365
Empowering Collective
5775 Sorensen Pkwy Omaha NE 68152
PO Box 34646 Omaha NE 68134
Elictia Hart
Coordinator
ehart@enwc.net
402-216-5111
We have a steering committee composed of experts in the areas in this proposal, who are volunteering to provide structure through by-laws and articles of incorporation followed by hiring an executive director. This staff will have the responsibility of hiring programming staff to cover community outreach, program development, and staff support sufficient to meet proposed goals. Elictia Hart, MCM, Coordinator Channing Bunch, MBA, expertise: higher education, business management Deborah Dancer, MPA, expertise: community collaboration consultant Jeni Langfeldt, Ed.D, expertise: educational leadership, P-12 & higher education Kalen Phillips, expertise: wellness Abigail Tsimba-Chitva, NP, expertise: health
This proposal supports our organizational goals through services that provide community impact, community building, and safer living environments through supportive relationships. Our steering committee has worked on numerous community projects including tutoring, adopt-a-school, and partnerships with OPS’ mobile technology bus, emergent Covid grocery/toiletry handouts, police and fire department morale building, and community back-to-school events. Additionally, our committee has assisted the city with Gun Amnesty programs, cites for Covid testing, hosting Douglas/Sarpy county chaplain meetings, foster parent teaching/recruitment seminars assisting the city with placing fostering kids. Other beneficial collaborations included, hosting Taste of North Omaha which supports small business, Operation and Another Option-supporting inmates in Nebraska and Iowa, and providing support to area shelters and transitional homes.
SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Access, Results) Center
60000000.0
20000000.0
Combination of capital project and service/program
This proposal addresses assistance for small businesses, job training, employee resources, business development, and housing needs for persons disproportionately underrepresented economically because of structural practices such as racial segregation and historical practices such as redlining. Our desire is to increase the number of affluent North Omaha citizens. We will accomplish this through community collaboration and construction of our SOAR Center, adjacent to our Senior Housing project (separately leveraged). We aspire to be an educational, health and wellness, and entrepreneurial resource to our North Omaha community. Our education component seeks to provide connections and resources for P-12 institutions, space for parent engagement and educator professional development opportunities, as well as a setting where students can receive tutoring. The health and wellness portion of our facility will provide resources for individuals to maintain or improve their physical fitness. Additionally, we will collaborate with local healthcare providers to offer periodic health and wellness checks. We will host back-to-school drives offering practical and concrete needs, such as backpacks and haircuts to students. We will provide employment resources and job training programs for community members. We will connect individuals with job opportunities and help them gain the skills and resources they need to be successful. We will also be a place where small business owners can connect with resources and opportunities, as well as tap into our knowledge base to expand their ventures. We believe that by providing such resources we can empower our community and set North Omaha on a trajectory for long-term, generational change. SOAR Center is currently in the design planning and financing phase. We plan to break ground in early 2023 and be open in February 2024. We are committed to being a space for the community and by the community. Our steering committee currently consists of individuals who represent key stakeholders in the education, health and wellness, entrepreneurship, and small business arenas. Our future Board will help us to make sure that we are responsive to community needs and wants. We know that as we grow, our Board will expand to include individuals from a wider swath of the community.
Dates Capital Project Programs 8/1/2022 - 11/15/2022 Plan Completion 11/1/2022 - 12/31/2022 City and State Plan Review 10/1/2022 - 1/15/2023 Secure Financing 1/15/2023 - 1/15/2024 Construction of Building ● Health and Wellness Facility ● Recording Studio ● STEAM Spaces Empowering Collective ● By-laws drafted ● 5019c)3 filing ● Hire Executive Director (or equivalent) Establish Partnerships Promote Programs 2/1/2024 Buildings Open Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 8/15/2024 Senior Housing Buildings Open **bold dates are milestones
nan
Fundamental Change (i.e., a proposal that will continue to elevate North or South Omaha's presence and perception within the region, significantly improving the lives of area residents through physical development) Long-Lasting Economic Growth (i.e., a proposal that will foster gainful employment opportunities and financial investment in the area, leading to the creation of generational wealth and widespread economic vitality in North and South Omaha) Transformational (i.e., a proposal that will help energize, recharge, or spur significant and favorable advancements in North or South Omaha's function or appearance)
Sustainable Community (i.e., create or enhance housing, services, education, civic uses, recreation, etc.)
This proposal is providing financial literacy education, asset building skills, community and recreational space through the SOAR Center and will reside next to a senior housing development. We plan to evaluate our processes and impact for scalability and long-term sustainability.This proposal is providing financial literacy education, asset building skills, community and recreational space through the SOAR Center and will reside next to a senior housing development. We plan to evaluate our processes and impact for scalability and long-term sustainability. Higher Education and Vocational Prep We seek to provide higher education and vocational prep programs for individuals in our community. This may include potential tuition assistance/scholarships, financial aid counseling, and academic advising. These services will help individuals to access and succeed in higher education and vocational programs. Coding Programs We seek to partner with local organizations to provide high-quality coding instruction to young people in our community as this will help them develop important skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. Employment Resources We will provide employment resources to community members. This will include resume writing assistance, job search assistance (i.e job fairs), and career counseling. These services will help individuals find and obtain gainful employment. Job Training We will also provide job training programs for individuals. This may include skills training, certification assistance, and job placement assistance. These services will help individuals to find and obtain gainful employment. Local EPP Partnerships We seek to partner with local Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) to place teacher trainees in our STEAM center. This will provide us with an ongoing source of enthusiastic and motivated teachers and will help us to build strong relationships with the schools where they will teach. In addition, we believe that this partnership will provide valuable feedback on the effectiveness of our center, and will help us to continually improve its impact. Recording Studio A recording studio is an important asset for any community, providing a space for local business owners, entrepreneurs, and musicians to develop their skills and produce high-quality recordings. Podcasts and videos are great ways for entrepreneurs to reach a wider audience, share their stories, and connect with potential customers. Our recording studio will help entrepreneurs produce high-quality podcasts and professional-looking videos that will engage their audience and help them grow their businesses. Additionally, a well-equipped studio can help new and unsigned artists to produce professional-sounding recordings, giving them a better chance at success. Unsigned artists often lack the funds necessary to purchase expensive recording equipment or to rent time in a professional studio. As a result, many talented individuals are unable to pursue their musical dreams. Health and Wellness We will provide community access to health and wellness. Our gymnasium will be a hub for walking groups, and workout classes. We will also provide support for keeping health and wellness at the forefront of one's path by seeking collaboration that offer free periodical basic health and wellness checks. Additionally, we will have a back to school drive offering practical and concrete needs, such as backpacks and haircuts. Entrepreneurship Support Our desire is to increase the number of affluent North Omaha citizens. This happens from teaching entrepreneurship and financial markets education and empowerment. One way to support entrepreneurs is by providing access to modeling and mentorship. This will come from experienced business people, successful entrepreneurs, or specialized service providers. By providing modeling and mentorship, we can help entrepreneurs to avoid common mistakes, learn about new opportunities, and gain valuable insigh
Addressing financial instability and reaching for measurable wealth are principal desires amplified during the visioning workshops and this project is designed specifically to have measurable impact. Our vision aligns with the findings in the Visioning Workshop Summary because our plan will help increase the number of affluent North Omaha citizens. This happens from teaching entrepreneurship and financial markets education and empowerment. We teach thought process first…then changing habits…then changing your outcome to positively impact your legacy and community. In other communities it is very normal for your neighbors to own successful companies, so children grow up thinking they ought to achieve the same. In other words, it’s not a stretch goal for them to see themselves owning a business and reaching financial dignity. The way we have perpetual, transformational and generational change is to have hundreds of people who see dozens of successful Black business owners. We are creating a pipeline that will continue to grow as it will become the “norm” to see successful Black families achieve wealth and financial independence. These dozens will in turn become hundreds of Black business owners who teach thousands of community members…so on and so forth. There’s been a concerted effort to partner with black and brown entrepreneurs and professionals who will walk participants through the steps of starting, growing and scaling their companies. These dedicated stakeholders will give one on one coaching on our campus.
This proposal addresses assistance for small businesses, job training, employee resources, business development, and housing needs for persons disproportionately underrepresented economically because of structural practices such as racial segregation and historical practices such as redlining. The housing component of this proposal is the senior living housing, which is separately funded and adjacent to the SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Access and Results) Center. SOAR is an educational center dedicated to wellness, wealth-building, and access to resources for the community. Through our education component, we plan to provide connection and resources for P-12 institutions and space for parent engagement opportunities. We envision a setting where students can get tutoring in core academic areas as well as instruction in coding or other courses that may help them succeed at higher levels of learning. In addition, we can also be a space where educators can come together to collaborate as they seek to teach and lead in our local classrooms.The educational component includes connection to schools and community, offering meeting space for parent engagement, tutoring with partnering schools, financial literacy, financial education, asset development, business principles, wealth navigation, and entrepreneurial coaching. Our health and wellness facility includes a gymnasium with community access, a walking group to support a sense of community and safety, and overall personal agency. We will provide workout classes that support individual aspirations and goals. Keeping health and wellness at the forefront of one's path assists in promoting emotional longevity, confidence, and security. We will seek collaboration for free periodical basic health and wellness checks. Additionally, we know in census tract 73.12, which is adjacent to qualifying census tracts, we will have a back to school drive offering practical and concrete needs, such as backpacks and haircuts. Our vision aligns with the findings in the Visioning Workshop Summary because our plan will help increase the number of affluent North Omaha citizens. This happens from teaching entrepreneurship and financial markets education and empowerment. We teach thought process first…then changing habits…then changing your outcome to positively impact your legacy and community.
SOAR would provide four full-time Director positions and several other support positions. In addition to this, there are shared positions where some employees will work for both Senior Housing and SOAR. Although the Senior Housing is funded by another source, the community reach will be felt as there will be 40 full time employees.
110
52000-110000
The plan is to align with other community organizations and local businesses to help create additional jobs for the area to support the increased traffic and businesses. Create an entrepreneurs dissemination plan that works directly with existing businesses and other emerging entrepreneurs which will increase opportunities.
This proposal will indirectly decrease toxic stress in the community by addressing some ongoing stressors and triggers that can contribute to toxic stress such as ongoing financial instability, underemployment, lack of safe and adequate housing, and oppression. It also addresses increased self-efficacy, personal agency, higher levels of hope and optimism, increased financial stability, more effective coping skills, and less severe and less direct impact or exposure and a strong belief system that helps a person cope through financial literacy. In other communities it is very normal for your neighbors to own successful companies, so children grow up thinking they ought to achieve the same. In other words, it’s not a stretch goal for them to see themselves owning a business and reaching financial dignity. The way we have perpetual, transformational and generational change is to have hundreds of people who see dozens of successful black business owners. We are creating a pipeline that will continue to grow as it will become the “norm” to see successful Black families achieve wealth and financial independence. These dozens will in turn become hundreds of black business owners who teach thousands of community members…so on and so forth. There’s been a concerted effort to partner with black and brown entrepreneurs and professionals who will walk participants through the steps of starting, growing and scaling their companies. These dedicated stakeholders will give one on one coaching on our campus.
This project will create an environmental system through modeling, mentorship, and technical assistance that can create a platform for hands-on and supportive learning. to apply the newly learned principles to a pathway from poverty to prosperity. Leveraged income from the Senior Housing property will allow us to continue to provide supports and services at the SOAR Center for years to come.
Construction - Design for Senior Housing project is based on PACE (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) requirements and incorporates energy efficient building materials. Behavioral Economics - This model includes the best practice of setting goals and planning for the future to provide participants with direction, purpose and meaning, as well as optimism that their circumstances can improve, which is a part of the science of hope. The main educational focus is asset and wealth building for families residing in and adjacent to the qualified census tracts. Cultural Competence - This project is modeling wealth-building from experts in the field who are representative of minoritized populations. Within the model, there will be coaching, mentoring, skill-building, microenterprise support and technical assistance.
Improved education goals Create job opportunities Create new, higher-paying jobs Improving soft-skills Improve physical activity Boost emotional longevity, confidence and security We plan to have an evaluative component as a part of this project to measure process and performance.
Not at this time.
Yes
Sankofa - entrepreneurship skills Creighton University - Creighton Law, and Creighton Business School - provide business education and access to legal services holistically Purposeful Wealth - provide financial literacy education Prospective referral and outreach sources include collective impact organizations who serve underserved populations in the sectors of housing, education, health, wellness, and faith-based organizations.
No MOU’s have been written, yet. However, we have informal verbal agreements.
The property has not been assigned an address yet, but is directly across (east) from the Walmart located at 6304 N. 99th St. The property is 25 acres of former farmland. It has apartments on the back side (east) of the property, storage units and businesses on the north side of the property. It is directly across the street from a Walmart and businesses to the west.
Adjacent to one or more QCTs
This project is located in census tract 73.12, which is in the 73.20, which is a qualifying census tract. The property is in zip code 68134, which is adjacent to 68104, which has multiple QCTs.
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
prices were determined based on pre-bid pricing and estimation based on prior projects
Yes
The requested amount is based on the estimated costs of: ● Low voltage ● Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment ● Architectural Fees ● Developmental Fees ● Financing Fees ● Infrastructure ● Design Fees ● Marketing Fees ● City and Permit Fees ● Program costs (salaries, insurance, utilities, internet/wifi, janitorial services, etc.
Our vision aligns with the findings in the Visioning Workshop Summary because our plan will help increase the number of affluent North Omaha citizens. This happens from teaching entrepreneurship and financial markets education and empowerment. We teach thought process first…then changing habits…then changing your outcome to positively impact your legacy and community.
Yes
Following the notification of the initial investment, we will implement a finance committee of our Board to oversee financial work, our Executive Director will hire a financial controller, and we will have an independent audit.
We are utilizing PACE funding for the project.
no
This is mapped out as the first phase of the project to be expanded in the future. Design documents show phase 1 as well as a lightened out version of future expansion (phase 2). Site plan shows a brown box where the first phase (SOAR and the Senior Housing) will be built.
We are committed to $38m of the $58m cost of the entire project which includes the Senior Housing.
nan
nan
nan
nan