ElliePeter

Monday, Oct. 23 the faculty and staff had an inservice on Catholic Social Teaching to start the day and then headed to North Omaha in order to meet Marian alumnae and take in the history of North Omaha, as well as its prominence to the Black/African-American community. 

Ms. Ty O’Neal Nared ’12, the school’s Director of Belonging, Diversity and Inclusion, organized the trip. Her goal was to introduce the staff to the area and dispel any negative assumptions that are common about the neighborhood. Thankfully, the event accomplished more than what Nared had hoped for. They left each site with a new understanding for the different cultures and experiences their students may have. 

They had lunch at Big Mama’s restaurant, learned about the efforts of revitalization from a Seventy-Five North representative, toured NOMA (North Omaha Music Association), The Union of Contemporary Art, The Great Plains Black History Museum and The Omaha Star. Staff members attended the excursion in hopes they could connect with the cultures of North Omaha  to better understand their students at Marian. 

Nared came to Marian with the goal of creating immersive opportunities, with the North Omaha tour and a future tour of South Omaha next semester. 

To Nared, there was no better time for the tour than now. “With the current social climate, racial tensions and uncertainty, I think unity is essential now more than ever,” Nared said. 

Luckily, the meaningful conversations they had with everyone they met has the potential to create a lasting difference.  

English teacher Mrs. Megan Gillespie gained something valuable. She hadn’t realized how wide the scale of the changes happening in North Omaha were. There are so many new non-profit organizations moving into the neighborhood. These organizations intend to make a difference in North Omaha, with the goal of “wanting to make lasting positive changes in the area,” Gillespie said. 

 One of these non-profit organizations is The Omaha Star, the only Black-owned newspaper in Nebraska. The owner, Terri Sanders, is a complete “spark of energy,” Gillespie said. Publishing since 1938, their mission is to strengthen communities through local news.

Sanders was equally excited for the teachers to visit. She taught the staff the history of The Omaha Star, which she recently purchased. To truly be able to see the project in action is a reminder that North Omaha is “just like any other place,” Sanders said. 

Sanders said that “people have a perception of North Omaha and businesses in North Omaha.” Visiting is a positive thing to do, and “everyone should visit so they can gain a better understanding of the culture of North Omaha,” Sanders said. 

Another important organization the teachers visited was the Great Plains Black History Museum, a nonprofit “dedicated to publicizing and preserving the achievements of the region’s vibrant African-American heritage,” according to their website. Their vision has had great effects, especially on Gillespie.

The museum has a display of influential athletes from Omaha, as well as their great accomplishments. They even have a Heisman trophy on display. People often “forget the strong history we have here in Omaha,” Gillespie said. The museum will soon display a Smithsonian exhibit on voting. 

A major point of the opportunity was to encourage ways that staff could connect with their students. They heard from three Marian alumnae in particular: Karen Bradley ’84, Gladys Harrison ’85 (the owner of Big Mama’s) and Kani Rubango ’08. They spoke about their experiences with Marian and how their teachers gave them a safe space to learn and feel comfortable and accepted. 

Teachers spend “a lot of time thinking how we can do better,” Gillespie said. A large part of the Marian mission is empowerment, one of the Core Values. The staff strives to make Marian a safe learning environment, open to anyone of all backgrounds and walks of life. The input of these alumnae provided a great example of what teachers should strive for.  

In a school like Marian, inclusivity is necessary to provide a safe and comforting learning environment for students of all backgrounds. The North Omaha tour opportunity strengthened this goal.