Fostering community togetherness breathes life into where we live, leading to visible changes for the better. The Nebraska nonprofit community is grateful to have inCOMMON, an organization that alleviates poverty at the root level by uniting and strengthening vulnerable Omaha neighborhoods. “There's all kinds of things that we can do to make life better for each other right at home. You start partnering with your neighbors to make yourself part of the community by making your sidewalks more walkable,” Co-Director Christian Gray explains.
inCOMMON formed in 2001, centering its focus on vulnerable neighborhoods to get to the source of poverty by co-creating strong, thriving, and healthy neighborhoods for future generations to grow up with. Over the past 15 years of serving the Park Avenue community and recently expanding to Walnut Hill community, there has been decreases in violent crime and poverty with an increase in graduation rates within the neighborhoods they serve.
Christian explains that inCOMMON takes its direction from community input, “so, what neighbors are identifying as some of the barriers that they're facing. We kind of try to figure out the full image.” Community listening sessions are opportunities for members to come together to figure out their needs and what can be done to support one another.
Local efforts include a multitude of beautification projects, educational courses, and developing affordable housing units for families, all built on their four pillars of development. Starting with individual development programs, inCOMMON provides educational opportunities such as GED, ESL, career readiness, and citizenship courses. It is a chance for people who want to learn without judgement of their age, language, or ability. In 2024, eleven individuals became U.S. citizens after taking these courses.
Most pivotal is relationship and leadership development, starting with deep listening sessions to identify issues. Part of this pillar includes a newer program. Neighborhood Connectors is a youth-led program offered to teens interested in neighborhood development that connects neighbors and inCOMMON staff in bettering the community. Community events draw the neighborhood together through cultural celebrations, dinners, and even block parties, by the community for the community.
The last pillar is neighborhood development, the major impacts that the community can see and experience everyday. Major projects accomplished include the implementation of a pocket playground, soccer field, and the development of 75 quality affordable housing units. Alongside the major projects, inCOMMON leads in local Get Out the Vote work and voter registration efforts to keep their community civically engaged.
Christian emphasizes the value of community in the face of uncertainty due to recent changes nationally and statewide. “I know that we all know at this point in time, when so much is up in the air in terms of some of the more national level issues, to really focus and put our head down into our local communities and partner together with our neighbors to make change right here where we live.”
inCOMMON seeks to continue to be a backbone support for its neighbors through their training, organizing, and educational programs to give them everything they need to take care of one another. A difference can be made, even in your own front yard.
“I think even now it is important to build a trusted community that people can rely on. Secondarily to that is really developing a neighborhood that's closely knit together that has relationships of trust and we know we can go to for help and for support. I think there's no substitute for that.”