75 CENTS
Omaha Star
The
Proudly Serving Our Community for Over 80 Years
Dedicated to the Service of the People that NO Good Cause Shall Lack a Champion and that Evil Shall Not Go Unopposed
Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Vol. 84 - No. 14 Omaha, Nebraska
Friday, July 8, 2022
75 cents
Family of the Week: The Holmes Family
Photographer: KLL Photos, Kim Lofton
1972 began the Holmes Family Reunion and in 2022 this family celebrated the 50th Golden year of convening together and celebrating their LOVE one for the other. 92 family members from eighteen states were in Omaha for the weekend to celebrate their family’s legacy. The 1st generation in the early 1800’s were Phil and Joanne Holmes in Kemper County, Gholson, Mississippi. The 2nd generation was Gene Robert and Tryphene Holmes and the third generation are the children of Gene Robert and Tryphene. The late Ernest Otha Rush started the reunion tradition in 1972 and in 2022 his family was presented a plaque to honor him. Aunt Eva Holmes-Rush has preserved the family’s rich historical information about the early family. The Holmes family members can be found in the states of: California, Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Thomas Appointed to Heartland Workforce Solutions Board N o r t h End Teleservices, LLC (NET) announced Keisha Thomas, director of human resources, employee and community relations, was appointed to the Heartland Workforce Solutions board of directors in Omaha. “I am honored by this appointment and am looking forward to working with Keisha Thomas the board in continuing to develop a welcoming workforce in our region – just as we have done with NET,” Thomas said. Thomas, who says Omaha has characteristically low unemployment, added unemployment rates in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones), such as where NET is located, remain higher than Omaha’s overall unemployment rate. “NET is changing the employment landscape,” Thomas
said. “We equip people to lead. We understand who people are and see everyone as individuals. We know the successful strategy of the organization is reliant upon the success of each person.” Thomas has been part of NET since the company’s founding by Carmen Tapio, CEO, North End Teleservices, LLC, nearly seven years ago. NET is in the top twopercent of employers nationwide, based on number of employees, according the U.S. Census Bureau. “One of my greatest pleasures is helping every member of our NET family discover their unique capabilities,” Thomas said. “We accomplish this by building incredibly diverse teams – connecting people with different skills and interests – and helping them stretch to reach their goals.” Thomas says NET’s mission is a “perfect fit” for what she and the Heartland Workforce Solutions’ board hope to accomplish for the region. “I’m very proud of what Heartland Workforce Solutions has planned in the upcoming year,” Thomas said, adding the Heartland Workforce Solutions mission “to promote Thomas continued on page 5
Events continued on page 5
By Terri D. Sanders
Yes, COVID-19 is yet still in our communities around the world. I have had the experience of being scheduled on flights that were cancelled recently and that was an adventure. More airports than I cared to see and getting to destinations in a round-about Dotcom Studios way; nowhere near the time I desired to arrive. I do realize it is no one’s direct fault, but an inconvenience never the less. If you have to take to the air for your next excursion, I have a few recommendations: • Make sure you have your cell number listed with the airlines so that you can receive a text message when your travel arrangements change. • Schedule yourself a couple of days out from when you actually need to arrive, especially if there is an event that is the reason for your travel.
Hungry men have no respect for law, authority, or human life. ~Marcus Garvey WE HAD THE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE VACCINE. IT WORKS. Facts at: douglascountyhealth.com/covid-19
My name is Bousaina Ibrahim and I am interning at the Omaha Star this summer. I will be graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln this fall, with a journalism major and minors in English and African Studies. As someone who wishes to work as a journalist, my introduction to the field during my freshman year was traumatizing. I witnessed an esteemed Bousaina Ibrahim professor use a racial slur during my class, heard ignorant statements from my peers advocating for colorblindness, and rarely saw a representation of my community in the class curriculum or professors. Early in my college experience, I quickly realized that my dedication to documenting and sharing Black stories did not reflect my college’s expectations or my peers’ interests. I also realized I had to create my own path of storytelling. When I learned about the Omaha Star, I was in awe. In the city that I had grown to love so much, there was a Blackowned newspaper that was founded in 1938 by a Black woman, Ms. Mildred D. Brown. The Omaha Star was dedicated to providing the community with “good news”, contrary to the mainstream media’s racist projections of Black people. The Star also focuses on its archives on the Black communities that have lived in Omaha; throughout the country, not many newspaper publications portray a similar commitment to preserving Black history. When I first met Terri Sanders, the Omaha Star’s publisher, I was very grateful for how welcoming she was of me and my aspirations. As we sat in her office, surrounded by Ms. Brown’s vintage furniture that exuded comfort and history, I acquired a new wealth of knowledge that I needed. Black journalism is a necessity for our people because we can connect with our community and tell their stories through their own voices. In Black journalism, there is no threat of censoring or co-opting the Black experience. Since I was a child, I have loved writing and storytelling. It is a spiritual practice for me and being able to share the words, thoughts, and stories of my people are all important to me. My love for my Blackness and my community began at a young age as well, and I am blessed to see my two loves come together as an intern for the Omaha Star. The city is rich in history and is home t a vibrant community, and I am excited to continue to learn through my new position.
Publisher’s Pen
One Great Date TWO events One great date, August 26, 2022, The Mildred D Brown Memorial Study Center ( MDBMSC) is having its first golf tournament on at the Steve Hogan/ Miller Park Golf Course at 10AM. The MDBMSC was founded in 2007 to introduce students to the profession of Journalism. Since the organization was formed it has expanded to include the archiving of the Omaha Star Newspaper, scholarships for college aged students, and in 2019 the Omaha Star became a program of the MDBMSC. Our 501(c)(3) organization has grown and accomplished many of our goals. We are an economic driver in the community by providing printing and designing services in our offices. The 9-hole golf course will have a SCRAMBLE format and we are encouraging early-bird registrations by July 20, 2022. This is promising to be a fun golf
Summer Intern
• Dress comfortably • Watch what you eat and drink while enroute. You do not want to encounter that airplane toilet facility unless you have to… • Have your electronics in a carryon bag—you do not want those to get lost • Do you have CLEAR Travel? While it is not a service out of OMA, it is very efficient when you are in a major city going through security. It is like being a VIP with red carpet service—well worth the dollars if you travel more than once a quarter. • Do you have a KNOWN TRAVELER NUMBER (KTN) this is used for TSA, Pre Check, again a real timesaver from being in that security check line. • If you are not staying at Granny Jones’ house you should register for the hotel rewards programs, again well worth it. • Be sure to pack PATIENCE, it really comes in handy at the airport. Common sense is not all that common when you are being inconvenienced along with thousands of other travelers.
Democracy, like religion, never was designed to make...profits less. ~Zora Neale Hurston