inBensonFirstFridayArtGallery

CUES middle school students displayed their artwork for the first time during the entire month of February in a Benson First Friday art gallery. Artwork included watercolor paintings, color field drawings and threedimensional creations.

Support from generous donors like the Pape Foundation made it possible for CUES to develop an art program. With the instruction from the newly hired art teacher, Ms. Amanda Caillau, CUES students are building selfconfidence, expressing themselves through art and discovering their potential while better understanding the world around them. Dr. Amy Morris, UNO School of Arts Director, and her UNO students joined CUES and helped with art presentation. CUES students are gaining broad growth opportunities through art outside of academics. According to the Arts Education Partnership, art programs play a crucial role in a child’s life. Art skills help kids engage with school and reduce stress, develop social-emotional and people skills, enrich their experiences, manage constructive criticism, bolster academic achievement and improve focus.

CUES Schools – Sacred Heart, All Saints and Holy Name – support 574 students and anchor their Omaha neighborhoods. CUES provides a safe place for students to learn academic, social and interpersonal skills. CUES students thrive in a culture of love, kindness and excellence. Consider supporting CUES by investing in the next generation. Anyone can make a donation to CUES at cuesschools.org/donate.

Santa Monica House to Host Fundraiser, Brunch and Auction to Celebrate 50 Years

Santa Monica House will be hosting their 9th annual Fundraiser, Brunch and Auction on April 22 at Scott Conference Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This years event will be in honor of Santa Monica House’s 50th year serving the Omaha community. To purchase tickets, donate auction items, make monetary donations and find out more information go to santamonicahouse.org.

Table sponsorships are also available. As a table sponsor, you will select a theme for your table of eight and you will get to decorate your table accordingly. Sponsorship declarations and donations must be submitted to Santa Monica House by April 14. Santa Monica House will provide a sponsorship packet for the event as soon as you register, including time frames and guidelines for table decorating.

Enjoy a delicious brunch, inspiring testimonial as well as a Piccadilly and Silent Auction all in support of the fantastic work done at Santa Monica. Founded in 1972, Santa Monica House has partnered with over 3,000 women on their journey to recovery from addiction and alcoholism. Santa Monica provides an Intermediate Residential program, Halfway House program with a step-down level of care to a ¾ way house and an 11 unit apartment building for women and children. Peer Support Recovery services are for the ¾ way and apartment programs. For more information, go to www.santamonicahouse.org. For further questions, please contact Heather at heather@santamonicahouse.org or (402) 558-7088.

CodeBlackTechnologyTrainingCoursesto BeginApril15andApril17

Code Black Technology will be starting two new training courses in April. Code Black Tech offers a range of programs and services designed to educate and empower individuals of all ages and backgrounds. From computer classes and coding workshops to hands-on technology projects and community events, the organization offers a variety of opportunities for individuals to learn, grow and give back to their communities.

The Intro to Technology Fundamentals (ITF+) with Intro to Cloud will be held Wednesdays from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The ITF+ training course will run from April 17 to June 3, while the Intro to Cloud course runs from June 10 to July 29. From April 17 to October 9, Code Black will be hosting a Software Quality Assurance training course in-person on Mondays from 6 to 9 p.m., and Wednesdays from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Code Black Tech is a nonprofit organization based in Omaha with the mission of closing the digital divide and promoting technology education in underrepresented communities. The organization provides access to technology resources, training and support to individuals who might not otherwise have the opportunity to learn about and engage with technology. Their vision is to empower and make a transformative impact in diverse communities through technology. For more information, go to codeblacktech.org.

ProjectHarmonyHighlightsChildAbuse Awareness Month

Saturday, April 1, marks the start of Child Abuse Awareness Month. Child abuse does not discriminate. It spans all racial, gender, socioeconomic and demographic boundaries. In 2022, Project Harmony provided services to over 8,000 children within the community. Of these cases, 37% were sexual abuse, 11% neglect, 7% physical abuse and 4% witness to violence.

Over 17,000 pinwheels are spinning all across the Metro Area throughout the month of April as part of Project Harmony’s Pinwheels for Prevention® campaign to raise awareness of this life-threatening issue. In 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America® introduced the blue pinwheel as the national symbol for child abuse prevention. The pinwheel represents the great childhood that every child deserves, and the role we each play in providing a loving and supportive environment for the children in our lives.

“April provides an opportunity for all of us, individuals and organizations alike, to take action by learning more about prevention and supporting organizations that support children,” said Project Harmony Executive Director Gene Klein. “A cause is only as strong as the people who support it and together we can end child abuse.”

You are an important part of the solution. Take the pledge to be someone in the life of a child today at ProjectBeSomeone.org.

Project Harmony exists to provide effective, immediate and sensitive support to child abuse victims and their non-offending family members. To learn more, go to projectharmony.com.