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Omaha Star
The
Proudly Serving Our Community for Over 80 Years
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Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Vol. 84 - No. 18 Omaha, Nebraska
Friday, September 2, 2022
75 cents
Family of the Week: SYMONE Street Naming The streets were tight. Cars lined each side of Sprague from 21st to 23rd streets. The crowd swole quickly as 3:00 pm grew closer. News media in the middle of the street. Heartline News Media blocks the street to allow a safe space for the audience to stand. The crowd is filled with people who have helped along the way and those who are inspired. All of this to honor one woman, Symone D. Sanders (now Mrs. Symone Townsend.) M, A, Yah, Executive Director of Heartland News, assessed the impact and importance of Sanders to North Omaha. From there he decided that renaming the street she grew up on was just a start to honoring the Omaha native. The most important thing to remember about this event is that it takes a community to raise a community. The dynamic that Symone came to be was not her doing alone. During her time as a Girls Inc girl, Sanders discovered her love for media literacy under a program taught by the program facilitator Ms. Emily Mwaja. Mwaja was also in attendance at this event. There were many speakers who celebrated Symone and shared their experiences with her. Councilwoman of District 2 Juanita Johnson shared the passion that was in a young Symone Sanders as she was on her way to Washington D.C. to find out where she belonged. Douglas County Commissioner of District 3 Chris Rodgers shares a glimpse of the Symone he got to know. “When somebody the age of 16 declares their political future in front of thousands of people, you put a pin on that!” One of the speakers was Preston Love Jr. “I considered it to be an honor to be a part of this moment. If you look around, forget about the street naming for
In a state where football is an energy source, it was truly a remarkable sight to attend a statue reveal for someone who began his adult life as a football player but turned into an outstanding entrepreneur that inspires a community. A school with a tradition of excellence. Gale Sayers was an example of what Central wants for every student. To see past today, and prepare for what comes tomorrow. Not only did he know the limited career for a football athlete, he set forth plans to take care of himself and his family. It was important to the family and those whose work put this honoring event
a moment, and just look around and see how many people love you.” The crowd stopped to take a moment to assess the size. It was clear the support was there. Referencing his time as Jesse Jackson’s campaign manager, Love Jr. mentions his hopes for Sanders. “I said to you [that] you would be the next Donna Brazile. You went on to become Donna Brazile and more.” Symone D. Townsend (nee Sanders) was the final speaker of the event. “I want to thank y'all L:R Ashirah Dancy, niece; Averi Sanders, sister; Symone; Daniel Sanders so much for coming!... I II, brother; London Sanders, nephew; Terri Sanders, mother; Shawn remember my sister and my Townsend, husband brothers would ride our bikes up and down this street. always propping me up, always calling me out and We could walk down to King Science Center.” There is calling me in.” already a distinct honor in having something named after We as citizens should take the time to truly think about you because it means your work was recognized. “It's an how we can help each other and improve the community. extra special honor to have the street I grew up on… All This event proves to us that merely following our own of my formative years were here in Omaha.” dreams, we can make positive impacts around each “Everything I learned about organizing, everything I other. learned about politics, everything I learned about how Symone’s mere desire to work in Washington D.C. has to move in this world, I got from this community. Every allowed us to follow her and her journey to achieving single piece. North Omaha is not just a part of who I am, what she truly wants. It was because of the North Omaha it is the key to my entire being,” Mrs. Townsend shares. community that we can come together and celebrate “I am just eternally grateful to this community for each other's successes.
CHS Gale Sayers Celebration
together that the audience at this event learned more about Gale Sayers than football. A key speaker and the man who taught Gale everything he knows, his older brother Roger Sayers. “After Gale finished his all too short professional football career, he returned to the University of Kansas and completed his bachelor degree in physical education.” During this time he was also working as the Assistant Athletic Director while also taking over one of the major fundraising programs at KU while earning his masters degree in educational administration. In 1976, Sayers left KU to be athletic director at Southern Illinois University. In 1982, he opened a sports marketing and public
Emma Lathan Surprise Celebration Emma Lathan celebrated her 91st birthday with a host of family and friends at the home of James and Emma Lathan (family members). The tented backyard bar-b-que celebration was filled with laughter, fun, and hugs and kisses for the celebrant. Mrs. Lathan was escorted to the surprise by her son Kenny Lathan. She has had a rich life and ain’t no stopping her now!
“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” —Dr. Mae Jemison, first African-American female astronaut
relations firm Sayer and Sayers in Chicago Illinois with his wife. To add onto his success, in 1984 he launched a computer supply business and became a world class provider of technology products. With such excellence, he was inducted into two Chicago area Business Hall of Fame. To honor his dedication to education and technology, the University of Kansas named their micro computer center after the Kansas native. It is the very fact of the persistence to continue past a single obstacle that seems too big. The innovation that is taught. It is the desire to make sure every student has a stamp of approval before they walk down those stairs and out of that door as a student for the last time. “The school [Central High] has been churning out greatness for 163 years. An all time great NFL and entrepreneur who advocated for and
cared about his community. Who would come back to central twice a year to speak to classes and clubs,” The Register’s sports editor Charlie Yale shared. “Thank you for being here on this wonderful occasion to immortalize someone who embodies exactly what it means to be an Eagle.” The final speaker of the night was the sculptor of the statue, Littleton Alston. Alston creates sculptures in bronze with subjects including a diversity of lifesize and portrait bust, and figurative with symbolic themes. Before unveiling the bronze sculptor, Alston revealed the marquette (small version of the statue) to Roger Sayers. Alston watched Gale playing as a child and it was one of the reasons that he competed to get the opportunity to create the sculptor. “We were so thrilled to be accepted by the community. To have the opportunity to bring my talents to recognizing one of America’s great people.” Sayers continued on page 3
“Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us.” —Susan L. Taylor, journalist