75 CENTS
Omaha Star
The
Proudly Serving Our Community for Over 80 Years
Dedicated to the Service of the People that NO Good Cause Shall Lack a Champion and that Evil Shall Not Go Unopposed
Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Vol. 84 - No. 16 Omaha, Nebraska
Friday, August 5, 2022
75 cents
Family of the Week: The Ballards
The Ballards The Ballard family is full of understanding, care, and hardwork. Christi, Jermaine, and their three children can be described as a goal oriented family. Teamwork, hard work, understanding, and care are apparent themes in this family. Each member has their own occupation or niche that they love. Christi Ballard owns a store in Aksarben Village by the name of Status. Status is a pre-loved luxury item store. Recently becoming the forefront of her career, Status has given her time to be more involved. “Status gives me flexibility to be able to attend things that I was unable to attend working in corporate,” Ballard shared. “Family functions, vacations, sporting events, achievements; I have the freedom to be there. I can show up for my extended family with this freedom [also.]” A bigger leap of faith was taken and Status was brought to the public attention. “It was not overnight. I have been selling pre-loved items while working [corporate] for 20 years. I was doing it on the side, so it has always been a love of mine too.” When the time comes to expand on your business or career, it will be evident. “In 2020, when the opportunity presented itself, my husband and I decided it was a good time to do so,” Christi shares. She also adds the advice “to always have a plan in place before you quit [what is currently] taking care of your household, yourself, and your lifestyle.” Jermaine Ballard is the Director of the Youth Forward Program. The program was created to help high school and college students to increase the success of those affected by the juvenile justice system. “We provide opportunities to further education and get certifications, unique skill sets so that they may transition into a workforce with a high skill set.” Ballard has been working a career in the education field from elementary to post secondary education to an administrator at the TAC building for OPS. He was contacted by the president of Metro Community College based on his experience to build the You Forward program from the ground up. Youth Forward started in June of 2021. They will be starting their second school year in the fall. Helping youth to obtain skills that are needed to thrive is a reality at work and at home for Jermaine. “Look at it from the perspective of a black man raising three black sons in Omaha,” he states. “It’s really about being good people… overall being a good person. That’s what gets you over in life.” With any family, there are people in it with their own interests. “We can’t live without activities. Something for each one of us to do that’s personal for each member in the household,” Christi shares. Their sons, 13-year-old Isaac Cox, 13-year-old Jermaine Ballard II, and 2-year-old Sir Major, each have their own hobbies. Issac is interested in information technology (IT), WWE, basketball, and football. Jermaine II enjoys writing and reading. He is also interested in football and track. Sir Major is quite clever for his age. Since the age of one he has been counting and stating his ABCs. His parents share credit for his constant growth with Bri’s Brainiac Childcare. With a family full of different interests and needs, Christi shares that “[because] it is important to someone else in the household, we learn to love it and respect it. So that each person knows that we are here to support what they want to do.”
Stand on your own two feet and fight like hell for your place in the world. WE HAD THE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE VACCINE. IT WORKS. Facts at: douglascountyhealth.com/covid-19
NCHS introduces Yolanda Robinson as COO
In her role at NCHS, Yolanda will oversee and manage all administration and operations and provide leadership and oversight for risk management, information technology, and infrastructure needs. Yolanda comes to NCHS from Metropolitan Community College, where she has worked for the past nine years, most recently as the director of the contact center and as an adjunct instructor. Her experience with project management, budgeting and operating procedures will be critical to enhancing the capacity of a growing organization. “We’re thrilled to have Yolanda join our executive team.” NCHS CEO Lana Temple-Plotz said. “Her expertise in Yolanda Robinson operations will be a strong addition to our work. She brings with her decades of experience working in a nonprofit environment.” Yolanda holds a Master of Public Administration and a bachelor’s in sociology. Yolanda’s extensive nonprofit experience includes Goodwill, Heartland Workforce Solutions and Heart Ministry Center. Her focus on building relationships is key to establishing a solid foundation for future success. “I am excited to be a part of this great organization. NCHS does important work with integrity and care,” said Robinson. “In my role, I will work to support the organization’s mission, the strategic plan, the workplace environment and all the program options for the children and families we serve.”
Lifetime Of Service
Bethel Missionary Baptist Church has the privilege of having one of the most loved members to be a part of the Senior Usher Board, Mrs. Marie Wilcher. We celebrate her being dedicated and her faithfulness to being a servant and standing at the doors in the house of the Lord on Sunday mornings at 101 years young. Mrs. Wilcher and her family moved from Chicago to Omaha, Nebraska soon after moving here they became members of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in 1982 and for many years she’s been an active member of the church and Usher Board. Mrs. Wilcher joined the Senior Usher Board in 1992, she’s been a member of the Senior Usher Board for 30 years and over the years once held the office of Treasurer. Even today at 101 years young on Sunday mornings you will see here at her post serving the Lord. Mrs. Marie Wilcher
Publisher’s Pen By Terri D. Sanders
COVID and MONKEY POX! Both are terrorizing our world. I have a feeling that this fall and winter season will be masks Credit: Eric Robinson, Atlanta UP. Soon school will begin all over the city. I have a bone to pick with education … Cursive writing … When the Trevon Martin trial was going on there was a young Black female on the witness stand and an attorney gave her a document to red and she looked at it and said that she was unable to read it. She could not read cursive writing so she was unable to testify to what the document said. I attended Lothrop Elementary School and was very proud when I was in the third grade and began writing in cursive. I am
proud of my “penmanship” to this day! I could have never been a medical doctor because when I write it is VERY legible. Recently one of my “offspring” told me that they never tried to forge my signature on any school documents, but chose to forge their father’s name due to the fact that his signature was not readable like mine. This is my theory … In the not so distant future as young people grow into adulthood and cannot read script writing, codes will be passed along right in their faces and because they cannot read cursive they will not know what is going on. Un-melanated people are disadvantaged in so many ways, do not add this skill set to the ever growing pile of why Johnny can’t… This is an opportunity for Aunties, Grandmothers, Nanas, Godfathers, Papas, Parrains, Godmothers and all the other elders in a childs life to impart wisdom and help them with writing. Get out that pencil and paper and practice the letters that have been put in the past.
The secret of getting things done is to act.