Riverside Chats

Benjamin grew up on the irrigation ditches on the 100th meridian.She received her Bachelors in Arts from Hastings College in 2001 and worked as a studio assistant for Jun Kaneko until 2006. In 2008, I received my M.F.A from Bowling Green State University, Ohio.Benjamin fuses water drought data with monumental, scaled ceramics, and her work has been featured  at the Joslyn Art Museum, Museum of Nebraska Art, the Great Plains Art Museum, and private galleries in the Midwest. In 2013, the Nebraska Arts Council awarded me an Individual Artist Fellowship Grant. My artwork has been published in Ceramics Monthly, Clay Times, NY Arts Magazine, Lark Crafts: The Best of 500 Ceramics, 500 Ceramic Sculptures, and in Sculpture Magazine.

My guest today is Khenda Mustafa. Mustafa was born in Iraq and grew up in Texas. She attended the University of Nebraska Lincoln, where she studied global studies. She is the director of community engagement at CIRA, the center for immigrant & refugee advance in Omaha. CIRA (Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement) in Omaha is a nonprofit organization formed in 2022 by the merger of Immigrant Legal Center and Refugee Empowerment Center. It provides comprehensive legal representation, resettlement, and social work services to immigrants and refugees in Nebraska and Southwest Iowa. CIRA focuses on family/humanitarian immigration and supports, including services for unaccompanied children.

Jerde was born and raised on the high plains of northwestern South Dakota. She is the director of the Radio Talking Book Service, a nonprofit serving Nebraska and southwest Iowa with a mission to connect individuals who are blind, low vision, or print impaired to news, information, arts, and culture through the human voice and technology.  Additionally, Jerde is a photographer whose work has been featured at the Des Moines Art Center and was named the “Outstanding Emerging Visual Artist” at the 2022 Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards. 

My guest today is Pablo Arza, aka DJ Arza. Arza graduated from Ralston High School and received training in jazz at the Berklee College of Music and Tribeca Jazz Institute. In Omaha, you can catch him performing at The Red Lion Lounge, The North Omaha Music and Arts (NOMA Omaha) and other venues around Omaha.  

Alamdari grew up in Texas before attending the University of Missouri-Columbia and receiving her bachelors and master's in journalism. Currently, she is the senior reporter and Secreast Greater Nebraska reporting at the Flatwater Free Press, Nebraska’s first independent nonprofit newsroom. Her reporting on Nebraska prisons won a 2023 Great Plains Journalism Award. We’re discussing the power of the story, navigating the saturated social media landscape, journalism’s role in functioning democracy.

Payne is a native to St. Louis, and is completing a doctoral program in educational administration at the University of Nebraska Omaha. He works at the Metropolitan Community College and is the Director of College Success and Career Readiness partnership, in addition to the assistant director for career pathway scholarship programs that focus on the trades.Additionally, Payne is the co-owner of Journey to Talents LLC, a consulting firm that offers professional skill development and coaching for students in our community. 

Bush grew up in North Omaha and has a master's degree in Nonprofit Administration as well as a bachelor's degree in behavioral science specializing in homicide grief support, crisis intervention, motivational interviewing & de-escalation. She created families of the stolen in 2012, a nonprofit that specializes in community centered homicide grief support as well as anti-violence awareness campaigns. Shaping Healthy Reproductive Outcomes working with new & expecting mothers, providing additional support in an attempt to reduce the infant mortality rate in the black community.Shaping Healthy Reproductive Outcomes working with new & expecting mothers, providing additional support in an attempt to reduce the infant mortality rate in the black community.We’re discussing the importance of community, the continual process of healing, and celebrating the lives of those taken from us too soon. 

My guest today is Ella Weber. Weber received a Bachelor of fine arts from the university of Nebraska Lincoln and Master of Fine Arts with distinction from the University of Kansas, with an emphasis on printmaking and print media.She has had many artistic residencies across the nation, and some of her recent solo shows have included exhibitions at Western Exhibitions (Chicago, IL), Munson (Utica, NY), Radial Gallery (Dayton, OH), The Union for Contemporary Art (Omaha, NE), Plains Art Museum (Fargo, ND).We’re discussing the importance of flexibility with the artistic process, and ways for more artists to have increased access to studio spaces.

My guest today is Barron Breland. Breland began singing as a child in the Atlanta Boy’s Choir, and later received his undergraduate in music theory from the University of Georgia and doctorate of music in choral conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He is the artistic director of the River City Mixed Chorus,  one of the first GALA (Gay & Lesbian Association of Choruses) ensembles established in 1984 and features singers from all LGBTQ+ identities and allies.He also is the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs & Dean of the Graduate School at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Here is my conversation with Barron Breland.

Today, I’m talking with Arturo Aceves Gonzales. Gonzalez is a native of Mexico, and received his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Universidad de Guadalajara.He is the Head of Health Equity and Economic Opportunity at the Latino Economic Development Council. In our conversation, we talk about upwards mobility for Latinos in Omaha, as well as the nuts and bolts of entrepreneurship for community members of all citizenship levels. Here is our conversation.

My guest today is artist Rachel Mindrup.  Mindrup was raised in Omaha and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Nebraska Kearney before receiving her Master of Fine Arts from the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University. She is an associate professor of drawing and painting and the Richard L. Deming, MD Endowed Chair in Medical Humanities at Creighton University.We’re talking about how Mindrup balances medicine, healing, and identity through her artistic practice, as well as her work advocating for Neurofibromatosis on Capitol Hill.

My guest today is Jennifer Sheshko Wood.  Wood is a native to Canada, and grew up in Montreal, QB. She came to the states to pursue her MFA in Costume Design from Indiana University.As a costume designer and crafts artisan, her American credits include the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre, Indiana University, Indiana Festival Theatre, the American Players Theatre, and Opera Theatre St. Louis. Jenn worked in Montreal with Geordie Productions, The Segal Center for the Arts, Table d’Hote Theatre, and Fallen Angel Productions.

My guest today is advocate Christopher McCroy.  McCroy was born and raised in North Omaha, and received his Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Morehouse College and is completing his PhD in higher education at UCLA.He has been the executive director of 100 Black men of Omaha since the fall of 2023.The 100 Black Men of Omaha, Inc. (100) was established in 1995, an alliance of leading African-American men from a myriad of professions including community leaders, business executives, physicians, attorneys, entrepreneurs, elected officials, and educators volunteering their time to better the community. ”Real Men Giving Real Time.”They are having their 20th annual men of honor fundraiser celebrating 30 years of impact in their community anniversary this Saturday, November 15thHere is my conversation with Christopher McCroy.

My guest today is Drew Newlin. Newlin grew up in various parts of Omaha, where his passion for skateboarding began after playing some Tony Hawk video games.He attended the University Of Nebraska Omaha, where he received his bachelors in political science.He continued skateboarding along the way, and began incorporating advocacy with his shredding, which led to working at the Bay.The Bay originated out of Lincoln in 2010, and is a non profit that offers free or pay what you can programming in music, art, media, fashion, and skateboarding. They opened a second location in 2024 at the Benson Community Center. Today, we’re discussing our favorite skateboarders, how advocacy needs new approaches to reduce harm in 2025, and the steps required for establishing a community skate park.  

My guest today is business owner and guitar repairman, John Svatos.Svatos grew up in the Millard area, and was a self identified ‘guitar kid’ in his neighborhood. As he got older he got more involved in the Omaha music scene, which led to guitar repair work and owning and operating Ground Floor Guitar. Ground Floor Guitar is a local guitar retail and repair shop that was created in 2016. They offer a large range of repair services including: guitar setups, pickup installation, fret leveling, electronic repair, and deep cleaning. They’re currently in the North Downtown area, on 1715 Cummings street. Today, we’re discussing the unique education required for guitar repair work, how he balances aesthetic with functional appeal when crafting guitars, and the joys of the youth learning about 90’s grunge culture.

My guest today is artist and educator Bart Vargas. Vargas was raised in Bellevue, where he was the youngest of four brothers.  He began drawing as a young child, and eventually received his bachelor of fine arts from the  University of Nebraska Omaha and then his Master’s of Fine arts from The University of Minnesota. Vargas’ art explores concepts of salvage, collection, and repetition. He does  sculptures, paintings, ceramics and serigraphs, and his exhibitions can be found throughout the United States and also in China, Oaxaca Mexico, and India.Today, we’re discussing color theory, what he’s learned as an art educator for over 15 years, and the creative power of patience. 

My guest today is Leo Louis II. Louis has been a community advocate in a multitude of roles, including gang intervention, urban farming and entrepreneurship for over a decade. Louis began his career in advocacy while a sophomore at North Omaha High School, where he drafted a 10 point  email addressing issues relating to gang violence and CC’d every person in the school, which led to community-centered gang intervention programming that is still active.He has also worked with the Malcolm X Foundation where he helped create the Shabazz Community Garden before serving as Board President of the organization from 2019 to 2024. He also stars in a new film called My Omaha, a documentary highlighting  social movements during the social and political unrest in Omaha in 2020. My Omaha,  directed by Nick Beaulieu (Bow-lee-yew) was selected to the Slamdance, Middlebury, and Ashland Film festivals. Today, we’re talking about the intrinsic connection with social justice and hip hop, ways community members can be more invol

Today, I’m talking with Renzellous Brown, a singer, playwright and actor based out of Omaha. Brown, a native of Flint Michigan, received their Bachelor of Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management from Midland University, where they participated in multiple ensembles including the Blu Notes, University Choir, and Unforgettable Jazz combo.You can catch them singing at various jazz clubs throughout Omaha, and onstage at your local stage production. They also offer vocal coaching services!  If you’re interested, reach them at 402-739-9567, or email them at renisartist@gmail.com . If you would like to schedule online, go to calendly.come/renzealous. Today, we discuss incorporating feedback as part of the creative process, how songwriting compares to playwriting, and lessons they’ve learned as a working bandleader and jazz vocalist in Omaha.

JordantheNinja is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, actor, and dancer.He grew up in North Omaha and attended Northwest High School. He began his music career performing with his older brother, Jared, and got more involved with acting through various gigs at the Omaha Community Playhouse.As a musician, he leads multiple ensembles including Parfait, a multi-genre band that features fresh interpretations of well-known hits, with influences ranging from Motown classics to songs from Super Mario. They won the 2025 Omaha Entertainment Award for Outstanding Cover Band.In this conversation, he discusses  the role of discipline in the creative process,  lessons he’s learned while performing in different spaces throughout Omaha, and what upwards mobility looks like for artists in 2025.

Yanira Garcia is a community advocate who serves on the Regional Metropolitan Transit Authority, representing District 3. Additionally, she has over a decade of experience in communications, public relations, and advertising.The Transit Authority, also known as Metro, is responsible for running Omaha’s bus system, including ORBT and MOBY services.The elected board has seven non-partisan board members, voted by community members. Prior to the fall of 2024, seats were appointed by the mayor rather than elected. The change is part of Metro’s increased budget and expanded regional services. Board responsibilities include determining transit policy, overseeing the budget and handling contracts.Garcia has called South Omaha home for over 25 years and grew up in the Upland Park Neighborhood. She attended Omaha South High School and later received a Master of Arts in Integrated Media Communications from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.Today, Garcia discusses her approach to being a grounded public official, the ro