April 2019

THANK YOU for Making our 2019 Humanitarian Brunch a Success!
On Sunday, April 7, we were proud to host speaker Vu Le and 350 of our closest friends and community members at our annual Humanitarian Brunch. The Brunch is one of our favorite events of the year, because it gives us an opportunity to recognize individuals and organizations who dedicate their time and talents to making a difference and promoting social justice and inclusivity for all.

This year, we were honored to recognize Marta Nieves as Humanitarian of the Year; The Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center as the Otto Swanson Partner of the Year; and Emily Schirmbeck as Volunteer of the Year. We could not be more grateful to these three award recipients for their dedication to this important work, and for being incredible partners to Inclusive Communities!

This year, we were especially excited for the opportunity to tell our audience about a new leadership program we are launching this fall - LeadDIVERSITY ! Learn more about this program and how you can get involved below.

THANK YOU to all our sponsors and friends who continue to support the work of Inclusive Communities in our 81st year!
Maggie Wood, Executive Director
Lead the Way with LeadDIVERSITY!
In partnership with OPPD, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and The Business Ethics Alliance, Inclusive Communities is proud to announce the launch of LeadDIVERSITY !

This year-long program is designed to build a network of leaders dedicated to creating localized solutions to diversity and inclusion opportunities in Nebraska. During this program, leaders will engage in topics that will leave them well versed and experienced in anticipating diversity and inclusion needs in the workplace as well as the community.

LeadDIVERSITY participants (referred to as Advocates) receive exceptional skills training to move Nebraska workplaces and communities forward. They will work together on a diversity, equity and inclusion focused service project highlighting the imperative nature of implementing serious social change.

LeadDIVERSITY will redefine leadership both for the individuals who participate and the organizations and business they represent.

Who Should Apply?
The LeadDIVERSITY program approaches diversity and leadership issues from a no-fault, interactive foundation with the goal of affecting positive change. Participants of LeadDIVERSITY can be from various corporate, non-profit, governmental, educational, health and community organizations. The program is for any leader who has an interest in the impact of diversity at work, in their personal lives and/or communities, including Managers, Human Resources professionals, Diversity Councils, and other community, business and organizational leaders.

The application period is May 1st through May 31st. All applicants will be notified by July 15th, and the program will begin in September. The selection committee seeks applicants with proven leadership skills who have exhibited a strong community commitment.



Lozier Omaha Table Talk
Thank you to all who joined us for the Omaha Table Talk: Black Lives Matter with College of Saint Mary on March 26!

For so long the conversation about police brutality and the black community has centered on the abuse black men and boys experience by law enforcement. Following the high-profile arrest and death while in police custody of Sandra Bland in 2015, the #sayhername movement gained national attention as it sought to raise awareness for black female victims of police brutality and anti-black violence in the United States. At this Omaha Table Talk, we had an opportunity facilitate a concentrated and intentional conversation regarding the criminalization of poor, black women, health disparities, reproductive justice and the abuse and discrimination experienced by Black trans-gendered people

We want to thank all our participants in the table discussions for sharing their concerns, experiences and ideas. We'd also like to thank our moderator, Elaundra Nichols; our panelists, Jasmine Harris; Deborah A. Turner, MD, JD; Linda Smith, PhD, MSPH, RN; and Avalisa Gallo. We appreciate the energy and vital dialogue lent by all our table facilitators and volunteers. Special thanks to our partner College of St. Mary, and to D's Catering.
Black Lives Matter OTT panelists and IC members
Upcoming OTT Events
Faith and LGBTQ
Tuesday, April 16, 6:00-7:30pm

One of the most contentious identity intersections talked about. When the person you are conflicts with the deity you praise, it can lead to a life full of internal, as well as community conflict. An estimated 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center estimated that between 5 and 10% of LGBT youth, depending on age and sex groups, have attempted suicide, a rate 1.5-3 times higher than heterosexual youth. What factors contribute to statistics like these? Is there a responsibility for organizations centered around faith to assist in the lives of LGBTQ people? Is faith a solution to these issues or a cause, or can it be both? Join us on Tuesday, April 16th as we talk about this and more.
Education and Ableism
Thursday, April 25, 11:30am-1:00pm

Many call education the doorway to opportunity, but what happens when school itself becomes the barrier to your success? That has been the story for many students with disabilities in America. Ableism is defined as discrimination in favor of able-bodied people. This is often hard for those of us not experiencing it to identify. Well-intentioned people can believe that the solution to this is to create a focus on the disability, but it seems that’s not what people with disabilities are asking for. On Thursday, April 25 th  come find out what a few of our panelists believe is the real solution to a nuanced issue facing our educational system.
Race and Drugs
Tuesday, May 14, 11:30am-1:00pm

The intersection of race and drugs has drawn new fervor since more and more states have legalized marijuana. Now that the legal marijuana industry in America is booming, families of incarcerated people want to know when their family members, charged with non-violent drug offenses could come home.

A decision last year labeling the opioid crisis a “public health emergency” was met with public outcry when it was compared to how the crack epidemic, a crisis mainly affecting Black communities in the eighties, was handled. Who gets sympathy when drugs are involved? Who gets to be “just kids” and who gets labeled “violent thugs” when using and selling drugs? Find out when we take on this conversation Tuesday, May 14 th .
Save the Date for The Main Event!
Please save the date to join Inclusive Communities for the 2019 Main Event! This signature Omaha Table Talk event will take place on Tuesday, May 21, serving as a kick-off to Omaha Gives! We will be partnering with twelve local nonprofits, each hosting a small group discussion around the subjects of race and identity, and how they impact the work they do. Each group discussion will be guided by a trained facilitator.

Omaha Table Talk Main Event – Tuesday, May 21
6:00-8:00 pm
Various locations

What makes The Main Event special is that it highlights our overwhelming dedication to community partnership. This year, our partners will address how their core mission intersects with the issue of race in our community.

The Main Event provides our partners the chance to enhance their visibility and encourage the audience to get even more involved. Participating in the Main Event means that our partners understand that there is a connectedness to all of our issues if we look closely enough, and they all deserve our attention and collaboration.