September 2019
It's a new school year, and that means lots of new and exciting updates for Inclusive Communities! We've welcomed a new team member and three new board members to help us achieve our mission. We have a captivating new line-up of Lozier Omaha Table Talk Events, and we're continuing to expand and enhance our community partnerships throughout Nebraska.

This year, we have launched the first session of LeadDIVERSITY in Omaha, and we're expanding IncluCity to include Lincoln schools. We're also taking on the new UNO Dialogue Project with the University of Nebraska Omaha to bring important conversations about diversity and inclusion to the UNO community.

All of this work combines to create community-wide change... and it all starts with YOU! Please continue to support Inclusive Communities, participate in these programs, and be the change in your own circles!
Maggie Wood, Executive Director
Join Us in Welcoming John-Paul Gurnett to the Inclusive Communities Team!
ABOVE: JP attended Inclusive Communities' Camp Unitown in 2004!
We are pleased to introduce our new Program Partner of Youth Development, John-Paul Gurnett! John-Paul, also known as JP, will be overseeing our youth programming and helping us expand our work in the school systems across the state.

JP is an Omaha native who graduated from Omaha South High, then went on to attend Creighton University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Theater. While there he discovered a passion for social justice and working with youth. This led him to change paths and earn a Masters in Education.

As a teacher with Omaha Public Schools, JP spent 8 years working with the wonderful students at Liberty Elementary. During his tenure as a teacher he taught a variety of learners, from kindergarten age to adults at the graduate school level.  

As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, JP is the co-founder and creative director of Queer Nite, a collective with the mission to create queer inclusive spaces. This has allowed JP to unify his passion for social justice as well as serving as an outlet for artistic expression.

He also serves on the board of directors for Neon Seams, an emerging non-profit that seeks to alter society's dependency on fast fashion and consumerism. When not working to improve the city he loves, JP can be found in midtown with his husband Brendan and their 95 pound golden doodle named Morty.



Lozier Omaha Table Talk
Inclusive Communities is proud to announce the line-up for the 2019-2020 schedule of Lozier Omaha Table Talk events. The following events make up the 2019-2020 Omaha Table Talk schedule:


ERA 2020: Reframing Women’s Equality as Equity
September 18, 2019 | 12:00-1:30pm
Registration is now open! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Storytelling as Remembrance: Black Art and History in the 100 th  Year of Will Brown’s Lynching
September 23, 2019 | 11:30am-1:00pm
Registration is now open! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Race, Really: The Myths and Realities of Racial Differences
October 15, 2019 | 5:00-7:30pm, Includes Durham exhibit access before event

One Person, No Voice: Voter Suppression 2020
October 31, 2019 | 11:30am-1:00pm

#SaveOurSisters: Protecting Trans Women
November 14, 2019 | 6:00-7:30pm

Decolonizing Thanksgiving: Racial Justice and Oppression as Tradition
November 26, 2019 | 11:30am-1:00pm

#SomosElFuturo: Immigration and the Crisis at the Border
December 17, 2019 | 6:00-7:30pm

Women and Wisdom: Social Justice in the Pages of the St. John’s Bible
January 14, 2020 | 5:00-7:30pm, Includes Joslyn exhibit access before event

Homeless Omaha: Policy, Prevention and Community Support
February 4, 2020 | 11:30am-1:00pm

Transportation Inequities: Marginalization and Access
February 18, 2020 | 6:00-7:30pm

#MeToo on the Margins
March 3, 2020 | 11:30am-1:00pm

Mass Incarceration: Enslaved in the System
March 17, 2020 | 6:00-7:30pm

Askable Adults
April 14, 2020 | 6:00-7:30pm

Mental Health First Aid: Youth and Crisis Prevention
April 28, 2020 | 6:00-7:30pm

The Color of Wealth: Race, Poverty and Resources
May 12, 2020 | 11:30am-1:00pm

Time Out to Hard Time: Education, Incarceration and the School-to-Prison Pipeline
May 26, 2020 | 6:00-7:30pm


Omaha Table Talk is free and open to the public, with registration required by visiting  www.inclusive-communities.org . Registration opens one month prior to each event. American Sign Language interpreters are available at all OTT events.

With any questions, contact Katherine MacHolmes at  katherine@inclusive-communities.org .
A Conversation Series for UNO Students, Faculty & Staff
Inclusive Communities is proud to partner with the University of Nebraska Omaha to present the UNO Dialogue Project, formerly known as Sustained Dialogue. The goal of this project is to create a space for the UNO community to engage in productive and civil dialogue around uncomfortable or somewhat controversial topics. It's a space where all points of view are heard and respected, and where students, faculty and staff can develop the skills needed to become thought leaders in the community.

For more information on the UNO Dialogue Project, contact Katherine@inclusive-communities.org .
Say Whaaat?!
Amber Ruffin Returns for FriendsGiving 2019!

Sunday, December 1st, 2019
Noon-2:30pm
The Slowdown

Join us for our annual friend-raiser featuring the hilarious Amber Ruffin, Omaha native and TV personality known for her work on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
Introducing Our Incredible New Board Members!

Inclusive Communities would like to recognize the following board members who have joined us for this year. We look forward to harnessing their insights, expertise, and guidance to help us make an impact!
Dr. Roopa Venkatesh
Associate Professor of Accounting, University of Nebraska Omaha

Dr. Venkatesh serves as a member of the IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) Global Board of Directors, and serves on multiple IMA advisory committees. Her accomplishments in research, teaching, and service have been recognized with two IMA grants from the Foundation for Applied Research, the William C. Hockett Professorship, the UNO Dean's Citation Award for Excellence in Service, UNO Alumni Outstanding Teaching Award, Dean's Citation Award for Excellence in Teaching, and more.
Sonia Tiebi
Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation

Before joining the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, Sonia was the VP of Strategic Initiatives at the Women’s Fund of Omaha. She has held leadership positions in mid-sized and large corporations where she was responsible for project leadership and strategic planning. She has a Master’s Degree in Managerial Communication and is an Agile Certified Practitioner. Sonia is passionate about applying proven techniques to break complex problems down to achievable chunks and mentoring youth in our community. 
Melanie Morrissey Clark
President of Clark Creative Group

In addition to co-owning Clark Creative Group, Inc. with her husband, Fred Clark, Melanie also serves as the volunteer Editor in Chief of Today's Omaha Woman , a magazine she co-founded in 1996 for the Women's Fund of Omaha. She has co-authored two books: “Straight Talk About Breast Cancer” and “The Fertility Handbook.” Currently President of the Women’s Fund of Omaha Board of Directors, Melanie has served on many community boards, including Girls Incorporated, YWCA Omaha (now WCA), Children's Respite Care Center, Phoenix Academy, Omaha Girls Rock and CASA for Douglas County.