Council approves $1.057 million agreement with African American Empowerment Network for CVIP work; council and public press for transparency on partner use and—

The Omaha City Council voted on April 22 to approve an agreement with the African American Empowerment Network (Omaha 360) for $1,057,287 in funding allocated from the city’s fiscal year 2024 Community Violence Intervention and Prevention (CVIP) grant.

Willie Barney of the Empowerment Network presented partners and program elements in response to council questions, listing partners named in the application including U360, the North Omaha Community Partnership (Tamika Meese), Code Z (Latron Lewis), Visionary Lion (Leo Lewis), Riley Protection Group (Brian Riley), and Viable Healing (Roscoe Wallace). Barney said the partner organizations have long histories of community outreach and street-outreach work and that the grant will expand a citywide effort to identify and support individuals and families at highest risk of involvement in community violence. He said the grant period runs from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2027, and that portions of the program will credential and train grassroots intervention teams, expand hospital-based intervention (Encompass) and formalize collaborative partnerships with UNO School of Criminology and the Nebraska Medical Center.

Council members pressed for written lists of partner organizations and assurances this work would include South Omaha. Barney said the grant’s scope was not geographically restricted and that many of the partner organizations already operate citywide, including in South Omaha. Council members thanked Barney and the Empowerment Network and indicated they expected follow-up reporting; one council member asked to meet with the grantee in 90 days to review how funds were being used in a specific district.

Public commenters included a mix of supporters and speakers seeking clarity; council members noted the federal grant award had already been made (the city had accepted the award previously) and that the Council’s current vote was to approve subcontracting and local disbursement to named partners as outlined in the application. Council Member Melton moved approval; the motion passed on roll call, recorded as 7-0.

Council members and the grantee agreed to additional written documentation of partners and to follow-up meetings to review distribution and impact within particular council districts.