Graduate Sharmila Seyyid said one of the most beautiful parts of the experience was sharing the journey with people from so many different backgrounds, which made the program especially meaningful and inspiring.

“It was more than a leadership program. It was a space to build relationships, exchange perspectives, and imagine a strong and more connected Omaha together,” she said.

Fellow graduate Kam Bany, a refugee from South Sudan, told local media that the program taught him about his civic duties as an American.

“You feel like you were left out of the government, but when you come to this class, we came to realize that even the government is ours, that we have a voice also in this government and how this city is run,” he said.

As both an award and acknowledgement of their dedication to bettering their communities, all participants received a $500 stipend along with a $1000 scholarship for continued professional development.

The program was a result of seven years of hard work and determination from CIRA’s Director of Community Engagement Khenda Mustafa, who shaped and learned from similar programs in other communities and wanted to emulate those successes in Nebraska’s largest city. She was part of developing My City Lincoln, and during the Omaha creation, sought inspiration from a program in Grand Island.

The second cohort will begin in September, with applications opening this summer.