“Falletta Conducts ‘Pines of Rome'”
Omaha, NE—Omaha Symphony welcomes guest conductor Maestra JoAnn Falletta, and guest violinist, Blake Pouliot, for a performance this weekend in homage to Rome. Maestra Falletta, the only female conductor of a top 40 orchestra, will lead the orchestra in the works of Berlioz and Respighi.
Road to Omaha – Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Omaha, NE – On today’s episode of “Road to Omaha,” KVNO’s Brandon McDermott spoke with Oral Roberts head coach Ryan Folmar.
Behind the violence: A family’s struggle to move on
February 16th, 2012
Omaha, NE – The number of people who were killed in Omaha last year was 41. But that number grows significantly when we look at the impact of that violence on the lives of those left behind. For this week’s KVNO in the Community report, we sat down with one family directly struck by gun violence.
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[audio:https://kvnonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/333-Family.mp3]On a recent winter evening, 27-year-old Andre, who only wanted to give his first name, sat watching a college basketball game with a childhood friend, who he called his homeboy. He sat in an electric wheelchair, just a few feet from the television.
The number of people who were killed in Omaha last year was 41. (Photo credit NET)
“I sit at home all day,†he said.
Andre used to own a jewelry shop in North Omaha. For about four years, he specialized in removable jeweled teeth plates, a popular item among teens and rappers.
But in 2009, Andre’s business was targeted by two men.
“I don’t know if they were trying to rob me, or trying to rob (the store) to get their order. I don’t think they had the money to pay for it, so that’s why I think it went the way it went,†Andre said.
“Basically guns was pulled, and I had a choice to either protect myself or be dead, so I had to do what I had to do,†he said.
Andre fatally shot both men in what he said was self-defense. No criminal charges were filed against him. But that incident led to two others, which he believes was in retaliation for what happened. About six months later, he said he was shot at while driving. A few months after that, he was shot at again, and this time he was hit.
Andre is now paralyzed and confined to a wheel chair, but he said he’s thankful he’s still alive.
“When stuff like this happens…your life changes,†he said. You look at life different, so of course everything I look at right now is different.”
Sadie Bankston, is the founder and executive director of People Uniting, Leading Support & Encouragement, or PULSE, a non-profit group that works with families of homicide victims.
“We’re sort of like humpty dumpty; we try to put the pieces back together,†Bankston said.
In 1991, Bankston lost her son to gun violence, and she said since then she’s been reaching out to families in similar situations. She said the community is in pain and feels a sense of hopelessness.
“There are so many kids that are hurting, and they can’t study because they are thinking about their uncles, their daddies, and their brothers being murdered,†she said. “And, they’re getting failing grades because of it.”
Bankston said gun violence creates a domino effect in the community.
“The perils of going out for retaliation… because you’ll end up dead or in prison yourself,” she said. “Then there goes your mother’s pain, your family’s pain again…”
Back at Andre’s home, one of his four children played with the step son of his sister Nicole.
“I’ve taken on the role of a sister, a care giver, a therapist, a babysitter, someone to lean on,†Nicole said.
Nicole said she and her brother grew up in Omaha as a middle class family, with a strong moral foundation. She said Andre always had an entrepreneurial spirit and worked independently. But now, she said, he completely depends on others to take care of him.
“That’s hurtful,†she said tearfully.
“You see your family, and you’re just like… he is somebody and he does need help,†she continued. “I don’t believe anybody should be left in the shadows.â€
Though Andre knows he will never walk again, he’s looking toward his future. He said he’s taking GED classes at Metropolitan Community College and going to physical therapy twice a week. He said he has to keep a strong mind for his children.
“Only thing I’m thinking about is my kids right now,” he said. “(I’m) trying to get physically back in shape as much (as I can)… but right now it’s just my kids, nothing else really.”
“You have to look forward to doing something better than what the streets is offering,†he said. “Because they aint really offering nothing.”
More:
Behind the violence: An interview with an Omaha gang member
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Stay strong bro it was all bad the way it happened I do gotta say RIP to the little homie Marcel “Cell G” Davis one of the men killed but Dre I know you had to do what you had to do bro its life or death out here much love from your homeboy Alex and I pray for you and your family bro…. take care….