The Joy Ambition is a cultural initiative nurturing the vibrant arts and culture scene in North Omaha and the greater area. We focus on providing a platform for diverse art experiences that center joy.
Our Mission
Our mission is to cultivate a joyful and vibrant arts ecosystem that honors the culture, stories, and ambitions of our diverse communities.
Value: The 6 C's
Create:
We create opportunities and experiences that highlight diverse creativity on local, regional, and national levels.
Cultivate:
We cultivate the incredible talent within our city, nurturing growth, creativity and combatting brain drain.
Challenge:
We challenge perceptions of art's value, affirming its power to inspire individual and collective joy, and its role as a vital economic driver for thriving individuals, communities, and cities.
Culture:
We honor the rich history of Black culture while furthing opportunities for meaningful creative exchange.
Connect:
We connect people, places, and ideas, allowing for expansive new experiences, stories, relationships, and artistic expressions.
Community:
We center and uplift communities that are often overlooked or divested from, focusing on communities of color, young adults, and seniors.
We Believe
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Joy is necessary for all humans.
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Art is essential in connecting and healing communities to thrive.
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Many diverse stories across creative disciplines. We aim to build a platform that nurtures these stories and provides space and opportunity for those already in existence.
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Omaha and its community are unique and vibrant. The people, places, and culture of this city deserve to be celebrated and amplified.
Areas of Focus
01
Performing & Visual Arts
02
Cultural, Communal, and Historical Context
03
Intergenerational Connections
Our Programs
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is a family-friendly Arts & Cultural Festival honoring the history of Juneteenth while supporting Black artists, entrepreneurs, and businesses in North Omaha. Founded in 2021 as a small community event, Juneteenth JoyFest expanded into an all-day celebration. Juneteenth JoyFest offers Omahans an opportunity to support local artists and the community, and learn about local organizations and small businesses. Most importantly, it allows community members to experience joy through art, music, education, and activities. Juneteenth JoyFest focuses on supporting local artists and bringing national artists for networking and cultural exchange. In 2024- Juneteenth JoyFest circulated 52,000 back into the local economy, with 21,000 directly paying local artists - majority black and other POC. Throughout the years, we’ve been able to host nationally recognized artists Terrace Martin, LaRussell, and Rexx Life Raj. North Omaha and its residents deserve to have culturally exceptional experiences to highlight the amazing impact it has given to Omaha for years prior and years to come. We want Juneteenth JoyFest to be a yearly moment to exchange that joy, information, expression, entrepreneurship and celebration.
Bridge the Gap
is a pilot program using performing arts to support memory care, and bring experiences of joy through intergenerational engagement. This 2 part initiative featured soulful performances by local band Parfait accompanied by a meal at the now closed Generations Center and the Douglas County Health Center long term care facility- providing therapeutic and joyful experiences for seniors, individuals with dementia, and other disabilities. The next phase of the project is to sustain funding to explore partnering again with the health county and identifying other partners, with long term goals of integrating arts education for the seniors based on their interests.
Creative Development Trip
a pilot program to St. Louis with local artists and community organizers Jewel Rodgers and Keiria Marsha to further explore how arts and culture fuel community vibrancy, revitalization, and economic growth. This trip served as a model for a future program aimed at inspiring Omaha/Lincoln artists to reimagine the region as a hub for creative sustainability while informing their work through low-cost or no-cost travel opportunities.
Our Team.
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