About Us

Maggie Wood joined our team as Executive Director on September 21st, 2015. Maggie uses She/Her/Hers pronouns. Maggie moved to Omaha in 1997 with the Clark Construction Group, as part of the general contracting team for the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Courthouse and chose to stay in Omaha when the project was completed. In addition to her for-profit work, throughout her 20 year career, Maggie has worked successfully for some notable non-profits, including Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Film Streams, Opera Omaha and CFDC/CDI Head Start.  She has managed budgets, solicited funds, empowered volunteers and has overseen the daily operations of various sized organizations.

Camellia “Cammy” Watkins is an Omaha native who graduated from Omaha South High School.  She received a BA Degree from Cornell College in Psychology and Vocal Performance.  Cammy has 15 years experience working with not-for-profit organizations ranging from environmental activism to performing arts administration.  The opportunity to work with many different facets of the not-for-profit world have provided Cammy with vast insights into the business needs of organizations. She is excited to utilize this expertise to partner with Omaha businesses as they begin the journey of creating an inclusive office culture.

In her spare time Cammy sings with the Opera Omaha chorus and other local churches and theaters.  Cammy is the proud aunt of 3 nephews and 1 niece.  She also enjoys spending time with her Mother who is her inspiration for hard work, dedication, and mindfulness.

Tena brings a full range of career experience to Inclusive Communities – all rooted in inclusiveness and education. Her background as an entrepreneur, educator and community organizer have made her one of the most recognizable people in North Omaha.

As co-founder of REVEL, Omaha’s only LGBT safe social space and monthly fundraiser, Tena has focused her efforts to organize, support and celebrate Omaha’s LGBT community since the events inception in 2014. Tena’s career experience as a dance and fitness instructor made her an entrepreneur at the age of 32 and an educator to three generations of youngsters and countless active adults.

A lover of music, movies, social media, and an avid reader, Tena is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Non-Profit Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She lives in Northwest Omaha with her wife Nannette, daughter Josephine, and an energetic Schnau Tzu (Shih Tzu/Schnauzer mix), named Roxy.

Tena is a native of Omaha, a Benson High School graduate and a Board Member and current Entertainment chair for Heartland Pride. Tena is also an AFAA certified group fitness instructor, and a licensed Zumba and indoor cycling instructor, and a Mixxedfit Master Educator.

Robbie Quinones Summers is a servant leader at heart. She joined the Inclusive Communities team as the Continuity and Sustainability Manager in October of 2017. She is originally from St. Louis, Missouri and eventually settled in Omaha with her parents for her senior year as a Central Eagle. Robbie spent three of her high school years in Germany by way of her step-father’s military civil service, where he worked as the Human Relations Director. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Arts in Leadership.

Robbie has 12 years of experience in Human Resources and a strong background in leadership development, team building, and coaching.  She has 10 years of experience in minority business ownership, including owning a global Dairy Queen franchise. Additionally, Robbie’s professional experience allowed her to serve at the University of Nebraska Medical Center as the Assistant Director and Activities Coordinator of Multicultural Student Recruitment and Retention.

She also worked with Omaha Public Schools and Douglas County Head Start Program as the Human Resource Manager and the Community and Family Partnership Manager. She most recently served as Youth Programs Manager with the Center for Holistic Development, where she helped to bring excellent afterschool program activities to inner-city youth.

Robbie enjoys time with family, and is a minister that is strengthened by using the Word of God to bring hope to all. Her love of Christ is what urges her to fight for the equal treatment and inclusive rights of all people from every background and belief. She remembers one her favorite quotes, “If not for the Grace God, there go I.”

Molly Welsh joined the team in 2020 and uses she/her/hers pronouns. Molly has spent 15 years working in Omaha’s nonprofit arts scene at organizations including Omaha Performing Arts, Film Streams and Nebraska Shakespeare. As the Operations & Projects Manager for Inclusive Communities, Molly works with finances, handles logistics for IC programs and events, and maintains the calendar for the organization. Molly was an event organizer for Femme Fest, an all femme-identifying music festival, as well as a vocalist for a few Omaha-area bands. She can be found in Benson with her partner, Dave, daughter, Ryleigh and cats Romeo and Benvolio – The Montague Boys.

She | Her

Krysty joined the Inclusive Communities team in April 2020, first as a social media contractor before moving onto the staff. She has spent the past 7 years doing strategic communications work for clients in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and her country of origin, Trinidad and Tobago. Most recently, she consulted on a campaign for a Nebraska State Legislature candidate.

Prior to moving to Nebraska, Krysty worked for the Local Government Ministry in Trinidad and Tobago where she supported the creation of legislation for reform. She holds a doctorate in International Relations from Florida International University and has a research specialization in foreign policy analysis and security studies in relation to drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere.

You can usually find Krysty exploring the great outdoors, cooking up a storm, or trying to pet every dog. She currently lives in Virginia with her husband Christian and their two dogs, Levi and Zulu.

Tiffiny Clifton currently serves as the Executive Director of Gotta Be Me, Inc. Now in the fourth year of GBM, the mission and vision is growing – to promote the inclusion of children and adults with disabilities into our communities, creating a culture that is brimming with life, dignity, and growth – for all people. It’s what gets her up every day and keeps her moving toward continuing to be a shining light in our community, making it a happier, healthier, and safer place by creating opportunities for people with all abilities to come together, to become who they want to be, without limits.

Nicholette Seigfreid serves as the Human Resources Manager for Civic Nebraska. In this role, she works closely with all members of our administrative team and plays a key role in ensuring a positive and successful work environment for all of our growing staff. She assists with hiring, onboarding, employee relations, and annual reviews. Nicholette also manages the internship program and our volunteer database, and contributes to professional development planning for all staff.

An alumna of the University of Arkansas, where she earned degrees in anthropology and Middle
Eastern studies, Nicholette has lived across the United States, including stays in New York, Miami, Colorado, and Minneapolis. She has lived in Lincoln for 15 years and considers it home.

In addition to her work at Civic Nebraska, Nicholette is an administrator at the Lincoln Jewish
Community School and is President of the South Street Temple. Nicholette says she is drawn to nonprofit work by the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, which is working individually and collectively to perfect or repair the world. It is often used when discussing issues of social policy, insuring a safeguard to those who may be at a disadvantage.

Michelle D. Butler joined Inclusive Communities in summer 2019 as a Contract Facilitator. She currently works in after school programming at several of Omaha Public Middle Schools.

She was born and raised in North Omaha and is very passionate about juvenile justice reform and working with youth and families in the African-American community.

Michelle is currently attending Nebraska Wesleyan University seeking her Bachelor of Social Work degree, and  is a prospective graduate of the Spring 2020 class. She has over two years experience in intervention, diversion, and prevention work in after school programs. Michelle also has a strong passion to engage, encourage,  educate, and empower youth with information that will help prepare them to navigate the changing world around them.

She is very inspired by the curriculum here at Inclusive Communities that teaches inclusion, diversity, and equity to our youth!

Barry Thomas is the Director of Equity and Diversity for Omaha Public Schools in Nebraska. He also is an adjunct professor in the Black Studies Department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Recently Barry started his own consulting firm, Thomas Business Services, LLC. Since he obtained his social science education degree from Wayne State College in 2002, he has served OPS as social studies teacher on the middle and high school level as well as Supervisor of Social Studies. Additionally, Barry has two master’s degrees in Educational Leadership and Curriculum and Instruction from Doane College.

During his time in the Social Studies community Barry Thomas has been extremely active. Mr. Thomas has testified at the Unicameral in opposition to bills that would create barriers for graduation for students in Omaha Public Schools. His insights and counsel were regularly sought after by state senators and Nebraska School Board members for issues related to Social Studies. He’s twice been a lead member of a select group of educators that worked on revising and updating the state standards for Social Studies. He served as president for the Nebraska State Council for Social Studies, a member of the Nebraska Advisory Council for National Geographic Society, and board member of the National Social Studies Supervisor Association (NSSSA). Mr. Thomas has presented at the National Council for Economic Education Conference as and the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Conference. Barry served as co-Chair for the African-American Educators Community and the Government/Public Relations Committee as well for NCSS. As a result of his commitment to Social Studies awarded the Distinguished Support for Geography Education award by the National Council for Geographic Education, the 2018 Leadership Award from Geographic Educators of Nebraska, the Nebraska Council on Economic Education 2019 Mary Lynn Reiser Award for Leadership, Paul Beck Outstanding Social Studies Educator Award, and the Urban League of Nebraska Outstanding Educator Award.

Though new to his role as Director of Equity and Diversity, Barry has wasted no time asserting policies, practices, and staff development to raise awareness of biases and discriminatory conduct in his school district. He has led community conversations about the legacy of racism in Omaha with the newly assembled Omaha Community Council for Racial Justice and Reconciliation. Barry served on the Great Plains Black History Museum board and is also a member of the Empowerment Network’s Redefine the Game Institute and the Inclusive Community’s Lead Diversity inaugural cohorts. Mr. Thomas also serves on multiple Diversity and Inclusion advisory boards such as UNMC Nursing Community Advisory Council for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, the Omaha Chamber of Commerce CODE Conference Planning Committee, NDE’s Equity Leaders, the Nebraska State Board of Education Teacher Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and Nebraska’s Diverse and Learner Ready Teacher initiative. Barry also has been selected to serve on the Legislative Racial Equity Advisory Committee for Opensky Policy Institute. Through all these avenues of service in education, Barry Thomas was honored to be recognized with the 2020 Outstanding Alumni Award from the Wayne State College School of Education and Counseling.

In the Omaha community, He is on the advisory board for the New Leadership Council as well as the African American Empowerment Network Leaders and recently accepted a role on the Board of Directors for Heartland Family Services. Barry is also an Executive Board member of the Omaha Branch of the NAACP. Barry proudly assists with the Tri-Faith Initiative’s South Omaha COVID Faith Task Force. Mr. Thomas was president and Social Action Chair of the Omaha chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Recently he was awarded the Superior Service award (2017) by his state and district of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. as well as Omega Man of the Year (2018) for his work in multiple mentoring organizations, blood drive efforts with the American Red Cross, and his efforts to increase voter registration. He has served as a panelist for topics around race, diversity, and inclusion. He has led a media campaign to help educate North Omaha voters about important issues around the mid-term election. He has submitted articles and is a contributing journalist for NSSSA’s The Social Studies Leader, Omega Psi Phi’s PolitiQue, The Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s Black History Bulletin, and Civic Nebraska’s Writers Group. Barry was recently awarded the 2020 Young Black and Influential Award for Advocacy. In 2021, Barry was asked to serve as a member of the Board of Directors for both the Urban League of Nebraska as well as Heartland Family Services.

A proud husband of 16 years to Sherie, a lieutenant in the Omaha Police Department, and father of three young women, he still coaches his youngest daughter’s 7th grade girls basketball team for Express United, can be seen officiating youth basketball games from time to time, and has served as a ministry lead for Eagle’s Nest Worship Center’s CROWN young men’s ministry and transportation ministry.

Marti has over 20 years of corporate and nonprofit Human Resources and Operating experience and has a passion for changing organizational culture from the inside out. She believes that this can be done in partnership with activism, political change, and social reconstruction. She serves as the Board Chair for Omaha Girls Rock and on the Leadership Team for the Women’s Fund of Omaha Circles. Marti feels fortunate to serve on several nonprofit and local political boards.

She is a mother of three kiddos and in her limited free time enjoys reading, running with friends, and solving the world’s problems over a cocktail with her husband.

Hannah is a UNO student studying social justice, journalism, and social work. She enjoys learning and working towards a more equitable future. She aspires to find her path in this work.

As she is hard of hearing, Hannah is an advocate for accessibility.

When she is not studying or interning, you can find Hannah spending time with her family and friends, virtually during the pandemic.

Donald grew up in Arkansas and received his undergraduate degree from Westminster College in Missouri. After college he worked as a youth program officer in Southeast Asia before returning to the US to earn a master’s degree in communications – with a focus on civic engagement – from the University of Arkansas. During his post-grad years, Donald served as an AmeriCorps Fellow and a program officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters which launched his 16-year career that spans across the education, healthcare and human development sectors.

Donald currently works as One Eight CREATE’s Chief Consulting Officer where his primary role is training and challenging organizational executives and managers to be inclusive, equitable culture change leaders. Donald’s specialization is designing and delivering individual and small group learning experiences that leverage the intersection of systems thinking, interpersonal communications and collective impact.

In addition to his role at One Eight CREATE, Donald leads one of the country’s longest-serving equitable and inclusive culture change agencies with roots dating back over half a century, Just Communities of Arkansas. Prior to that, he was the chief executive of one of the country’s largest not-for-profit hospice and palliative care foundations and there helped lead the development of innovative and nationally recognized health equity initiatives for People of Color and Veterans.

Donald’s passion for using his privilege, redistributing power and modeling reparative justice also can be found in his many volunteer roles. For example, currently he serves as an elementary school youth literacy tutor and as a national co-chair of The Racial Equity & Hunger National Learning Network.

Donald lives in Little Rock with his two best friends – his wife, Jennifer, and his daughter, Cameron.

Jessica Foreman is committing one year of full-time community development service to the Edison-Eastlake Community at the City of Phoenix Housing Department. In her role as a Choice Neighborhoods AmeriCorps VISTA, Jessica manages the Community Garden and Bike Share programs. Jessica has a MSc in Urban Studies with a focus in Natural Systems. She is passionate about social and environmental justice, supporting projects that protect affordable housing, promote local healthy food access, reduce the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, and increase multimodal transportation options. In her free time, Jessica enjoys reading, writing, cooking and gardening.

Sarah (she/hers) has worked in Omaha as a theatre director, actor, and educator for the past 20 years.  As an actor, director and educator, Sarah has worked for Nebraska Shakespeare, Utah Shakespeare, NTC productions, Denizen Theatre, Folger Library Theatre, The BlueBarn, Omaha Performing Arts, Omaha Symphony, Opera Omaha, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Creighton University, and The Rose Theatre. Sarah has also taught and directed in numerous Omaha Metro High Schools and Middle Schools. In 2016, she founded an all-female Shakespeare production program, Juno’s Swans, which explores gender identity and performance using creative character/movement development techniques. She has a Masters of Arts in Theatre Education from the University of Northern Colorado and a BA from University of Nebraska at Omaha in Theatre Performance. Most recently, Sarah adapted/directed It’s A Wonderful Life for The Rose Theatre.

Cornelius has been working with Inclusive Communities off and on for the past seven years. He found his start with IC while in high school participating as a delegate in the IncluCity program. Since thenhe has filled many roles from Camp co-director to contracted facilitator. While working for several non profits Cornelius found a love for educational equity, youth advocacy, and social justice. Since completing two service years with the Americorps Program at City Year New York City, he moved to California pursue further education in teaching. He is now a tutor and coach with a youth education nonprofit and happy to be working with IC again in the virtual world.

Denise is all about the truth.

She is a truth-seer, a truth-seeker and a truth-teller.

She devotes all of her time and energy telling the truth about the truth.

The truth about her bio is that none of the academic accomplishments it boasts have anything to do with her personal goals. Denise is an unwilling victim of various systems of oppression that have inadvertently positioned her to be one who can engage people from all walks of life in ways that are meaningful, significant and memorable.

A Bachelor’s degree in English (Jackson State University, 1994) makes her articulate.

A Master’s degree in Secondary Education (University of Mississippi, 1996) helps people hear.

A Master’s in Divinity (Perkins School of Theology, 2003) characterizes her as faithful.

A doctorate in Educational Leadership (Jackson State University, 2008) proves that information is the greatest tool of all to affect change.

When Denise is not engaged in conversations about the truth, she spends her time reading, writing, sketching, playing the piano and throwing away all the food she cooks because is too nasty to eat.

You can find Denise live on Facebook at 9A Tuesday and Thursday mornings hosting and co-hosting local community radio talk shows and Tuesday nights at 7P for a non-traditional Bible study.

Everyone is always welcome to lend their voices to the dialogue