Inclusive Communities celebrates annual Humanitarian Brunch, names award winners

For the second year, Omaha-based nonprofit organization Inclusive Communities is celebrating its Humanitarian Brunch in a virtual format – the Humanitarian Brunch Situation.

While strides are being made due to the pandemic, the organization recognizes that not everyone is comfortable with large in-person events, and has therefore opted to retain the online format.

The Inclusive Communities Humanitarian of the Year Award goes to an individual or group whose work aligns with the organization’s mission and values. This year, the award is bestowed on all the Omaha Metro humanitarians – Essential Workers.

This decision comes in the spirit of honoring those individuals who have sustained our communities through the pandemic at great personal risk. They have kept us fed, kept grocery shelves stocked, cared for us if we were sick, educated our youth, kept the stream of packages coming to our doors, prepared our food, collected the trash, maintained the streets, came when we called for a first responder, and so many other things that we often take for granted. To elevate the experience of all essential workers, the organization has highlighted the experiences of six individuals with video and photo features. They are Audrey Jones LPN, meatpacking workers Blanca Menjivar and Alicia Cordova, third grade teacher Erin Violi, Hy-Vee service manager Jerry Carr, and volunteer services and community outreach manager Amanda Smith.

Frederick “Fred” Franklin is “the real deal.”

Originally from Chicago, Fred moved to Omaha to attend Creighton Law School, the beginning of a lifelong, illustrious career in law. He spent nearly 22 years as a federal prosecutor in the Nebraska U.S. Attorney’s office as the second Black attorney hired.

Alexis Sherman is the Inclusive Communities Volunteer of the Year.

From the first moment that the Inclusive Communities team met Alexis Sherman, an unshakeable bond was formed. Alexis had just started working at the College of St. Mary (CSM) in 2017. She was tasked with expanding diversity and inclusion discussions for the college and engaged Inclusive Communities for the Omaha Table Talk and IncluCity programs. That partnership with CSM has grown and deepened over the years because of Alexis’ belief in equity and inclusion.

Inclusive Communities and OutNebraska have been in partnership since 2019 for the Queer Table Talk (QTT) series.

At that time OutNebraska had been offering QTT in Lincoln and both parties recognized the value of expanding it into Omaha to reach a wider audience. Inclusive Communities’ Programs and Faculty Manager Dominic Green says, “OutNebraska’s spirit of collaboration is unparalleled. It was the easiest decision to partner that we’ve ever made, and getting this agreement in place took just one phone call!”