Voices & Vision

Our Community Impact and Engagement project, Voices & Vision, is a part of our Strategic Plan created in collaboration with Community Resource Exchange. This initiative aims to foster deep, meaningful connections between the organization and the community through a series of public engagement and outreach activities.

Voices & Vision is designed to enhance our strategic priority areas by focusing on designing and developing impactful arts programs and expanding community engagement efforts.

The project will include community surveys and online polls to gather feedback on the Union’s programs and services. Throughout the initiative, the Union will host Public Community Engagement Forums, Listening Sessions, and Focus Groups with key stakeholders each quarter facilitated by Social Architects, LLC.

Key objectives include

• Increasing community awareness of the Union’s programs
• Expanding programmatic opportunities to include diverse community members, volunteers, and external stakeholders
• Utilizing program evaluations and feedback to guide program design and development
• Ensuring that all Union programs remain financially sustainable

In the fall of 2024, the project began with programming in the Union’s newest addition—the Shirley Tyree Theater. Lakesha Green, the Union’s Executive Director and a respected theatre professional with two decades of experience, led this exciting endeavor. “We are dedicated to building a vibrant, inclusive space that serves everyone in North Omaha while ensuring long-term financial sustainability” states Green.

2025 Performing Arts Report

In October 2024, The Union for Contemporary Art launched the "Voices & Vision" Community Impact and Engagement Project, a bold initiative to strengthen our connection with our neighbors and residents in North Omaha. This project underscores the Union’s commitment to fostering inclusivity and relevance in its program offerings by prioritizing direct community input. Designed to refresh and update its arts programming, "Voices & Vision" focuses on creating impactful programs, increasing awareness, and broadening engagement to include a diverse array of community members and stakeholders. The initiative also emphasizes the importance of financial sustainability to ensure the longevity and accessibility of the Union’s offerings.

Our first sessions focused on our Performing Arts programming at The Union and included public forums, listening sessions, and 1-on-1 meetings with community members. This report is a reflection of those findings and will help inform the direction of the Theater and Performing Arts programming moving forward. If you would like to learn more about this initiative, please contact Jacquline Smith, youth + community director, jacquline@u-ca.org.

Atlanta-based Social Architects, LLC, known for its extensive experience in grassroots arts and community programming, has been selected as the lead facilitator for the project. The firm, featured in Black Enterprise and the Edutopia online education journal led by Star Wars creator George Lucas, brings over 25 years of expertise. DaVena Jordan, CEO of Social Architects, LLC, emphasizes, “The intersection of arts, education, and community is crucial for sustainable programming. Engaging with the community through projects like Voices & Vision is essential for creating arts programs that truly resonate and thrive. We are thrilled to partner with the Union in advancing their mission of arts and inclusivity.”