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“It was such a blessing,” said Tawanna Black, founder of the nationally recognized Center for Economic Inclusion based in the Twin Cities.

She and her husband, Eric, drove over six hours with their children, Traviata and Christian, to take part in the Empowerment Network’s 12th Annual Christmas in the Village at 24th and Lake in North Omaha.

“We have been wanting to come down the last few years, but it hadn’t worked out,” said Tawanna.

“Watching the videos and seeing all of the promotional materials on social media, we just knew it was something we wanted our kids to experience. There’s nothing like this in the Twin Cities.”

The family came early and stayed nearly the whole day as there were so many activities and they wanted to see them all.

“We loved, laughed, smiled, hugged and literally shopped til we dropped,” said Black.

“We rode the carriage ride, took family photos, shopped with the vendors, visited the live animals, walked through the exhibits, took pictures with Santa and sang and danced in Dreamland Park. We got it all in.”

Traviata and Christian also shared their perspectives about that event.

Christian shared his excitement:

Going to Christmas in the Village was so fun. Seeing everyone so happy made me happy.

Riding the horse and carriage was my dream. It was so good. The choirs sang very well. And there were so many places to shop!

 

Traviata added these comments:

Christmas in the Village was amazing. It was exciting to see my parents loved by so many and excited to see people they used to work with.

I loved seeing Santa and so many other kids who were excited to get a photo with Santa and I couldn’t believe that there were live animals there and that we could touch a donkey, camel, and goat.

I also loved being able to see a lot of people I could relate to, everyone was so happy to see other Black people and seeing them smile made me smile.

 

“Hearing those comments is so encouraging and makes everything we do worth it,” said Vicki Quaites-Ferris, Vice President of Community Development and Operations at the Empowerment Network and event manager for Christmas in the Village.

Eric and Tawanna once called Omaha home.

Tawanna is well known for her leadership and economic development work with Destination Midtown and was one of the first diversity and inclusion directors in the city working with Cox Communications.

After relocating to Minneapolis 12 years ago, she has led the Northside Funders Group, a collaborative of 12 foundations and then stepped out in faith to create and launch the Center for Economic Inclusion.

The mission of the Center for Economic Inclusion is closing racial employment, income, and wealth gaps, and building racially inclusive and equitable regional economies.

Eric worked for two decades serving in a number of global business Development and integrated marketing leadership capacities and rising to the level of executive with Cargill.

He has now ventured into the non-profit industry as an executive director for Minnesota Diversified Industries (MDI). MDI is a Minnesota manufacturer and nonprofit social enterprise with the mission to provide employment opportunities and services for people with disabilities.

“One of things I love about Omaha is the way people collaborate,” said Eric. “To see nearly 100 organizations, businesses and ministries work together to make something like this happen is inspiring.”

Both Eric and Tawanna are committed to equity, economic advancement and elevating the culture. They see events like Christmas in the Village as essential and vitally important.

“It is incredibly meaningful to have Tawanna, Eric, Traviata and Christian make the six hour trip to Omaha to join us for Christmas in the Village,” said Willie Barney, CEO and founder of the Empowerment Network.

“Hearing their heartfelt comments and the impact of the event on them and their children is inspiring and opens our eyes to even greater possibilities.”

“Thousands of kids and families attend each year and it is beginning to draw from a larger region. It reinforces the original vision we had for creating this event. 24th and Lake is the hub that can bring people from all over the country to celebrate our culture through music, food, arts, entertainment and business.”

“This is such an amazing cultural experience. Absolutely phenomenal,” said Tawanna. “Willie and Yolanda Barney, Vicki Quaites-Ferris and all of the partners who help make this happen have created a masterpiece.”

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

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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

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Coming Events

Dr. DerNecia Phillips to share secrets to success in Corporate Omaha at AALC

Dr. DerNecia Phillips will share key secrets to achieving success in corporate Omaha during 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)

Dr. Phillips is a dynamic keynote speaker with innovative approaches for developing and maintaining strong, productive organizations.  Her presentations have received rave reviews.

She is an experienced consultant with a demonstrated history of working in the education management and leadership development industries. Phillips is highly skilled in communication, presentations, public speaking, project management, and strategy.

She is also known as a strong business development professional working with both small businesses and large organizations.  A champion of education, Phillips secured her Doctor of Education – EdD focused in Educational Leadership and Administration from University of Nebraska at 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)

Photo Credit:  UNO, Ryan Solderin

Dr. DerNecia Phillips

Dr. DérNecia Phillips is a professional educator, activist, strategist, poet, and consultant who prides herself on being a champion for both education and her community.

She has 20 years of experience as a public and non-public school educator with service in roles from teacher to principal-to-principal coach. She holds advanced degrees from Creighton University and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she received her doctorate in Educational Leadership.

Dr. Phillips leveraged her expertise to found DAL Education & Care Solutions, a consulting company providing coaching, leadership development, speaking services, and training to foster personal, school, and workplace thriving. She is a strong advocate for women’s empowerment, mentoring at all levels, education, equity, and community building—as evidenced by her recent leadership founding Identity Preparatory Academy, a girl’s middle school in North Omaha.

Dr. Phillips serves as a proud LeadDiversity alumna, member of the 2023 Class 46 of Leadership Omaha, and a 2023 Phi Delta Kappa International Emerging Leader in Education working alongside the other ten selected members to address national issues in education.

Her personal mission is to Nurture. Challenge. Inspire. those she encounters in order to affect positive change for our children and those who serve them. She is a woman of faith, a proud wife and mother, and enjoys reading, writing, mentoring, and spending time with her family, friends, and mentees.

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

Continue Reading