UNO | Service-Learning Academy | Projects |Featured Project

The South Omaha Seminar is an innovative faculty-development project designed to achieve four objectives:

To create an understanding of the South Omaha Community, its composition and culture, within an interdisciplinary faculty group;
To increase that group’s knowledge of South Omaha’s assets and needs, with a particular focus on poverty, housing, and revitalization efforts;
To develop the group’s understanding of the missions, activities and organizational cultures of selected community-based organizations in North Omaha; and
To create service-learning courses responsive to North Omaha’s needs.

Resource presentations / panel – history of immigration into South Omaha, Background on Immigration /Refugee Law, Latino Politics
- Maria Arbelaez – History / OLLAS – The History of South Omaha
- Edward Leahy – Family Economic Success Initiative – Immigration and Refugee Law
- Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado – Political Science / OLLAS – Latino Politics in South Omaha
Community Panel Presentation – Economic Development in South Omaha
- Rodrigo Lopez, CMB – CEO, Amerisphere Multifamily Finance
- José Garcia – Manager – CMS, Union Pacific Railroad and longtime community member
- Robert Campos – entrepreneur / owner Campos Construction
- Marta Sonia Londoño Mejia – Executive Director, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Bus and Walking Tour of South Omaha
- Edward Leahy – Family Economic Success Initiative
- Arturo Miranda – Family Housing Advisory Services, UNO / SLA Grad Intern, community member

Grace Lutheran Church – Panel on Refugee Resettlement
- Kitcki Carroll – Lutheran Family Services – Community Services, Heartland Refugee Resettlement
- Jeffrey Vandenberg – Heartland Refugee Resettlement
- Nuer Ret – Heartland Refugee Resettlement and recent refugee
- Christine Stroud – Nebraska State Refugee Resettlement Coordinator
One World Community Health Centers – Tour of facilities by Lori Bechtold and Nick Flattery
Panel presentation: The Immigrant Experience – Moderated by Edward Leahy
Panel presentation: Services for Immigrants – Moderated by Edward Leahy
- Ana Barrios – Director, Juan Diego Center
- Rosa Ortiz – Immigration Specialist, LFS Community Services
- James Freeman – UNO Multicultural Affairs Director
- Mel Clancy – UNO Project Achieve Director
Presentation: Dr. Lyn Holley, The Aging Boomers: Demographics of aging in South Omaha
Panel Discussion: Services for the Elderly -- Moderated by Dr. Lyn Holley
- Myrna Red Owl – Director, Senior Center, NE Urban Indian Health Coalition
- Evon Caldwell, Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging
- Michaela Myers, Care Consultants for the Aging, Inc.

Social Settlement Association, Tour and Program over view by Robert Patterson, Asst. Director
Panel Discussion: Youth Services in South Omaha, Moderated by Paco Fuentes, Director, Boys and Girls Clubs of Omaha, South Site.
- Beto Gonzales, Gang Prevention Program Coordinator, BGCO (South)
- Bret Anderson, Principal, Indian Hills Academy, OPS
Panel Discussion, Moderated by Carlynn Hartman-Kurtz, SLA Community Liaison
Casa de la Cultura (South Omaha Arts Institute), Tour and program overview by Marcos Mora, Executive Director
- Norma Pountney, Manager, Omaha Public Library – South Branch
- Susan Mayberger, ESL Supervisor, Omaha Public Schools
- Roberta Wilhelm, Executive Director, Girls, Inc.

Post test and reflection
Small group brainstorming
Principles & Practices of Service-Learning Key Components of project and syllabus development

Participants at One World Health Center

Casa de la Cultura

Panel Discussion - Youth Services

Reflecting on Experience