Celebrating the 8th Developer Academy:

Building the Next Generation of Community Developers 

         From September 22nd to September 26th, Spark hosted our 8th Developer Academy and what a week it was! This fall’s cohort brought together 21 passionate students, adding up to a total of 119 community members who have now graduated from the Academy since its launch. Each new class brings fresh energy, big ideas, and a shared commitment to reimagining what’s possible in Omaha’s neighborhoods.

Throughout the week, students rolled up their sleeves and dug into the fundamentals of community-focused real estate development. They learned from guest speakers and panelists who generously shared their knowledge, experiences, and encouragement, helping to prepare this group to step into the work of revitalizing neighborhoods and creating thriving places for all.

Now, the real test begins: the Capstone Projects. Each student will present their final project, bringing together everything they’ve learned, before graduating from the Academy.

We invite you to join us for this special celebration:
📅 Friday, October 10th
📍United Way of the Midlands

This is your chance to see the passion and ideas these emerging developers are bringing to life. Together, they are shaping the future of community development in Omaha.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our guest speakers and panelists for helping to equip the next generation of developers with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to succeed. Your contributions make this work possible.

If you plan to attend, we kindly invite guests to register in advance through this Eventbrite link:

Let’s celebrate this milestone and cheer on our future developers, because when neighborhoods thrive, we all thrive.

Investing in Homegrown Change:

Charles Hill Jr.’s Development 

         Big news for North Omaha! Charles Hill Jr. is developing two new single-family homes in the neighborhood where he grew up. Spark Capital is proud to support his vision with a loan that helps make this project possible.

Why This Matters

These are more than houses, they’re homegrown investment in a community. Charles is building in the same area that shaped him, and his vision is rooted in giving back. By leveraging a Spark Capital loan and a state grant to help with fees, permits, and labor, Charles is working to make these homes more affordable and accessible.

Building quality, attainable homeownership is one of the key ways neighborhoods can stabilize, wealth can build locally, and people can stay invested in their place. Through Spark Capital, we aim to fill financing gaps so that mission-aligned projects like Charles’s can move forward.

The Project Snapshot

• Location: 5517 N 52nd St, Omaha, NE 68104 

• Scope: Two single-family homes

• Goal: Provide more accessible, for-sale housing options

• Partnerships: Supported by Spark Capital and a state grant to reduce costs and improve feasibility

At Spark, we believe that real change comes when community members build where they live, when people with deep roots in a place lead its development journey. Our Spark Capital loan fund exists precisely to back projects that might not otherwise move forward, especially in disinvested neighborhoods. We offer flexible lending between $50,000 and $750,000, supporting housing, mixed-use, commercial, educational, and health-focused development.

Supporting Charles’s project aligns with our mission: to catalyze transformation while maintaining credibility and trust in the neighborhoods we serve.

What’s Next & How You Can Follow Along

Construction is underway, and Charles expects to complete both homes by Fall 2025. We’ll be sharing updates as walls go up, finishes go in, and homeowners begin to move forward.

Let’s move forward together, supporting developers rooted in the community, building homes that matter, and fueling the long arc of inclusive neighborhood investment.

Let’s move forward together, supporting developers rooted in the community, building homes that matter, and fueling the long arc of inclusive neighborhood investment.

We are thrilled to welcome Nancy Williams to Spark’s Board of Directors.

Nancy is the Managing Partner of Block 27 Consulting, LLC, a family business designed to leverage strengths and talents to cultivate collective generational wealth for clients, communities, and their own family. With a career spanning decades across agriculture, technology, education, business development, and food systems, Nancy brings a wealth of experience in building resilience and advancing equity.

Before Block 27, Nancy led and managed a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to connecting individuals and groups in ways that improved self-sufficiency, strengthened regional food security, and supported the economic resilience of both urban and rural communities. She has a proven passion for turning ideas into action, making meaningful connections, and weaving together resources that create long-term impact.

As a lifelong learner, Nancy is skilled at recognizing connections, arranging strategies, and engaging in collective action that drives change. Her current work is guided by what she calls a love ethic, a practice rooted in dignity, care, joy, and curiosity, with the belief that love itself is regenerative and leads to equity and justice.

We are excited to bring Nancy’s vision, creativity, and deep commitment to community into Spark’s leadership. Her insights will help guide our work in transforming disinvested neighborhoods into thriving and prosperous communities.

Nancy’s leadership and passion will be invaluable as we work toward our mission, welcome to Spark!

We are excited to announce that Gene Klein, has joined Spark’s Board of Directors.

Gene currently serves as the CEO of Project Harmony, a Child Advocacy Center in Omaha that provides services to strengthen the community’s response to child abuse. Under his leadership, Project Harmony has grown into one of the largest centers of its kind in the nation, serving more than 10,000 children and families each year. With nearly 400 professionals co-located on its campus, the organization has become a nationally recognized model for collaboration between government agencies and nonprofit partners.

Gene brings with him over 37 years of leadership experience in agencies serving children and families. He has served on multiple state and national boards, including the National Children’s Alliance in Washington, D.C., the Nebraska Foster Care Review Board, the Nebraska Governor’s Commission for the Protection of Children, and the Omaha Archdiocese Review Board for the Protection of Children. His experience also includes work with the City of Papillion Civil Service Commission, peer review for the Department of Justice, and more than 18 years as an accreditation peer reviewer for the National Children’s Alliance.

In addition to his leadership roles, Gene is a coach, facilitator, and trainer, providing workshops on leadership, strategic planning, team development, and emotional intelligence. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Creighton University, a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and is a licensed Mental Health Practitioner.

We are deeply grateful to have Gene’s wisdom, experience, and heart for community as part of Spark’s Board. His insight will help guide our mission to profoundly transform disinvested neighborhoods into thriving and prosperous communities.

It’s an honor to have Gene join us, his expertise will help shape the future of Spark’s work in community development.

We’re excited to welcome Zeke as Spark’s newest team member, joining us as a Policy Fellow.

Zeke is a policy and advocacy professional whose work has taken him across the globe, from Nebraska to the Czech Republic, with stops in Sweden, Japan, Austria, and Bosnia along the way. He recently completed his Master’s in Public and Social Policy at Charles University in Prague, one of the oldest universities in the world, and brings both local and international experience to his role with Spark. Zeke’s journey has taken him to three different countries while studying abroad, and now he’s bringing that global experience back home to strengthen our community.

Throughout his career, Zeke has led and supported initiatives that advance equity, inclusion, and community connection. While in Prague, he organized a queer young professionals panel in partnership with Pride Business Forum, creating space for candid conversations about workplace inclusion. Previously, he worked with the U.S. Department of State’s glifaa, supporting LGBTQIA+ diplomats and staff, and co-led a transnational digital mapping project of Bosnian diaspora networks with Humanity in Action.

His Nebraska roots are just as inspiring: Zeke played a role in raising the state’s minimum wage through a successful ballot initiative, produced storytelling campaigns that uplifted immigrant and refugee voices, and guided international students through cultural adjustment at his alma mater.

Outside of his professional life, Zeke enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with his fiancé, Jakub. With a background in theatre for societal development and community engagement, Zeke also has a lifelong passion for cultural exchange and creativity, which he brings into all areas of his work.

We’re thrilled to have Zeke on board, his global perspective, local roots, and commitment to advocacy will strengthen Spark’s mission to help neighborhoods thrive. Don’t hesitate to give a warm welcome to Zeke at zeke@sparkcdi.org

Strategic Collaboration in Action:

Spark & Front Porch Investments

        On August 28th, Spark had an amazing strategy session with our partners at Front Porch Investments. Collaboration is always the way, and together we explored how to deepen our impact in community development.

Front Porch Investments shares our values of inclusion, bold action, and human-centered solutions, focusing on affordable housing and equitable access. During our session, we discussed ways to coordinate efforts, share resources, and support projects led by emerging and diverse developers.

This is just the beginning. By working together, listening to neighbors, and leveraging our collective strengths, we can transform disinvested neighborhoods into thriving communities.

Join us this Saturday for a fun and rewarding community clean-up along the North Omaha Trail!

       Volunteers of all ages are welcome. We’ll provide supplies, encouragement, and lunch at the finish. Let’s come together to keep the North Omaha Trail clean, safe, and welcoming for everyone!

Are you ready to take the next step in your development journey? 

       The co-Development Apprenticeship program (coDA) is a unique opportunity for aspiring and emerging developers to build their skills and portfolio through collaborative, real-world projects. Join us to find out more!