Freedomtainment

By: Will Mankhey, A student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha What is Top Flight Fitness? Top Flight Fitness is an Omaha boxing gym located at 3034 Sprague Street. Owned by former professional boxer Treven Coleman, Top Flight Fitness has been helping Omaha residents get in shape and stay in shape since 2019.  The Goals of Top Flight Fitness The goal of Treven and his gym has been to give the community an outlet to stay active and prevent a sedentary lifestyle. The gym is comprised of a boxing section and a weightlifting section that offer a more dynamic...

An Easter to Remember   In 1913, Easter was a little earlier than usual, as it was on March 23rd. Nebraska was promised to have normal Spring weather, but the sky had different plans. On an evening devoted to families spending time together, little did they know that it might have been their last time with their loved ones.   The Events   According to the National Weather Service, the tornado first tore through Cass and Saunders county, which had killed 38 people total. With a sharp fall in barometers and temperature, Omaha became a target as well, and without...

By: R. Nelson, A student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, as part of Heather Nelson’s Service Learning Academy class.  What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States. President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on June 1, 1863. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was signed on June 1st, Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19th because it was on that very day Texas, the last state agreed to end slavery.  History of Slavery in Nebraska Nebraska became a territory in 1854, and during that year, the “Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed the Nebraska Territorial Legislature to decide whether slavery should be legal...

By: Grace King, A student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, as part of Heather Nelson’s Service Learning Academy class.  North Omaha is home to over 100 different churches. Whether you are affiliated with a religion or not, it is clear to see that churches are what bring communities together. North Omaha hasbeautiful churches that are still standing and still running today after more than 100 years! The Uniqueness of North Omaha's Churches A unique thing about North Omaha’s churches is that many of the early churches were built to cater to the different ethnic groups at the time. For example, Italian, German,...

By: Chakera J. Hough, A student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, as part of Heather Nelson’s Service Learning Academy class.  Music has always been a form of expression that people have used to escape the reality of the real world. Getting lost in the rhythm of a song seems to be a form of healing for many people, especially the African American residents of North Omaha. The beautiful history that shapes the music of North Omaha has been enriched by African American culture for over 170 years. From jazz bands to church choirs, to orchestras, and much more, the power African Americans...