‘It was phenomenal’ Hundreds attend Fall Festival in the Village
It’s a beautiful thing when the village comes together. The weather was beautiful, too.
30 small businesses, venues and organizations came together to host the very first Fall Festival in the Village at 24th and Lake. The new event builds on the successes of Christmas in the Village and Native Omaha Days activities hosted at 24th and Lake.
“The goal since we launched Christmas in the Village ten years ago and developed the North Omaha Village Plan was to build towards having large monthly and weekly events at 24th and Lake to further advance the district,” said Willie Barney, CEO of the Empowerment Network and co-owner of the Revive Center and Carver Legacy Center.
“It was phenomenal,” said Terri Sanders, publisher of the Omaha Star. “They had a chance to have fun and learn about the history and see the future of the Omaha Star when they stopped by.”
“Seeing the kids having such a great time was the best,” said Cynthia Hume, site director for OEDC’s Fair Deal Village. “They were all enjoying the games and petting zoo and I remember one little girl skipping across the parking lot saying ‘this was so much fun’ as she was leaving. That’s what it is all about.”
The Empowerment Network, OEDC, Revive, FHAS, Omaha Star and others teamed together to host the first Christmas in the Village and new businesses and venues have joined in along the way in the historic district at 24th and Lake.
Barney started bringing the businesses and venues back together for additional planning in late August of this year following one of the most successful Native Omaha Days on record, planned and hosted by the Native Omaha Days Organizing Committee.
He felt this was the time to create a collective master schedule and calendar to keep the great things happening at 24th and Lake front and center. The initial planning team has continued to expand and now includes 30+ businesses, venues and organizations. Even more are joining now.
“The holidays are a significant time for most businesses. When we work together, 24th and Lake is a great location for music, food, shopping, connecting with history and celebrating black culture,” added Barney.
Fall Festival is a great example of this collective approach. Each business and venue agreed to take on a part of the event and offer something unique for children and families. The goal for the team was to start small just like Christmas in the Village and build as they go.
“We were blown away by the turnout,” said Brigitte McQueen, executive director of The Union of Contemporary Art. The Union provided free pumpkins, craft making, a new exhibit and introduced their Pursuing Legacy project with Denise Chapman.
“We ran out of pumpkins and produce, brought more out and ran out again because there were so many families,” added McQueen.
In addition to the face painting, cartoon characters, hula hooping and other free activities, families supported the small businesses in a big way.
“We were excited about all of the families that came out to support the event,” said Yolanda Barney, co-owner of the Revive Center. “We were pleasantly surprised about the number that attended. Our team is planning ahead for the Trunk or Treat event. We really appreciate the support of the community.”
“It was so amazing, such a great turnout,” said Imani Murry, co-owner of Ital Vital Living that offered the free face painting and food for sale by Little Ve’s and their own smoothies and juices. “It went so well for our business and Little Ve’s that we sold out of just about everything. Plus, we provided face painting for over 300!”
“This was definitely successful and I think we’ve found another annual event,” said Eric Ewing, executive director of the Great Plains Black History Museum. “We had nearly 200 go through the museum in just four hours. Guests learned a little history and the kids were able to get a treat, too.”
That is exactly the vision and goal for The Village at 24th and Lake. A long time theme for the village revitalization efforts has been “A Rich History & Thriving Future.”
The event went extremely well even though one of the main attractions ran into a major snag. The hayride was not available as the farmer coming from Springfield, who was providing the trailer, had a flat tire without a replacement.
Organizers said it was disappointing to not be able to host the ride for the community after all of the coordination, but they are now planning to add it to the Trunk or Treat on October 30th.
All of the other activities were in place and fully enjoyed by those in attendance.
“Being a community advocate and business owner, there was something magical in the air Saturday,” said Michael Young, president of Technology Consulting Services and co-owner of Rooted Synergy Gallery. “Live music, activities for all ages and the community coming together to support businesses is exactly what this district needs.”
Based on the attendance and all of the smiles, laughter and positive energy, the future is bright for The Village at 24th and Lake.
Connecting families, friends and community to outstanding events and a positive environment including music, food, activities, arts, culture and small businesses, all within the historic walking district, that’s a beautiful thing.
Stay connected with future events here.
Community Features
Thinking Big & Bold; $14 Million Development in North Omaha
By Co-Publisher, Willie D. Barney, July 2026
How a 12-year vision, bold partners, and persistence helped bring a $14 million job creation project to North Omaha.
A quick story about thinking big and bold. I realized this week that I never shared this behind-the-scenes piece I wrote a few months ago, when OEDC and CHI formally announced a $14 million job creation project that will bring 100 jobs to North Omaha. For me, this project is more than a building, more than a headline, and more than a ribbon cutting. It is a reminder of what can happen when we cast a vision, stay persistent, and believe that our community deserves solutions at scale.
North Omaha has always had talent, faith, creativity, entrepreneurs, families, leaders, and people ready to work. What we have not always had is the level of investment, access, and opportunity needed to match that talent. That is why this announcement matters. It shows what is possible when institutions listen, community leaders push, and partners are bold enough to stay at the table even when the work gets hard.
The Question That Opened the Door
Twelve years ago, I was in a meeting with Ann Schumacher, Pete Festersen, and Kevin Nokels, former vice president at CHI Health. We were discussing partnerships between the Empowerment Network and CHI Health to address needs in the community. Most of the conversation focused on health, which was important and needed. But I kept coming back to another part of community health: jobs, careers, and wages.
We talked initially about Step-Up and filling existing positions. Then Kevin leaned over and said something that stuck with me: “Why don’t you ask us to do something really BIG?”
WOW. I loved it. We were in the early days of creating the Transformation 2025 plan, and we were talking about taking solutions to scale. Kevin opened the door to do exactly that.
From an Idea to a Community Vision
After taking some time to think and pray about it, I called Kevin and said, “What if CHI could help with job creation by bringing one of their business units to North Omaha? What if that move could help address unemployment and create opportunities for entrepreneurs to do business?”
Kevin said, “Now you are talking.”
That was the beginning of a long journey. I asked Vicki Quaites-Ferris, our VP of Operations, to join me, and we started meeting with Kevin and members of his team to figure out ways to make it happen. As the idea gained momentum, we knew we needed a developer. I reached out to Michael Maroney because we had been working together for years on other initiatives. Michael joined in and made a commitment for OEDC to use its expertise and experience to help bring the vision to reality.
The Long Road to Fruition
We went through all kinds of plans, strategies, designs, and proposals. We looked at dozens of locations and buildings throughout North Omaha. We had one in the historic 24th and Lake area that was almost there, but we could not get it across the finish line. We looked at North 30th, Ames, 16th Street, and other locations.
There were barriers. Challenges. Changes in leadership. Then the pandemic hit, causing even more delays. If you have ever been part of real community development work, you know it rarely moves in a straight line. It takes vision, patience, faith, relationships, and a lot of people who refuse to give up.
Through it all, Michael Maroney and Pete Festersen kept pushing forward. I have not been as involved the last four years, other than working with State Senators to help get state funds approved through LB531. But Michael, Pete, OEDC staff, CHI leaders, elected officials, funders, and many others stayed with it and finally brought it to fruition.
A Win Bigger Than One Project
Now, North Omaha will see a $14 million project that is expected to generate more than 100 jobs with competitive wages and benefits. It will also double CHI’s capacity to serve meals across the region. That is impact. That is investment. That is what happens when a community-centered idea is given room to grow into something transformational.
I think it is important to say this plainly: Black communities deserve more than programs that manage poverty. We deserve investments that create ownership, jobs, careers, contracts, business opportunities, and generational impact. We deserve partners who do not just come to the community for meetings, but who are willing to bring real projects, real dollars, and real opportunity.
The Lesson: Ask Big, Stay Bold
This project reminds me why we have to keep thinking big. Sometimes the first idea is not big enough. Sometimes the first location does not work. Sometimes the timeline stretches far beyond what we expected. But when the vision is rooted in community and the partners remain committed, the outcome can still be powerful.
I am incredibly encouraged to see what is possible when we think big, cast a bold vision, and work with partners who are willing to stick with it even when it gets hard. Congratulations to OEDC and CHI Health. This is a big win for North Omaha, for the city, and for the region.
Coming Events
March 7th: State of Black Business Summit – Omaha
State of Black Business: Omaha
The next Revive Black Business Summit and Business Exchange for 2026 is scheduled for Saturday, March 7th!
Hosted by Willie and Yolanda Barney, the State of Black Business in Omaha will focus on:
- Data and Trends regarding Black Businesses and Entrepreneurs in Omaha
- The State of Finance and Banking for Black Businesses
- Opportunities in Growth Industries
- Strengths, Challenges and Needs
- Resources and Opportunities
- 2026 Calendar for Summits, Business Exchanges, Workshops and Tours
The Revive Black Business Network is committed to working together to double the number of Black Businesses with Employees in Omaha. Building Wealth and Community by Creating Profits and Advancing Careers.
Panelists:
- Frank Hayes, CEO and Founder, Hayes and Associates
- Bridget Hadley, Asst. Director of Economic Development, City of Omaha
- Karnetta Rushing, Business Development Officer, Carver Legacy Center
- Gibril Mansaray, Entrepreneurship and Innovations Director, Omaha 100
- Garry Clark, Executive Director, Inland Port Authority
- LaTisha Henry, CEO, Comfort Squad
- Raheem Sanders, CEO and Managing Partner, PPRP Innovations
- Grant McGaugh, CEO, 5 Star BDM
Revive Black Business Summit
State of Black Businesses: Omaha
Saturday, March 7, 2026
Revive Center at 24th and Lake
8:30 am Breakfast, Networking and Business Exchange
9:00 am The State of Black Businesses in Omaha Report
9:30 am Panel: State of Financing and Banking – Access to Credit and Capital
10:00 am BREAK
10:10 am Panel: Opportunities in Growth Industries
10:40 am Interactive Strategic Discussions: Strengths, Challenges, Needs and Opportunities
11:00 am Resources for Black Businesses and Entrepreneurs
The location for the in-person event will be the Revive Center at 24th and Lake.
Breakfast and Networking will start at 8:30 am.
We’ve had a great response with the summits and luncheons with over 400 Black businesses, entrepreneurs and support organizations participating during the past 12 years.
The Brookings Institution highlighted a 95% increase in the number of Black-owned businesses in Omaha with employees from 2017-2022. What can we do to double that number over the next five years by 2030?
The Revive Black Business Network and Business Exchange have helped to establish a strong system in Omaha where business owners are doing more business with each other and are now forming partnerships in Tulsa, New Orleans, Lansing, Atlanta, Kansas City and other national cities. Let’s keep building!
Community Features
Revive Black Business Summit launches new phase of collective economic growth
Building Wealth and Community by Expanding Businesses, Creating Profits and Advancing Careers.
By: Willie D. Barney, Co-owner Revive and Carver Legacy Center
Our first Revive Black Business Summit and Business Exchange for 2026 was held on Saturday, January 10th at the Revive Center Omaha – 24th and Lake, hosted by Willie and Yolanda Barney, focused on working together to double the number of Black Businesses with Employees.
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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