Coming Events
Aileen Warren and Jay Warren-Teamer to present at AALC 2024
Aileen Warren and Jay Warren-Team will be co-presenters at the Empowerment Network’s 12th Annual African-American Leadership Conference on Friday, September 27, 2024.
Tickets available here: 2024 African-American Leadership Conference (aalcomaha.com)
Aileen and Jay will share insights gained from their highly successful careers. The topic is Delivering on Your Promise with Excellence.
Both are trailblazers in their respective workplaces and impactful leaders in the community.
Aileen has an extensive career in human resources leading departments for First National Bank, FirstData and UNMC. She is now the Executive Director for ICAN a nationally recognized leadership development organization for women.
Jay worked as a leader in the non-profit realm with Partnership for Kids and United Way of the Midlands before transitioning to the corporate sector. She previously worked at Mutual of Omaha, and now at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska where she leads the Nebraska Blue Foundation and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Both Warren and Warren-Teamer are members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
The session will provide a roadmap for establishing your personal and professional brand of excellence and delivering on the promise.
The African-American Leadership Conference which attracts hundreds of leaders will feature keynote, Eric ET Thomas, one of the nation’s top motivators, influencers, and New York Times best-selling author along with dozens of local and national speakers.
Tickets available. 2024 African-American Leadership Conference (aalcomaha.com)
Aileen Warren
Aileen currently serves as the President and CEO of ICAN, the Institute for Career Advancement Needs. ICAN is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop inspired, authentic leaders to transform the organizations and communities they serve.
A UNO Goodrich Scholarship recipient, she attended and graduated from UNO where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work. She also holds a certificate in Organizational Development from the Fielding Institute. After graduation from college, Aileen began her professional career working at a variety of non-profit organizations including the YWCA and Urban League of Nebraska. During this time, she honed her leadership skills by participating in the ICAN Influence Program and the Omaha Chamber of Commerce Leadership Omaha Program. She went on to have a long career in Human Resources working for First National Bank, First Data Corporation (now Fiserv), and UNMC.
She is very active in the community and has an extensive record of involvement with numerous organizations including the Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands, Women’s Fund of Omaha, Omaha Home for Boys, and the Omaha Downtown Rotary. She is a Past President of the Omaha Downtown Rotary and former President of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Fund of Omaha. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, and participates in the African American Empowerment Network. She is also a University of Nebraska Foundation Trustee and was recently appointed to the Omaha Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Aileen has been recognized for her community contributions by being selected as the 2006 Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands Woman of the Year, a 2012 Omaha North High Viking of Distinction, and 2018 Ak-Sar-Ben Court of Honor recipient. In 2020, she and her husband, Thomas received the honor of having their faces on the barroom floor at the Omaha Press Club. In 2021, she received the College of Public Affairs and Community Service Alumni Award from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
She has been married to her husband Thomas for 39 years. They have three children – Jessica, Thomas Jr., and Alexandra. She also has three grandsons Evan, Kingston, and Princeton.
Jay Warren-Teamer
Jay Warren-Teamer is an Omaha native who has spent her personal and professional life serving our community. She received her B.S. in Child, Youth and Family Studies from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln and earned her Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Currently, she is the Executive Director of the Nebraska Blue Foundation and DEI at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska.
With her childhood friend, Ashlei Spivey, Jay co-founded I Be Black Girl and leads the groups’ giving circle, IBBGives. Since launching in 2018, IBBGives has invested over $150k to projects supporting Black women, femmes and girls in the Omaha metro. Highly engaged in our community, Jay has served on the boards of Kids Can Community Center, Women’s Fund of Omaha and MENTOR Nebraska. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Recognitions and awards include:
- WCA’s Tribute to Women Young Leader Award (2009)
- Women’s Fund of Omaha Inner Circle honoree (2017)
- Greater Omaha Chamber YP Council Changemaker Award (2018)
- Urban League of Nebraska African American Leadership Award (2019)
- UNO Chancellor’s Commission on the Status of Gender Equity – Outstanding Community Service Award (2021)
- UNO College of Public Affairs and Community Service – Alumni Award for Excellence in Public Service (2021)
Her greatest joy is her family. Jay is married to her high school sweetheart, Shannon, and they have two sons.
The African-American Leadership Conference is presented by the Empowerment Network of Omaha and features local and national leaders along with allies from every sector.
Tickets available. 2024 African-American Leadership Conference (aalcomaha.com)
For more information on the Empowerment Network, please go to empoweromaha.com
Coming Events
Coming Dec. 7th…14th Annual Christmas in the Village at 24th and Lake
Shop, Play, Eat, Sing, and Celebrate!
The Empowerment Network is inviting you to the 14th Annual Christmas in the Village at 24th and Lake on Saturday, December 7th, 2024 from Noon to 5 PM – a magical day filled with festive fun for the entire family!
Presented by the Empowerment Network and Omaha Economic Development Corporation, in partnership with dozens of 24th & Lake Partners, this one-of-a-kind cultural celebration is the largest holiday event in North Omaha, drawing over 7,000 visitors from across the region!
From the dazzling arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn carriage to the lively entertainment, holiday shopping, and delicious eats – this is the holiday event you don’t want to miss!
Here’s what’s in store:
Watch the 2024 Preview Commerical Here
• Kick-off with Santa and Mrs. Claus plus all your favorite cartoon characters!
• Live performances by local artists, choirs, and dancers.
• A live nativity scene with real animals (yes, there will be a camel!).
• Free carriage rides, toys, face painting, and balloon art!
• Over 30 vendors in the heated Holiday Boutique tent, perfect for holiday shopping.
• Visit the Grinch at Ital Vital Living!
• Delicious food from local restaurants and food trucks!
Whether you’re here for the holiday boutique, the music, or the family-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone. Plus, businesses in the district will be offering special discounts and holiday treats.
Make this your new holiday tradition! With over 70 businesses, organizations, and artists coming together, this will be the BIGGEST and BEST Christmas in the Village yet.
Plan ahead for street closures starting at 10 AM at 25th to 22nd on Lake Street and from 24th & Maple to 24th & Burdette. Streets reopen at 5:30 PM.
Don’t miss this unforgettable experience! Bring your family, friends, and holiday spirit to Christmas in the Village at 24th and Lake.
Coming Events
Aaron Johnson, owner of Oasis, nationally-recognized black-owned grocery store to speak at AALC
Aaron Johnson, owner of Oasis Fresh Market in Tulsa, Oklahoma, home to Black Wall Street, to speak at the Empowerment Network’s 12th Annual African-American Leadership Conference on Friday, September 27, 2024.
Johnson will share what it has taken to launch and grow the successful grocery store and more about his entrepreneurial journey.
Tickets available here: 2024 African-American Leadership Conference (aalcomaha.com)
Johnson is blazing new trails as one of the most innovative and successful black-owned grocery stores in the nation.
With the support of City Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper and Rose Washington, CEO of TEDC, he established Oasis, a fresh food market in North Tulsa after a 14-year drought in an area considered a food desert.
People from across the country are flocking to Oasis to learn more about the model and how it can be replicated in their communities.
Johnson’s leadership style is highly enthusiastic and contagious. The energy in the store is amazing. Plenty of high fives to go around for customers and employees. He has also built a pathway where student employees head to college after high school.
He partners frequently with Charles Harper and Damali Wilson of World Won Development to host large events to connect Oasis customers to services including employment, job training, health and more.
The food selection and quality available in the store make it one of the best in the nation. Always full with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Aaron Johnson
Aaron “AJ” Johnson is the Founder of Oasis Fresh Markets, the first full-service grocery store in North Tulsa’s historically black-neighborhood (once called Black Wall Street) in 14 years.
Growing up in Milwaukee, AJ saw the tremendous differences between resourced and under-resourced communities. After moving to Oklahoma, he learned that residents in North Tulsa neighborhoods have a life expectancy 11 years shorter than those living in other Tulsa communities.
Whether it was the school systems, playgrounds, or even access to grocery stores, many North Tulsa residents had to travel for miles to enjoy the same resources that non-distressed communities have readily available.
AJ also launched a non-profit called The Oasis Projects to provide wrap-around services, including rental and utility assistance, support for single parents, banking, workforce training, and health-related educational classes.
AJ believes the Oasis model provides a blueprint for under-served communities by equipping people for every aspect of a healthy life.
The African-American Leadership Conference which attracts hundreds of leaders will feature keynote, Eric ET Thomas, one of the nation’s top motivators, influencers, and New York Times best-selling author along with dozens of local and national speakers.
Tickets available. 2024 African-American Leadership Conference (aalcomaha.com)
The African-American Leadership Conference is presented by the Empowerment Network of Omaha and features local and national leaders along with allies from every sector.
Tickets available. 2024 African-American Leadership Conference (aalcomaha.com)
For more information on the Empowerment Network, please go to empoweromaha.com
Coming Events
Frank Hayes, Founder of Hayes & Associates to share financial wisdom at AALC
Frank Hayes will share financial principles he has learned during his 40 years of advising clients at the Empowerment Network’s 12th Annual African-American Leadership Conference on Friday, September 27, 2024.
Tickets available here: 2024 African-American Leadership Conference (aalcomaha.com)
Hayes is the founder of one of the oldest and most successful Black-owned businesses in the state of Nebraska. Through his leadership, Hayes had established accounting and consulting offices in several states and has clients across the country.
Frank and his team have assisted thousands of businesses and customers over the years with establishing a solid financial foundation. Through Hayes and Associates, clients have attained success through growth and expansion.
Beyond their day to day work with clients, Frank and his team have dedicated themselves to investing back into the community as volunteers, board members and support for churches, non-profits and small businesses across the community, but especially in North Omaha.
The African-American Leadership Conference which attracts hundreds of leaders will feature keynote, Eric ET Thomas, one of the nation’s top motivators, influencers, and New York Times best-selling author along with dozens of local and national speakers.
Tickets available. 2024 African-American Leadership Conference (aalcomaha.com)
Frank Hayes
Hayes is the owner and President of Hayes & Associates, LLC, a CPA and consulting firm he founded in 1983 in Omaha, Neb. He has more than 40 years of experience in the financial services industry, including previous roles as the Director of the tax department at Grant Thornton CPAs and an internal revenue agent for the Internal Revenue Service.
Hayes earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Creighton University in Omaha. He also is a graduate of the Small Business Executive Education Program at Clark Atlanta University and the Minority Business Executive Program at Dartmouth College.
Hayes has received numerous honors during his career including induction into the Omaha Business Hall of Fame in 2009. He was recognized by the 100 Black Men of Omaha as one of its Men of Honor in 2013.
He has also received the Nebraska Society of CPA’s Public Service Award; the Otto Swanson Spirit of Service Award, sponsored by the NCCJ; the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Community Leadership Association of America; the Rotary Club of Omaha Free Enterprise Award; and the Western Heritage Museum African American Award for Corporate and Community Leadership.
Hayes currently serves on the Creighton University Board of Trustees as well as the Business Ethics Alliance, Great Plains Black Museum, Kaneko. He is a member of the Board of Directors at Mutual of Omaha Bank and the Companion Life Insurance Company.
The African-American Leadership Conference is presented by the Empowerment Network of Omaha and features local and national leaders along with allies from every sector.
Tickets available. 2024 African-American Leadership Conference (aalcomaha.com)
For more information on the Empowerment Network, please go to empoweromaha.com