few preventive measures to help reduce indoor allergens.

• Wash all bedding in hot water once a week to help kill microscopic creatures (also known as dust mites) that can flourish in bedding, furniture, carpet and even your kids’ stuffed animals!

• Use dust-proof or allergen-impermeable pillows, along with hypoallergenic pillow and mattress covers.

• As much as possible, reduce fabrics in your home with tile or hardwood floors instead of carpet. Replace curtains or drapes with blinds or other non-fabric window treatments.

• Place stuffed toys in a mesh bag or zippered pillowcase and wash them in hot

water.

• Bathe and brush pets often. Mop hardsurface floors every week.

• Vacuum regularly, using a vacuum with either a double-layered microfilter bag or HEPA filter. Wear a filtering mask while you vacuum and stay out of the room for 20 minutes afterwards while dust and allergens settle.

• Mold grows in moist and humid conditions, so use dehumidifiers or ventilation fans in the kitchen, basement and bathrooms.

• Remove as many water and food sources as you can to control rodents and cockroaches. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vacuuming or sweeping areas that might attract pests every two to three days.

No one wants to share their home with critters and molds that make us sneeze, wheeze or cough. Being proactive can help you and your family avoid allergies caused by indoor triggers. In addition, if you suffer from asthma, ask your doctor for more information about treatments and prevention to help keep the condition under control.

Advice on Health Screenings and Habits

By Glenn Ellis Many adults tend to bypass preventive exams and screenings that would keep them stronger longer. Just as infants and children need to follow an immunization timetable, adults should also regularly schedule certain medical tests.

Knowing which tests to get and when to get them can be a challenge, given that screening guidelines are changing frequently, as concerns grow that overusing such tests might lead to unnecessary procedures.

Health screening tests are an important part of medical care. Screening can take the form of simple questionnaires, lab tests, radiology exams (e.g. ultrasound, X-ray) or procedures (e.g. stress test). But just because a test is offered for screening purposes, doesn’t mean that it is a good screening test. Technical accuracy is necessary but not sufficient for a screening test. A combination of the right test, disease, patient and treatment plan makes up a health screening program.

Here are a few things to keep in mind: If you don’t check your blood pressure, then you don’t know if it’s high or at goal.

Checking your blood pressure about two to three times per week can help you notice any changes.

Diabetes tests should be taken if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, as well as every three years after age 45.

A panel created by the American Diabetes Association recommends that every diabetic over age 50 be tested for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) which narrows leg arteries and reduces blood flow. People with diabetes should have their feet examined during regular doctor visits four times a year.

Cholesterol checks should be taken every five years beginning at 20 years of age. Smokers, people with diabetes and those with a family history of heart disease should especially check their cholesterol on a regular basis.

Schedule a tetanus-diphtheria vaccine every 10 years, a flu-vaccine every season

beginning at six months of age, and a pneumonia vaccine at age 65 (or possibly younger if you have a suppressed immune system or certain long-term health issues).

Colorectal cancer screenings should begin at age 50. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults age 50 to 75 be screened for colorectal cancer. The decision to be screened after age 75 should be made on an individual basis. If you are older than 75, ask your doctor if you should be screened. People at an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer should talk to their doctors about when to begin screening, which test is right for them, and how often to get tested.

Women should begin biennial mammogram screenings at the age of 50, and younger women should ask their health care provider if a mammogram is right for them, based on age, family history, overall health and personal concerns.

Women should have a Pap test every three years if they are sexually active or older than 21.

Women should have a bone density test for osteoporosis at age 65. Most people have no bone loss or have mild bone loss. Their risk of breaking a bone is low so they do not need the test. They should exercise regularly and get plenty of calcium and vitamin D. This is the best way to prevent bone loss.

Men should discuss having a prostate test and exam with their doctors by age 50 and by age 45 for those at high risk for prostate cancer such as African Americans and those with a family history. While high PSA levels can be a sign of prostate cancer, a number of conditions other than prostate cancer can cause PSA levels to rise. These other conditions could cause what’s known as a “false-positive” – meaning a result that falsely indicates you might have prostate cancer when you don’t. The PSA test isn’t the only screening tool for prostate cancer.

Digital rectal examination (DRE) is another important way to evaluate the prostate and look for signs of cancer.

Men and women should have their physician check for skin abnormalities when already receiving a physical examination.

People of all colors, including those with brown and black skin, get skin cancer. When skin cancer develops in people of color, it’s often in a late stage when diagnosed. The good news is you can find skin cancer early.

Found early, most skin cancers, including melanoma, can be cured.

If you wear glasses, have a family history of vision problems or have a disease that puts you at risk for eye disease, such as diabetes, have your eyes checked frequently.

A healthy adult with no vision problem should have an eye exam every five to 10 years between 20 and 30 years of age, and every two to four years between 40 and 65 years of age.

Be sure to get the screenings you need to prevent and catch potential health problems before they become major concerns. If you are aiming for a more healthful 2019, the most important things to know are your numbers – including your weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index and cholesterol.

Remember, I’m not a doctor. I just sound like one. Take good care of yourself and live the best life possible!

The information included in this column is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Glenn Ellis, is a Health Advocacy Communications Specialist. He is the author of “Which Doctor?” and “Information is the Best Medicine.” He is a health columnist and radio commentator who lectures, nationally and internationally on health related topics.

For more good health information listen to Glenn, on radio in Philadelphia; Boston; Shreveport; Los Angeles; and Los Angeles., or visit: www.glennellis.com.

(This article originally appeared in The Houston Forward Times.)

Health and Spirituality Judgment and Fear

By Mark Darby, RN APRN, FNP-C Director of North Omaha Academy of Healthy Living On my way to the grocery story there is a house down a dirt driveway that is covered in weedy vines. These vines grow and cover the house blocking any light into the house. The vines grow so much, at times they have covered the door and trapped people inside. Each summer I see the owner with a sickle chopping them back but never completely getting rid of them. It is as if he likes to stay in his house and have the weeds protect him.

Fear can be like those weeds. Fear grows inside us subtly and slowly, blocking us from the light of reason and keeping us locked up in our own worries.

We see the fear all around us politically. We are a nation of sides. Us and them. Both afraid of the other and unwilling to leave the confines of our own individual camp.

Fear affects us personally. We may not see the increased stress and the damage it does to our body until we have a heart attack or stroke. Rest assured, however, even though we do not see the effects of fear it is working against us.

We have judgment to counteract fear. Judgment means the use of internal resources (intellect, prayer, experience of self and others) to correctly understand a situation and to then take the correct action. Judgment leads to action, change and improvement. Fear leads to inaction, increasing anxiety and illness.

This is Black History Month, which highlights men and women who have let judgment, and not fear, define them and their actions. There are so many African Americans who have used sound judgment we would need a Black History Decade to even name them all. There are so many we seem to have forgotten them.

There is Robert Smalls who was a dock worker in Charleston, South Carolina in the 1860s. He was so talented he eventually learned how to captain a ship. His abilities were so valued that the white Captain left him alone on the ship at night. Robert Smalls used this time to plan how he would escape from slavery with his family, his crew and their families. In May of 1862, he took the CSS Plantar and sailed out of Charleston harbor.

He fought for the Union during the war, as Captain of the Plantar. After the war, he became a member of the House of Representatives.

Think of how fear could have ruined this escape. The stories of courageous men and women highlighted during Black History Month teach us to not listen to fear but to use our judgment.

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Page Eight

THE OMAHA STAR

EVENTS/YOUTH NEWS/CLASSIFIED ADS Equity v. Equality

In The Village!

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

Feb. 8 – “I Am...” Girls Conference, presented by The Urban League of Nebraska, is a day-long event that empowers all girls between the 7th and 12th grades to excel in their education and their individual lives. These girls will meet successful female professionals and attend motivational workshops. The conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. at the College of Saint Mary. For more info, phone Nicole Mitchell at 402-451-1066 ext. 137.

Feb. 10 – Brent Crampton from Hillside Solutions will give a presentation at Holy Family after 10 a.m. mass. His focus will be on sustainable ways to live; how to compost, where trash goes, and other specifics about being good to the environment.

All are welcome!

Feb. 10 – Addressing Violence against Black Girls & Women, a facilitated conversation to organize and brainstorm on how to address the violence and help propel the work forward by the Black community, will be held at the WCA, 3801 Harney St., from 3-5 p.m.

Register at: letsorganize.eventbrite.com.

Feb. 12 – Joslyn Art Museum hosts Omaha Table Talk. Delve into the power dynamics and imbalances that lead to and perpetuate racial discrimination in America, a central theme of Joslyn’s 30 Americans exhibition. Guests may explore the exhibition (5 p.m.), then enjoy a light meal (5:45) and panel discussion (6:00). This free event is open to the public. Registration is required. For more info, visit Eventbrite.

Feb. 12 – The House Warming #4 topic for February is Black History and Black Love: Black Excellence hosted by WithLove Felicia. Musical guest is getEJIKEwithit. The event will be held at the Kaneko Library Theatre, 1111 Jones St., from 6:30-9:00 p.m. Tickets are available at rootedrhythm. ticketleap.com.

Feb. 14 – Jazzy Little Ladies (JLL) will host a grand opening, 3610 Dodge St., Suite 202, from 6-8 p.m. JLL will offer mini salon services for girls, ages 4-14, in a kid-friendly atmosphere. Services include hair, skin and nail care in addition to birthday and party packages, accommodating up to six girls per party. The services will not be available at the opening. For more info, contact Devin Owens at 531210-0271 or info@dayswithdev.com.

Feb. 15 – Clair Cares food pantry will be open from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at 5544 Ames Ave. To pick up food be sure to take bags or boxes. For more info, phone 402-451-8377.

Feb. 15 – Original drama “More than Neighbors,” chronicling Hwy 75’s lingering impact on North Omaha, opens an 11-night run at the Union for Contemporary Art, 2423 N. 24th St. Written/directed

by The Union’s Denise Chapman, the play draws from years of research and story gathering to tell a multi-

generational tale of a community cut in two. The play runs Thursday - Saturday at 7 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sundays through March 3. Tickets can be reserved in advance at u-ca.org.

Feb. 16 – Metropolitan Community College will host the 25th annual Vietnamese New Year Celebration with Vietnamese music, food and cultural entertainment. The free event will be held from 7-10:30 p.m. inside room 120 of the Industrial Training Center at the South Omaha Campus, 2909 Edward Babe Gomez Ave. California-based artist Ngoc Anh will be the musical guest and Fusion Taste Restaurant will cater.

Feb. 16 – Send the evening enjoying Cocktails and Kisses at Love’s Jazz & Arts Center, 2510 N. 24th St. Entertainment features da Truth with special guest Sam Rivers. The ticket price includes food. Doors open at 8 p.m. The show begins at 9:00. For ticket prices or more info, phone 402-502-5291.

Feb. 21 – Brown Bag Lecture from noon - 1 p.m. at the Nebraska History Museum, 131 Centennial Mall North, Lincoln. Spend the lunch hour with Dr. Jeannette Jones, Associate Professor of History and Ethnic Studies at UNL. Dr. Jones will explore the history of black Americans in Nebraska and Lincoln. Guests are encouraged to bring their lunches.

The lecture will also be broadcast live on government access channels and uploaded on the History Nebraska Youtube channel afterward. For more info, phone 402471-4782.

Feb. 21 – Heartland Generations Center, 4318 Fort St., will host an open house from 5-7 p.m. The center is open weekdays, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. A small donation is suggested for lunch, which is served at noon. Reservations for lunch must be made the day before. Transportation is available for a nominal cost.

For more info, phone 402-553-5300.

Feb. 22 – Nebraska high school students representing 16 Nebraska and Iowa schools will showcase their culinary expertise at the 14th annual Institute for the Culinary Arts High School Culinary Invitational, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Institute for the Culinary Arts on MCC’s Fort Omaha Campus. Teams will compete for culinary glory by preparing three-course meals and presenting them to expert judges. The event is free and open to the public.

Feb. 23-24 – Africa Djawa, Africa rejoicing the cultural beauty of African tradition, will be held both days at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 202 S. 20th St. On the 23rd, an authentic African banquet will be held at 5:00 p.m. followed by vibrant African dancing and drumming at 6:30. The next day, authentic African food will be for sale at 4:00 p.m., followed by dancing and drumming at 5:30. For more info, phone 402-5565143.

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By Naomi Shelton Director of K-12 Advocacy at United Negro College Fund The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) gives power back to the states to control education policy. Now, members of the community must hold their school leaders and elected officials accountable to implement system-wide and school-specific measures that ensure equity in our schools.

Equity has been a huge buzzword in the field of education this year. Education advocates and politicians alike have called for an increase in educational equity, but what does the term really mean? Equity is not Equality. Equity creates equality by prioritizing resources to students who need them the most.

For example, think of a typical track meet.

There are five runners – each in their own lane.

Each runner must run one lap around the track.

The first runner to complete the lap, wins the race. Now let’s use this analogy to inform our understanding of equity.

Equality would mean that every runner would start the race at the exact same spot in their lane.

However, the track is oval-shaped. If each runner began at the same spot, each runner’s distance to the finish line would be different. The runner in the innermost lane would run a shorter distance than the runner in the outermost lane. Sure, they would both start in the same spot (EQUAL), but the runners in the innermost lanes would have more of an advantage – in distance – than their counterparts in the outermost lanes.

This is precisely why track meets do not operate this way. Since the track is oval-shaped, each runner begins the race in their own lane, at different, equal distance spots along the track; ensuring that each runner, runs the exact same distance needed to complete the race.

Now, think of our current public education system in this same context. Students – regardless of race, geography, household makeup – start on the same marker on the track. Some students, like the runner in the outermost lane, have to run harder and faster to get to the finish line.

The barrier here is distance. In the real world, barriers include low-income, resource deprived neighborhoods, disabilities that require additional expertise, culturally negligent curriculum, outdated technology, inexperienced teachers or access to critical supportive services.

Meanwhile, the runner in the innermost lane has it a lot easier. They don’t have to run as fast or as hard to get to the finish line because of their initial position in the race. The barriers here are fewer in number. In terms of education, these innermost runners attend schools in affluent neighborhoods with a surplus of resources. These students have the advantage of local tax-based funding formulas, parent lead fundraising efforts and/or private funding, and state-of-the-art technology.

February 8, 2019

What we need is education reform that promotes fairness. Fairness equals equity. As Debby Irving in her book Waking Up White: And Finding Myself in the Story of Race states, “Equality means giving all students the exact same thing to meet the same expectations. Equity means holding people of differing needs to a single expectation and giving them what they need to achieve it.” In other words, the playing fields need to be leveled.

It’s critical that our public educational system undertakes reform – changes so that each student is given what they need to succeed.

Our education system should support students by allocating the most resources to students who are most in need, just as track athletes arrange themselves for fairer competition. The national education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) targets dollars to the highest poverty schools and districts.

Under No Child Left Behind, schools could lose funding if they failed to meet statewide standards.

But under ESSA, states cannot reduce funding by more than ten percent from year to year despite school performance. ESSA also attempts to ensure that low-income students are not disproportionally taught by ineffective, inexperienced, and/or outof-field teachers.

ESSA requires that state and district report cards include the percentage of inexperienced teachers, principals, and other school leaders as well as teachers with emergency credentials, and teachers teaching subjects out of their range of expertise.

ESSA also seeks to relieve some teacher angst surrounding evaluation systems by ending the requirement for state teacher evaluation systems to focus significantly on student test scores.

ESSA gives power back to the states to control education policy. Now, members of the community must hold their school leaders and elected officials accountable to implement system-wide and school-specific measures that ensure equity in our schools.

Furthermore, UNCF’s 2017 community resource, Lift Every Voice and Lead Toolkit: A Community Leader’s Advocacy Resource for K-12 Education, offers step-by-step analysis of African American Education and highlights organizations that have effectively engaged in education efforts at a local level to support efforts in improving the quality of education for all students.

(Naomi Shelton has experience in education related community engagement both at the national and local levels and public administration.

Currently, she is the Director of K-12 Advocacy at UNCF (United Negro College Fund), the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. There, she focuses on national education initiatives and community engagement efforts to ensure more African-American students are college and career ready. Naomi is currently a member of the DC Public Charter School Board, appointed by Washington, D.C. Mayor, Muriel Bowser. Her passion is educational equity. Follow Naomi on Twitter at @NaomiSheltonDC.)

Oh, Say Can You Sing!

College World Series of Omaha Inc. is hosting national anthem auditions for the 2019 NCAA Men’s College World Series. The deadline for submitting applications is 5 p.m.

March 8.

Musicians and singers from across the nation compete each year to perform for crowds that per game average more than 20,000 people. Singers and musicians can submit

applications at CWSOmaha. com.

Applicants must provide one a cappella rendition of the “StarSpangled Banner” performed by the applicant(s) by providing a link (e.g., a YouTube video) or by downloading a music file.

Performances submitted must be no more than one year old and contain no voice enhancements, background music or other special effects. Applicants

PUBLIC NOTICE OF 2020 CDBG, HOME, AND ESG GRANT APPLICATION WORKSHOP GRANT APPLICATIONS INCLUDING THE CDBG, HOME, AND ESG PROGRAM FOR FY 2020 On February 27, 2019, the City of Omaha will host two grant application workshops intended to assist organizations interested in applying for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG); HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME); or Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funds for the 2020 fiscal year. Workshops will be held at 1:00 PM and 6:30 PM at 1819 Farnam St in the Legislative Chambers. These workshops will discuss national objectives set by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, eligible activities under the programs, goals of the City of Omaha’s Housing Community Development division under the Draft 2019-2023 Consolidated Plan, and metrics used to evaluate grant applications. Applications are due on June 1, 2019. Please contact Nicole Engels at nicole.engels@cityofomaha.org or 402-444-5150 x2024 with any questions.

can only apply once as either a soloist, duo or group. Due to space limitations, groups larger than 15 individuals are discouraged from applying.

A panel of judges will review all submissions and inform applicants of their status by email the week of March 25. The top 30 applicants will receive an invitation to audition live at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha on April 13 beginning at 8:30 a.m. No alternative audition date will be made available. All individuals listed on the application must be present for the April 13 audition.

Seventeen finalists will be selected to perform at the 2019 College World Series, which runs from Saturday, June 15, through Tuesday, June 25, or Wednesday, June 26.

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YOUTH/EDUCATION NEWS Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship February 8, 2019

The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship is for minority high school students in the United States. In addition to a financial grant, the foundation also provides its scholars with mentoring and leadership development opportunities, and internships.

To be eligible, all applicants must be graduating seniors and must belong to a minority group (African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, or Native American).

Applicants must also plan to attend an accredited and approved four-year institution within the United States, must show leadership potential, must demonstrate a dedication to community service, and must present evidence of financial need.

Applicants must also have a minimum SAT score of 1,000 combined on the math and critical reading sections or a composite ACT score of 22, and not possess a degree from a 2 or 4-year college when applying for the scholarship.

Jackie Robinson was an American baseball

player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era. In 1973, the Jackie Robinson Foundation was created as a national, not–for– profit, organization to perpetuate his memory through the advancement of higher education among underserved populations. The foundation’s strategic combination of financial assistance and support services results consistently in a nearly 100% college graduation rate.

The deadline for this scholarship is usually in February of each year, and the award amount is usually $7,500.

For more details, visit www.JackieRobinson. org.

Black History Art Contest Seeking Contestants The 7th Annual Nebraska Black History Art Contest is currently underway. Nebraska students, grades K-12, are invited to create art that truly commemorates and celebrates Black history.

All artistic mediums will be accepted: canvas, pencil, paint, charcoal, crayon, and marker to create a sculpture, poem, short story, video or song.

Students have until Feb. 28 to submit their art work and necessary paperwork to the Union for Contemporary Arts, 2423 N. 24th St., Omaha, NE 68110. Students can also submit their art

work and paperwork to their homeroom, social studies, or art teacher. Teachers have been equipped with instructions, and permission slips.

The documents can also be downloaded at www. blackhistoryartcontests.com.

Gift baskets and gift bags will be awarded to winners in three categories: elementary, middle, and high school. An awards ceremony will be held at the Union for Contemporary Arts on April 18 at 6 p.m.

The 2019 The Black History Art contest is sponsored by Metro Credit Union and Bellevue University.

MCC Re-Entry Program Wins State Award The Metropolitan Community College 180 Re-entry Assistance Program is the recipient of the 2018 Grantee of the Year Award, an honor given to grantees receiving Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) Vocation and Life Skills funds. MCC was given the award on Jan. 11 for its outstanding work serving incarcerated and released populations through credit and noncredit classes, tutoring, employment and transition support, skill building and more.

NDCS noted that MCC’s re-entry program has assisted approximately 4,000 individuals with education, short-term trainings and transition assistance which enabled them to successfully enter the workforce and the community.

“This award is a testament to the diligent work the 180 RAP team has put forth to help the incarcerated and re-entry populations achieve their goals,” said Diane Good-Collins, program director. “We have had some tremendous successes and we’re very thankful for the acknowledgement from Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.”

To learn more about the program, visit mccneb.edu/reentry.

THE OMAHA STAR

Page Nine

2018 WINNER

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Juvenile Justice Reform Community Conversations Continued...

February 26, 6:00-8:30 pm Panel members:

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Brad Alexander, Superintendent, Douglas County Youth Center

A’Jamal Byndon, DMC/RED Coordinator Douglas County Event held at: 5544 Ames Ave • 402.451.8322

F.Y.I.

In order to be included in the Omaha Star, all articles and announcements must be typed in Word and must be received no later than two weeks in advance of the event. Articles may be brought to the Omaha Star Office at 2216 North 24th St. on Monday before 3:00 p.m. or e-mailed to phyllis@omahastarinc.com. Any announcements or articles that are received the same week as the current publication will not be included in the current week’s edition. The distribution day for the Omaha Star has been changed to Friday of each week.

The Omaha Star is not responsible for unsolicited pictures or articles submitted for publication.

Page Ten

YOUTH/EDUCATION NEWS

THE OMAHA STAR

New School at 32nd and Burt Gets its Name – Gifford Park Elementary

A new Omaha Public Schools elementary will open at 32nd and Burt Streets this fall.

The school received its name following approval at the OPS Board of Education meeting Jan. 7.

The construction of Gifford Park Elementary School was approved as part of the Phase 1 bond in November 2014.

During the January Board of Education meeting, Kim Jones, the principal of the new school, gave a presentation on the school naming process, which included input from incoming parents, students, community members, the principal, the executive director for the school and district representatives. School colors are green, black and gold. The school mascot, a groundhog, will be the visual representation for the school.

Jones said that the Gifford Park neighborhood and Homes Association was behind much of the effort to bring the new elementary school to the neighborhood. Yates Elementary was the prior elementary school in the neighborhood, but it closed in the late 1990s.

“Gifford Park Elementary will be the cornerstone of the Gifford Park community providing many opportunities, outside of the school hours as well, for the families in the Gifford Park attendance area,” Jones said. “It will form community partnerships to provide our students a variety of service learning opportunities and afterschool learning or enrichment opportunities.”

The neighborhood already has a solid network of existing partnerships including a bicycle shop, a community youth garden; urban farming; a neighborhood market held from March through October; holiday festivals; neighborhood clean-ups and a public park with a soccer field.

“There will be many opportunities for families to engage with the teachers as we will be committed to building partnerships with our families through volunteer opportunities, working together to continue honoring the commitment that the community has made to make Gifford Park a great neighborhood,” Jones said. “Students at Gifford Park Elementary are fortunate to have such great involvement from the community members who are excited for the students to be an active part in the involvement opportunities that the community has proactively started!”

District administrators anticipate that students attending the school will speak approximately 10 to 12 languages. Plans are also moving forward to have the school open as a Title 1 school this fall. Title 1 is one of the oldest and largest federally-funded education programs. The program dates back to 1965 and one of its primary purposes is to help students from high-poverty communities meet state academic standards.

In addition to service learning opportunities, Parent-Teacher engagement is especially important, Jones said. Parents and community members have been active from day one, bringing positive publicity around the construction of Gifford Park, she said.

Parents were also active participants in the naming of the school, mascot, and colors of the school.

Jones attended the Muddy Farms banquet as well as the Gifford Homes Association meeting to provide ongoing updates.

One parent is working to help increase the number of students who choose to ride bikes to the new school, which includes collaborating with the district and city to review paths for safety, as well as making sure there is plenty of space to store the bicycles during the school day.

Gifford Park residents came to the January Board meeting when Jones presented the name, colors, and mascot for Board approval to show support. Gifford Park Elementary will open as a kindergarten through sixth grade building with two classrooms per grade level, with the exception of 6th grade, which will have one classroom at the school.

Sacred Heart School Celebrates Black History Month Sacred Heart School students and staff are busy preparing for their second annual Black History Month event. The theme for this year’s event is “Show of Faith and Hope: Talent, Fashion, Black History.” The event will be held March 2 from noon to 4 p.m. at Hope Center, 2200 N. 20th St. The afternoon will include a combination fashion and talent show, followed by dinner and live music.

Tickets are available at the school office. For more information, phone 402-455-5858.

February 8, 2019

Goodwill Omaha Receives $895,437 Grant for YouthBuild Program The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) YouthBuild program has a network of more than 200 urban and rural YouthBuild programs in 46 states. On Jan. 31, the DOL announced that $85 million in grants have been awarded to 81 YouthBuild programs in 32 states. The grants range from approximately $700,000 to $1.1 million. DOL informed Goodwill Omaha that its YouthBuild AmeriCorps was awarded $895,437 to fund the program for two years in 2019 and 2020.

YouthBuild is an education and training program with a strong pre-apprenticeship component that helps at-risk youth complete high school or state equivalency degree programs. While doing so, participants earn industry-recognized credentials for in-demand occupations, and undergo training to build housing for low-income or homeless individuals and families in their communities.

“The YouthBuild program provides invaluable opportunities for young adults in our community to achieve their employment, education and service goals. We are extremely proud to be able to administer this program once again, in partnership with AmeriCorps,” said Tobi Mathouser,

Goodwill’s Director of Mission Advancement.

The grants awarded this year mark a significant expansion of YouthBuild’s Construction Plus model which allows grantees to offer training in locally in-demand industries beyond construction in fields such as healthcare, information technology, hospitality and retail services, and logistics. To learn about the U.S Department of Labor YouthBuild program, please visit www. doleta.gov/youth_services/youthbuild.cfm.

Goodwill Omaha’s YouthBuild AmeriCorps program is a nine-month educational, leadership, development and occupational skill-training program for disadvantaged young adults.

Member’s ages range between 16 to 24 and are underemployed and do not have a high school diploma. The Monday through Friday program runs from 9:00 am to 4:00 p.m. with time split between classroom instruction and hands-on construction work. YouthBuild AmeriCorps is also a proud partner of the American Job Center network.

“I’m excited to further Goodwill’s mission by providing vital services to the young people we work with in our community,” said Norman Barnes, Goodwill’s YouthBuild AmeriCorps Manager.

YouthBuild AmeriCorps four areas of focus are paid construction training and education, leadership training, case management and follow-up services.

For more information, contact Norman Barnes, YouthBuild AmeriCorps Manager, Goodwill Industries, 4805 N. 72nd St., Omaha, NE 68134; phone: (402) 522-7231; or nbarnes@ goodwillomaha.org.

Mini Salon To Service Young Girls, Promote Health And Wellness Jazzy Little Ladies will open its doors Feb. 14 at 3610 Dodge St., Suite 202, from 6-8 p.m. The mini salon, specializing in youth services, will provide a kid-friendly atmosphere for girls ages 4-14. Jazzy Little Ladies will offer hair, skin and nail care services in addition to birthday and party packages, accommodating up to six girls per party.

“I wanted to create a space for girls that catered to their needs, unlike a salon or spa for adults,” said owner Jazmyne McMiller. “It’s bubbly, fun and affordably priced, so parents won’t have to spend large amounts for their girls to have a good time, especially those with more than one child – other salon experiences can get expensive very

quickly.”

McMiller strives to promote health and wellness for metro area girls. “In addition to the fun, I wanted to encourage girls to take care of their physical and emotional selves.” The mini salon offers words of encouragement, organic treatments and a space to unwind and disconnect.

The community is invited, at no cost, to attend Jazzy Little Ladies’ grand opening celebration.

Salon services will not be available during the grand opening event.

For additional information, please contact Devin Owens by phone, 531-210-0271 or by email, info@dayswithdev.com.

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