VOICE Omaha » equal opportunity

VOICE Public Meeting Rescheduled: January 26th at the Bemis Center

laboratoryrecords — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:10:18 +0000

Happy New Year! We are excited to announce that we’ve recovered from the holidays and have all the details for the rescheduled VOICE membership meeting in order and ready for public consumption. We’ll have a great lineup of panelists on hand at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts on Tuesday January 26, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.

Our panel discussion and meeting will focus on how Omaha’s urban design and development patterns affect our community’s equal opportunity and social mobility. You identified these two issues as the most important during our first membership meeting a few months ago. They are unquestionably linked, and our discussion will dig deeper into how the growth of our city is impacting those who are less fortunate.

Some of you may have seen The Reader’s December article focused on the beltway being proposed by MAPA. Such a project is a perfect example of the kinds of development patterns that need to be closely scrutinized. Such an investment will have long-lasting ramifications on our city.

During our membership meeting, we will learn more about the relationship between urban development and social mobility to ensure we’re all educated on the issue. We will then have a membership discussion about what action, if any, we as an organization should take as it relates to this issue. We hope you will attend to help ensure your voice is heard and we’re moving in the right direction.

VOICE PUBLIC MEETING
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts
All Ages Welcome
6:00 PM Doors
6:30 Meeting

Featured Panelists:
- Rick Cunningham, City of Omaha Planning Director
- Connie Spellman, Executive Director, Omaha by Design
- Willie Barney, President, Empower Omaha
- Jamie Grayson-Berglund, Director of Community Development, Greater Omaha Chamber

See you there!

WE NEED YOUR VOICE AT WEDNESDAY’S VOICE MEETING!

laboratoryrecords — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:55:24 +0000

If you’ve ever wanted to engage in a discussion about Omaha’s urban design and find out how it affects our community’s equal opportunity and social mobility, plan on attending next Wednesday’s Public VOICE Meeting. We’ve assembled a “dream team” of some of the areas greatest planning and design resources, including Omaha’s current city planner. This is your chance to listen, learn, ask questions, and join in the dialogue about the future design — both concrete and communal — of our city.

VOICE PUBLIC MEETING
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts
All Ages Welcome
6 PM Sharp

Featured Panelists:
- Marty Shukert, Urban Planner & Principal, RDG Planning & Design
- Rick Cunningham, City of Omaha Planning Director
- Connie Spellman, Executive Director, Omaha by Design
- Willie Barney, President, Empower Omaha
- Jamie Grayson-Berglund, Executive Director, Destination Midtown

Pass this invite along to anyone who might be interested and bring a friend or two to next week’s meeting. The greater our numbers, the greater our involvement, the greater our VOICE!

See you there!

Public School Board Elections Stir Debate

laboratoryrecords — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:54:41 +0000

There is a wave of discussion regarding the upcoming School Board elections. Some would say the School Board is the key to creating any significant change to the gargantuan system that is Omaha Public Schools.

If you have been paying attention to the Building Bright Futures movement or read the Pew Report, you are well aware of the need for comprehensive change in how we educate and support our youth. The overall graduation rate in the Omaha Metropolitan Area is 80%, leaving 20% of students not graduating on-time, having dropped out or having pursued a GED. Neglecting the minds of our youth is unacceptable for Omaha.

Consider putting some energy towards the upcoming school board elections. Our public school boards deserve the brightest, creative system thinkers this city has to offer.

Transportation Policy Can Support Sustainability & Equal Opportunity

laboratoryrecords — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:53:10 +0000

Transportation is a hot topic in Omaha these days, and the recent honor awarded to Mexico City’s bus system from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government made us wonder if all that’s going on is actually going to result in a more sustainable transportation system in Omaha. While great new programs such as the new Pass to Class partnership between Metropolitan Community College and Metro Area Transit are sure to increase ridership on the Omaha bus system, Omaha’s culture is largely rooted in automobile trips. Are the decisions our leaders are making related to this issue in the best interest of all Omahans, or just those who can afford to own and operate a vehicle? This question and ones like it will be explored at the next VOICE Public Meeting. We hope you can make it.