A Community-Wide Impact

Through this program, 35 nonprofit organizations received critical funding, reaching over 24,500 individuals across 30 ZIP codes, with a focus on underserved areas. Among those served, 60% were youth under 18, and 80% identified as people of color, demonstrating the initiative’s commitment to equity and inclusion.

By strategically investing in existing programs, the City of Omaha and OCF helped nonprofits expand services and build sustainability. Grant recipients saw a 25% increase in operating budgets from 2022 to 2024, reinforcing their ability to serve the community long-term.

Read the report

Addressing Urgent Needs

The program prioritized four key areas:

• Violence Prevention: Supported youth mentorship and gang prevention efforts, awarding $3.98 million to organizations fostering safer neighborhoods.
• Community-Based Services: Expanded access to mental health support and therapy, providing $2.13 million to organizations enhancing behavioral health care.
• Workforce Development: Funded job training, employment readiness, and certification programs, distributing $1.64 million to workforce initiatives.
• Crisis Intervention: Assisted families in crisis with housing, food security, and safety resources, with $1.85 million dedicated to this work.

Strengthening Omaha’s Nonprofit Sector

Beyond direct funding, the ARPA Community Grants Program helped nonprofits gain experience managing large-scale federal grants, preparing them for future opportunities. Many organizations expanded services, hired new staff, and developed innovative programs to meet evolving community needs.

For example:

• Charles Drew Health Center expanded its trauma-informed care, providing culturally relevant support for Omaha’s youth.
• Siena Francis House used funding to provide over 29,000 nights of transitional housing and 13,000 hours of behavioral services for young mothers.
• AIM Institute launched culturally responsive tech education programs to reduce barriers for Spanish-speaking communities.

Read impact stories os how the ARPA funds allowed nonprofits to serve individuals locally:

• Child Saving Institute
• Metro Mental Health Initiative
• Ollie Webb Center
• Omaha Home for Boys
• Women’s Center for Advancement
• Catholic Charities
• Siena Francis House

A Collaborative Effort

This initiative wouldn’t have been possible without the City of Omaha’s partnership with OCF, whose expertise in nonprofit funding ensured that resources were allocated efficiently and equitably. The United Way of the Midlands also played a key role in distributing additional ARPA funds to support local initiatives.

The City of Omaha ARPA Community Grants Program exemplifies how strategic investment in nonprofits can create lasting change, building a stronger, more resilient community for years to come.

Read the report

The post Building Resilience: How ARPA Funding Strengthened Nonprofits appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

In Heart Ministry Center’s Fresh Start program, Mr. L found more than just a job training program. He found a lifeline — a structured path toward his next chapter of self-sufficiency. With the support of counselors and mentors, he began rebuilding his life from the ground up. It wasn’t easy. There were setbacks, moments of doubt, but he never faltered in his determination. Mr. L embraced sobriety with fervor, attending AA meetings and immersing himself in therapy to confront the demons that had plagued him for years. 

Through the guidance of Fresh Start, Mr. L not only secured employment but excelled in his new career, earning praise for his dedication and earning a raise within months. His success wasn’t just measured in terms of a job; it was reflected in his regained driver’s license, the healing of family rifts, and his steady progress toward clearing his legal obligations. 

As part of the City of Omaha’s ARPA Community Grant Program, the Heart Ministry Center used a $335,891 grant for their Fresh Start program over the course of two years. The funds enabled the Heart Ministry Center to expand its services precisely when they were needed most, during the challenges of the pandemic. The grant supported enhanced job training, mental health services, and crucial community outreach efforts that provided stability for participants like Mr. L. 

Today, Mr. L is more than an employee; he’s a beacon of hope for others still navigating their own recoveries. His story, shared within the Heart Ministry Center’s community, inspires new participants to persevere, knowing that transformation is possible with dedication and the right support system. 

The Heart Ministry Center’s mission, rooted in “Dignity For All,” is embodied in Mr. L’s journey. It’s not just about finding a job; it’s about creating a mindset that empowers individuals to reclaim their lives and thrive. Each Fresh Start graduate emerges not only with employment but also with a renewed sense of purpose and the tools to navigate life’s challenges. 

As the Center continues to evolve and expand its offerings, Mr. L stands as living proof of the impact of their work. His story illustrates that with compassion, comprehensive support, and a commitment to growth, lives can be transformed, families can heal, and communities can flourish. 

ABOUT THIS STORY 

The City of Omaha partnered with the Omaha Community Foundation to administer the ARPA Community Grant Program because of the foundation’s work with local nonprofits and awareness of community needs. The grant program focused on providing funding to expand or enhance existing programs in areas of Crisis Intervention & Violence Prevention, and Workforce Development. 

The City of Omaha ARPA Community Grant Program awarded $9.6 million to 35 nonprofit organizations. Eligible programs included youth programs such as mentoring, gang prevention and intervention, mental health, crisis response, and assistance to unemployed workers including workforce readiness training, certification, and employment services. 

See all City of Omaha ARPA Community Grant Program grant recipients. 

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP0230 awarded to the City of Omaha by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. 

The post Heart Ministry Center used ARPA funds to expand transformative Fresh Start program appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

During support groups he shared his struggles, breaking down the stigma that domestic violence only impacts women. As a master chef, Tom wowed clients with the meals he prepared.  Encouraged by Catholic Charities staff, Tom spent days pounding the pavement to apply for jobs – a key to his ability to thrive.

“You have been the best support system for me. Thank you for always having an open ear to listen to me,” Tom said to shelter staff.

Tom was one of 82 adults and their 65 children served at Catholic Charities’ shelter in the past year.

Eventually, Tom was connected with the Metropolitan Reentry Assistance Program and found a job through their career opportunity board. The Catholic Charities Housing Advocate helped him find a home close to his new job. Today, Tom is safe, settled, and working to build a healthy future.

The City of Omaha awarded Catholic Charities $176,373 from the ARPA Community Grant Program to support their domestic violence services in 2022 and 2023 in the wake of the pandemic. By the middle of the pandemic, Catholic Charities saw a 124% increase in the number of calls to their Domestic Violence Hotline over pre-pandemic levels. Their work supporting survivors also changed. Inflation and lack of housing caused by the pandemic had a ripple effect throughout the various support services each client received.

As cases soared, Catholic Charities provided victims safety and support through the following:

• 24/7 Crisis Hotline: Day or night, domestic violence victims can speak to a trained advocate through the hotline. For those in life-threatening danger, the advocates help create an escape plan to access their emergency shelter.
• Emergency Shelter: This is a respite for victims escaping violence. The shelter is staffed at all times. Catholic Charities provides case management, advocacy, safety planning, community support, and referrals. This includes connecting each client with housing resources to help them build a safe, homeless-free future. For children, they provide specialized support led by a Child DV Advocate.
• Sheltering, Aftercare, and Outreach Advocacy: Staff help clients write safety plans and learn about violence and how to avoid it. Their Aftercare Services provide one year of post-shelter support.

This means that clients like Tom are supported through every step of their journey out of domestic violence. They are offered an escape plan, a temporary place to live with others experiencing similar challenges, a support system, housing referrals, job assistance, and a year of aftercare to continue supporting them during the first year of this new chapter in their lives

“Healing is ongoing. When a client leaves our shelter, the moment is joyous, but hardly a goodbye,” said Executive Director Denise Bartels. “Clients who complete our program are enrolled in Community Reintegration Services. Our advocates provide post-program support connecting clients with resources and community.”

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ABOUT THIS STORY

The City of Omaha partnered with the Omaha Community Foundation to administer the ARPA Community Grant Program because of the foundation’s work with local nonprofits and awareness of community needs. The grant program focused on providing funding to expand or enhance existing programs in areas of Crisis Intervention & Violence Prevention, and Workforce Development.

The City of Omaha ARPA Community Grant Program awarded $9.6 million to 35 nonprofit organizations. Eligible programs included youth programs such as mentoring, gang prevention and intervention, mental health, crisis response, and assistance to unemployed workers including workforce readiness training, certification, and employment services.

See all City of Omaha ARPA Community Grant Program grant recipients.

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP0230 awarded to the City of Omaha by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The post Amidst rising calls for help, ARPA funding strengthens Catholic Charities’ domestic violence services appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

“Many Metro Community College students are graduates of Omaha Public Schools, where the Methodist Community Counseling Program is available. It’s a natural fit to have the program’s services available to students as they graduate and transition to college,” said Tracy Madden-McMahon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Methodist Hospital Foundation.

Approximately 80% of secondary education clients qualify for Medicaid. Due to the generosity of funders such as the City of Omaha and its ARPA Community Grant Program, no student is turned away due to the inability to pay. As a result, hope is being restored and lives are changing.

‘I wasn’t alone’

During Emilie’s sophomore year in high school – and after relationship issues started taking a toll on her schoolwork – a guidance counselor suggested Emilie meet with a Methodist Community Counselor.

“When I saw my counselor for the first time, I felt like I was right at home. She just wants to help you,” Emilie said. “It helped me feel like I wasn’t alone. We’ve been through some deep stuff and I have seen so much improvement in my mood and everything else.”

Today, Emilie attends college. With a nod to the program’s impact, she said she ultimately hopes to become a therapist herself.

A path to graduation

Jacqueline had lost passion for high school. She was struggling with depression and anxiety, and she didn’t have the tools she needed to cope.

“Given my anxiety, there was a time when I was considering dropping out,” she said, but instead, she found a counselor. “It’s not enough to take it on yourself. Sometimes you need to reach out.”

Today, Jacqueline attends college on multiple scholarships.

“Without the program, I honestly might not have been able to graduate high school,” she said.

Making a difference

One student grew up in a home filled with dysfunction and substance abuse. He sold drugs and spent time in jail. He also battled paranoia and psychosis.

The counseling program is helping him address feelings of being lost, alone and unsupported. This has led to a healthy life balance and stability. The student is part of a support group and has identified a career goal, all while continuing regular counseling.

“My client feels like a new person and, for the first time, has hope for the future,” said counselor Tabitha Jameson, MA, LIMHP.

More about the program

The Methodist Community Counseling program also provides therapy at community locations across Omaha. In total, counselors conducted 8,616 sessions in 2022, a 16% increase over 2021.

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ABOUT THIS STORY

The City of Omaha partnered with the Omaha Community Foundation to administer the ARPA Community Grant Program because of the foundation’s work with local nonprofits and awareness of community needs. The grant program focused on providing funding to expand or enhance existing programs in areas of Crisis Intervention & Violence Prevention, and Workforce Development.

The ARPA Community Grant Program awarded $9.6 million to 35 nonprofit organizations. Eligible programs included youth programs such as mentoring, gang prevention and intervention, mental health, crisis response, and assistance to unemployed workers including workforce readiness training, certification, and employment services.

See all City of Omaha ARPA Community Grant Program grant recipients.

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP0230 awarded to the City of Omaha by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The post Empowering Omaha’s youth: ARPA grant expands access to life-changing mental health services appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

As part of the City of Omaha’s ARPA Community Grant Program, Child Saving Institute (CSI) received $299,436 to expand its Mental Health Services program and increase salaries for new and existing employees. They also used the funds to offer additional training to employees. As a result, the organization saw a tremendous increase in job applicants.

Once the new salaries were in place, they received applications from seven Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioners (LIMHP) for a position that six months prior saw zero applicants.

“As a result of receiving this grant, the Pediatric and Adolescent Therapy program has been able to add clinicians and train them,” said Jaymes Sime, President and Chief Executive Officer of Child Saving Institute. “The pandemic increased the need to provide mental health services in the Omaha community and the grant allows for CSI to be a part of meeting the needs of the community.”

Rebecca was one of the LIMHPs hired with ARPA funds. She was attracted to the Institute’s mission and salary, as well as the available training opportunities.

“Training dollars are incredibly important because this profession requires a desire to learn and grow as a practitioner,” Rebecca said. “Trainings can be very expensive, but having the opportunity to better oneself ultimately benefits those we serve. If we want to treat more than just the surface of the issue, having the opportunity to become trained and certified in advanced modalities allows us that opportunity to heal those core wounds.”

The additional staff had an immediate impact on clients.

A young female client had been seeing a therapist with minimal progress before being referred to the Child Saving Institute. Her family had also requested the Crisis Response Team come to their home for assistance with de-escalation on multiple occasions. With the additional mental health professionals available, the family was able to schedule an appointment shortly after the referral.

“The family was at their breaking point. In the two-week period before the intake, I was informed that the family had requested crisis response roughly six or so more times,” Rebecca said. “I determined that two sessions a week would benefit my client. The family has not called for crisis response since starting therapy together. Having the ability to provide extended services and witness her progress has been incredible to see.”

Rebecca checked in with her client earlier this week and asked how she felt things were going. Her client replied: “I didn’t think there was any chance things would get better, but now I’m slowly beginning to see change.”

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about this story

The City of Omaha partnered with the Omaha Community Foundation to administer the ARPA Community Grant Program because of the foundation’s work with local nonprofits and awareness of community needs. The grant program focused on providing funding to expand or enhance existing programs in areas of Crisis Intervention & Violence Prevention, and Workforce Development.

The City of Omaha ARPA Community Grant Program awarded $9.6 million to 35 nonprofit organizations. Eligible programs included youth programs such as mentoring, gang prevention and intervention, mental health, crisis response, and assistance to unemployed workers including workforce readiness training, certification, and employment services.

See all City of Omaha ARPA Community Grant Program grant recipients.

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP0230 awarded to the City of Omaha by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The post ARPA funding helps Child Saving Institute expand mental health services appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

The International Council on Refugees and Immigrants (ICRI) is addressing this through a new peer support program, offering a different model of support than clinical therapy.

“In recent years, it has become normalized in the U.S. to go to therapy or take medication,” said Dekow Sagar, Founder and Executive Director of ICRI. “But therapy is not known or accepted in many countries, so we believe peer support model will be more impactful.”

Last year, ICRI received $50,000 from the Community Resilience Fund to hire, train, and certify former refugees as peer support specialists who would connect other immigrants and refugees to mental health services that are culturally and linguistically appropriate.

Seven people have already been through training, including local members of the Somali, Afghan, Karen, Kachin, and South Sudanese communities. They are all well equipped to empathize with and support the experiences of their peers.

Before the pandemic, the Omaha-Council Bluffs area had significant mental health concerns among its residents. One in four people experienced symptoms of depression. Many migrants are within the demographics that experience the highest risks of depression: young people of color in poverty, especially women.

Mental health issues have only increased over the last two years, exacerbating an urgent community issue.

“For us to recover, it will be critical to address our community’s increased mental health needs,” said Emily Nguyen, Director of Research and Strategy at the Omaha Community Foundation.

Refugees often face compounding challenges. After experiencing trauma in their home countries, they must adjust to life somewhere new.

“It is isolating,” Sagar said, speaking of his own experience as a young man. “I had extremely depressing moments. I knew people that wanted to go back [despite the danger]. Even if you are surrounded by thousands of people, it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have a support system.”

The peer support model is a grassroots approach and a strategic, evidence-based one. Peer support specialists go through extensive training and take a skills test to get certified. Once certified, they can serve in a peer support role.

Ten clients are currently using these peer support services. As more specialists are trained, ICRI will be able to increase its caseload.

“This program was just an idea when we got the grant,” Sagar said. “Now we have people from the community who are trained. We are in a good spot.”

ABOUT THIS STORY

In 2021, the Community Resilience Fund supported Omaha-area nonprofits serving communities disproportionately affected by Covid-19. ICRI was one of 37 nonprofits to receive a grant. Thanks to generous community support, a total of $527,942.75 went to programs and services focused on arts and culture, housing, learning recovery, mental health, and workforce. See the list of grant recipients.

Moving forward, the Community Resilience Fund will operate on an as-needed basis to provide timely, flexible grantmaking when unexpected and urgent needs arise in our community.

The post New Mental Health Initiative Focuses on Cultural Competence for Immigrants and Refugees appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

Project Houseworks relocated her laundry room to the main floor.

Since 1995, the nonprofit has been providing free home repairs for low-income seniors in Omaha. Last year, they helped 168 homeowners.

“We do a lot of modifications for seniors like grab bars or tub-to-shower conversions,” said Lynette Farhart, who was the Executive Director of Project Houseworks at the time of this story’s writing. “This gives them safety and independence.”

Project Houseworks received a $15,000 grant from the Community Resilience Fund for their home repair program for seniors, a demographic greatly impacted by Omaha’s lack of affordable housing.

Senior Repair Programs help homeowners, age 60 and up, age in place—making it so they can live in their own homes safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability. Project Houseworks covers up to $30,000 for repairs or modifications.

Some of the most common repairs are related to deferred maintenance in older homes, such as roofing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, windows, doors, floor coverings, wall repair, and paint.

Local housing research shows that preserving existing affordable housing for seniors plays a key role in housing stability. Project Houseworks offers an economical approach to improving the region’s affordable housing.

“One thing that jumps out in The Landscape’s housing data is that Nebraska has a lower percentage of people with severe housing problems compared to other states,” Farhart said. “That’s good, but one of the reasons we focus our work on seniors is they have a much higher percentage of severe housing needs, especially seniors of color.”

Most of the seniors that Project Houseworks serves live on a social security income that averages $1,500 per month, which is far below the poverty level.

“Senior homeowners are barely getting by paying utilities, food, medicine, and everyday expenses, which means they cannot afford to hire a plumber, electrician, or contractor,” Farhart said.

This forces seniors to make difficult decisions. Do they remain in a home that is fully paid for but accruing increasingly insurmountable problems or sell their home and move to a rental property they can’t afford? Some seniors like Virginia come up with creative solutions to make do.

In the past, Project Houseworks has mostly focused on North Omaha, but there are different areas of need where they are expanding. Farhart said that home maintenance is a growing problem in South Omaha, an area where they already feel behind.

“The focus now is bringing the community together and raising awareness of how critical the issue is right now,” Farhart said. “People are living in bad situations, and as a community, we can come together and create change.”

The post Omaha Nonprofit Helps Seniors with Home Repairs appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

A single mother, Meredith Metcalf was well aware of the issues faced by moms seeking paid work and did something about it. She started MOMentum in November 2020. The nonprofit’s mission is to reduce the feminization of poverty by eliminating barriers to employment for moms while helping employers diversify their workforce.

“Women were already struggling before the pandemic, being moms and navigating the professional world,” Metcalf said. “The pandemic made it ten times worse for everyone.”

The United States is the only industrialized nation that does not mandate any paid family leave. A 2019 study found that 63% of full-time working parents have a hard time paying for child care. For low-income parents, that increases to 95%.

Moms, on average, are paid 75 cents for every dollar paid to dads. Women of color face a wider pay gap. Latina mothers earn 46 cents, Native American mothers 50 cents, and Black mothers 52 cents for each dollar paid to white fathers. That adds up. Annual losses range from $15,300 to $38,000.

MOMentum was among the first round of grant recipients for the Community Resilience Fund, and the funding gave the new nonprofit a boost along with a 2021 grant for the Omaha Venture Group.

“We were slowly fundraising at the time and $10,000 is a game-changer when you are just getting started,” Metcalf said. Funding went toward helping mothers secure and maintain new employment opportunities.

MOMentum offers job coaching and support services in addition to hosting community events to strengthen social support systems.

“We’ve helped over 70 women since March 2021, connecting them to employers, helping them with applications and resumes, providing Uber vouchers, and referrals for child care,” Metcalf said.

Metcalf especially saw a need for more support for single mothers and moms experiencing poverty or instability—two things that often go hand in hand.

“Most women we serve have lower levels of formal education: a high school diploma, GED, or neither,” she said. “Our focus has been in strategically partnering with employers who can provide a living wage for mothers. They are looking for well-paying, stable jobs they can grow and succeed in. Our threshold is $15 per hour, but we recognize that still isn’t enough even for a single mom with one kiddo.”

Before Covid-19, nearly half of all working women—46% or 28 million—worked in jobs paying low wages, with median earnings of only $10.93 per hour.

Of the women who reach out to MOMentum, about 75% are unemployed. The rest are focused on finding new positions with more flexibility and better pay. They want help thinking through a career path. They might ask: What other options are out there? Is additional schooling needed? If so, what’s the best the school to attend?

In her grant application, Metcalf referenced data from The Landscape on women in the workforce.

In Omaha-Council Bluffs, women earn $11,000 less per year than men. On top of that, the local workforce has unfilled positions, but a significant number of potential workers don’t have access to those jobs.

“Accessible jobs that pay a livable wage are critical to helping our community recover from the pandemic,” said Emily Nguyen, Director of Research and Strategy at the Omaha Community Foundation.

The nonprofit is trying to help women consider traditionally male-dominated fields like manufacturing or construction.

“The issue is with some of those openings is, if it is a union facility, you have to start by working the second or third shift before bidding into the first,” Metcalf said. “I’m hoping to partner with more employers in the trades that have first shift openings.”

Another common issue experienced by working mothers is the lack of backup child care.

“They usually have child care but need backup solutions,” Metcalf said. “There are few options for a single mom who doesn’t have family in town if their kids are sick or the daycare suddenly closes. She has to take off work.”

MOMentum is helping women start their own child care programs in partnership with the Nebraska Cooperative Development Center, hoping to increase child care options. She also wants MOMentum to be a part of providing that backup care for moms.

“When I have money to bring someone on board, my first hire will be an emergency child care coordinator to go to the mom’s home and be that backup care,” she said. That way, Mom can get to work. 

ABOUT THIS STORY

In 2021, the Community Resilience Fund supported Omaha-area nonprofits serving communities disproportionately affected by Covid-19. MOMentum was one of 37 nonprofits to receive a grant. Thanks to generous community support, a total of $527,942.75 went to programs and services focused on arts and culture, housing, learning recovery, mental health, and workforce. See the list of grant recipients.

Moving forward, the Community Resilience Fund will operate on an as-needed basis to provide timely, flexible grantmaking when unexpected and urgent needs arise in our community.

The post Over 70 Omaha Women Get Help Finding Jobs, Child Care appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

Twelve local nonprofits received funds totaling $165,974.

Launched in April 2021, the Community Resilience Fund focused on providing grants in five areas: Arts & Culture, Housing, Learning Recovery, Mental Health, and Workforce.

Thanks to generous community support, 37 nonprofits received a total of $527,942.75.

Grants Made in December 2021

ARTS & CULTURE: Alleviating operational uncertainty until organizations can fully reopen and restabilize earned revenue through programs, performances, and exhibits.

> The Union for Contemporary Art: $10,000 for General Operating Support. For 10 years, the Union has worked to strengthen the cultural and social landscape through cultural experiences that reflect the diversity of Omaha’s residents, particularly in North Omaha, a community that has been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Each of their programs are designed to increase access to artistic enrichment, foster connection between diverse populations, elevate racial equity and representation, and uplift the community they serve.

> Freedomtainment: $14,175 for General Operating Support. Freedomtainment represents the historical culture of North Omaha while serving its citizens that were disproportionately impacted by COVID. Freedomtainment plans to prepare for next year through strategic planning, marketing, and accounting for Omaha’s Freedom Festival. It also plans to create North Side State of Mind to be a virtual town hall centered around real-time topics, such as mental health, youth violence, business survival and growth, access to political advocacy, and community awareness.

> Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, Inc.: $15,000 Tired Moccasins Elder Program. Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition (NUIHC) strives to strengthen the Tired Moccasins Program and keep it for the long term, providing cultural programming for the Native elder population.  Before the pandemic shutdown, the NUIHC had a solid program and attendees, and with additional support plans to make it even better. Their programming content is focused on cultural preservation of traditional Native practices (i.e. storytelling, crafts, games, special entertainment, etc.) as a protective factor for youth and families.

HOUSING: Ensuring people can safely stay in their homes through legal assistance or financial support.

> East African Development Association of Nebraska: $15,000 for Covid-19 Community Resilience Housing, Workforce, & Learning Recovery. EADAN helps refugee families connect to available resources, aids with screening for eligibility, and assists with applying services to ensure that families receive what they need. Through these services, EADAN ensures people can stay safely in their homes through legal or financial support, provides food through pantry partnerships and food delivery, mentors students after school to minimize learning losses, and provides employment consultation with resume and application assistance. EADAN also prepares refugees for life in the United States through immigration and naturalization test preparation and English as a Second Language classes.

> Women’s Center for Advancement: $15,000 for Emergency Assistance Housing Program. The WCA saw a staggering increase in demand for housing and emergency shelter amid the pandemic. Quarantine and social isolation forced victims of domestic violence into even more vulnerable situations, living with their abusers with no escape. There was and continues to be a critical need to increase community housing options and resources for individuals experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault. The program gives WCA clients the physical security of a home before beginning the healing process of recovering from their abusive situation.

> Legal Aid of Nebraska: $15,000 for Housing Justice Project. The pandemic has exacerbated the need for civil legal services for community members in relation to eviction, as well as finding and securing safe and affordable housing — all of which are core functions of the Housing Justice Project. Having representation makes a significant difference for tenants facing eviction. Legal Aid has found they are able to prevent evictions in more than 80% of cases where they provide representation.

MENTAL HEALTH: Meeting the increased need for services and working to improve the overall mental health system.

> Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy: HETRA Mental Health Services, $14,124. 32% of Nebraska adults reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depression between April and May of 2021. 20% of these adults reported having an unmet need for counseling or therapy. The stigma around mental health and cost of care can be barriers for individuals seeking services. HETRA offers unique mental health services with horses. Their Equine-Assisted Learning/Psychotherapy and Therapy Services programs often serve as alternatives for those who hesitate to seek traditional therapy.

LEARNING RECOVERY: Supporting enrichment programs and activities to reverse disparities that grew due to remote learning and other educational disruptions.

> GOALS Center: $15,000 for Community Navigator. The GOALS Center adopted an outreach program last year to reach students who had stopped logging on to remote learning and who had become unreachable by school staff. The outreach program focused on four areas: supervision needs/planning for children (specifically elementary aged or youth with extraordinary needs), ability for parents to meet the basic needs of their whole family and resource identification, accessibility and assistance with e-Learning systems, and financial stability for caregivers. In addition to this program, GOALS strengthened community partnerships to ensure that the increased need for service could be met with the appropriate options. Through all of this, GOALS learned that it is positioned to offer a community navigator service that will look a lot like this outreach program in addition to being a connector to other community partners.

WORKFORCE: Helping people gain new skills or education to find and secure stable employment.

> Heart Ministry Center: $10,000 for Fresh Start. The Fresh Start program is designed to address the underlying issues that perpetuate the cycle of poverty, specifically the lack of job opportunities and financial stability.  This is an individualized job training and placement program for men and women who: are unemployed, have no opportunities elsewhere, and have exhausted their resources searching for employment.  These men and women struggled to find employment prior to the pandemic and COVID-19 only made their situations more difficult.

> Partnership 4 Hope: $12,500 for General Operating Support. Partnership 4 Hope serves young adult former foster youth (YAFFY) ages 19-26. Young adults aging out of foster care were disproportionately impacted by the COVID pandemic because many were entering the workforce with limited skill sets, greater amounts of instability, and more need for assistance with gaining employment, skills, education, or stabilizing housing. Partnership 4 Hope assists in the areas of workforce, housing, learning recovery, and mental health through mentoring programs, Cole French memorial education fund, emergency assistance, their free shopping center for furniture and material goods (Youth Mart), and employment opportunities at Youth Mart for YAFFYs.

> South Omaha Community Care Council, Inc.: $15,000 for Careers in Tech Bootcamp. The South Omaha Community Care Council (SOCCC) recognizes the rising demand for skills in technology. There is a high demand for employees in the technology field and much of the community they serve in South Omaha does not know about this opportunity. The community members have traditional labor jobs with little knowledge of computers or computer science. Providing education on computers and industry-standard software programs will make people more marketable in the workforce. SOCCC, in partnership with AIM Institute, will provide South Omaha community members access to AIM’s Careers in Tech Bootcamp. The Careers in Tech Boot Camp will provide an overview of the rewarding opportunities presented by technology, as well as an understanding of computers, component parts, and global networks.

> Friends of the Nebraska Association of Service Providers: $15,175 for Direct Service Provider Talent Acquisition Project (DSP TAP). The pandemic has decimated home and community-based services (HCBS) for people with development disabilities in Omaha and across the country due to loss of critical care staff, such as Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). DSPs are entry level positions; employers provide the training and certifications once hired.  It’s a secure job with benefits, opportunities for overtime, and a person can truly see the positive difference they make in someone’s life.  Unfortunately, many people are unaware of these opportunities. This organization requests assistance to recruit talented applicants and connect them with high quality employers to continue providing critical services to our communities’ most vulnerable residents.

Photo: Native Omaha Days 2021 in The Union for Contemporary Art’s Abundance Garden.

The post Community Resilience Fund Awards $166K to 12 Omaha Nonprofits for Covid-19 Recovery appeared first on Omaha Community Foundation.

“Our community’s mental health has been harmed, but the arts will help heal us,” said Danna Kehm, CEO of Pottawattamie Arts, Culture and Entertainment (PACE). “We are all creative beings, we are all connected. It won’t be normal anytime soon for us, but we’ll continue to pursue.”

Because of COVID-19’s far-reaching impact, the sector’s recovery will take some time.

“Like a lot of industries, the arts were hit hard by the pandemic because most of our business model is based on in-person performances, shows, etc.,” Kehm said.

“Our community’s mental health has been harmed, but the arts will help heal us. We are all creative beings, we are all connected.”
Danna Kehm, CEO of Pottawattamie Arts, Culture and Entertainment

Charles Ahovissi, executive and artistic director of African Culture Connection, pictured above, said that 40% of their organization’s funding comes from paid performances and paid programming.

“During COVID, schools were closed so we were not getting paid for performances or teaching,” he said. “Every year, we used to make big money through Black History Month programming. But during COVID, we had zero revenue.”

The Pandemic Created a Cultural and Creative Deficit

In addition to the financial losses, artists and community members alike are suffering from a cultural and creative loss brought on by the pandemic. Matt Gutschick, artistic director of The Rose Performing Arts, noted the “play deficit” that kids experienced from being isolated at home, away from their friends and normal forms of recreation for more than a year.

“Developmentally, there are milestones that have been missed—socially and creatively,” he said. “Play deficit is something that leads to all kinds of social behavior and transgressive behavior. There is a body of research that proves that causal link. Throughout the pandemic, the opportunity to play with other kids was reduced for a meaningful amount of time.”

African Culture Connection heavily relies on offering in-person instruction and providing instruments for kids to play. This presented challenges during the pandemic.

“We usually take 40-50 drums to a school and teach kids about the story and history of drumming. So now, here is COVID and schools are closed. What do we do? We have to create an online tutorial,” Ahovissi said. “We did our best, but we can’t create a drum online. I have to be honest, students did not learn the way they used to because we didn’t have physical contact.”

Now that in-person programming is beginning to return—with limited numbers and strict safety measures—kids are beginning to recover from that play and learning deficit. Gutschick said that parents are thrilled with the opportunities their kids have to experience arts and culture again, and they appreciate the limited capacity.

“Most of what reaches our desks is gratitude for operating safely for kids,” he said.

In-School Programming is Coming Back

In Omaha-Council Bluffs, we are beginning to see a return of programming. This is not necessarily true in other parts of the nation. The Rose is in regular contact with arts organizations in urban centers in Texas, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.

“We are the only organization among us that is able to go to work in schools right now so other communities feel this far more acutely to this day,” Gutschick said. “We have been able to deliver programs safely and that’s something we’re really grateful for.”

Omaha Public Schools have strict safety rules in place, as do the organizations interviewed.

“We haven’t seen data that it’s fundamentally unsafe or producing undue risk, particularly if there are mask requirements such as there are at OPS,” Gutschick said, adding that all of The Rose’s teaching artists are fully vaccinated and wear masks while in schools—with students also wearing masks.

We Need to Grow in Diversity and Equity

Other issues persist that existed before the pandemic. Arts organizations are predominantly located in central and downtown Omaha, according to research in The Landscape. Very few arts and culture organizations are found in North and South Omaha. Additionally, many local organizations are inaccessible to some residents due to high admission and/or program costs.

Nonprofits interviewed acknowledged the need for the Omaha-Council Bluffs area to expand what arts and culture experiences are being offered, who is offering them, and who is able to participate in or see them.

“We need to address the issues of diversity and inclusion,” Kehm said. “Our arts organizations have been looking closely at how can we show support by hiring and exhibiting diverse performers into productions. We all have to play a part. We all need to do better. We’re much more aware of it now as we are making decisions.”

This goal extends not only to artists and the arts workforce but also to those who get to enjoy the arts.

“Part of what The Rose is founded on is accessibility,” Gutschick said. Their goal is to provide opportunities for every child in the community to experience the arts—in every school, of every income level, every race, and every ability. The Rose received support from our Community Resilience Fund to launch a pilot program focused on an arts curriculum for students with physical and developmental disabilities.

Cultural Learning is Lacking in the Sector

In Omaha, Ahovissi observed that a limited number of organizations focus art and culture and that targeted and consistent funding is needed for cultural programming.

“To me, art and culture organizations are the ones teaching, serving, promoting, doing the work, and at the same time teaching the culture and the history,” he said. “There is more of the art-only side of things here. The few of them I know of are small organizations and they are less a part of the community.”

“It is hard to recruit people to train to become artists. I am the only traditional African artist in Iowa and Nebraska.”
Charles Ahovissi, executive and artistic director of African Culture Connection

African Culture Connection is committed to educating community members about the traditional dancing, drumming, and visual arts of African cultures.

“We know a lot about post-slavery, but we do not know about pre-slavery,” Ahovissi said. “What was the life that African ancestors had before colonization? Every aspect of life has a specific dance, drumming, and storytelling. We teach young people to perform and at the same time you are learning about the culture and the history.”

Artists are Underpaid and Underemployed

One of the most urgent issues mentioned by each nonprofit is the need to employ more artists and offer them livable wages. The Landscape data showed our region has fewer creative jobs than cities similar in size, and the area experienced a 4% loss in the number of creative jobs.

As it stands, artists typically work in a gig economy, receive low pay, and are forced to piece together multiple jobs to make ends meet. This is an issue that ultimately comes down to funding.

“We operate on a labor shortage all the time,” Gutschick said. “We have not increased our level of staffing for 10-15 years. We have one carpenter, painter, props person doing everything. How is that sustainable with the earned income we have? We are working hard at paying people better, but it means that we can’t bring more people in.”

Limited funding for staff salaries and operational expenses keeps salaries low—and sometimes unlivable, which influences the makeup of organizational staff positions.

“That’s where you get the sense in the arts world that it can be tethered to a certain kind of whiteness in the labor force because of all the systemic advantages that need to be in place for people to have independent resources to sustain working at a nonprofit. That’s just not the way it should be,” Gutschick said.

Ahovissi spoke to the lack of cultural teachers and African artists in the region, saying, “It is hard to recruit people to train to become artists. I am the only traditional African artist in Iowa and Nebraska. Fifteen years from now, will there be more than one African artist in the two states?”

Kehm added, “I would love to be able to keep artists employed so we’re not losing a big part of our community and our culture that has sustained our life and made them better places to live and work. If artists don’t have a job, how can we sustain that piece of our community and our culture?”

Local Arts Organizations Are Grateful to Still Be Here

Each of the nonprofits interviewed noted the generosity of the local philanthropic community and say they would not have survived without the support of local donors and federal CARES Act Funding.

Julie Walker, managing director of The Rose Performing Arts said, “The Rose Theater has been here 77 years. At one point there was the question of, ‘Can we continue?’ Because of the support locally and federally, we kept our full-time staff… We survived. We attended national meetings and learned we are in a fairly unique position. A lot of places lost arts organizations so we couldn’t be more grateful that this is where we are.”

Continued Support is Needed

When asked what the current needs are Kehm plainly says, “Funding.” Nobody could attend events for over a year and now as arts and culture begin to return, those organizations need folks to return. Kehm suggests that community members “buy local art; return to the theater; become a subscriber and member; consider donating the price of a ticket to an organization….help us get back to normal because we will need support.”

As we consider how to support local arts and culture, it’s wise to remember the gifts of hope, resiliency, and connectedness the community receives from the creative sector. We encourage you to support the recovery of Arts & Culture in Omaha-Council Bluffs with a donation to the Community Resilience Fund.

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