Vol. 85 - No. 2 Omaha, Nebraska
Friday, January 13, 2023
75 cents
No More Empty Pots Leadership Program Spotlight: Natavia Jones
Person of the Week: Angela McGraw
Angela McGraw has been named Executive Director of Girls Incorporated of Omaha, effective January 17, 2023. Her extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, higher education administration, program management, grant writing, researchbased youth programming, and fundraising are a perfect fit for Girls Inc. and its mission to inspire all girls to be “Strong, Smart, and Bold.” McGraw comes to Girls Inc. as the Director of Do Space, a technology library providing free access to the latest software, devices, and ultra-fast internet to the entire Omaha community. As Director, she oversaw ongoing planning and implementation efforts to ensure the continued thoughtful development of Do Space’s programs
and policies. McGraw also led Do Space’s DEI efforts in the areas of advocacy, community involvement, internal policies, and hiring. In addition, she was responsible for all programming oversight; successfully managed a $1.7 million annual budget; identified new fundraising opportunities; led the Tech Pack program which provided over 900 Omahans with access to a laptop and free WiFi internet for one year; and engaged and inspired Do Space stakeholders to understand and support its organizational mission, including its work to address digital equity. From 2019-2021, McGraw served as the Assistant Director of Secondary Partnerships & Gateway to College at Metropolitan Community College (MCC) in Omaha, Nebraska. While there, she created
the Career Technical Education K-College Pathway, which provides opportunities for Secondary Partnerships to have meaningful connections with 6-12 graders. She expanded MCC’s reach within the educational community by working with 12 Nebraska superintendents, including building brand awareness and creating dual enrollment classes to meet the unique needs of their student bodies. McGraw’s varied background also includes STEM Program Coordinator (College of Info. Science & Technology) at University of NebraskaOmaha (UNO). During her tenure in this role, she provided leadership and strategic planning for all K-12 outreach program within the
McGraw continued on Page 2
By Adam Groth (Creighton University) Amy Zeller them. Her early childhood in Omaha was transient as the second oldest of four children in a single parent home. In middle school, she was awarded a fullride scholarship for first generation and low-income students to attend college. The opportunity opened doors for Natavia to receive continual encouragement and newfound mentorship on her journey. She became No More Empty Pots the ongoing catalyst of her celebrated the five graduates own success story as she of its inaugural six- worked towards meeting the month Emerging Leaders strict requirements of the Experience Leadership scholarship and envisioning Program. The spotlight this a future for herself bound week is on graduate Natavia only by her own goals. Jones. Natavia graduated from Natavia is a first generation the University of Nebraska college graduate passionate Lincoln in 2021 with a about breaking through Bachelor of Science degree barriers and healing trauma in Child Youth and Family for herself, her family and Studies. She minored other emerging leaders in other areas she is in Omaha. She describes passionate about including herself as a generational Ethnic Studies, Women curse breaker. and Gender Studies, and “Someone breaking Psychology. Natavia generational curses is has already held great someone who has beaten responsibility in her early the odds despite what they professional career while have been faced against,” serving in a director role she said. “I have learned at the YWCA in Lincoln, to step into my own path an organization dedicated of who I am and unteach to eliminating racism myself the things I have and empowering women. been taught as a kid and Natavia has since relocated assumed as truth.” to Omaha to begin affecting Natvia is motivated to change in the community speak out honestly about she was raised in. her experiences in order to Natavia is a graduate of inspire and uplift others in the Leadership Program similar positions to break and currently serves as the away from the negative full-time Emerging Leaders expectations assigned to Fellow at No More Empty
Pots. The fellowship is a paid professional development and work experience opportunity to cultivate an individual’s growth potential as a community leader. She is focused on professional development, building leadership skills and intentionally planning and preparing to launch the next steps of her career. “Leaders are someone who walks and guides you,” she said. “Leaders show the way while giving others the space and opportunity to share their ideas.” Natavia remains passionate about blazing a trail of healing, hope and self-actualization for others through her future as a community leader and advocate. 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
Publisher’s Pen Terri D. Sanders
Well, well, well…I must say it again, COVID and variants thereof are lurking in every corner of our world, and we should still beware. Wash your hands, do not attend gatherings
which you are unsure of if it is safe, and if YOU do not feel well, STAY HOME! We will be celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 16, 2023. There are many events in our city for this celebration. (See the Out and About page). As Black Media in our State, we have an obligation to let YOU know what is going on that is relevant to US Folk and those who take an interest in Black News. Do you really understand how this phenomena happens? July 9, 1938, a
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Black woman, Mildred D. Brown and her husband embarked on a project of a newspaper that would stand “Dedicated to the Service of the People that NO Good Cause Shall Lack a Champion and that Evil Shall not go Unopposed.” For 10 cents, on a weekly basis, and an army of young people who distributed the paper door to door, the Omaha Star was born. That was 85 years ago. And today for 75 cents on the newsstand around our city once again the Omaha Star published EVERY
DIGITAL
week, upholds the same service to the Metropolitan Omaha Community. In 85 years the Omaha Star has consistently published the good news. Never missing a publication date. Through five Black female publishers, community uprisings/riots, wars, and the current pandemic, we have stood the test of time. I was “born and raised” in North Omaha and am committed to continuing the legacy, standing on the shoulders of those who sat in the publisher’s seat before ME. Anyone
USPS DELIVERY
MEMBERSHIPS
that knows me, knows I am passionate about my undertakings and the Omaha Star is no different. I am committed to making this newspaper relevant to all generations from the youngest to the oldest. Having a presence on social media, podcasting, and showing up. The key to all of this is YOU. The paper needs you as a subscriber!!! There are 500,000+ people in our city and 11% is the current calculation of Black people. I am no mathematician, but we should have a subscriber
roll of a minimum of 55,000 people. Are YOU a subscriber? What about where you work? We have both digital and home delivery available. Refer to the bottom of the front page for the QR Codes to subscribe. Supporting the Omaha Star is grassroots ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I am here waiting to get your subscription and your advertising…
“Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.