Step-Up Omaha to connect 700 to 1,000 youth to jobs, internships and entrepreneurship
Step-Up Omaha! seeks to connect 1,000 youth
to career exploration, job training, internships and entrepreneurship
Application open until March 7; more businesses needed to meet the demand
Over 50 business executives, elected officials, community partners, employers and others gathered on Thursday, February 25th for the official launch of Step-Up Omaha 2021.
Step-Up Omaha is headed into its 14th year of connecting youth and young adults ages 14-21 with career exploration, jobs, internships, entrepreneurship and leadership opportunities. The collaborative initiative of the Empowerment Network has connected over 6,500 youth with jobs and job training since its inception.
Youth and young adults are able to identify their career interests, develop skills to prepare them for the future, experience hands-on job training and generate a positive income.
Step-Up is still taking applications until March 7th at stepupomaha.com. The partners are also looking to increase the number of internship opportunities available by working with large and small businesses, organizations and ministries. The team will continue to monitor guidance from health professionals to determine the size of the program and best format regarding virtual and in-person.
“With the support of the City of Omaha, Lakin Foundation and other foundations, the business community and our partners, we seek to connect 700 to 1,000 interns this summer and 250 in the year round program,” said Willie Barney, CEO and Founder of the Empowerment Network. “Together, we can make this our biggest and best year ever.”
Barney thanked major employers, American National Bank, CHI Health and UNMC for their long term support.
American National Bank, under the leadership Co-CEOs and Co-Chairmen John and Wende Kotouc, was the original corporate partner, hiring 6 to 10 interns every summer since 2008. CHI Health and UNMC return again in 2021, each hiring 10 to 20 interns.
In addition to funding, the City of Omaha will once again provide internships in a number of departments including Planning, Police, Fire, HR&R and others. Union Pacific joins for the first time in 2021. Small businesses, non-profits and faith-based organizations also provide important worksite opportunities. To become a worksite, employer or sponsor, go to stepupomaha.com.
The City of Omaha is the largest financial supporter of the Step-Up Omaha program. Mayor Jean Stothert, Councilman Ben Gray and the Omaha City Council have invested between $900,000 and $1 million for the past four years.
“We invest more in Step-Up Omaha than any other job program in the city because we know it works,” said Mayor Stothert. “The job placements, training and development opportunities provided by Step-Up and our business community provide valuable experiences and opportunities and that’s exactly what all young people need, a chance to be successful.”
“Step-Up also depends on the generous support of the business and philanthropic community to provide additional funds or jobs,” added Stothert.
Gray agreed. “We can continue to do 700-800 jobs,” said Councilman Gray. “But, why not get more businesses engaged and reach as many as 1,000 or more.”
Gray emphasized the importance of providing these opportunities to youth in the community and the dividends it will pay to the city. “We will keep more of our talent here when we invest and show them what’s possible for them in Omaha. We know that what they see is what they will be,” said Gray.
Also announced at the press conference was the second year of a $1.8 million commitment from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation. Steve Wild, President of the Lakin Foundation, provided their reasoning for such a large scale investment over three years.
“One of the greatest strengths of the United States is its diversity. At the same time, this diversity has been underused as a resource,” said Wild. “We also know over the years there’s been a shortage of African-Americans and people of color in senior management and executive suites in Omaha and the Council Bluffs area. The area is suffering from brain drain and doesn’t have a large enough skilled workforce. The Empowerment Network’s Step-Up Omaha program is one vital tool to addressing this long term. It shows our youth what is available right here at home.”
Step-Up Omaha has not only gained local support, but has received national support from the Obama Foundation. The Obama Foundation/MBK Alliance selected the Empowerment Network and City of Omaha as 1 of 19 out of 250 communities to receive a $50,000 seed grant in 2019. Because of the Network’s continued success, the Obama Foundation/MBK Alliance has agreed to expand the support with an additional $67,000 in 2021.
Locally, the Kiewit Foundation has committed $50,000 for 2021 and other foundations are joining in to support the expansion of the program. The Lozier Foundation has supported Step-Up for the past decade and the Holland Foundation one of the initial supporters also participated in the Obama Foundation/MBK Community Challenge. The United Way of the Midlands and Office of Violence Prevention have also contributed between $150,000 to $250,000 annually.
Step-Up Omaha is successful because of the active engagement and support of many community partners.
Omaha Public Schools has partnered in a variety of ways since 2008. OPS looks to extend summer school options to a much larger group of students this summer and will offer some educational related internships to students 16 and older.
Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Logan sees this as another opportunity to increase the number of youth gaining valuable work experience and continues to support the work of Step-Up Omaha in offering internships with local corporations, small businesses and organizations throughout the community.
Annique Clark, a former OPS student who currently attends college in Mississippi, also spoke at the press conference. Clark has participated in Step-Up for five years, having the opportunity to work with a number of health organizations. She stated that the program has helped her to determine her double major combining art and therapy, and also assisted with launching a business while still in high school.
“Clark is a great example of the brilliance we have in Omaha,” said Barney. “She’s a double major and an entrepreneur. We have talent right here at our front door.”
Step-Up looks to expand in a number of ways again in 2021:
- Entrepreneurship. All of the participants ages 14-15 are exposed to the SocialPreneurship curriculum, learning how to turn problems into opportunities, develop business plans and experience the process of taking a product to market. The youth work with Jaylen Bledsoe, CEO of Bledsoe Global, now in his early 20’s, who started as a teen millionaire; national consultant, Jamela Peterson, founder of SocialPreneurship; and Debra Dogba, CEO of Business Seals.
- STEAM. As part of the commitment from the Obama Foundation, Step-Up Omaha expanded opportunities in STEAM including; robotics, drones, coding, social media and manufacturing. All of these partnerships will be expanded including an enhanced program with the Tuskegee Airmen where participants will learn to build and fly drones.
- Trades. In partnership with the Bryant Center and Metropolitan Community College, Step-Up will continue providing hands-on opportunities in 3D Printing, Construction, OSHA Certification, Culinary and other vocational fields.
- Internships. More corporate partners and small businesses are working with Step-Up to provide opportunities in their respective career fields. American National Bank, CHI Heath, UNMC, the City of Omaha and Union Pacific are major employers who have committed to developing and retaining Omaha youth by connecting with Step-Up. Employers of all sizes, including non-profits, can participate. Interested employers, sponsors and worksites, can learn more here.
Moniki Cannon has joined Step-Up Omaha partner, CHI Health, as a Senior HR Business Partner.
Cannon will continue to partner with Step-Up from an employer’s role. A new Step-Up Omaha Director will join the Empowerment Network team in March 2021 to continue the expansion of the program. - South Omaha. The Step-Up Omaha team continues its city-wide expansion with even more outreach and partnerships in South Omaha and within the Latino community. The South Omaha and Latino Advisory Council has been expanded and is already producing positive results.
Ana Torres was hired as a full time South Omaha coach in 2020 and will lead efforts in the area. Step-Up is also increasing outreach to the Asian, Native American and immigrant audiences. - Council Bluffs. With the support of the Charles E. Lakin Foundation, Step-Up will formally launch in Council Bluffs in 2021 after being put on hold last year because of the pandemic. The Step-Up Council Bluffs application will open in March.
Step-Up Omaha is an initiative of the Empowerment Network and works with the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands, Girls Inc., Hope Center for Kids, Urban League of Nebraska and PACE as coaching partners. Youth are assigned to these organizations who then hire coaches to train and prepare the participants and partner with worksites throughout program.
Long time community partner, Thomas Warren, CEO of the Urban League of Nebraska, discussed the importance of Step-Up at the press conference.
“I have the privilege of working with affiliates of the Urban League in every major city. This public/private partnership in Omaha is recognized across the country for the results it has generated,” said Warren. “Very few communities have this type of partnership for youth employment.”
“We focus on helping students to thrive. We are preparing the next generation’s workforce and it is important for us to retain our talent in Omaha.”
Youth and young adults can apply at stepupomaha.com and employers, worksites and sponsors can also use the site to partner with Step-Up Omaha!
Careers
Gibril Mansaray creating innovative partnerships in Sierra Leone
Mansaray announced his partnership for the first time on the stage at the Leadership Conference in 2019. The response encouraged him to step out in faith at a larger level. He has since been recognized by global organizations for his significant impact.
In 2019, a request from his father to send USD 430 to support their ancestral village in Sierra Leone during a crisis changed Gibril’s life. What appeared to be a small amount of funds by U.S. standards fed his family’s village of 1,500 people for a week.
Realizing the significant impact of even small amounts of money, Gibril raised USD 3,400 to rebuild the village’s primary school. This effort led to Gibril founding the Pa Karim Memorial Foundation, named in honor of his grandfather, to expand educational opportunities in Sierra Leone. Mansary will speak on his journey and how others can do similar work in partnership with other nations in Africa.
Gibril Mansaray
Gibril S. Mansaray is a man with deep roots. Born in Iowa, Gibril moved frequently during childhood, which helped him develop a unique ability to unite people, spark connections, and foster belonging. The son of a Western African Muslim father and an African American Southern Baptist Christian mother, Gibril often felt like “a walking division.” However, his passion for learning led him to major in sociology, setting the stage for his future work in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).
The Pa Karim Memorial Foundation focuses on creating educational access, opportunities, hope, and empowerment for youth in remote villages of Sierra Leone. Their mission is to open doors of opportunity through quality education, unlocking the potential of young minds and igniting their dreams for a brighter future.
The Foundation’s core values include access, opportunity, hope, and empowerment. The Foundation is working on a joint effort with the Government of Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Energy and Xemplar Carbon & Capital to develop, finance and deploy 200MW of Renewable Energy infrastructure solutions across the Republic of Sierra Leone.
The agreement highlights how Xemplar Carbon’s strategic collaboration with the Pa Karim Memorial Foundation and Develop Africa Inc. (Sierra Leone N.G.O.) will ensure Local Content Policy (LCP) engagement and in-country capacity building.
Gibril’s work has not gone unnoticed. He was honored with the 2023 Amway Hero Award, recognizing his dedication to breaking down educational barriers and fostering empowerment through education. This award highlights his mission’s impact and collective effort’s transformative power. In the U.S., Gibril advocates for education and empowerment, urging others to recognize their potential to make a difference.
He believes that through collaboration and commitment, exponential change is possible. Gibril is married to Maurisa N. Mansaray, a Method Development Specialist with Midwest Labs and a classically trained cellist. The couple’s pride and joy are their three-year-old son, Moses, and their one-year-old son, Maaz. You can learn more and donate to the foundation here: Develop Africa (reachapp.co)
Careers
Moving Towards $1 Billion; David Stevens, CEO of Stevens Capital Partners
David Stevens, CEO and Founder of Stevens Capital Partners, is one of the nation’s top investors and wealth management leaders.
After spending nearly 20 years of his career at TD Ameritrade, where he ran the largest advice practice in the nation, David founded Stevens Capital PartnersTM, an SEC fee-only Registered Investment Advisory Firm (formerly known as Purposeful Wealth). David is a University of Nebraska at Lincoln graduate, a series 66 licensed (Investment Advisor), and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. He is a proud member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors and is on the Board of Directors for the Financial Planning Association of Nebraska.
David has been a guest speaker and panelist at local and national conferences throughout the financial industry. David and the team focus on your life, family, and priorities to help you determine, navigate, and achieve your goals. His commitment to the fiduciary model of investment management is one of the pillars that support his work ethic and core values.
He and his wife, Natalia have four children and live in Omaha, where he enjoys attending and coaching their children’s academic, musical, and athletic events. He sits on several boards and enjoys making a positive impact in the lives of others. Part of that commitment is his pledge to donate 10 percent of the profits of Stevens Capital PartnersSM to his community.
Goal is to Delight and Deliver!
Our clients cover a broad spectrum but are mostly high-net worth families, business executives, professional athletes, institutions, churches, and non-profits. They rely on us for wealth management, comprehensive financial planning, and our ability to strategize with them on matters within and outside their financial needs.
Exceeding the expectations of our clients is too low a bar for us. We strive to delight.
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. For more information on the Empowerment Network, please go to empoweromaha.com
Careers
Racquel Henderson, helping to launch the Empowerment Network’s Skill-Up Omaha Collaborative
Racquel Henderson is well-known in the community for spreading the word about opportunities, resources and critical information.
Henderson recently joined EPIC Girls as the director of programs and strategic partnerships. With her previous roles at Metropolitan Community College and UNO, Henderson has made a measurable impact in the lives of thousands of youth and young adults.
This month, she is will also begin working as a consultant and navigator for the Empowerment Network to help launch and coordinate the new Skill-Up Omaha Collaborative.
She has also established a strong reputation for keeping the community connected and informed. Known as a trusted go-to person in the community, Henderson has an amazing track record of making things happen through her passion, advocacy, partnerships, strategic outreach and keeping things relevant and real.
Raquel Henderson
Born and raised in North Omaha, Racquel is a courageous leader that actively works to use employment as a tool to elevate peoples’ circumstances. In her work as an influencer, activists, and community advocate, she is a champion for change through education, employment, and community resources.
Racquel has spent more than 10 years serving her community by providing second chances in reentry programs and uplifting youth in higher education opportunities. Racquel has been pivotal with creating opportunities for individuals to elevate their lives and become the best version of themselves.
Previously, as the Pathway Coordinator for the Walter Scott Jr. Career Pathway Scholarship at Metropolitan Community College Racquel focused on the retention of first-generation and underrepresented students by providing intrusive academic support and guidance on the way to Career Placement. Racquel also serves as the Employment and Education Coordinator for Black and Pink — the nation’s largest prison abolitionist organization.
Additionally, Racquel is a Professor at UNO where she instructs a course centered on issues of race, ethnicity, and the criminal justice system. Racquel works with the Terraluna Collaborative on the Lived Experience Project which seeks to assist youth and families who have been impacted by the juvenile justice system in providing resources and workshops that facilitate healing with a focus on gathering their voices and stories, and is a Consultant for the Community Wellness Collaborative where she provides mentorship and employment skills for cohorts of young adults for the Health Care Collaborative Academy.
Racquel serves as a mentor with The Keys Foundation, where she works to improve academic achievement, self-esteem, social competence and avoidance of problem/high-risk behavior, and recently completed her master’s degree from the University of Nebraska Omaha, where she studied Criminal Justice and disadvantaged communities, and was inducted into the National Honors Society of Criminal Justice.
A 2024 Women’s Center for Advancement Tribute to Women Award Recipient, 2023 Urban League African American Leadership Award Recipient, 2023 Phenomenal Woman of the Year Recipient, 2023 ICAN Award Recipient, 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Fulfill the Dream Award Recipient, 2022 Own the Pond Big Fish Award Recipient, 2022 Community Focused Award Recipient, 2021 Greater Omaha Chamber Changemaker Award Recipient, 2021 Ten Outstanding Young Omahan Award Recipient, 2018 Young Professional of the Year Urban League of Nebraska Award Recipient, 2018 MORE Women Award Recipient, and 2017 Young Black and Influential Award recipient, Racquel is deeply dedicated to her community and is committed to witnessing its flourishing.
In 2015 Racquel Founded of #TheBeProject — a movement based on bringing awareness to various jobs and resources to community members. She recently completed a 2023 National Fellowship in the Women Organizing for Justice and Opportunity National Leadership Lab and completed a fellowship with the National Youth Justice Leadership Institute and was inducted into Women’s Fund Circles 9, and is committed to growing personally and professionally while assisting in improving the lives of women and girls in the community.
Racquel serves with boldness and inspiration on the Board of I Be Black Girl where she assists in actively creating a change-making culture that centers Black women, girls and femmes to provide transformational change. Racquel also serves on the Board of YouTurn and NOISE.
She is a keynote speaker and who works to empower, influence and inspire individuals by meeting them where they are at, and helping them reach their max potential. Along with being a fearless leader who is passionate for her community, most importantly Racquel is a proud mother of two, a friend, neighbor, and community member.