Become a Mentor for The Greater Omaha Chamber’s Growing Home Mentorship Program
Story by Xitlally Velasco
The Greater Omaha Chamber is seeking mentors and mentees for its Growing Home mentorship program. The program, intended for diverse students attending a historically Black college or university (HBCU), another out-of-state or in-state institution, provides networking and work opportunities in Omaha. Over summer break, students will receive tailored development training and mentorship from experts and be connected to internship pathways.
Students who identify as part of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community are encouraged to join the program. Full-time professionals in Omaha can serve as mentors and receive a stipend by meeting the following criteria:
Monthly one-hour meetings with their mentee
Submitting a communication log at the end of each month
Attending onboarding and debriefing meetings at the beginning and end of the program
The impact of Growing Home is best told by those who’ve experienced it firsthand.
Legacy Durham graduated from Omaha North High School in May 2024 and is currently attending Boston College and being mentored by Natavia Jones.
“I honestly really liked it; I’m so glad I did this,” she said. “It made me really happy that there’s an organization going into the community helping out people and wanting to keep people’s talents in Omaha. I can attest to that because I’m here, and there’s a lot of opportunities.”
DaNya Horne graduated from Omaha North High School in May 2019 and earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Xavier University of Louisiana in May 2023. She is pursuing her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California, with an expected graduation in May 2026.
"This mentorship provided me the opportunity to meet with a health professional and my other minority peers to inspire me to work in the health field,” she said. “All of the other members of the program I either went to high school with or grew up with in the same town, it’s motivational to see representation of yourself in higher positions."
By connecting students with local professionals and offering them real-world experiences, Growing Home aims to foster the next generation of leaders while showcasing Omaha as an attractive destination for post-graduation careers.