Dreams and Visions are becoming reality. On Saturday, January 10, 2026, seventy Black business owners and entrepreneurs convened at our first Revive Black Business Summit of the year. This event was one of our best yet. Networking. Learning. Sharing. Business Exchange. Inspiration. Resources. Funding.

Yolanda and I have hosted these networking, business exchange and capacity-building events for 12 years. We have been blessed to work with over four hundred Black business owners and entrepreneurs in Omaha and hundreds more across the country.

We set a goal 22 years ago to help support, promote, connect, launch, and grow Black businesses. Saturday’s event at the Revive Center at 24th and Lake shows the incredible things happening in Omaha for Black businesses and the ever-increasing possibilities.

The Brookings Institution highlighted a 95% increase in Black Businesses with employees in Omaha.  Our next goal is to help double the number of Black businesses with employees and create over 3,000 more jobs.

On Saturday, we had a number of owners in attendance running multi-million-dollar businesses and others who are at the start-up phase. The sharing of information, contacts and business exchange was real and impactful.

Carmen Tapio, CEO and Founder of North End Teleservices, is a notable example as she launched her business in the face of challenges to access capital even though she came with global experience and had helped others build extraordinarily successful businesses. She overcame those obstacles and now leads the largest Black owned business in the state, creating hundreds of jobs and careers. NET has been recognized as one of the fastest growing businesses in the country.

Tapio highlighted some keys to success:  It starts with faith.  Form partnerships.  Don’t quit.  “If it’s in your heart, if it’s in your spirit, don’t quit!  There is a pathway there for you.  It is not a straight line.”

Raheem Sanders, MPH Sanders, CEO and Managing Partner of PPRP, a national data, research and evaluation firm shared insights on how to grow profits and build community effectively by maximizing AI and data.

Sanders emphasized AI should be used to increase your sales, revenue and profits, not just to save money.  “It should make you even more productive.  Go from 2-3 proposals in a month to 10-20 proposals.”

Keele Taylor MA,PHR,SHRM-CP Taylor, CEO of HR-Minded with 20 years of experience and a growing national client base provided insights for hiring, onboarding, retention and preparing your business for growth and staying compliant while doing so.

“Onboarding starts from the moment you post your position,” said Taylor.  “My job is to help you stay compliant in all areas of HR, not just hiring.”

Candice Price, serial entrepreneur and community builder, co-owner of HomeTeam Auto and several other enterprises, presented strategies to generate multiple streams of income. Growing from an initial investment of $1,750 to co-owning businesses worth millions.

“Partnerships are essential,” said Price.  “And, don’t take no for a final answer.   Don’t let a no shut you down. There are others out there who will help you.”

Phillip McClain, CEO of the Mensch Group provided an overview of the exciting new projects he is working on to build community through innovations in real estate. He is currently leading a $20 million development in North Omaha and has offices in Chicago and cities.

“I’m excited to bring even more innovative developments and options to North Omaha,” said McClain.

We were also blessed to have numerous resource organizations with us providing funding, training and expertise: Carver Legacy Center, Omaha 100, Nebraska Opportunity Exchange, Hayes & Associates and HR-Minded.
Thank you, Carver Legacy, and HR-Minded for helping to sponsor the event.

Our next Summit is coming up March 7th. Learn more at reviveomaha.com. Omaha is on the move. Come grow with us!

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OMAHA, Neb. (Dec. 21, 2025)  — Thousands gathered in North Omaha on Saturday, Dec. 6, for the 15th annual Christmas in the Village, a vibrant holiday festival that brought economic energy and community pride to the 24th & Lake district.

“Since the launch of Christmas in the Village, new organizations, businesses and venues have opened in the historic district,” said Willie Barney, CEO and founder, Empowerment Network. “These events attract families, visitors and tourists that support the arts and cultural venues and shop with the vendors and businesses.  Businesses report this as one of their top sales days and a significant way to gain new customers that come back throughout the year.”

Christmas in the Village brought residents, families and community members together to experience live entertainment, carriage rides, arts and crafts, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus and shopping in the holiday boutique. The celebration spanned from 24th & Ohio to 24th & Burdette. 

“Christmas in the Village is one of North Omaha’s most beautiful traditions,” said Kimara Snipes, executive director, One Omaha. “Black joy on full display. Kids running around with cocoa and candy canes. Families taking pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Live music, small businesses lined up, people hugging in the street like a big family reunion right in the heart of our community. This is what it looks like when we invest in ourselves. This is what it looks like when a vision turns into a tradition.”

Organized in partnership with the Omaha Economic Development Corporation (OEDC) and dozens of community businesses, the event has served as a critical economic engine for the area.  

“The important thing about Christmas in the Village, or events like this, is that it brings communities together,” said Buey Ray Tut, CEO of Spark and event vendor. “It brings people together, and it gives us pride in the community that we live in. So I not only think it’s an important event, I think it’s a critical event for our community to grow and thrive.”

More than 100 local businesses, organizations, artists and ministries participated in this weekend’s event, continuing a tradition of community collaboration and economic support that has grown steadily since the festival’s inception in 2011.

“I can’t believe it’s been 15 years since we’ve had the privilege to host this amazing holiday tradition in North Omaha,” said Vicki Quaites-Ferris, VP of Community Development for the Empowerment Network and Christmas in the Village Event Director. “We started out with 1,000 visitors and have since grown to host well over 10,000. Bringing joy to children and families while creating wonderful memories to last a lifetime is something I am proud to have been a part of.”

She added, “We have been blessed with businesses, organizations, churches, and families who have supported us each year. I am already looking forward to hosting the 16th Annual Christmas in the Village at 24th and Lake on Saturday, December 5, 2026.”

This year’s sponsors included American National Bank, Charles Drew Health Center, Douglas County Visitor Improvement Fund, KETV, Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Revive! Omaha and Veridian Credit Union. Supported by the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance (MBK Alliance), a program of The Obama Foundation, the Empowerment Network is committed to building safer environments for all residents by increasing educational and career success while reducing violent crime. 

To learn more about Empowerment Network and Christmas in the Village, visit https://empoweromaha.com/. 

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About the Empowerment Network

The Empowerment Network is a nonprofit organization committed to advancing economic, social and civic progress within Omaha’s African American community, North Omaha and the region. Through collaborative efforts and innovative initiatives, the Empowerment Network strives to create opportunities for empowerment and transformation in every zip code and neighborhood in the City of Omaha and other national communities.

Keynote Speakers:

Carmen Tapio, CEO, North End Teleservices

Carmen will share key insights and steps she took to transform NET from a start-up business to becoming one of the fastest growing companies in the United States.

The Summit will also include updates from special guests including: Hometeam Auto Co-owner, Candice Price, Phillip McClain, CEO of The Mensch Group, Keele Taylor, CEO of HR Minded Consulting and Raheem Sanders, CEO and Managing PArtner, PPRP Innovations.

Candice Price:  Creating Jobs, Opportunities and Multiple Streams of Income

Phillip McClain:  Building Community through Real Estate Development

Raheem Sanders:  Maximizing Data and AI to Create Profits & Jobs

Keele Taylor:  Preparing Your Business to Hire New Employees

Business resources and funding opportunities will also be presented by:  TreVon Brooks, CEO of Omaha 100; Davida Stewart, Client Relationships with Hayes & Associates; Karnetta Rushing, Business Development Officer, Carver Legacy Center; and April Hibbler, Nebraska Opportunity Exchange – Urban League of Nebraska.

TreVon Brooks, CEO, Omaha 100

Davida Stewart, Community Relations, Hayes & Associates

Karnetta Rushing, Business Development Officer, Carver Legacy Center

April Hibbler, Executive Program Lead, Nebraska Opportunity Exchange