2006.01.06

The University of Nebraska at Omaha's Neighborhood Center for Greater Omaha teaches and empowers individuals and area neighborhood associations. Ron Abdouch, the center's director, explains how this unique program operates.

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MAKING A CONNECTION ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE REMAINS IMPORTANT TO MANY.  WITH THAT IN MIND, THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS IN A THREE COUNTY AREA THROUGH A UNIQUE PROGRAM – THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER FOR GREATER OMAHA.  THE CENTER DOESN'T JUST ASSIST, IT EMPOWERS.

ABDOUCH: "And what that means is that we work with residents, neighbors, neighborhood associations to help them develop the tools so that they can become advocates for themselves on a variety of issues."

RON ABDOUCH IS THE ORGANIZATION'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.  MORE THAN 80 ASSOCIATIONS HAVE RECEIVED ADVICE AND HELP.

ABDOUCH: "Being motivated to do something and knowing how to do something are two different things.  So, it's one thing go down to your country board of city council or something and just start complaining about this or that.  It's another thing to go down and testify in front of your city council and county board with organized facts and a top-knotch presentation that's going to help the policy makers understand what the issue is in a rational, educated manner."

PROBLEMS AND ISSUES FACING NEIGHBORHOODS VARY.  ABDOUCH SAID HE SEES LOTS OF INTEREST IN CREATING NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHES, DEALING WITH LOOSE PETS, AND ADDRESSING CITY OR COUNTY HOUSING CODE VIOLATIONS.

ABDOUCH: "The more organized, the more factual your information is  (the more) policy makers appreciate getting the information, and it really helps them make the proper and appropriate decision."

THE CENTER CAN ALSO HELP AN ASSOCIATION COMMUNICATE WITH ITS CITIZENS THROUGH A DECIDEDLY LOW-TECH APPROACH  -- THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER.

ABDOUCH: "That is he number one communication tool.  I know in the last quarter of 2005 here we provided over 36,000 copies of newsletters to various neighborhood groups."

COMMUNICATION AND WORKING TOGETHER GETS THINGS DONE, AND IT ALSO CREATES GREATER UNDERSTANDING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD.

ABDOUCH: "People still like that small town atmosphere."

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mp3 audio News Line feed

2006.07.31
UNO's Center for Public Affairs Research (CPAR) has just release a new report on state population trends. David Drozd, a CPAR researcher, says that the 2005 Nebraska Population Report points to a continuing and expanding divide between urban and rural counties. Drozd also describes the state's "population fishhook." NOTE: This is a true podcast file. This interview is more than eight minutes long.
mp3 audio News Line feed

2006.06.14
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mp3 audio News Line feed

2006.05.12
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mp3 audio News Line feed

2006.05.03
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mp3 audio News Line feed

2006.04.14
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2006.04.03
The 16th annual Airline Quality Ratings are out today, April 3. Click on the link below to listen to Dr. Brent Bowen, director of UNO's Aviation Institute. He talks about which airline is top ranked and industry trends. PLEASE NOTE A VIDEO LINK IS ALSO AVAILABLE BELOW.
Link to AQR information page | mp3 audio News Line feed | Video interview feed-dsl | Video link-56K (Both video links use Windows Media Player)

2006.02.22
A service learning class brought high tech help to small businesses in South Omaha last semester. A professor and a student recruiter from the UNO College of Information Science and Technology explain.
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2006.02.01
The Fifth Annual Malcolm X Festival will be held Feb. 15 and 16 at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. This year's festival will focus on "The Black Woman: Past, Present and Future." Professor Peggy Jones explains.
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2006.01.06
The University of Nebraska at Omaha's Neighborhood Center for Greater Omaha teaches and empowers individuals and area neighborhood associations. Ron Abdouch, the center's director, explains how this unique program operates.
Soundbite text | mp3 audio News Line feed

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