A Message from our Event Chairs

We are honored and excited to serve as Event Chairs for the 2024 Inclusive Communities Humanitarian Awards on August 2, 2024. This is the third year Inclusive Communities is hosting their event in the popular Happy Hour format. We are so excited to share that the in-person celebration has moved to a larger venue in Downtown, The Diamond Room. We are proud to chair this celebration and continue our support for Inclusive Communities.



Inclusive Communities has been an equity leader in the Midwest confronting prejudice, bigotry, and discrimination for over 85 years. This year we will honor Shakur Abdullah as our Humanitarian of the Year. His work as an advocate for the incarcerated and champion of criminal justice reform made him the clear choice for this year’s award. Melanie Peltz is our Otto Swanson Spirit of Service Partner of the Year for her dedication to ensuring the students of Ralston High School are able to attend our Youth Leadership Development program, IncluCity, as an Advisor and mentor to her students she is helping shape tomorrows leaders. We are privileged to have so many amazing volunteers that this year we decided to recognize two outstanding individuals that have been integral to the success of our IncluCity and Omaha Table Talk programs. Our honorees for Volunteer of the Year are Mia Kennedy and Suzanne King. Lastly, our Mart Sedky Corporate Leadership Award, which was created to recognize champions within business who are instrumental in driving Diversity and Inclusion work, will be honoring the late David Scott. David was an Advocate in our inaugural LeadDIVERSITY cohort and was a relentless champion for access to work for people with disabilities and neurodivergence. We are privileged to celebrate his legacy and the legacy of the awards namesake this year. Please join us in elevating our wonderful awardees and their impactful efforts to promote equity, diversity, inclusion, respect, and justice for all.  

We hope you will support Inclusive Communities and its critical mission by joining us as a donor for this 2024 Humanitarian Awards. We look forward to seeing you on Friday!

2024 Humanitarian Awards Event Chairs

Andrea Kathol & Misty Homan

Esther Mejia & Jeneen Sagon

Ryan Ellis & Jon Taylor

Your attendance at our event will support Inclusive Communities’ vital mission of confronting prejudice, bigotry, and discrimination in the Midwest.

Mark your calendars, and get ready for an evening of inspiration, recognition, and community!

Friday, August 2, 2024

4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

The Diamond Room

605 N 13th St, Omaha, NE 68102

If online forms are not your thing – contact our office directly through phone (402.391.4460), email (brittany@inclusive-communities.org), or paper mail (1941 S 42nd St, #380, Omaha, NE 68105).

Meet the 2024 Awardees!

After initially receiving the death penalty as a youth, which was later reduced to a life sentence, Shakur was released in 2016 after spending 41 years in the carceral system. Since his release, Shakur has devoted himself to advocating for Restorative Justice practices as an alternative to prison with the Community Justice Center. Restorative Justice focuses on healing and repairing relationships beyond the criminal punishment. His dedication to this work has made a profound impact, reaching 18,000 individuals, with an impressive 82% not reoffending. Shakur's commitment to restorative justice exemplifies the power of healing and transformation, offering a path to reconciliation and positive change.

Melanie is an inspiring educator from Ralston High School and is renowned for her dedication to fostering courageous and compassionate leaders. Through her impactful work with students and the IncluCity Youth Leadership Development program, Melanie demonstrates an exceptional commitment to nurturing empathy, leadership, and a spirit of service. Her efforts not only shape the future of her students but also inspire them to make a positive impact in their communities. Melanie's passion for developing the next generation of empathetic leaders makes her a truly remarkable educator and a phenomenal partner of Inclusive Communities.

Mia Kennedy truly exemplifies dedication and leadership at IncluCity. Mia shines not only by ensuring everything runs smoothly at camp and during volunteer training days but also utilizes her exceptional skill in handling the "people and relationships" component of camp. Her ability to make decisions with everyone's best interest in mind, provide critical feedback, and manage multiple situations behind the scenes is unparalleled. Mia's charisma and relatability inspire all of us to become better versions of ourselves. Witnessing her growth over the years has been one of the most inspiring parts of the camp experience.

Suzanne King has been a dedicated volunteer with Inclusive Communities for many years, demonstrating a genuine curiosity and open-mindedness that positively impacts the community. This year, we are especially proud to recognize Suzanne for the significant contributions she has made, including forging a valuable partnership between Inclusive Communities and the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) Chapter in Omaha. Suzanne's commitment to the betterment of others and the community shines through in her work. Her compassion and desire to support people in improving their lives are truly admirable.

David was an advocate in our inaugural LeadDIVERSITY cohort and a relentless champion for access to work for people with disabilities and neurodivergence. When David spoke about his work in partnering with special-needs young adults in his hotel, he was beaming with pride. 

Because of David the Embassy Suites won the prestigious “Make a Difference Endowment Award” issued by Hilton Worldwide for their implementation of the Project SEARCH program. This incredible collaboration saw David partnering with Papillion-LaVista Public Schools, utilizing SPED teachers and job coaches to ensure the program’s success. He later supported Peregrine Hotel, where he set out to create the most inclusive hotel environment possible.  For David, this was beyond a passion project; it was truly his life's work. While David is missed dearly by so many we are excited to honor his legacy through his work that continues today.

If you are not able to attend but wish to honor the awardees and support the mission of Inclusive Communities, you may donate here: