75 CENTS
OMAHA STAR
My Life
Dedicated to the Service of the People that NO Good Cause Shall Lack a Champion and that Evil Shall Not Go Unopposed
Vivian Strong
Proudly Serving Our Community for Over 80 Years
James Scurlock
THE
Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Vol. 82 - No. 13 Omaha, Nebraska
Friday, June 26, 2020
Mondo
75 cents
From the iPublisher’s Pen
Family of the Week:
By Terri D. Sanders
The Rodgers Family
Shalon, Evan, Chris, Ellis
Chris and Shalon Rodgers have made Omaha their family home for the last eighteen years. Shalon hails from Forrest City, Arkansas. She is a graduate of Howard University. She is currently enjoying family life as she stepped back from her former career in the hospital medical industry. Chris is the District 3 Douglas County Commissioner (15 years). Chris came to Omaha from East St. Louis, Illinois, August 1987 as a basketball scholarship recipient at Creighton University. Chris is the Director of Community and Government Affairs at Creighton University. The heirs to the Rodgers dynasty are Evan, 10 and Ellis, 15. Evan will attend Beveridge Middle School as a 6th grader in the fall. His favorite subject is social studies because he enjoys history. Ellis is a Sophomore at Burke High School. His preferred subject is science and he aspires to have a career in biomechanics and ultimately work with a sports shoe company. Ellis participates in basketball, track: sprints, and jumping events at Burke. The Rodgers family likes Omaha because of the friendly Midwest mentality of the people. Their leisure time is spent with family and traveling.
Black Lives Matter (BLM), Juneteenth, COVID19, Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Massacre have been the recent headlines in the news. Our students graduated virtually. Our offices are having zoom meetings. National conferences have been cancelled, rescheduled or are being held virtually. Our families have logged more screen time at the computer than ever. Citizens around the world now have an understanding of the meaning of Juneteenth. While this holiday was widely celebrated in Texas it has been elevated to being discussed as a national holiday. As you go shopping and are in public are you wearing your mask? A mask is as important as your glasses and car keys. Some masks are fashion statements, some are David Turnbo Photography paper, and some are government issued. No matter the material, a mask could save your health and the health of your loved ones. Yes, a mask can be hot. As you look around everyone may not have a mask on, but you have to take personal responsibility until this “thing” is over. Listening to the talk about the Tulsa Massacre and Black Wall Street it came to my attention that this was not universal knowledge nor was it a focus in the classroom. There is a generation of people that know nothing about our rich history because it is not mainstream news. I have a passion for history after being associated with the Great Plains Black History Museum. I became diverse on the contributions of MY people to the history of the great plains. As I travel and people ask me: where are you from? I proudly say Omaha, then I get a puzzled look and the response: Are there Black People in Nebraska? I know you have heard it too. YES YES YES … Beginning in our next issue there will be a feature column: There are Black People in Nebraska and this will feature Black People who are from, lived in or contributed to life in Nebraska. This will run for one year (26 issues) and will give you points to discuss and give you points that make you say hmmmmmm. July marks the anniversary of The Omaha Star Newspaper. I am VERY proud to carry on the legacy of Mildred D. Brown, publishing the GOOD news in our community and representing Omaha on national platforms. If you have family history to share, write it up. If you have photos to share send them in. Send to publisher@omahastarinc.com. There were times that The Omaha Star was the only place to get news about our community. In the past, The Omaha Star was the only place that our community celebrations were featured. It may not be the only place in 2020, but it should be the first place you look to get the information in our community. Please share with us your family, we would love to feature you as the Family of The Week. We will feature business persons and give you their story. Did you know that we are active on social media? Since we publish biweekly we do not want you to wait to get important information so in between issues we share on Facebook in The Omaha Star group page and Facebook page. We tweet and we are on the ’gram. Follow us and stay informed. See you in our Anniversary Celebration issue.
Support Awarded To Strengthen Digital Platforms In Newsrooms
To help news organizations better serve their communities with quality news and information, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation today announced the first 24 recipients of support from its $2 million, three-year technology initiative to strengthen digital publishing solutions in newsrooms. After a competitive application process, the first cohort of 24 newsrooms have been selected to receive $20,000 in grants for publishing tools that will improve distribution, community engagement and revenue opportunities, such as digital subscriptions and membership. The first group includes a mix of nonprofit news organizations, small commercial community newspapers and new digital upstarts. Of the selected newsrooms, 58% are nonprofit organizations; 58% are led by or serve communities of color; and 42% are committed to delivering local journalism. “Now, more than ever, it’s critical for newsrooms and publishers to adopt digital solutions that meet audiences where they are and provide new revenue opportunities,” said Paul Cheung, Knight Foundation director for journalism and technology innovation. “These outstanding news organizations now have the opportunity to leverage technology to maximize their revenue and better serve their communities.” To become sustainable and
build trust in the communities they serve, news organizations need the tools to engage in the urgent discussions about race and equity with their users and deliver real-time updates on the coronavirus pandemic. Knight funding will help news organizations achieve these goals with the publishing tools that prioritize and enhance audience development, business development and editorial content production. The selected news organizations and the publishing systems they’ll employ are: • Accion Hispana/Que Pasa, Winston-Salem, NC (Custom WordPress) Que Pasa Media works to inform, educate and drive to actions the Spanish-speaking local community to help them to have a better life (por una vida mejor), increase their knowledge of their rights and duties as members of their communities, and give the information they need to continue becoming better productive and contributing members of society. • Afro American Newspapers, Baltimore, Md. (Custom WordPress) The Afro American Newspapers (The AFRO) is the longest-running African American family-owned newspaper in the nation. Founded in 1892 by John H. Murphy Sr., the AFRO pro-
Do you subscribe to the Omaha Star?
Just Do IT!
motes unity in the community and crusades for racial justice while exposing racism in education, jobs, housing, and public accommodations. • The Atlanta Voice, Atlanta, Ga.(Newspack) Serving Metro Atlanta and beyond for more than 55 years, The Atlanta Voice is a family-oriented, small business enterprise
committed to creating meaningful journalism and telling stories that will help shape media consumption in the Black community. The newsroom is one-part traditional, two-parts learning lab, designed by its editorial team to foster continued learning and development in an ever-evolving industry. • Bangor Daily News, Bangor, Maine (Newspack) The Bangor Daily News is the only statewide news publication in Maine, and has been in business since 1889. As a digital-first newsroom for almost a decade, it serves a largely rural audience in the most rural state in the U.S., with only around 30% of residents living in cities. • BK Reader (The Brooklyn Reader), Brooklyn, N.Y. (Newspack) The Brooklyn Reader is a
digital daily news site covering Central, East and part of North Brooklyn. • Block Club Chicago, Chicago, Ill. (Custom WordPress) Block Club Chicago is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, nonpartisan and essential coverage of Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods. It is committed to covering underserved and urban communities, including neighborhoods on Chicago’s South and West sides. • Carolina Public Press, Asheville, N.C. (Newspack) Carolina Public Press is an independent nonprofit news organization dedicated to nonpartisan, in-depth and investigative news built upon the facts and context North Carolinians need to know. Its award-winning, breakthrough journalism shines a light on the overlooked and under-reported issues facing the state’s 10.2 million residents. • Community Media Center, Grand Rapids, Mich. (Drupal) Community Media Center is a nonprofit media center that includes a citizen journalism website, public access TV, community radio, and other services for nonprofit organizations. • The Daily Yonder, Whitesburg, KY (Newspack) The Daily Yonder provides news, commentary, and analysis about and for rural America. We publish online to a nationwide
Next Issue: July 10, 2020 Submissions to paper by July 2, 2020
audience of rural residents, advocates, policymakers, and journalists. Our reporting aims to inform rural Americans and the people who care about rural communities about important issues and to build bridges between rural and urban communities in ways that strengthen both. • D.C. Witness, Washington, D.C. (Custom WordPress) D.C. Witness is a website that tracks every homicide, sexual assault and domestic violence case in D.C., from act to resolution, by gathering and sharing data. It brings unprecedented transparency to the D.C. criminal justice system. • Fostering Media Connections, Los Angeles, Calif. (Custom WordPress) Fostering Media Connections (FMC) leads the conversation about children, youth and families in America. FMC publishes The Chronicle of Social Change, a daily news site dedicated to rigorous, in-depth journalism focused on families and the systems that impact their lives, as well as a bi-monthly magazine, Fostering Families Today, which is distributed to foster families across America. • Mississippi Today, Ridgeland, Miss. (Largo) Mississippi Today is a nonprofit news and media company with a forward-facing mission of civic See Knight Foundation continued on page 2
JULY: Happy Anniversary Omaha Star!
Page Two
LOCAL NEWS
THE OMAHA STAR
THE OMAHA STAR, INC. THE VOICE OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY Editorial and Business Office 2216 North 24th Street Phone: 402.346.4041
MAILING ADDRESS: 2216 North 24th Street Omaha, Nebraska 68110
WEB ADDRESS: www.theomahastar.com
Like Us on Facebook #OmahaStarNews
Follow us on Twitter @omaha_star
Follow us on Instagram @omahastarnewspaper
E-MAIL ADDRESSES: Terri D. Sanders - publisher@omahastarinc.com Tanya Cooper - tcooper@omahastarinc.com Business Hours: Monday – Thursday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Member of the National Newspaper Publishers Association Mildred D. Brown: Founder, July 9, 1938 Dr. Marguerita L. Washington: Publisher, 1989 - 2016 Phyllis Hicks: Publisher/Managing Editor, 2016 - 2019 Terri D. Sanders: Interim Publisher Tanya Cooper: Advertising Director Barbara Reeves: Retail Distributor THE OMAHA STAR believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonism when it accords every man, regardless of race, color or creed, his human and legal rights. Hating no man, fearing no man in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as one is held back.
DISCLAIMER The United States provides opportunities for free expression of ideas. The Omaha Star has its views, but others may differ. Therefore the Omaha Star ownership reserves the right to publish views and opinions by syndicated and local columnists, professional writers and other writers whose opinions are solely their own. Those views do not necessarily reflect the policies and position of the staff and management of the Omaha Star newspaper. Readers are encouraged to email letters to the editor commenting on current events as well as what they would like to see included in the paper. Those emails should be sent to: publisher@omahastarinc.com and must include the writer’s name, address, email address and telephone number. The ownership has editorial rights and does not guarantee that all submissions will be published. Please be advised that the Omaha Star ownership does not employ staff writers who charge for preparing and submitting articles for the general public. Should you encounter such, please advise Terri D. Sanders at 402346-4041.
Pick up your copy of the Omaha Star at these convenient locations: Aframerican Book Store
3226 Lake St.
Baker’s Supermarket
7312 N. 30th St.
Baker’s Supermarket
4405 N. 72nd St.
Big Mama’s Kitchen
2112 N. 30th St.
Chubb’s Finer Foods
2905 N. 16th St.
Cubby’s Old Market
601 S. 13th Street
Easy Drive
5124 N. 24th St.
Family Fare Supermarket
820 N. Saddle Creek Rd.
Family Fare Supermarket
7402 N. 30th St.
Great Plains Black History Museum 2221 N. 24th St. Hy-Vee Supermarket
5150 Center St.
Hy-Vee Supermarket
108th & Fort St.
Phil’s CASHSAVER A cost Plus Food Outlet
3030 Ames Ave.
Walgreens
3001 Dodge St.
Walgreens
7202 N. 30th St.
Walgreens
3005 Lake St.
Walgreens
2929 N. 60th St.
Walgreens
7151 Cass St.
Walgreens
6005 N. 72nd St.
Walgreens
225 N. Saddle Creek Rd.
Walgreens
1802 Galvin Road South, (Bellevue)
Youngblood’s Barbershop
$40.00 IN TOWN
NON-REFUNDABLE
4011 Ames Ave
$50.00 OUT OF TOWN
The Omaha Star Is Your Paper
SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Phone: 402-346-4041, Opt. 5 Name Address City/State/Zip
Knight Foundation continued from page 1 engagement and public dialog through service journalism, live events and digital outreach. They believe engaging in the news is a way of life and good reporting and the accountability it inspires can change the trajectory of their state. • Montana Free Press, Helena, Mont. (Newspack) Montana Free Press is an independent, nonprofit source for in-depth Montana news, information, and analysis. It works independently and in collaboration with other news outlets around Montana to produce meaningful news stories that have an impact on the lives and livelihoods of local communities. • Muslim, New York, N.Y. (Newspack) Muslim is a news outlet, media publication and online community for millennials and Gen-Z Muslims to connect with one another, feel empowered through each other, amplify their faith, and share their lifestyles and views. • Muslim Journal, Chicago, Ill. (Newspack) Muslim Journal, a 44+ year old weekly newspaper, is the oldest Muslim newspaper in the U.S. Started by Malcolm X Shabazz, the publication represents a free and independent voice and is securing its future with a firm presence online via virtual news circulation. • Native News Online, Grand Rapids, Mich. (Joomla) Native News Online delivers important daily news that affects the lives of American Indians and Alaska Natives. Founded in 2011, its vision is to “change the narrative” about Indian Country by providing fair, balanced and accurate coverage of social issues, policy matters and economic development involving tribes throughout the United States. • New York Amsterdam News, New York, N.Y. (Newspack) For 109 years, the Amsterdam News has sought to provide unbiased news and information to Greater New York City’s Black community. The Amsterdam News mission is just as critical today, during this current
health crisis, as it was 109 years ago. • The Omaha Star, Omaha, Neb. (Custom WordPress) It is the mission of the Mildred D. Brown Memorial Study Center to provide access to the Omaha Star’s inspirational archive materials and resources; to promote the future of community-based media; and to help area students, especially AfricanAmericans, envision career possibilities in journalism and communications. • The Plug, Atlanta, Ga. (Custom WordPress) The Plug is a digital news and insights platform covering the Black innovation economy. It gives timely and relevant news and stories on Black ecosystems, founders, investors, and policies shaping the present and future of technology and society. • The Real News Network, Baltimore, Md.(Newspack) The Real News Network (TRNN) provides the tools and information needed to make the world a more just place. Through digital media, TRNN connects the people and movements working for transformative change with the stories that matter, in the U.S. and around the world. • Sahan Journal, St. Paul, Minn. (Newspack) Sahan Journal is a nonprofit digital news organization that covers Minnesota’s immigrant and refugee communities. Launched in the summer of 2019, the news organization chronicles the struggles, successes and transformations of Minnesota’s new Americans, whose stories are often overlooked by traditional news organizations. • Scalawag, Durham, N.C. (Newspack) Scalawag is a Black-led, women-run nonprofit media and storytelling organization that illuminates dissent, unsettles dominant narratives, pursues justice and liberation, and stands in solidarity with marginalized people and communities in the South. • Soul Pitt Media, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Custom WordPress) Soul Pitt Media, a certified minority-business enterprise, is a local media
Mail To: The Omaha Star Newspaper 2216 North 24th Street Omaha, NE 68110 Please include payment with order
company that serves the AfricanAmerican population in Pittsburgh and the surrounding Western Pa. communities by delivering the latest, most informative, and most comprehensive content via its award-winning internet and print platforms, TheSoulPitt.com and Soul Pitt Quarterly print magazine. • TucsonSentinel.com, Tucson, Ariz. (ExpressionEngine) TucsonSentinel.com reports in-depth stories about politics and public policy in Southern Arizona, focusing on the unique cultural and social interactions in the borderlands. With an emphasis on immigration, the environment and local investigations, its award-winning journalism holds the powerful to account and gives voice to stories that otherwise go untold. The selection of newsrooms was managed by News Revenue Hub, a nonprofit organization that works with more than 50 publishers on building membership revenue, growing audiences and developing sustainable business practices. In addition to receiving funding, selected newsrooms will access training sessions, led by the Hub, on utilizing and leveraging business and audience development tools and strategies. The 24 newsrooms were selected from an applicant pool of 140 news organizations. Led by News Revenue Hub, an expert panel of industry experts evaluated each application on a basis of application strength, grant utilization, and industry impact. For more on the Hub’s process, see this blog post.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit kf.org.
Camps in Fontenelle Forest Fontenelle Forest is excited to announce that we are offering on-site summer camps in July! Our on-site summer camps are back July 6 - 31. These week-long day camps, held at the Forest, will feature a different theme each day. We are also offering an Aftercare program (for an additional fee) for parents who want their kids to stay later, or for campers who just don’t want the day to end! For details on Summer Camp and Aftercare (including details on how we are keeping campers safe during COVID-19) visit our website: https://fontenelleforest.org/ camps/ Scholarships available! This year, we are grateful to be able to offer scholarships
for our on-site summer camps. We are hoping you will help us spread the word to any audiences you feel would be interested in this information. We have a limited number of scholarships available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Scholarships will be awarded to students who receive free or reduced lunch in the Free or Reduced School Lunch Program. Our camp capacity is limited due to Covid-19, so we strongly encourage scholarship applications to be submitted as soon as possible. Apply for a scholarship here:https://fontenelleforest.org/ camps/ For questions about summer camps or scholarships, contact Visitor Services at 402.731.3140. They will put you in touch with a member of our Education team.
Black Women Philanthropists Invest, Support Black Owned Businesses Amid COVID-19 By Devin J. Owens Amid unprecedented times for our world and community, I Be Black Girl (IBBG), an affirming space for Black women and girls in the Omaha metropolitan area, remains committed to supporting Black women and girls through capital investment and support resources for their emerging and established companies. Last month, the group held its annual pitch event, sponsored by Bank of the West, creating an opportunity for area business owners to vye for more than $15,000 in prizes. IBBG understands that innovation is the essence of what keeps Black owned businesses afloat. Nationwide, the coronavirus has disproportionately impacted Black Americans, both with infection of the disease and deaths more than white counterparts.
Furthermore, the pandemic has equally exacerbated existing economic disparities impacting the Black community—raising concerns about the survival of Black owned businesses. Guided by this spirit of innovation, IBBG adapted to the new reality presented by COVID-19 and hosted their annual pitch event virtually, allowing business owners to share their stories safely from the comforts of home in front of a live, virtual panel. The event featured six Black women and girl business owners in sectors ranging from health and wellness, beauty, financial services, youth development, and retail. At the conclusion of the event, three winners were selected including first place prize winner Jadomte Mobile Nail Bar ($5,000), second place winner Lax by Lashae CBD Candles and Oils ($2,500) and third place winner
We are OPEN! To Go Orders • Curbside Pickup • Delivery
Big Mama’s Kitchen & Catering 2112 North 39th Street, Accelerator Ste. 201B Tues-Sat 11am-2pm, 5pm-9pm • Sun-Mon Closed
(402) 455-6262 BigMamasKitchen.com Curbside Pickup and Carry Out Available For Delivery find us on GrubHub or DoorDash To advertise your Restaurant call the Omaha Star today!
Phone E-Mail address
June 26, 2020
Support Those Who Support You
Internally Beautiful Spa ($1,250). In addition to capital investments, all business owners will receive business coaching, professional photography, and brand strategy sessions. Outside of the pitch event, IBBG’s philanthropic giving circle, IBBGives, has invested nearly $100,000 into Black women and girl led projects in the community in two years. These investments were determined by 69 Black women and girls who serve as voting members for IBBGives—an intentional decision by IBBG leadership to reclaim and center power for Black women and girls who are actively left out of funding decision making in our community. To become a voting member, investor, or learn more about IBBGives, visit: ibbgomaha.com. Donations are accepted until December 31, 2020.
ACC Summer Programming Funded
African Culture Connection (ACC) has announced the receipt of a $13,290 grant from Nebraska Arts Council for the Girls Inc. and Nelson Mandela Elementary School Summer and Fall Residencies and ACC’s Student-Focused Authentic Cultural Experiences with African Culture Connection (ACC). “We are extremely grateful for the funding from Nebraska Arts Council,” said Charles Ahovissi, Executive/Artistic Director of African Culture Connection. “This funding will support an ongoing partnership with Nelson Mandela Elementary through a summer and fall residency integrating authentic African drumming, dancing, and art into kindergarten through third grade classroom curriculum.” The $13,290 awarded by the Nebraska Arts Council, through an Arts Project Grant, will support African Culture Connection’s during-school and summer residencies. ACC’s artists, Charles Ahovissi, Sondra McSwain, LaTryce Anderson, Felicia Webster, Deirdre McKinley, Audre Ahovissi and Kimberly McGreevy will work with 19 classrooms in 8 schools in addition to implementing ACC’s after-school and summer programs at 7 sites. The ACC sessions will enable students to build skills in traditional African dancing, drumming, and crafts while building self-esteem, cultural awareness, and an appreciation for diversity.
COMMENTARY/HEALTH & WELLNESS THE OMAHA STAR Page Three What’s Next Omaha? We Can’t Let This Moment Pass Strategic Investment By U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) of ‘I can’t breathe’ were not just the cries of an innocent
June 26, 2020
By Preston Love Jr
As a native “Omaha” and years of accumulated wisdom as to the plight of my beloved race, I have a responsibility and a right to speak up during these tumultuous times. I do not have the right, however, to speak for my community. I am observing a tremendous surge of activism and conversation, from all segments of my community, from our elected officials, organizational leaders, to our lay leaders, and most importantly, our young leaders. Those conversations are intersectional, intergenerational, and healthy. The next generation is demanding to take the lead. I am impressed and take my place as an elder, not as a spokesman, but as an elder who is available for counsel. I, too, know and believe that Black Lives Matter. We jointly demand radical criminal justice change and new policing practices and policies, for we are in complete solidarity with specific recommendations emerging. I want to focus on another aspect of transformational change: strategic investment in our communities of color. “North Omaha” had its beginning as a segregated, redlined, and intentionally economically deprived black section of the city. Blacks migrated north from the deep south to escape overt racism and to find work opportunities. Omaha’s expansive meatpacking houses provided work to the ire and hate of whites who wanted all the jobs. We were villainized, neglected, even lynched, and murdered. We were under-employed and lacked financial resources. We were redlined, physically, financially, geographically, and psychologically. The Greater Omaha community adopted the narrative that blacks were inferior. As time passed, we were repeatedly reminded of our appointed station by banks, realtors, employers, public school systems, and teachers. “Stay in your place” was the term used by all. Yet, we had a secret weapon; we had strong influential clergy, a rich culture, and a determined resolve, segregated brilliant black educators, vibrant commerce, and stable family structures. The book, 24th and Glory (Chatelain, 2019), chronicles North Omaha’s unbelievable and incredible reservoir of talent that emerged from the mid-20th century. As time passed, North Omaha experienced a talent and brain drain, where our best and brightest escaped Omaha to find other places to manifest their potential. Many stayed but, fled to West Omaha. North Omaha, was left with poverty, drained in talent, stripped of wealth, brains, and no tax base and with faced daily villainization, racism, and bigotry. Other invasions; including a freeway that split and a hotel that blocked off the community. With the police murder of innocent 14-year-old Vivian Strong, the city erupted in violence, leaving North Omaha in decay and economic chaos. This is the picture of systemic racism. Since the 1960’s, the North Omaha community has had no beneficial (strategic) investments. The lack of investment has produced the health disparities, mass incarceration, educational gaps (and separate but unequal school districts), biased policing, voter suppression, and wealth disparities that plague our community today. Meanwhile, downtown skyline thrives, Midtown Crossing grows, the west sprawls, while heavy investment in north downtown dominates. Yet, North Omaha suffers from a generation of little investment, a lack of cultural sensitivity, and inequality. Even as subtle economic growth and development begins in North Omaha, black contractors and businesses do not benefit. We are angry and demand change. We are sick and tired of racists acts against our community members, culminating with the murder of young James Scurlock. We continue to mourn Minnesota’s George Floyd, and many other blacks struck down. Yes, we call for Justice but we also call for strategic investment into North Omaha. An Omaha native, Malcolm X, said plainly, the black man can do something to “give himself an independent economy” and “provide job opportunities for himself.” We call for strategic investment into North Omaha. In last week’s column, I called for the full community to listen first, then to learn and to act only on the recommendations coming from the communities affected. Join us in creating long awaited changes including my focus, strategic investment into North Omaha. Next week’s column will address the specific actions needed for North Omaha Strategic investments
The last few months have made the truths of being Black in America clear to all. We have watched as a pandemic killed Black people at the rate of almost two and half times that of other Americans. Not from a mutation of the virus but from an underfunded system that too often deprives Black Americans medical care for diabetes, heart disease and other health issues that are now described as pre-existing conditions. We have watched as Black-owned businesses failed at twice the rate of others, and unemployment for Black Americans rose faster and will stay higher than the rest of America. I convened a bipartisan group of Senators to read aloud Martin Luther King Jr.’s “A Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” This was the second year I’ve done this, and I hope to make it an annual tradition. I was struck by the thought of Dr. King in a small, dirty jail cell writing in longhand on napkins and scraps of paper and newspaper to a group of ministers that were not hateful as much as they were questioning the need for action at that particular moment in 1963. We usually picture this man on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial eloquently and passionately describing his dream for America, or behind a pulpit in Memphis urging his audience to press forward, to not be discouraged in their quest for civil and equal rights because he had been to the mountaintop and he had seen the promised land. I was deeply moved by the reading, and felt it was critical in this moment that a United States Senator from the Deep South stand on the Senate floor and declare that Black Lives Matter. The last few months have made the truths of being Black in America clear to all. We have watched as a pandemic killed Black people at the rate of almost two and half times that of other Americans. Not from a mutation of the virus but from an underfunded system that too often deprives Black Americans medical care for diabetes, heart disease and other health issues that are now described as pre-existing conditions. We have watched as Black-owned businesses failed at twice the rate of others, and unemployment for Black Americans rose faster and will stay higher than the rest of America. As we witnessed the truths of the system and society revealed to us by the pandemic, we were met with a profoundly haunting video, which I need not describe and trigger the pain it has caused. George Floyd’s cries
man pleading for his life, but the cries of so many of our fellow Americans that are killed by police, choked by a healthcare system that denies them access to quality healthcare, and in Dr. King’s words are smothered in “an airtight cage of poverty,” who cannot breath the fresh air of affordable housing, education and economic opportunities. They are the cries of Black Americans who simply have to hold their own breath when they themselves or their sons and their daughters venture away from their home fearing a police encounter that will take their life. Maybe even more so than the dogs or fire hoses in Birmingham or the beatings on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama the video of George Floyd’s last moments were a confluence of events that gave our nation an image of itself that it could no longer bear. I truly believe that the soul of America has come to the streets of America, looking for a way for all of her people to live in a more just society. We are finally coming to understand that, “What affects one directly, affects us all indirectly.” That we see in this moment how poverty and economic disparities are connected. And how the poor and lower income in Alabama and the Deep South, both Black and White, are connected, as both suffer from healthcare, educational and economic disparities. It’s why in this moment it’s so important to reject those voices looking to divide us. We must come together to end racial injustice, but also the injustice of too many Alabamians and people in the South – struggling, poor and low income. As a people, as a Congress, we cannot let this moment pass. Surely reforms are needed, but the greater need is not just to reform but to transform, to make a dramatic change in the nature and character of our institutions towards a more just government and society. Since our country’s inception we have said the words “all are created equal”, we have pledged that we are a nation for all – not for some – all, but we know that we have never lived up to that ideal. We all know it. In response to the protests that are taking place across this country today where voices and t-shirts and facemasks proclaim and insist that Black Lives Matter, and of course they do, but we will not be a country where we are all truly equal and where justice is for all until we can all say the words Black Lives Matter and mean it. That is my pledge, and I pray America joins me.
Cheesy Zucchini Bake Zucchini contains a variety of vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds. Cooked zucchini is particularly high in vitamin A, though raw zucchini contains slightly less. Although zucchini is often considered a vegetable, it is botanically classified as a fruit. It occurs in several varieties, which range in color from deep yellow to dark green. Zucchini boasts several antioxidants that may provide various health benefits. The highest levels are found in the fruit’s skin. A summer fruit/veggie, as all summer squash has a skin easily pierced. Zucchini also contains both soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to stools and helps food move through your gut more easily, further reducing constipation risk. This benefit is compounded if you have enough fluids in your diet. Meanwhile, soluble fiber feeds the beneficial bacteria living in your gut. In turn, these friendly bacteria produce cells that nourish your gut.
Brush 1 teaspoon olive oil on the bottom of an 8 by 8-inch baking dish. Arrange the slices of zucchini in the dish with an overlapping pattern in rows or a spiral in a pie dish. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and paprika. To make the topping: In a bowl, stir together the panko breadcrumbs, thyme, Parmesan cheese and season with a sprinkle of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and stir until all the breadcrumbs are soaked with the yellow tint of the oil. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the dish and bake until the top is golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Zucchini can be eaten every day cooked in a variety of cuisines like soups, stews, sautéed in spaghetti, frittata, omelets or eaten raw.
Preheat Oven 350 Degrees 1 Teaspoon Olive Oil 1 Pound Zucchini, sliced ¼” thick, cut slanted Salt and Fresh Ground Black Pepper Pinch Hungarian Paprika Topping ½ Cup Panko Breadcrumbs (Japanese) ¼ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese 8 Sprigs Fresh Thyme, Leaves Stripped, Slightly Chopped 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
Visit us on the web at theomahastar.com How COVID-19 Is What Parents Need To Know Reshaping Corporate Culture About Proper Pitcher Conditioning
Pitchers are a special breed, and as such they require preparation that is quite different from other athletes. But while the arm is the main focus of attention for everyone watching the pitcher, the whole body and its development goes into every pitch that leaves his hand. Young pitchers, in particular, along with their parents often face confusion when deciding how to properly condition the pitcher’s body. Many who pitch don’t go about their conditioning the correct way, and common misconceptions about it can stop pitchers short of their potential, says Ron Wolforth (www.TexasBaseballRanch. com), a long-time pitching trainer who is founder of Texas Baseball Ranch and author of Pitching with Confidence: A Parent’s Guide To Giving Your Elite Pitcher An Edge. “Parents need to educate themselves and their athletes on proper conditioning and training specific to pitchers,” Wolforth says. “There are important things they and their kids can learn about how conditioning for a pitcher needs to be markedly different relative to athletes in other sports. “Unfortunately, most baseball training falls way short in terms of being tailored to specific skill requirements. For example, too many are thrown in the weightlifting room with everybody else, and little attention is paid to the
balance and structural alignment necessary.” Wolforth offers these points that parents need to know about the conditioning of their pitcher: • Assessment. Before beginning conditioning, Wolforth recommends finding a well-qualified physical therapist for an assessment of the pitcher. “Seek out a PT who is certified to perform a Functional Movement Screening,” Wolforth says. “You as a parent want to know where your athlete may have possible limitations. How is their flexibility, stability, and other physical factors? After the assessment, request corrective exercises to take home regarding any limitation they find.” • Strength and mobility/flexibility. “You want to create a very specific type of strength and mobility/flexibility,” Wolforth says. “Every sport is unique in its requirements. A pitcher’s strength, balance, symmetry and structural alignment are absolutely critical. Because pitchers have to decelerate, developing parts of the pitcher’s body that slow down the arm actually may be more important in some cases than developing parts that speed up the body.” • Weightlifting. “Over 75 percent of high school players that I have witnessed were not ready for squats in the weight room,” Wolforth says. “Over 80
percent of all athletes who I observe can’t do 10 consecutive perfect pushups. Yet we funnel all these athletes into the same weight room, give them the exact same workout, and attempt to build strength. Adding strength in the wrong area is a bad idea. Follow the assessment and steer clear of any outside person who, without assessing the athlete, offers definitive answers on your athlete’s strength development.” • Running. Wolforth says long-distance running for conditioning reduces mobility and is a wrong fit for pitchers, yet many do it. “Baseball pitchers need strength and stamina, but they will not get the specific strength and stamina they need by running long distance,” Wolforth says. “The physical act of pitching a baseball is accomplished in less than two seconds. The athlete then has roughly 20 seconds to recover before repeating the explosion. Short sprints of 10-25 yards with 20-60 seconds of rest between reps are far superior to long, slow jogging.” “Remember, pitchers don’t need the endurance of a marathon runner or an aerobics instructor,” Wolforth says. “They don’t need to focus on bulking up their arms. Proper conditioning is about bringing harmony to all the body parts combined in pitching, and it’s a process that evolves as the young pitcher’s body changes.”
The outbreak of COVID-19 is radically changing how many U.S. companies operate. Public safety measures have closed physical offices and made remote working the norm. Travel restrictions have heightened the importance of efficient technology, communication and collaboration. Executives have had to pivot quickly, reorganizing and rallying their workforce to push forward in an unprecedented time. Some business leaders think COVID-19 marks a permanent turning point. And at the center of the seismic change is the reshaping of corporate culture – the beliefs and behaviors that influence how a company’s employees and management interact, says Chuck Crumpton (www.chuckcrumpton.com), author of The Jagged Journey: A Raw & Real Memoir about the Non-Perfect Path of Life & Business. “The pandemic unquestionably will have lasting effects on corporate cultures,” Crumpton says. “There’s a growing sense it’s a fundamental shift, a new normal. “It starts with empathy. Company leaders are seeing they need to listen more to their employees’ concerns, which are really everybody’s concerns right now. Many people have fear and uncertainty. It’s an opportunity to be more understanding and build relationships with the people you work with, and from there as a company, being better able to work in new and more collaborative ways.” Crumpton explains the ways corporate culture will be reshaped in the wake of COVID-19 and how leaders can influence those positive changes: Providing emotional support along with technical support. While technology is the key to keeping a remote workforce functioning at a high level, Crumpton See Corporate Culture continued on page 6
Page Four THE OMAHA STAR
PRAISE, WORSHIP, DEVOTION, OBITUARIES & INSPIRATION
Living on Purpose
And I know He Watches Me By Dr. William Holland I was working out in the yard the other day and a tiny sparrow landed on the ground just a few feet from me. I watched as it moved its head around and then flew off with lightning speed. I was reminded of the passage in Matthew chapter ten which states that God keeps His eye on every sparrow and how He watches us even more closely. What a comfort to know that wherever we are or what experiences we are going through, our loving Heavenly Father is attentively observing every moment of our life. There might be times when we are lonely, but there will never be a time when we are alone. I remember years ago watching the Billy Graham crusades and Ethel Waters singing “His eye is on the sparrow.” I went back and watched it recently and it still brings tears to my eyes. The first verse of the lyrics are, “Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home? When Jesus is my portion, my constant friend is He, His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” Such beautiful words and a very comforting truth which remind us that God is never too busy and never forgets us. Psalm 121:2-3 declares, “My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will never slumber or sleep.” An interesting backstory to this song, reveals how this popular hymn came to be written. Civilla Martin was born in Nova Scotia in 1866 and became a devout follower of Christ. Her husband was an evangelist and they traveled together all over the United States holding revivals, singing and preaching the gospel. In 1904 Civilla was visiting a friend that had fallen seriously ill and was bedridden. Although weak and discouraged, her friend testified that her Heavenly Father was watching each little sparrow very attentively and she was convinced that He would also watch after her. She quoted the scripture in Matthew about the sparrows and with Mrs. Martin being a poet, the inspiration became a perfect idea for a poem. She jotted down her thoughts and by the end of the day, had completed “His Eye is On The Sparrow.” The poem was sent to a well-known composer of that day, Charles Gabriel, and his lovely melody has since then carried this encouraging message around the world. As all loving parents watch over their children and protect them, how much more is our Heavenly Father ready to step in on our behalf? When you take the time to pray this day, I encourage you to remember to thank Him for not only always seeing you, but also for His endless compassion and mercy. There is joy, peace, and hope in knowing that God is with us both on the mountain top and in the darkest valley. Remember the chorus, “I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, for His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” Find hope and inspiration at billyhollandministries.com
Tips For Women Running Businesses And Households In The Age of Remote Work The question of where worklife ends and homelife begins took on new meaning when COVID-19 forced many women to work from home while simultaneously caring for children whose schools and daycare centers shut down. But as women struggle to balance work and home, they may find there are more similarities between the two than they realized, says Marsha Friedman, an entrepreneur, wife, mother of four, and founder and president of News & Experts (www.newsandexperts.com), a national PR firm. “I’ve always felt that running a business and running a household have a lot in common,” says Friedman, who is also the ForbesBooks author of Gaining the Publicity Edge: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Growing Your Brand Through National Media Coverage. “It’s become even more apparent now that we are running our businesses from our households. In both situations you have budgeting, planning, and one-on-one sessions to discuss challenges you are facing.” Friedman says being willing to rethink roles is important for working couples raising families under the current situation where the home temporarily has become the office. “Suddenly, women are managing both their work and their personal life in ways they did not have to before,” she says. Friedman says one way for women to bring better balance to their lives is to apply some workplace strategies to the home, both during this crisis, and once it’s over. She suggests: • Consider your division of labor. In a business, people are assigned specific jobs and responsibilities based on the company’s needs. The same is true in the household, Friedman says. Jobs around the house need to be delegated, just as they are in a business. Prioritize what tasks must be done, she says, and decide who is most suited to take on each responsibility, whether it’s the mom, the dad or the children. • Be thoughtful about the way you delegate those jobs. “In business, my philosophy is matching up the interests and skills of the person to the needs of the company,” Friedman says. “You can do the same with household chores.” Consider whether one person is better skilled at a certain task or brings more passion to it. • Understand and appreciate each person’s role. In business, you interact with other employees and attend team meetings, which gives you insight into the scope of other people’s jobs and an appreciation for what they do. That can happen at home as well. “Even these days, in many families the spouse at work in an office doesn’t always see everything that’s involved in running a household,” Friedman says. “This stay-at-home period has allowed them to see what happens at home when they are away. This can add a lot to the quality of the relationship.” Eventually, most women who suddenly became remote workers will ease back into some form of their old life, where once again there’s physical separation between
June 26, 2020
Deaths & Funerals James J. “Tie” Brown Jr. Mr. James J. “Tie” Brown Jr., age 71, passed away Monday, June 1, at a local care center. Survived by son: James (Terri) Brown, III, Omaha; step-sons: Herbert Wright, Omaha, Clifford Wright, Chicago, IL; sisters: Marlene Garrett, Perkins, OK, Debra (Harold) McCray, Omaha; special niece: Kenyatta Rivera; grandson: Jakir Brown, other relatives. Graveside Service 11 am Friday, June 12, Forest Lawn Cemetery. Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Home.
*** Whitney E. Conley Ms. Whitney E. Conley, age 33, passed away Sunday, June 6, at a local hospital. Arrangements are pending. Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Home. *** Bernard C. King Mr. Bernard C. King, age 79, passed away Friday, June 5, at a local care center. Cremation Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Home.
*** Susan K. Rollerson Ms. Susan K. Rollerson, age 58, passed away Tuesday, June 2 at a local hospital. Funeral service 11 am Saturday, June 13, at Fellowship Christian Center. Cremation Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Home.
Whitney E. Conley Whitney E. Conley 8/30/86-6/6/20 was born in Omaha to Mr. and Mrs. Fred and Teresa Conley. She graduated from UNO (2014) Health Administration. She continued her profession in health administration as an insurance processor at Nebraska Medicine. April 1, 2019, the love of her life was born, Laila Simone Conley.
She was preceded in death by her paternal and maternal grandparents. She is survived by her daughter; parents; sister, Gabrielle Conley; brother, Frederick Conley; nieces, Taneysia and Taelor Conley; nephew, Tevin Conley; many other relatives and friends. A private family service was held on June 18, 2020, Forest Lawn Funeral Home.
Father of the Fatherless By Velma J. Sanders We know that everyone is not fatherless. There are many who are blessed to have good and strong fathers. But there is a significant number of people, all over the world, who are fatherless. This is for various reasons. There are: 1) Those whose father has passed through death; 2)Those who have been abandoned (through rejection and irresponsibility); 3) Those whose father has been separated (through fractured families); 4) Those children who have been stolen from their father and are being exploited; and, 5) Those who physically and biologically have and know their fathers. However, for different causes, they have no substantial relationship with them. The love of God is extended to all mankind. But the Bible reveals that God has a special concern for the weak, the poor, the homeless, the forgotten, the lonely, the abandoned and the fatherless. King David says in Psalm 68:4-6, “Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him – his name is the LORD. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a scorched land.” In each of these groups of humanity (the fatherless; the widow; the lonely; the prisoner), there is some important
and key person that is lacking in their lives. Some are destitute of fathers; others of spouse; some have no friends and others are isolated from society altogether. Because of the strategically important role of a father, it is to the fatherless that God’s care is first extended. His attribute revealed in Psalm 68 is, “father to the fatherless.” This is amazing when we consider who God is. He is the creator, possessor and sustainer of all things; God, who knows everything; has all power; and, works all things after the counsel of His own will. God, the great I AM THAT I AM; who requires nothing or no one to sustain Him. And yet, Almighty God, the LORD, is father to the fatherless, defender of widows; helper of the lonely and company to the prisoner. In both the Old and New Testaments, we see God as the perfect Father. He is first of all, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, He is Father to Israel. Thirdly, He is eternally Father to those who have trusted Him through faith in His Son. Lastly, in His sovereign mercy, He becomes also Father to the fatherless. He is a loving, kind, compassionate Father who nourishes, protects, chastises, defends, guides and upholds His children. God can fill the longing and the emptiness of a fatherlessheart. He is able to take the devastation of fatherlessness and manifest his presence, provision and peace. And, there are many fatherless children, both young and old, who are living witnesses to the power and faithfulness of God. I am one of them. vsanders875@centurylink.net
Kids Talk About God Why Did God Make People Different From Each Other? By Carey Kinsolving And Friends Rich vs. poor. Israeli vs. Palestinian. Girls vs. boys. Wouldn’t the world run much more easily if people were alike? Wrong, says Michael, age 7. God made us different from one another so “He wouldn’t be bored.” Or, to put it another way, “God likes to see different faces,” says Kallan, 7. “The world would be so plain if everyone was the same,” says Amanda, 10. In fact, “it would be a world full of mirrors,” where “Mom might take home the wrong kid,” say Mallory, 11, and Ashley, 6. Being different from each other is “like our ID” so “we won’t get lost,” say Alex, 8, and Kristin, 6. OK, so God spared moms the confusion of trying to distinguish between identical kids, except in the case of twins. But what if we all wanted to do the same kind of work? “We have to have people who want to do all sorts of things and work at different jobs,” says Leslie, 12. “Little odd jobs are very important.” Does that include emptying the trash and making your bed? If everyone were the same, “everyone would have the same habits, and it’d be miserable,” says Alex, 10. Can you imagine a world where everyone was a newspaper columnist? There would be no editors! Someone once said that editors have the important job of separating the wheat from the chaff and making sure the chaff gets printed. God wanted variety, says Nicole, 9, “because it is much more fun this way, and God knows that.” God wanted “to show His ability to be creative” by “making every color,” say Andy, 12, and Perry, 10. Color? Check out Revelation 4 and 5, where the Apostle John describes Jesus Christ in heaven with “a
work and home. When that happens, don’t forfeit the progress you made improving that worklife-homelife balance, Friedman says. “If you made this work during the pandemic,” she says, “you don’t want to lose the ground you gained.” About Marsha Friedman Marsha Friedman, the ForbesBooks author of Gaining the Publicity Edge: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Growing Your Brand Through National Media Coverage, is a businesswoman and public relations expert with nearly 30 years’ experience developing publicity strategies for celebrities, corporations and professionals in the field of business, health and finance. Using the proprietary system she created as founder and President of News & Experts (www.newsandexperts.com), an award-winning national public relations agency, she secures thousands of top-tier media placements annually for her clients. The former senior vice president for marketing at the American Economic Council, Marsha is a sought-after advisor on PR issues and strategies, who shares her knowledge both as a popular speaker around the country and in her Amazon best-selling book, Celebritize Yourself.
rainbow around the throne.” The redeemed ones before the throne are “out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” God’s glory is so great that we need various ways to praise him. What kind of sound would an orchestra make if every member played a trumpet? To produce a beautiful, harmonious sound, individual orchestra members must unite their diverse talents and instruments under the direction of a skilled conductor. The love of God unites all Christians because love transcends national, cultural, economic and racial differences. On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed for the unity of future believers: “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:22-23). Why did God make us different? To unite us in a glorious symphony with His Son, who has always been in perfect harmony with His Father. For Jeremy, 11, God is the great conductor who “made us different so there would be different kinds of worship.” Let’s pay attention to our conductor. God wants you to join in the heavenly symphony. Think about this: God makes us one in his Son. Remember this truth: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit,” (I Corinthians 12:13). Question to consider: Is there something I need to change in my attitude or actions to experience the reality of being a unique person in the body of Christ unified by God’s Spirit?
THOMAS FUNERAL HOME & Cremation Services TRADITION • RESPECT • DIGNITY
A Tradition of Caring Since 1939 3920 North 24th St. Omaha, NE 68110 402-453-7111 www.omahathomasfh.com
PRAISE & WORSHIP DIRECTORY
June 26, 2020
ALLEN CHAPEL A.M.E.
Rev. Benjamin R. Finnell
Rev. Benjamin R. Finnell, Presiding Elder and Pastor Tammi Tate, Public Relations Chairperson 2842 Monroe St. Ph: (402) 502-8003 Fx: 934-8581 Sunday School...........................9:00 a.m. Sunday Worship......................10:00 a.m. Thursday Bible Study..............8:00 p.m. via teleconference, dial-in number 563-999-2090 and access code 576989
MOUNT CALVARY COMMUNITY CHURCH
Page Five
ST. MARK BAPTIST CHURCH
“Jesus is the Light of the World” Bishop Kevin Chambers, Senior Pastor (Elect) www.m3comaha.org 5112 Ames Avenue Omaha, NE 68104 (402) 457-4216 Church Phone (402) 453-4084 Pastor’s Office
THE OMAHA STAR
Pastor Jarrod S. Parker 3616 Spaulding Street, Omaha, NE 68111 Phone: 402-451-0307 Email: smbcsecretary@ stmarkbaptist.org Bishop Kevin Chambers
Pastor Jarrod S. Parker
Sunday School – Sunday 9:00 a.m. Services: Sunday School .................................................... 9:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship Experience ......... 11:00 a.m. Word On Wednesday (WOW) ........................ 7:00 p.m.
Worship Service – Sunday 10:15 a.m. Children’s Church (except 2nd Sunday) Holy Communion every 1st Sunday Prayer and Bible Doctrine Study Midday - 12:00 noon; Evening – 7:00 p.m.
MT. MORIAH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
“Where Life is for Everyone”
Dr. Ralph B. Lassiter, Pastor 2602 N. 24th St. Off: (402) 451-8800 Fax: (402) 451-8522 mtmoriahomaha.net pastorlassiter@gmail.com
Drs. Mar n & Lynnell Williams Founders & Lead Pastors WEDNESDAYS Prayer 6:00 PM Worship 7:00 PM
SUNDAYS Prayer 9:00 AM Worship 10:00 AM
www.ambassadorswc.com 402-341-1866 5417 N 103rd St. Omaha, NE 68134
Televised Broadcast – Sundays at 6:00 p.m., KPAO Cox Channel 22 & CenturyLink Channel 89 Our Mission: “To exalt the Savior, edify saints, evangelize sinners and elevate society.”
SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH
Rev. Ralph Lassiter, Sr.
Fr. Dave Korth
Sunday School .............................................. 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship ..........................................10:45 a.m. Overcomers in Christ......................Sunday 7:00 p.m.
2207 Wirt Street Omaha, NE 68110 Phone: 402-451-5755
Wednesday Bible-Prayer Service 11:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m Fr. Dave Korth
CLAIR MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH “Come Get Your Hilltop Experience” Rev. Portia A. Cavitt, Pastor 5544 Ames Avenue, Omaha, NE 68104 Telephone: 402-451-8322 • Website: www.cmumc.net Email: clairumc@cumc.omhcoxmail.com Rev. Portia A. Cavitt, Pastor
Sunday School………………………8:45 a.m. Sunday Worship Experience………...10:00 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study….…….…….6:00 p.m.
Mass Schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday - 8:00 am in Rectory (2218 Binney)
MT. NEBO MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
Thursday - School Mass 8:10 am in Church
“The Church Where Fellowship is Real”
Saturday - 5:00 pm Sunday - 8:15 am and 10:30 am
Pastor Terry L. Arvie 5501 N. 50th Street Ph: 402-451-4245 Fx: 402-451-2130 office@mtneboomaha.org www.mtneboomaha.org Pastor Terry L. Arvie
Sunday Morning Worship ...................................9:00 a.m. Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting .....................7:00 p.m. Wednesday Night Church School ......................7:30 p.m. Youth/Children Ministry Focus (Wed.) ............7:30 p.m.
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH Serving God and One Another in the Spirit of Excellence Rev. Dr. Selwyn Q. Bachus Senior Pastor 3131 Lake Street Omaha, NE 68111 402-455-1000 www.salembc.org
Rev. Dr. Selwyn Q. Bachus
Rev. Kent H. Little, Lead Pastor Services on Sundays at 8:30 am & 10:50 am
Weekly Services Sunday Morning Worship Service .....................8:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. Children’s Church (2nd & 4th Sunday) ................8:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. Life Development (Sunday School) .........................................10:15 a.m. Wednesday Word and Worship (WWW) ................................ 6:30 p.m.
PLEASANT GREEN BAPTIST CHURCH
7020 Cass Street, Omaha, NE 68132 402.556.6262 www.fumcomaha.org
“Where CHRIST is Preeminent and the Word Prevails!”
First United Methodist Church is a welcoming and inclusive community, inspired to grow with and in God.
Rev. Kent H. Little
Pastor Brian Page 5555 Larimore Avenue Church: 402-346-8427 www.pleasantgreenomaha.org
TABERNACLE OF FAITH CHURCH
Pastor Brian Page
Pastor Barbara Mitchell 2404 Fort Street, Omaha, NE 68111 402-455-1800 Church 402-455-3390 Fax
Wednesday: Prayer Power Hour ......................................12:00 p.m Thursday: Youth For Christ ............................................6:00 p.m Prayer & Bible Study ....................................6:30 p.m Sunday: Sunday School.................................................9:00 a.m. Morning Worship..........................................10:15 a.m. Televised Broadcast Sunday @ 10pm on KPAO Cox Communication channel 22 & Century Link channel 89
Charles Galloway - President, Rev John Deang - Pastor, Dr John Beasley - Elder
Pastor Barbara Mitchell
8:30 am Early Sunday Morning Worship 9:30 - 10:15 am Sunday Morning Breakfast 10:15 - 11:15 am Sunday School 11:30 am Sunday Morning Worship 6:30 pm Wednesday Bible Study 8:00 pm Friday Night Service Noon day prayer Thursday - Saturday
HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH Missouri Synod 2721 N. 30th Street 402-453-1583 Sunday School................................10:00 a.m. Church Service...............................11:00 a.m. YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME
Rev. Vitalis Anyanike
ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH
ZION BAPTIST CHURCH
2423 Grant St. Omaha, NE 68111 Ph: 402-348-0631 • Fax 402-342-4451 Sunday Mass: 9:00 a.m. Reconciliation: Sunday after Mass or by appointment
Rev. Kenneth A. Allen, Pastor
&
JOY OF LIFE MINISTRIES COGIC
HOLY NAME CATHOLIC CHURCH
Pastors Eric and Cynthia Butler
2901 Fontenelle Blvd. 68104 Ph: 402-451-6622 • Fax 402-457-6901 Mass Schedule: Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m., Sat. 8:30 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. Sun. 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. & Noon (Spanish) Reconciliation: Sat. 4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. or by appointment
6401 N. 56th Street Omaha, NE 68104 Ph: 402-399-9628 E-Mail: Jolpastor@aol.com Sunday School..........................9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship......................10:30 a.m. Sunday Evening Worship.......6:00 p.m. Wednesday Night ....................7:00 p.m. Bible Study and Youth Ministries
Pastor: Rev. Vitalis Anyanike
Pastor Eric Butler and Co-Pastor Cynthia Butler
2215 Grant Street Omaha, NE 68110 Ph: 402-346-1502 Fax: 402-344-2720
Pastor Kenneth A. Allen
SUNDAY Sunday Morning Worship……………10:00 A.M. Sunday School……………………….. 9:00 A.M. WEDNESDAY 11:00 A.M. ~ Hour of Power Bible Study Wednesday is Family Night! 6:00 P.M. ~ Prayer & Praise Service 6:30 P.M. ~ Feast & Fellowship (Light Meal) 7:15 P.M. ~ Discipleship Academy (Classes for ages 5 & up)
THE WORSHIP CENTER North 24th Street Church of God “Presenting the Never-Changing GOD to an ever-changing World!” Dr. Stan Rone - Senior Pastor 2021 N. 24th Street • Omaha, NE 68110 (402) 341-4297
MORNING STAR BAPTIST CHURCH 2019 Burdette Street Omaha, NE 68110 Ph: 402-342-0018 Worship Service .............10:00 a.m. Sunday School .................8:45 a.m. Excluding First Sunday Tuesday Evening Service.........7:00 p.m. Live Streaming Sunday Service-10:00am on Morning Star Baptist Church-Omaha Facebook Page
Dr. Stan Rone Senior Pastor
Sunday Kingdom Academy 9:00 a.m. Worship Celebration 10:15 a.m. Tuesday Prayer Hour 7:00 a.m. & 12:00 noon Wednesday Power Hour (Prayer/Bible Study) 6:30 p.m. Youth and Children 6:30 p.m. www.theworshipcenter24cog.org
Page Six THE OMAHA STAR
LIFE & STYLE/CLASSIFIED ADS
June 26, 2020 Corporate Culture continued from page 1
False Evidence Appearing Real By Sheila Fields, MBA, CPLC
A friend of mine recently called to tell me about major life change. I could hear the anxiety as they described every detail and its potential impact to their life. The conversation made me think about an acronym that I have heard though out my own life – F.E.A.R. which stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. I tried to remind my friend of the positives in her circumstance and asked for the basis of her fears. By talking it through, they realized that many of the fears that they spoke of were imagined and may potentially not happen at all. We have all been there when our minds race and we try to make sense of an actual or potential major change in our life. There may be no cause for alarm, no immediate danger, and yet we will allow ourselves to be consumed with fear to the point of mental and physical pain. Likewise, there may be situations that are tangible and really have
impacted us; in those instances, we need reliable tools to move forward. What causes fear? • Fear of the unknown due to a health or financial setback. • Inaccurate information. • Not considering alternatives or other possibilities. • Not being able to complete a major commitment. • A failed relationship or death of a loved one. • Societal issues such as racism, sexism, etc. • A global pandemic like Covid-19. All the examples above are real possibilities in our lives. I speak from experience in saying that life almost guarantees it. I would also assure you that life can and will continue so we must find strategies to avoid becoming paralyzed with fear. How do you avoid becoming overcome with fear? • Ask yourself if the fear is based on reason or facts. • Accept that life is full of uncertainty because it is.
Business Connection To advertise your business, please contact Tanya Cooper. Call 402-346-4041 Ext. 5 or email tcooper@omahastarinc.com
Arborist
Attorney Timothy Ashford
B & E Tree Service
Attorney at Law
Tree Trimming, Tree Removal, Stump Removal and Haul Away
Eric Neal Licensed Arborist Fully insured and bonded @betreeservice on Facebook
402-753-5891 ericneal18@cox.net
Clinic
1603 Farnam Street Omaha, NE 68102 (402) 660-5544
Awards/Recognition
“Where Everyone Wins” Celebrating Trophies 41 Years Plaques Name Badges Banners/Signs Apparel Religious Awards Fraternity/Sorority Awards
attorneytimothyashford@gmail.com
3040 N 90th St Omaha, NE 68134 402-573-5500 crowntrophy.com/store-38
Housing 55 & older
Insurance ALLY INSURANCE BROKERS OF OMAHA Your Ally for affordable Insurance
In the community, for the community
Jason Roberts
Offering screenings for STDs, HIV, High Blood Pressure and Diabetes Limited Care for Chronic Illnesses
Independent Seniors 55 & Over Call Seven Oaks at Notre Dame HOME! Call for a Tour Today!
Services are Free but donations accepted
3439 State Street Omaha, Nebraska 68112 402.451.4477 www.sevenoaksnd.org
5620 Ames Ave • Omaha NE 68104
Phone: 402-933-0737 www.noahclinic.org
Insurance ALLY INSURANCE BROKERS OF OMAHA Your Ally for affordable Insurance
Insurance
New York Life Insurance Company
Mark Robinson
Office: (531) 213-2298 2924 Ames Ave. Omaha, Nebraska 68111 SR-22, Auto, Home, Commercial
Insurance
One Valmont Plaza, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68154 Bus. 402.496.6429 Cell 402.510.4186 Fax 402.496.6458 jlord@ft.nyl.com Authorized to Offer
Life Insurance and Annuity Program fromNew York Life
Real Estate CARL M. CHRISTIAN REALTOR® cchristian@npdodge.com
Sherman P. Willis, Agent 4915 N 120th St Ste 107 Omaha, NE 68164 Bus: 402-493-1000 sherman@shermanpwillis.com Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Evenings and Sat by appt. 24/7 Good Neighbor Service
1211999
Mobile 402.689.9453 Office 402.731.5008 Fax 402.731.2089 3552 Dodge St. • Omaha, NE 68131 CarlChristian.npdodge.com
State Farm, Bloomington, IL
BUY • SELL • INVEST
Shoes Tenna Shu (shoe)
PALACE Where you’re treated like royalty!
Tyrone Hayes (Owner) 1822 N. 33rd St. Omaha, NE 68111
402.215.3822 Tyrone@Tennashupalace.com
NE Sec of State - Robert B. Evnen Filing Document #: 9000545006 Pages: 1 Corporation Name: EENER PHOTOGRAPHY Filing Date and Time: 05/27/2020 03:40 PM
NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION No ce is hereby given that EENER PHOTOGRAPHY (1) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of the designated office of the Company is 11523 Spaulding Street, Omaha, NE 68164 (2). The general nature of the business is Photography and More. The Applicant is an INDIVIDUAL The Company commenced its existence on April 1st, 2020 (3), and its dura on shall be perpetual. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by the Managing Member and/or Members as authorized by the Company’s Opera ng Agreement. The ini al agent for service of process is Rene Franklin (4) at 11523 Spaulding Street, Omaha, NE 68164.
NE Sec of State - Robert B. Evnen Filing Document #: 9000542361 Pages: 3 Corporation Name: VANDAHURST, LLC Filing Date and Time: 05/01/2020 04:16 PM
NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION No ce is hereby given that VANDAHURST, LLC (1) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of the designated office of the Company is 1824 N. 16th Street, Omaha, NE 68110 (2). The general nature of the Limited Liability Company and the objects or purposes to be transacted, promoted and carried on by it are to conduct any and all lawful business for which limited liability companies can be organized pursuant to Nebraska statute. The Applicant is an INDIVIDUAL The Company commenced its existence on April 25th 2020 (3), and its dura on shall be perpetual. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by the Managing Member and/or Members as authorized by the Company’s Opera ng Agreement. The ini al agent for service of process is Andrea Smiley (4) at 1824 N. 16th Street, Omaha, NE 68110 (5). Liability Pursuant to Nebraska statute, and all debts, obliga ons or other liabili es of Vandahurst LLC are solely the responsibility of the Limited Liability Company. Any manager, member, or organizer of Vandahurst LLC is hereby not personally liable for such debts or liabili es solely by reason of their tle.
(402) 359-3296 3932 N 90th Street Omaha, Nebraska 68134 SR-22, Auto, Home, Life, Health, Commercial, Annuities
Insurance ATTENTION ATTENTION ATTENTION
John Lord, LUTCF, RHU® Agent
• Do not obsess over fixing something that is beyond your control. • Take time to grieve and then refocus. • Have a trusted circle or supportive friend to talk through your fears with and ask for objective feedback. • Be a good listener for friends that are fearful; sometimes that all one needs. • Challenge yourself to develop new strategies for any life change and get excited about new levels of success. • Take care of yourself by watching your diet, getting plenty of rest, and being deliberate about what feeds your mind and soul. By using these strategies, you can avoid potential self-talk that leads to focusing on fear and not moving forward in life. You can rise above any of life’s adversities if you focus, remain calm and concentrate on things within your control. Recently, I heard a popular artist saying a new phrase to motivate listeners to conquer adversity - F.E.A.R. I would like to offer that same acronym with the new meaning – F.E.A.R. meaning “Face Everything and Rise”.
Metropolitan Utilities District
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
We are offering very LOW Rates! Auto • Home • Life • Health • Dental • Vision ALSO AVAILABLE Commercial Insurance
Kim Robinson, M.B.A. 6311 Ames Avenue Omaha, NE 68104 402-999-8357 (office) 402-502-0253 (fax) robinsoninsurance@omhcoxmail.com
Residential Services
InfoSafeProtecting Shredding Your Privacy Mobile Document Destruction
NAID AAA Certified • Residential Services • Discounts for Seniors Mike Paulson, President 10630 Chandler Rd. Bay #3 LaVista, NE 68128 Cell: 402-720-9064 Business: 402-891-2688 mpinfosafeshredding@gmail.com
Have you heard about the Business Connection? To advertise your business, please contact Terri Sanders.
Join Today! publisher@omahastarinc.com
The Metropolitan Utilities District is seeking qualified and motivated individuals for current job openings. The District offers an excellent and comprehensive benefits package in addition to engaging opportunities. Visit www.mudomaha.com, under the careers tab, to fill out an application. Applications will be accepted until the close date of the position. Resumes will not be accepted in place of applications.
says how leaders create a culture of mutual support will be a big factor in company culture and the employee experience. “You want to get people helping and looking out for each other,” Crumpton says. “Not every Google Chat, call or email has to be business-related.” More, and better, communication. Working remotely, with managers and employees at different locations, places an emphasis on focused and more precise communication – even over-communication if necessary – to keep operations flowing, Crumpton says. “The use of video conferencing is very effective, keeping everyone connected and agendas targeted,” he says. “It increases responsiveness, attention span, and strengthens collaboration.” More of a family feeling. “Working from home personalizes the workplace, partly because you are working from your personal space, and the imaginary line between family and work is basically gone,” Crumpton says. “People are out of their shell now, more relatable. Colleagues and clients are happy to share a screen with their kids or pets in the background. There’s a blending of the personal and professional, and it’s liberating.” Better collaboration. “Your relationship with your teammates will improve,” Crumpton says. “Fighting a common enemy, the coronavirus, creates bonds in relationships. Everyone being in this together brings new levels of connection with colleagues and clients. You’re happy to see each other on screen during this period of physical isolation, and that feeling can be brought forward when things settle down. The bond strengthens with teammates also by having worked together to solve problems and be proactive during difficult times. That means better collaboration and more enthusiasm for teamwork and shared success.” “This crisis has challenged us in seemingly every way,” Crumpton says. “It’s been sudden, profound, and life-changing. Companies have been forced to make major changes, and in the process, they’re seeing the workplace and the world differently. It’s a great opportunity for growth and positive, permanent change.”
Employment Contingent Upon Results of a Drug Screen and a Background Check. An Equal Opportunity Employer “Minority/Female/Disabled/ Veteran/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation”
“Like” Us On Our Facebook Page
City of Omaha Request for Proposals 6506 North 51st Plaza Omaha, Nebraska 68152 The City of Omaha invites proposals for the purchase and development of 6506 North 51st Plaza Omaha Nebraska 68152, previously known as the Wintergreen Site. The City of Omaha intends to dispose of the property in a manner compatible with surrounding land uses, increase connectivity in the neighborhood, and be economically and environmentally sustainable. The appraised value is $165,000. The City does not plan to participate financially in the project. The deadline to submit proposals is on or before 4:30 p.m., August 31, 2020. For more information and/or to receive a proposal bid package call Autumn Evans, Property Acquisitions/Disposition Planner, Planning Department, at (402) 444-5150 Ext. 2023. City of Omaha Planning Department Omaha/Douglas Civic Center 1819 Farnam Street, Room 1111 Omaha, NE 68183
Subscribe to the Omaha Star
402-346-4041 opt. 6
YOUTH/EDUCATION NEWS THE OMAHA STAR Page Seven GEMS Continue To Meet Nelson Mandela Elementary The members of the Omaha Alumnae Welcomes New Leadership Team Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.,
June 26, 2020
GEMS Committee remain committed to service, especially during the COVID 19 PANDEMIC. The GEMS committee continues to host a ZOOM meeting with several participants and many committee members, each month, led by chairwoman, Tracey Newby. The meeting occurred after 4 instructional courses on how to utilize ZOOM technology with the high school participants. The topic of the two-hour meeting was a wellness check-in, and to brief girls on the COVID-19 Pandemic, how to stay safe and healthy and strategies to use their time productively to stay current with their schoolwork. Subsequently, the participants received an opportunity to test their knowledge with Adriann with gift card a Coronavirus Worksheet which included 27 questions over 5 brief videos provided about the virus pandemic. A prize of a $100 Gift card to Walmart was awarded to the GEM who received 100% on the assignment. Fortyfive out of sixty-two (73%) completed the homework with one GEM earning 100%, GEM Adriann Cotton. Fifty-one out of sixty-two (82%) logged on for the 4 Zoom Tutorial sessions and fifty-three out of sixty-two (85%) logged on for the monthly meeting, with a grand total of seventy (70) participants (53 GEMS with 17 committee members). Kudos to Delta member, Tracey Newby and her committee for their leadership and flexibility to serve the participants! Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a public service organization founded in 1913 at Howard University. They utilize their collective strength to provide to those in need. There are four chapters in Nebraska with the Omaha Alumnae Chapter serving this community since 1947.
By Amanda Myroniuk
June 1, 2020, Mandela welcomed new principal, Genevive Core, and new assistant principal Joe Murray, which coincided with the start of the school’s summer term. They step into these positions while the school faces unprecedented questions about how to continue Mandela’s commitment to year-round education safely, yet they seem prepared for the challenge. As Murray longtime residents of Omaha, both Core Core and Murray have the best interests of the North Omaha community they serve at over the years. I know that this is the heart. perfect fit, and I am happy to be here.” Genevive Core was born and raised in Core and Murray look forward to North Omaha. Core has spent many years continuing Mandela’s mission which in education, starting with 15 years of aims to provide quality instruction that teaching for Omaha Public Schools (OPS) demonstrates ALL scholars can learn after earning a master’s degree through and develop academically, emotionally, the CADRE program at the University of socially, and physically. Nebraska Omaha (UNO). After becoming They and the Mandela team are committed an Instructional Facilitator and Academic to maximizing the educational success of Data Representative in 2013, she realized all scholars and bridging learning and her passion for administration. She received achievement gaps. her master’s degree in 2019 from Doane University. Core states, “I am honored to be given this wonderful opportunity to continue this legacy. I want to continue Caring for someone with to build an institution Alzheimer’s isn’t easy. that supports our scholars emotionally, socially, and Reaching us is. academically and supports our team to continue to expect greatness. I live by the Nelson Mandela quote, ‘It always seems impossible, until it’s done’.” Joe Murray, also born and raised in North Omaha, has also spent many years in education. He taught for OPS for three years before accepting both a teaching job and acting as the Dean of Student Services at Jesuit If you care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss or dementia, you are not alone. We’re here day Academy in 2014. He or night — whenever you need us — offering reliable information and support. earned a master’s degree in Free 24/7 Helpline: 800.272.3900 Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Center: alz.org/care educational leadership from UNO in 2019. Joe states, “I am excited to finally be official! It is great to join the team and add to the great things they have been doing
Check out our Facebook Page!
DRIVE UP COVID-19 TESTING BY APPOINTMENT ONLY (402) 451-3553
EARN A DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE ON YOUR SCHEDULE. Metropolitan Community College online courses give you the flexibility to learn at times that fit with your busy life, whenever.
Next summer session begins July 12. Get started today at mccneb.edu or call 531-MCC-2400. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE. Scholarship opportunities are available to MCC students throughout the academic year. Apply today at mccneb.edu/scholarships.
Metropolitan Community College affirms a policy of equal education, employment opportunities and nondiscrimination in providing services to the public. To read our full policy statement, visit mccneb.edu/nondiscrimination.
Page Eight THE OMAHA STAR
LOCAL NEWS
June 26, 2020
SUBSCRIBE. DONATE. ADVERTISE. During times of crisis, crucial information about your community Access to high quality information is impact? How are our local leaders responding? For answers to these questions, we rely on the hard work readership of local news outlets has
But due to COVID-19, most local news ! " # Millions of people are in danger of losing access to the authoritative local
! $ %
$ % & working with local news providers to ' (
Google is purchasing ads like this in local publications across the country, as well as providing a Relief Fund to help )
Please consider supporting the local news organizations you rely * +
Our local news outlets help keep us $ .