Omaha Gives! (Big)

The 5th annual charitable challenge for the city of Omaha was on a Wednesday this year. I started the day by listening to the news and hearing the details of the Trump budget that cuts an insane amount of money from heath, education, and environment programs designed to help those in our society who are struggling. So the juxtaposition was motivating considering I could respond to this horrible budget by donating a bunch of money to nonprofits in our community who do great work. It doesn’t change the fact that Trump and Republicans will stop at nothing until the parts of our government that help people are decimated. But I digress.

During Omaha’s 5th annual 24-hour charitable challenge, more than $7.83 million was raised for 923 nonprofits with 52,886 donations. Over the five years of the event, 200k donations have totaled more than $35 million. Money that goes to important nonprofits who are doing crucial work. Having participated in the event since it started and being the design partner for the last 4 years working with Omaha Community Foundation to get people excited about donating, it’s quite an inspiring thing to see.

The way we all celebrate giving, the way we work together to help others, and the way we recognize sharing is better than taking. Until next year, remember, there’s plenty to go around and there’s only so much we can do individually. After all, it takes a village to make sure the village is the best it can be.

Local Election, National Discussion

From the Heath Mello for Mayor Case Study

The election was watched nationally as one of the first in this odd new Trump era. Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Keith Ellison were brought to Omaha to campaign for Heath as part the DNC’s Come Together Fight Back tour. While the event did energize the base, it unexpectedly spurred a heated discussion around being a pro-life Democrat in a conservative state. While some of the coverage was incorrect, this article in The Nation breaks things down well. The discussion is certainly an important one for Democrats to have, but it did detract from what the campaign wanted to be talking about in the final weeks leading up to election day.

Not getting a win is certainly disappointing. Having another 4 years of a harsh Republican mayor who lacks vision is very concerning for the city’s future mass transit needs, riverfront development, and the prioritization of equity for EVERYONE. 

But, the creativity and energy from the campaign is a hopeful sign for future citizen engagement. The tireless work of young leaders in our community mean the central idea of the campaign — creating a city that’s more welcoming, inclusive, and innovative — is still possible. Those of us who want a more progressive city aren’t giving up. In fact, we’re more determined than ever.

View Case Study »

Ebbing/Flowing: 2 lists

Things I’m getting tired of:

  • Hustle

  • Startups

  • Social Media

Things I’m getting stoked on: 

  • Podcasts

  • Walking Slowly

  • Cooking

Graphic Designer + Deep Thinker + Agitator

New job title?

  • Or: Dreamer + Maker + Citizen
  • Or: Realist + Doer + Skeptic
  • Or: Communicator + Advocate + Gets Shit Done
  • Or: Intentionalist + Dissenter + Optimist (mostly)
  • Or: Visualizer + Resistor + Peacemaker
  • Or: Futurist + Connector + Rolls Up Sleeves
  • Or: Organizer + Ponderer + Contrarian
  • Or: Philosopher + Introvert + Running Out of Time
  • Or: Coffee Black + Beer Hoppy + Music Loud

On Multi Culturalism

Looking out to a possible future, to a time hopefully not too far off, and seeing a more diverse and inclusive country gives me hope. To me, a more multicultural world is a better world.

As a designer, that is a common starting point for many of my projects. With clients and collaborators, this is a common understanding we all share. Trying to solve problems together we see this as either a common beginning or part of the place we’re trying to go together. So the thing that worries me, if you don’t see multiculturalism as a positive, then where does that leave us?

If multiculturalism is a bad thing, stripping away at the traditional fabric of a place, what are we to do about it? Sure, we can talk as neighbors and citizens about these things, and we should. But we probably won’t work on a project together, will we? If I want to see a community more welcoming to those who are different, and you do not, how are we going to come together to find solutions to a problem we don’t agree on? 

For example, in a recent workshop, we ideated around huge issues — racism, sexism, poverty, and gun violence. The starting point we began from included an understanding that in the not too distant future, America’s population was going to be more multicultural. The numbers are obvious. Everyone in the room understood this and agreed it was a positive. Then we worked together to try to find approaches we could take to address these huge issues. 

Designers, civic leaders, teachers, entrepreneurs, and community members collaborated in a co-ceation process for civic engagement. We ideated, discussed, shared, and received feedback. And we started to see visions appear for a better future. One with more racial equity, gender equity, more understanding around what poverty looks like, and a safer environment where guns are not so pervasive.

But, if this starts to help further solidify a world where diversity and inclusion is praised, and you are against a multicultural view of the world, do you want these outcomes at all? And if this is the foundation of how I see the world in the coming years, I probably will not compromise. 

Where does that leave us?

Look Away

We are living fully immersed in “Look Away” politics. Outrageous lies, deception, and alternative false views of reality. All done to distract us. To keep us confused. To make sure we do not see what is really happening. Power to the People? Na, to them it’s power for the wealthy only. We the people must fight back, must not be distracted, must not look away.