Rudy Smith dedicated his life to making Black Omaha visible, honestly, fully, and with dignity. 

Born on January 6, 1945, Smith became a trailblazer in journalism and photography, using his lens to document everyday life while bearing witness to moments of struggle, resilience, and change.

Cathy Hughes’ story is one of vision, grit, and audacity, a testament to how Black women have not only shaped American media, but have worked intentionally to expand who is seen, heard, and valued within it. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Hughes would go on to build one of the largest and influential Black-owned media companies in the nation, expanding representation and amplifying voices across the airwaves.

John Ewing Jr.’s election as Mayor of Omaha in 2025 marked a historic milestone in the city’s story of civic leadership, In the May 13, 2025 general election, Ewing defeated incumbent Republican mayor Jean Stothert, becoming the first African American elected mayor of Omaha and the first Democrat to hold the office since 2009.

Born in Omaha on November 9, 1935, Robert “Bob” Gibson, known to fans as “Gibby” or “Hoot”, redefined excellence, intensity, and dominance in professional sports. His journey from a childhood marked by illness to the pinnacle of Major League Baseball is a testament to discipline, resilience, and an unrelenting will to win.

Veta Jeffrey is one of Nebraska’s most influential contemporary African American civil rights leaders, a woman whose life work has been shaped by courage, truth-telling, and an unwavering demand for justice. Rooted in North Omaha, Jeffrey’s advocacy emerged not from abstraction, but from lived experience that forever altered the city’s conscience.

Ernest William “Ernie” Chambers has never been a comfortable voice, and that has always been the point. Born on July 10, 1937, Chambers emerged as one of Nebraska’s most consequential civil rights leaders and the longest-serving state senator in the state’s history. For 46 years, he represented North Omaha’s 11th District in the Nebraska Legislature, serving from 1971 to 2009 and again from 2013 to 2021, shaping public policy with relentless conviction and intellectual rigor.

Tanya Cook has built a career at the intersection of public policy, urban affairs, and strategic communication. Across state government, the Nebraska Legislature, and into the private sector, her work has consistently focused on effective governance and the practical connection between leadership and community needs.

Captain Alfonza W. Davis’s story bridges Omaha’s local spirit and the global impact of the Tuskegee Airmen. Born in 1919 and rising to distinction in an era defined by segregation and unequal opportunity, Davis used discipline, intellect, and courage to push past barriers others said could not be crossed.

Willie Barney is one of North Omaha’s most influential contemporary leaders, recognized nationally for advancing economic development, neighborhood revitalization, and systems-level change rooted in collaboration and data-driven action. For more than three decades, Barney has worked at the intersection of strategy, community building, and execution, earning a reputation as a catalyst who brings people together to turn shared vision into measurable outcomes.

Aaron Douglas believed art could do more than decorate walls, it could challenge injustice, reclaim identity, and shape a people’s future. Born on May 26, 1899, Douglas emerged as one of the most influential visual artists of the 20th century and a defining creative force of the Harlem Renaissance. His work helped give visual language to Black life, history, and resistance at a time when those stories were routinely erased.

Mildred D. Brown understood the power of a voice, and she built one that carried an entire community. Alongside her husband, she co-founded The Omaha Star, a newspaper created to inform, connect, and uplift Omaha’s African American community.

Dr. Matthew Oliver Ricketts represents the kind of leadership that quietly but permanently reshapes history. Born in 1858 to parents who had been enslaved near New Castle, Kentucky, Ricketts’ life journey speaks to perseverance in the face of systems designed to exclude. His legacy is not only one of “firsts,” but of intentional service to the community.

For Omaha, Malcolm X is more than a historical figure; he is a reminder that world-changing leadership can emerge from our own neighborhoods. His legacy challenges us to speak truth boldly, organize intentionally, and never apologize for demanding justice.

As we gear up to support our client Inclusive Communities for the Jane H. & Rabbi Sidney H. Brooks Conversations for Change event, we asked a simple but powerful question: Do we really know Gaby Natale?

Find out 10 Things to Know About Gaby Natale before Conversations for Change event.

BraveJoy Leadership, the Omaha-based leadership coaching and consulting practice founded by Aimee S. Gibson, MBA, PCC, has officially launched its first LinkedIn newsletter, marking a new chapter in how the organization shares insight, reflection, and guidance with leaders navigating complexity.

He’s a founder, innovator, and lifelong student of strategy, from his days playing collegiate sports to his work as a CEO of a startup company. He shares his five favorite things he couldn’t live without.

A growing movement of women leaders, entrepreneurs, and future changemakers will converge in Omaha next week as the 4th Annual Women With Voices Summit: Live Your Why, Fearless Future returns on Jan. 24 at Zenia Omaha.

Now in its fourth year, the summit has become a staple on the region’s leadership calendar, drawing more than 350 women annually for a day focused on purpose, courage, and community.

Lozafina proudly congratulates our client, the Great Plains Black History Museum, on being featured in Flatwater Free Press in a powerful and deeply reported story by journalist Asia Rollins examining the national significance of a North Omaha “castle” that once served as a safe haven for Black travelers during the Jim Crow era.

Heartwood Preserve will transform into a winter arts destination February 13–15 as it hosts the Nebraska Snow Sculpting Championships, a sanctioned qualifying event that will determine which team represents Nebraska at the 2027 U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Lozafina proudly congratulates three of its clients — Hiya, the Great Plains Black History Museum, and Inclusive Communities — on being named in Strictly Business magazine’s January 2026 “Supporting Nonprofits” feature. The annual spotlight recognizes 36 nonprofit organizations making meaningful, measurable impact across the Greater Omaha region.