Step-Up Omaha: Building on 19 Years of Impact
Expanding access, creating opportunities, and investing in Omaha’s next generation through career exploration, training, and work experience.
Step-Up Omaha: Building on 19 Years of Impact
As the Empowerment Network’s Step-Up Omaha! employment program moves into its 19th year, it continues to build on its success. Step-Up Omaha has expanded its reach citywide and, in partnership with community organizations and businesses, has connected more than 9,000 youth and young adults ages 14–21 with career exploration, job training, and internships since its inception in 2008.
Thousands of Step-Up Omaha alumni have graduated from high school, entered and completed college, and gained part-time and full-time work. Some alumni have also made the leap into entrepreneurship.
Summer employment has proven to be a vital component in engaging youth and putting them on the right path toward long-term career success. Local and national research continues to point to the importance of linking youth and young adults with job experiences that strengthen the connection between education, work, and earned income.
What began as a summer employment program has evolved into a year-round initiative with specialized cohorts, career exploration, and job training opportunities available to participants.
A Community Investment in Youth and Workforce Development
With the valuable financial support of the City of Omaha, Charles E. Lakin Foundation, United Way, Office of Violence Prevention, businesses, local and national foundations—including the Obama Foundation, Weitz Family Foundation, Mutual of Omaha, Google, Cox Communications, and community residents—Step-Up Omaha has expanded in measurable ways.
Step-Up Omaha Explore Program (Ages 14–15)
Participants ages 14–15 in the Step-Up Omaha Explore program participate in immersive career exploration experiences, including:
CHI Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Charles Drew Health Center
Union for Contemporary Arts, Malcolm X, NOMA, Great Plains Black History Museum, El Museo Latino
Metropolitan Community College PROTO Lab
Mayor’s Office, City Council, County Commissioners, County Treasurer, Planning Department
Omaha Police Department, Douglas County Jail, Douglas County Attorney’s Office, City Attorney’s Office, Omaha Fire Department, U.S. Probation Office
TD Ameritrade, CenturyLink Center, MECA
No More Empty Pots, Permaculture
SocialPreneur Lab, Boys & Girls Club Career Launch Program
WoodmenLife
Construction, Culinary, Automotive – OPS Career Center
UNO, Metropolitan Community College, Bellevue University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Jobs, Careers & Internships (Ages 16–21)
Participants ages 16–21 in the Step-Up Omaha Jobs, Careers, and Intern program gained valuable work experience at more than 80 worksites, including American National Bank, CHI Health, UNMC, the City of Omaha, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, WoodmenLife, Omaha Public Schools, Omaha Police Department, Jimmy John’s, Arby’s, and many others.
Interns worked in positions ranging from banking, information technology, and healthcare to landscaping, construction, and child development.
Career Cohorts & STEAM Opportunities
Step-Up Omaha has intentionally expanded to include more STEAM opportunities through specialized cohorts.
Step-Up Omaha Connect (Ages 19–21)
Participants ages 19–21 in the Step-Up Omaha Connect program worked in full-time and part-time opportunities with the potential for long-term employment.
Some participants earned as much as $14 to $15 or more per hour during the summer and received opportunities to remain with their employers after proving themselves to be valuable assets.
Our Vision
The vision of Step-Up Omaha! is to collaborate in bridging the employment gap and investing in the workforce of the future by recruiting, training, and preparing career-minded youth and young adults in our community to make positive life choices and maximize their personal potential through educational and career opportunities.
Learn More
Businesses and organizations interested in learning more or becoming a sponsor and/or worksite can visit StepUpOmaha.com for more information.
Step-Up Omaha! is an initiative of the Empowerment Network in collaboration with the City of Omaha. Community partners include Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands, Girls Inc., Heartland Workforce Solutions, Hope Center for Kids, Metropolitan Community College, Omaha Public Schools, Urban League of Nebraska, and United Way of the Midlands.
Program in Action
Career Cohorts: Drones, Construction, Entrepreneurship, Culinary, STEAM and more
19 Years of Growth. Thousands of Futures Changed.
Step-Up Omaha continues to open doors for young people through career exposure, work experience, training, and leadership development.
From classrooms to worksites, from first jobs to long-term opportunity, this initiative keeps building momentum across Omaha.
