Who We Are

The Omaha Star Institute (OSI) is a 501c3 stewarding the 87‑year legacy of The Omaha Star, Nebraska’s longest‑running Black‑owned newspaper and a National Register of Historic Places site. Located on North 24th Street, OSI is transforming the historic Omaha Star building and surrounding grounds into a dynamic campus for Black media, culture, and community.

Become a Founding Campus Partner through a leadership capital gift or multi-year pledge, and explore naming opportunities in The Omaha Star Institute Museum, Media Lab, Park, and Walk of Fame.

$850K

89 Year

100%

in public funding including ARPA resources

legacy of excellence in Black journalism

archives digitized and ready for interpretation

Four Impact Areas

Arts, Culture & History

Museum exhibitions on Black journalism, Black women’s leadership, and African American history in Omaha, powered by fully digitized archives.

Black Business & Economic Vitality

Indoor and outdoor spaces for vendor markets, business showcases, and entrepreneurship events that spotlight North Omaha businesses.

Youth Media & Leadership

Black Media Excellence programs offering youth journalism, podcasting, and digital storytelling training in a fully equipped media lab.

Heritage Tourism & Revitalization

The Omaha Star Walk of Fame and park as a must‑see stop on North 24th, drawing visitors, tours, and events into the neighborhood.

For nearly 90 years, we have served as a trusted voice for Black communities delivering solutions-based journalism amplifying stories of resilience, progress, and leadership.

We serve a multi-generational Black audience alongside civic leaders, educators, and institutions seeking accurate, community-centered reporting. Our excellence is driven by deep community trust, cultural credibility, and a consistent editorial focus on positive, empowering storytelling. Representing a community proportional to national demographics, our mission now extends beyond reporting. We are actively cultivating the next generation of journalists through knowledge-sharing, mentorship, and institutional replication.

The mission of the Omaha Star Institute (OSI) is to support the operations of The Omaha Star Newspaper and its programs to include training students about the profession of journalism; provide information to persons and businesses how to communicate their brand and stories in their communities; and share the archives of the Omaha Star for research and education.

The vision of OSI is to support operations of The Omaha Star Newspaper and to move the paper into the future by embracing the technology revolution through publishing digitally and maintaining a presence on multiple social media platforms to provide various communication platforms for the GOOD News of our community and remain relevant to our audiences.

Projected Community Impact (First 3-5 Years)

Campus fully renovated and open, with museum, media lab, and community spaces activated.

Omaha Star Park & Walk of Fame completed, hosting performances, markets, and heritage.

Dozens of local artists and Black-owned businesses featured through exhibits, markets, and editorial coverage.

Increased visitor traffic and positive visibility for North Omaha’s historic 24th Street corridor events.

Hundreds of youth and young adults engaged annually in media, storytelling, and leadership programs.