North Omaha Community Night draws crowd to Highlander Accelerator
On Thursday, March 28, Nebraska For Us and Black Men United teamed up to host North Omaha Community Night—an evening designed for a wide ranging discussion about economic issues affecting the area.
About 60 guests heard from four speakers who are heavily involved in the community, discussing subjects related to economics, community involvement, entrepreneurship, and more:
LD11 State Sen. Terrell McKinney
North Omaha Neighborhood Alliance President Precious McKesson
Big Mama’s Kitchen & Catering Owner Gladys Harrison
International Economic Development Council’s Dr. Dell Gines
“At the end of the day, if we’re not getting dollars to the community, it’s hard for us to be prosperous,” Sen. Terrell McKinney said. “It’s going to continue to be a cycle of asking people outside of the community to help us. If I can help us not have to go outside of the community asking for help, that’s what I’m going to try to do.”
Sen. McKinney referenced funding secured for North Omaha as part of the American Rescue Plan Act—a massive economic stimulus package that President Joe Biden signed into law in March 2021. The plan was designed to provide direct relief to Americans—including residents of Congressional District 2—who have had their lives drastically impacted by the pandemic. Since then, states across the country have been working to allocate those dollars.
“There have been no politicians until this generation that have prioritized economic development in this community,” Dr. Dell Gines said. “The power of our policymaker is crucial. This is probably the most massive investment in such a short period of time. I’ve never understood why some politicians fight for table scraps.”
Dr. Gines’ experience in the field of business development has helped fuel his passion for economic development in North Omaha, and he said he is starting to see the transformation in action through a full team effort.
“When you tie policy, community, and business together, you cannot lose,” Dr. Gines said.
“We have the best property, and North Omaha is so rich in history,” Big Mama’s Kitchen & Catering Owner Gladys Harrison said. “We should be a part of the development taking place in this community.”
Gladys Harrison is another community advocate who remains committed to doing business in North Omaha. As the daughter of the late founder of Big Mama’s Kitchen & Catering, she said she wants to ensure North Omaha is economically successful. One way to continue giving back to the community is by hiring formerly incarcerated people as they work to re-enter society.
“I do what I do because that’s what my faith tells me to do,” Harrison added. “I don’t get blessed with the things I have just for me. Somebody gave our folks a second chance, so why shouldn’t we give others a second chance?”
That philosophy of working together was a common theme among all four of our speakers, including those like NONA President Precious McKesson, who works day in and day out to advocate for her North Omaha neighbors.
“As we continue to grow in our community, collaboration is the key,” McKesson said. “I feel that there is enough work for all of us in this community. It is not a competition. It is a team effort, and we do a lot to uplift it. As we continue to grow, I will work hard to make sure that North Omaha is represented in the way that it should be.”
Nebraska For Us is an economic advocacy and policy organization focused on Congressional District 2. We believe it is important to hold community events and forums, while also opening up a dialogue for members of our community to lift up their voices on subjects of economic importance for working class and middle income Nebraskans.
