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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
NO JUSTICE NO PEACE
Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Vol. 82 - No. 12 Omaha, Nebraska
Friday, June 12, 2020
75 cents
Student Wins EPA’s High School Video Challenge By Mark Smith, Director Quest Forward Academy Omaha The statewide winner of the Environmental Protection Agency’s “See a Bloom, Give it Room” High School Video Challenge has been announced, and it’s our own McKinley, a junior at Quest Forward Academy Omaha! This challenge was put on by the EPA to promote awareness of harmful algae blooms, some of which produce toxins that can be harmful to people, animals, and the local environment, through the use of creative filmmaking. Because of the danger these blooms can pose, educating others about how to identify and avoid them is an important public health effort, especially in a state like Nebraska where many people enjoy water-based activities in the summer. Passion Projects While McKinley began planning for the EPA’s High School Video Challenge and creating a script in early October, she’s had a passion for videography from a young age. She discovered her interest in videog-
From an early age, McKinley has had a passion for videography.
raphy when she first discovered YouTube. She began creating short videos about her daily life and teaching herself tips and tricks to grow her editing skills. At school, McKinley uses her video making skills to create Quest Forward Academy news segments that highlight aspects of school life. She also incorporates her passion for videography into her See EPA’s Video Challenge continued on page 3
Aileen Warren to Lead UNMC and UNO Office of Human Resources
Photo Credit: The Union for Contemporary Art
From the iPublisher’s Pen By Terri D. Sanders What a place in time … Black Lives Matter … We always knew that now we are getting ALL on board for this thought and acting accordingly. Omaha is the center of the nation and known as the Heartland. We made national news for not a good reason the death of James Scurlock. There will now be a Grand Jury for this case. No Justice No Peace has been the chant of protestors around the world. Over 14 days of protesting and counting to bring about change. Protests come in various forms, Gathering in the park, marching in the street, chanting a phrase, sitting in at a location, and more. Protesting is defined as the expression of disapproval of or objection to something. Protests can be individual statements or mass demonstrations. Protests brings light to dark places in our society. An act of 8 minutes and 46 seconds by a policeman in Minneapolis that ended the life of George Floyd lit a match to the powder keg of emotions and anguish that have led to where we are now. This is not the end but the beginning of change. We cannot take our foot off the gas until change photo credit: StableGray is realized. We are still in a pandemic. That is not to be taken lightly. The pandemic is deadly. Masking, handwashing, social distancing, and testing are a way of life in 2020. National statistics have shown that black and brown people are dying at an alarming rate. People are unemployed and some may never return to the job that they held in January 2020. Education has been disrupted on all levels. We are weary of “just” being at home. If we do not follow CDC guidelines, this will not get better and we are going to extend the effects on our society. Economics in our community and the community at large is in a slump. Support those that support YOU. Black lives matter and Black dollars matter too! Support black businesses. Small business is the backbone of our country and we need that backbone to be strong. Racism and Covid19 will go down in history as the dynamic duo that brought our nation to a fork in the road. The question is which road will we take and what is the destination? Black Lives do matter and I will not water that statement down it stands on its own. Keep going until Justice is located and planted firmly in our nation.
Prayers and Justice for the James Scurlock family
Aileen Warren, assistant vice chancel- career development, she will be a remarklor and director of the UNMC Office of able asset to UNO.” A transition period is currently underHuman Resources since 2014, also will lead the University of Nebraska at Omaha way to help refine processes between the Office of Human Resources, effective July two units; however, day-to-day operations and leadership among key areas such as 1. At UNO, Warren will replace Cecil benefits, payroll and employee relations Hicks Jr., who has been named UNO’s first will not change. In his new role, Hicks associate vice chancellor will provide campus-wide for diversity, equity, access leadership towards enhancand inclusion (DEAI), also effective July 1. ing and sustaining diversity through promoting a culture “Cecil and I have worked closely together on many of inclusiveness, accessibility and equity through the issues related to human resources throughout our development and coordinatenures with UNO and tion of strategic initiatives that contribute to the overall UNMC, and UNO faculty, staff and students will consuccess of faculty, staff and students. tinue to see the terrific service they’re accustomed to Hicks will also formally from the UNO HR office,” take over coordination of UNO’s compliance efforts said Warren, who will be an Aileen Warren associate vice chancellor in her new role. as it relates to federal programs such as “I look forward to the opportunity to lead Title IX, VAWA, the Campus SaVE Act the UNO office, and I’m really excited for and the Cleary Act. Hicks joined UNO in 2014 as director Cecil’s opportunity to serve the campus in of human resources following an extenhis very important new role.” Warren, who earned her bachelor’s and sive career in both human resource manmaster’s degrees from UNO, brings more agement and diversity initiatives. This than 30 years’ experience in employee and includes serving as director of human community development, previously serv- resources for Lincoln Financial Group, ing in positions with First National Bank director of recruiting and diversity for of Omaha, WorldCom and First Data. Woodmen of the World and director of As a result of these changes, joint oper- human resources for the City of Omaha, ations of UNO and UNMC’s Office of as well as leadership roles on Omaha Human Resources will continue moving community organizations including forward, which will allow for supplemen- Inclusive Communities, the Omaha Public tal, operational efficiencies and cost-sav- Schools Foundation, the Urban League of ings across the two campuses. Nebraska, Kids Can, United Way of the “Aileen Warren is very well suited to Midlands and ICAN. “I am honored to serve in this role and assume this responsibility. She has extensive knowledge and experience in all to be part of the transformational change of the key areas of human resources,” process at UNO,” Hicks said. “Success Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., said. will be achieved through strong partner“From the exceptional respect she has ships and collaborations with not only the among her colleagues, to her knowledge UNO family but the entire University of of the UNO campus, to her ongoing Nebraska System and the Omaha commuinvolvement in employee engagement and nity at large.”
Next Issue: June 26, 2020 Submissions to paper by June 16, 2020
Congratulations 2020 Graduates See page 6