Thousands attend 11th Annual Christmas in the Village at 24th & Lake
The streets were once again full of smiling, laughing and dancing children, families and community members celebrating the holiday spirit at 24th and Lake.
After making the decision to convert the event into a drive thru in 2020, Christmas in the Village returned to the streets of 24th and Lake in a big way.
“Though last year turned out to be an excellent event and much needed escape from the pandemic with over 1,000 cars driving through, it was amazing to see children and families return to 24th and Lake to enjoy themselves and celebrate the season at Christmas in the Village,” said Willie Barney, CEO and founder of the Empowerment Network.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 11 years since we launched the event and inspiring to see how much it has grown and the impact that it has made.”
Christmas in the Village is presented by the Empowerment Network and OEDC in partnership with dozens of organizations and businesses. Major sponsors include American National Bank, Douglas County Visitors Fund, North Omaha Turnback Tax Committee, Nebraska Arts Council, KETV, Revive and main stage sponsor, Veridian Credit Union.
It started as a vision from Barney. He presented the idea for the event to Vicki Quaites-Ferris, Stacy Henry, Deb Bunting, Michael Maroney and the OEDC team. They jumped on board and the first event was planned in just four weeks back in 2011.
Over 70 businesses, organizations, artists and ministries worked together to make the event possible this year.
“Christmas in the Village is a great example of what is possible when we collaborate and each business and organization does their part,” said Barney. “We have been able to create a high quality and well attended event with the help of so many partners. It has also served as a catalyst to show what’s possible here in this historic district.”
The day started with volunteers and businesses working together to place inflatable balloons and characters up and down 24th Street. Business owners swept sidewalks. Volunteers raked leaves. Tents and games were set up early in the morning.
By 10 am, children and families started arriving to receive free gifts from the toy giveaway arranged by 4 Urban and sponsored by UNO.
By 10:30, teams had put Street barricades in place and the event officially started at noon with the Bryant Center’s Condor Drum Corp leading Mr and Mrs Claus down N 24th Street in a horse drawn carriage.
“It was a beautiful sight,” said Vicki Quaites-Ferris, Director of Operations for the Empowerment Network and event manager.
“The streets were lined with families who were excited to see the drum team, elves, and of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus.”
That was just the beginning of a day full of interactive and fun activities. Some have called it a “Winter Wonderland.” People come from all over the region and some as far away as St Louis, Kansas City and Minneapolis rave about the event.
Visitors were treated to free carriage rides sponsored by the Network.
There were face painters in the Fair Deal and families could receive discounts and specials from the local businesses. One of the businesses, Still Poppin, was also celebrating five years in business.
At OEDC, children could wave to Mrs. Claus, receive a free goodie bag and play interactive games.
Tasty food was available on both ends of the event. Smoking Guns and A Taste of New Orleans food trucks were on the street and the Revive Center served customers throughout the day. Between the trucks and Revive those in attendance had a wide range of options.
Some new businesses experienced Christmas in the Village for the very first time. Ital Vital Living which opened this past summer selling smoothies and juices in the former location of the Cooler, hosted a Selfie photo booth and sold their delicious products.
“We had a great turnout and response throughout the day,” said Imani Murry. “24th and Lake is a beautiful place to celebrate the holidays and it was so awesome to see so many kids and families here. We’ve had some great events this fall and this was the largest.”
Just to the North, the Union returned as a participant with a balloon artist, interactive children’s activities and the highly popular Raku pottery.
The largest crowds always gather in Dreamland Park for an awesome holiday concert featuring some of Omaha’s top gospel and jazz artists, including Millicent Crawford, Kathy Tyree, The Arvies, Eric and Doriette Jordan, Chad Stoner and Big Wade.
Pear Tree Performing Arts wasn’t able to perform in 2020 but returned once again to deliver inspiring dance routines in front of a packed audience. The Sacred Heart children’s choir also joined in for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed the event.
Another crowd favorite is the live nativity scene complete with a camel, donkey and other animals. The Empowerment Network partners with Mt. Moriah and Scatter Joy Acres on the attraction that draws great reactions from kids.
There was plenty of hot apple cider and cookies provided by Styles of Evolution.
“We doubled up this year on cider and cookies and we ran out midway through the event there were so many people,” said Don McPherson, owner of Styles.
Kids and families enjoyed all their holiday favorites including hot chocolate, cookies, popcorn, cotton candy and other snacks available from different locations.
The Omaha Police Department handed out candy canes and stickers. The Black Police Officers Association has been involved every year as a sponsor and handing out toys and candy bags in partnership with Revive and Santa. The Omaha Fire Department provided an interactive experience that kids seemed to thoroughly enjoy.
Bridge Church joined in for the first time with some excellent and engaging activities outside on Lake Street.
The Great Plains Black History Museum presented a Tuskegee Airmen exhibit and handed out free candy.
The Omaha Star provided a children’s activity book and sold subscriptions.
Families stopped by the Carver Legacy Center and received some swag and information from the Carver team and American National Bank. American National Bank is a platinum sponsor and has supported Christmas in the Village every year since it started.
One of the other major impacts with Christmas in the Village is the support for local small businesses. Many of them reported record sales during the five hour event.
“We truly appreciate the support from our community” said Valerie Bradford, owner of Divine Nspirations.
“An event like this can do wonders for a small business. We did very well and it’s such a positive experience for families.”
Further to the South, LeFlores New Look Fashions, Get N Go Foods and other businesses also participate and see the economic impact of Christmas in the Village.
Because of the pandemic, precautions were implemented to keep attendees safe. Most activities were held outside and masks were required when guests ventured inside buildings. Hand sanitizer was distributed and available at every location.
Although the group would much rather have had Santa interact directly with the kids all day, he was primarily waving through a window from a specially made office on 24th Street. It still created some awesome moments and memories.
“We want to thank all of our partners, sponsors and volunteers,” said Quaites-Ferris. “This wouldn’t be possible without them.”
Another major bonus was the nearly 300 residents that received their vaccinations through a partnership between the IMA, Mocha Docs, Douglas County Health Department, Mt. Moriah and the Empowerment Network.
“We worked with the county and they brought all three vaccinations and the booster as we requested,” said Pastor Portia Cavitt, president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance and Senior Pastor of Clair Memorial Church.
“I was out talking with the people and encouraging them to come get vaccinated right there on the spot. There was a tremendous response. We want the County to do more of this. Meet the people where they are.”
That was music to the ears of the organizers.
“The Village is a now a place where you can play, eat, shop, sing, worship, enjoy family, get healthy and have a great time throughout the year, not only during the holidays,” said Barney.
“When we created Christmas in the Village 11 years ago, part of the vision was to bring people back to 24th and Lake and to serve as a catalyst for holistic revitalization.”
“The momentum is building. We’ve come a long way, but even greater things are just ahead. 2022 will be the best ever.”
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2021 Photo Gallery
Community Features
Experienced Community Banker, Karnetta Rushing joins the Carver Legacy Center team
Community Features
Confirmation and Momentum: May 2025 was a historic and unprecedented time
On a personal and professional level, the month of May 2025 was incredibly confirming. Game changing. Unprecedented. Historic. It was a time of confirmation, transition and transformation.
I had the opportunity to present in New York at a national Black economic summit that featured Governor Wes Moore, Killer Mike – musical artist and entrepreneur, CEO’s, investors, funders, researchers, media execs and many others. The keynote presentations and points of emphasis all completely confirmed the models we have been implementing for the past 18 years and the next phase we are preparing to launch.
I then woke up at 3 am to board a flight after the two-day event to get back in time to facilitate a leadership meeting and then a separate conversation about voter turnout and mobilization. More confirmation about the expansion of the model.
My friend and one of the original members of the Empowerment Network and Omaha 360, John Ewing was elected as Mayor of Omaha. The first Black mayor elected in the city! A committed leader and man of God, who has served this community with passion and excellence for 40+ years. We have worked together for over 20+ years and the visions we discussed are becoming reality. Great things ahead.
The next day was the start of our 18th Annual Rebuilding the Village Conference with national guests from eight different cities focused on creating safe, thriving, and prosperous communities. This year was different as we redesigned and dedicated the conference to elevating deeper collaboration, rediscovering economic self-sufficiency, building wealth, pooling, and investing resources and working together toward community transformation.
One of the most significant moments was having the opportunity to facilitate a panel featuring representatives from some of the most successful Black Wall Streets in the history of this nation. A long-held vision! For years I have researched Black Wall Streets and now have the opportunity to document the keys to success. Absolute confirmation.
I was also blessed to have the opportunity to recognize JoAnna LeFlore Ejike and the Malcolm X Foundation for their work and in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Malcolm X’s birth. JoAnna shared some key information regarding why Malcolm’s dad moved to Omaha, and I have always appreciated Malcolm’s message of self-help.
We also celebrated our National Empowerment Champion, Ryana Parks Shaw, Mayor Pro Tem from Kansas City. She has led many projects and she’s an incredible champion for the Empowerment Network, KC 360 and KC United for Public Safety. She introduced and led the approval of a $30 million fund to support community-based violence prevention and intervention efforts in KC. She shows what’s possible through strong leadership skills, effective policy making and commitment to community.
A week later, my daughter graduated from high school. What an incredible blessing. My son, mother and stepfather joined us along with many members of Priscilla’s village. She had a great experience at Central and is now headed to UNL.
Then last week, after an intense 360 meeting that I’ll speak more on very soon, we loaded a bus to Tulsa’s Black Wall Street to present the collective action plan that I have facilitated with the engagement of 250+ Black leaders and change makers we’ve convened collectively with a planning team. It is already producing fruit.
In addition, we took 25 Omaha entrepreneurs, community builders and national strategic partners to Tulsa this past week. I had the opportunity to introduce the comprehensive model that I have been developing, piloting, and evolving for nearly 35 years. The response to the models and framework has been overwhelmingly positive.
While in Tulsa, we launched the next phase of the Revive Black Business Network and Empowerment Network. We focused intensely on relationship development, business connections and exchanges, fund development and access to capital, housing and development, history and cultural tourism, and education and youth development. We had the strongest feedback of any session we have facilitated. Let me just say some strategic business relationships were established and expanded.
History was made again. We met with Mayor Monroe Nichols in Tulsa, Oklahoma home of Greenwood’s Black Wall Street on our Rebuild and Transform Tour. The first Black Mayor of Tulsa. He was also part of our State of Black Tulsa Summit.
104 years after the massacre with two survivors in the audience. He announced the establishment of the Greenwood Trust which will include an initial $105 million to help begin to address home ownership, business loans and other economic development initiatives to further reinvest in rebuilding Greenwood!
As he met with us on Friday, May 31st, he sees the Tulsa Empowerment Network as a key partner on the journey. Congratulations to all of our friends and partners in Tulsa. Thankful to be a part of this next phase.
It was truly a transformational month. I finally feel free to speak more openly about the bigger picture and I am incredibly encouraged by the confirmation coming from thousands of participants, partners, and supporters from across the country and even internationally.
I am now preparing to release some significant pieces including an article I have been working on and updating for five years. The article will be an introduction to some upcoming books. Thank you, Jesus!
Momentum is building and accelerating. Grateful to so many supporters and partners in Omaha and across the country. Walking in faith. Walking in purpose.
Get engaged. Stay engaged! Let’s build together.
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)