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The Omaha Star is a weekly paper Next edition: January 6, 2023 Vol. 84 - No. 31 Omaha, Nebraska
Friday, December 30, 2022
75 cents
Family of the Week: The Johnson Family
Aaron, Amira and Nicka Johnson Married for five years and together for twelve years since they met while attending Creighton University’s Classic Upward Bound Program, The Johnson family is a model of how to live your best life as a family. This family loves to travel. Amira has had a passport since she was 5 years old, and is now 11 years old and is an international traveler. Nicka had her first job at Hewitt Jackson when she was 15 years old and has always been an entrepreneur. Aaron and Nicka believe that you do not have to be a product of your environment. Never give up. You can do more with hard work that is not in vain. Her entrepreneurial spirit is with Budget to Success which is seven years old and she has run this business for two years full time. They eat in, (Nicka is a great chef), follow a budget, and plan, plan, plan for their success. Their fondest travel memory was their trip to Thailand: lodging in an Air BnB, eating street food and being in another culture. The Johnson family is always working toward goals. Recently they purchased a new home and closing on that house was a goal realized. They could have purchased a house before now but theirs is not one to settle but to get what they desire, the way they planned for. Thank you Aaron, Amira and Nicka for sharing and being The Omaha Star family of the week.
Publisher’s Pen Terri D. Sanders
Covid, RSV and all the other viruses are still with us, even in the holiday season. This is the last publication for 2022! Next year is a special year because the Omaha Star will be celebrating 85 years going strong bringing the GOOD NEWS about people, places, and things in and around the Omaha area and our world. We have events planned all year long to celebrate 85 years and looking toward
the future. If you are not a subscriber to our paper please go to www.theomahastar.com and get your subscription before December 31, 2022. In 2023 while we will have specials on the subscription rates, the base price is going up to $60.00 per year. That equals $1.15 per week to have the latest news delivered to your home or office. Our digital subscription will be $55.00 annual rate. You can also get a single digital copy of the newspaper for $1.25/paper. Use the QRCode at the bottom of the paper to subscribe for the current rate. You can even renew your subscription to extend your current subscription. Our goal in our 85th year of publication is to have 2000 new subscribers by year end 2023.
Do not miss a single issue, subscribe today. Are you a small business? You can have a 1.5” X 2” ad in our Business Connection for $200/year. Did you know that on average ONE newspaper is read by SIX people. Talk about spreading the word and sharing the services you provide. How do employees find jobs? We have special rates for your outreach to potential employees for your business or corporation. Contact: publisher@ omahastarinc.com to get our rates. We also have digital opportunities for your outreach information, including podcast sponsorships, social media posts, website advertising and business “shout outs”. See you in the NEW YEAR, 2023…Happiest New Year!
No More Empty Pots Leadership Program Spotlight: Latisha Rankin By Elisabeth Thompson (Creighton University) Amy Zeller worked for several years as a travel therapist before ultimately returning to Omaha and working at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Within her career of occupational therapy, Latisha is a lifelong learner and continuously aims to be the best she can be. The Leadership Program provided an outlet for Latisha to celebrate and promote this mentality with No More Empty Pots other women. celebrated the five graduates Latisha is a wife and mother of its inaugural six- to her two daughters, ages month Emerging Leaders six and eight. Latisha says Experience Leadership being a mom is one of Program. The spotlight this the most challenging yet week is on graduate Latisha fulfilling roles she has held Rankin. yet. She reflects that there is Latisha is an accredited never a dull moment with occupational therapist her family, and although life serving the Omaha becomes difficult to balance community with a passion at times, her unwavering for helping others. Growing faith and commitment to up in Omaha, Latisha’s service remain at the center grandparents instilled the of her universe. value of gratitude in her Giving back through from a young age. Today, volunteering is an extension being a leader in her of Latisha’s gratefulness community is a way for and calling to serve. She her to remain thankful and volunteers weekly in the grounded. media department at her Latisha is inspired by church; helping with things No More Empty Pots’ like streaming, social commitment to uplift and media, and more. She promote entrepreneurship was also first introduced and self-sufficiency, to No More Empty Pots particularly for Black through a volunteer day women. This solidified at work. Latisha believes Latisha’s desire to apply volunteering is never and participate in the a burden but rather an Leadership Program this opportunity. year. Latisha is a world-traveler, After moving to Washington occupational therapist, for graduate school, Latisha
volunteer, wife, mother and leader with the utmost dedication to serving and helping others. Each of these characteristics work together to make her the impactful individual she is. Latisha will undoubtedly continue to cultivate change in the Omaha community. As Latisha looks toward her future after the Leadership Program, she hopes to continue her involvement by expanding the program’s scope and reach so more individuals from a variety of career and cultural backgrounds in Omaha have the same opportunity to advance their leadership potential. No More Empty Pots is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that connects individuals and groups to improve selfsufficiency, regional food security and economic resilience of urban and rural communities through advocacy and action. The Leadership Program amplifies leadership and professional development opportunities for emerging leaders. The six-month cohort in 2022 is made possible through the P.E.A.R.L. Pledge Grant funded by the Pearl Milling Company to champion the success of Black women and girls. Learn more at www.nmepomaha.org
Legacy Crossing Apartments Mass Eviction Asia Nared buyer backed out due to “accelerated deterioration of the property.”
On Monday December 19, 2022, the tenants of Legacy Crossing Apartment were given 24 hours to vacate the premises. The complex was purchased by Vukota Real Estate, a business based in Colorado, in 2018. Vukota attempted to sell the complex but the
Vukota landed a $28.4 million loan to refinance debt and upgrade the apartments, according to Multi-HousingNews.com. But the Colorado-based company’s ownership snowballed into the city’s announcement on Monday December 19 — ordering residents to vacate for their safety. (KETV)
The complex was built in the 1970’s. With any building, as time passes, it needs to be updated. The conditions of the apartments and the extreme inattentiveness from the leasing office, the word “slumlord” is the exact description of Vukota Real Estate’s management
Legacy Crossing continued on Page 2
“Have a vision. Be demanding.” –Colin Powell
There are times in life when, instead of complaining, you do something about your complaints.” –Rita Dove