When the Women’s Fund of Omaha was established in 1990, the goal was clear: to empower women to achieve full partnership in the Omaha community. To achieve this goal, we needed allies and advocates to come together. We needed women who were ready to lead, eager to grow and impatient to spark change. Women who represented every corner of our city. And so, Women in Leadership became one of our key areas of work––across research, advocacy and, eventually, programming.
To build a better future for women’s leadership in Omaha, we first needed to understand what stood in the way. In 1996, the Women’s Fund published a research report titled “Women & Leadership” to shine a light on the barriers to advancement that women were facing in the workplace and beyond. So critical was this report that it became an ongoing study. In 2007, we published another iteration of “Women & Leadership” that looked back on the last 10 years and provided recommendations for local organizations. The momentum did not stop there…
In 2011, the Women’s Fund launched its own women’s leadership program, Circles, to fill a need in the community and engage the next generation of leaders. We hoped not only to introduce these leaders to our work, but to provide them with opportunities to network, interact with other Omaha-area professionals and learn about philanthropy. “Fundraising was never our goal,” says Class 1 Steering Committee member and former Women’s Fund Executive Director Michelle Zych. “We wanted connection and relationship and knew that resources would follow as members gained a better understanding of the impact of the organization.”
Kimberly Thomas, member of Circles Class 2, remembers the earliest gatherings in the old Chamber of Commerce building off Harney Street. “Those early meetings were what I’d call organized chaos—but in a good way. There were defined conversation topics, and always an underlying push to make an impact, whether through policy or broader community engagement. We didn’t have all the answers, but we were committed to showing up.” With each meeting and every new member, the program’s direction became clearer. Circles was about more than leadership development. It was, as Zych said, about connections and relationships. When the program began, there were few spaces in Omaha designed for women to gather intentionally across industries, backgrounds and lived experiences. From the start, Circles aimed to be inclusive—a place where women could build not only professional relationships that would blossom into business partnerships, mentorships and joint advocacy efforts, but also true, lasting friendships.
With connection as the foundation, members began to envision what they could accomplish together. In 2017, the Steering Committee (since renamed the Leadership Team) introduced Circles Projects––community service opportunities that correlated to a specific focus area within the Women’s Fund. Today, all first-year members are required to join a Circles Project committee, and other active members often opt in. Some of the most impactful Circles Projects over the years include:
- A series of “friendraisers” which helped us launch Nebraska’s first Sexual Health Vending Machines
- A Circles Lobby Day at the Nebraska Capitol, where more than 50 Circles members and friends connected with their senators to make Nebraska a more equitable state for all who live in it
- “Let’s Talk About Sex” parties advocating for complete, honest and inclusive sex education while offering tips to parents/caregivers on raising sexually healthy children
Circles continues to be community-driven with a Leadership Team of more than 18 members, currently led by Maria Miranda (President) and Claudia Muñoz-Nájar (Vice President). The Leadership Team informs and guides the Circles experience as it evolves to meet the moment. For instance, as the Women’s Fund has expanded our work to reach not just women, but anyone experiencing gender-based marginalization, so has Circles. The program’s most recent mission statement reflects this: “Circles is a diverse network of leaders (women, femmes and gender-expansive individuals) who support the mission of the Women’s Fund. Through Circles, members cultivate authentic relationships and leverage a community that supports and empowers each other.”
Connection remains at the heart of the program today. Fourteen years since its launch, Zych reflects, “I love seeing the relationships that Circles has facilitated! Having the opportunity to meet cool people that you can connect and build community with was our original intention and it is really beautiful to see it continue to grow.” Thomas was quick to echo this sentiment. “The program has grown in both scale and impact. It’s become a space that’s widely recognized as an honor to be part of—where women know they’ll walk away with far more than they came in with. The sense of empowerment you gain from being surrounded by like-minded, purpose-driven women? It’s unmatched.”
Applications are currently open for Circles Class 14. If you are interested, please apply by August 6.
If you are a current, previous or future hopeful Circles member, there’s another way to get involved. This year, in response to attempts to reverse progress on critical issues impacting gender and racial equity like abortion access, pay equity, economic security and safety from gender-based violence locally and nationally, we have launched the Circles Fund. This unrestricted fund allows us to take bold, decisive action as issues emerge, ensuring we can address the needs of our community immediately rather than weeks or months down the road. Every dollar helps us continue our progress toward gender equity. Give today.
Please note that though Circles is focused on adult leaders, we have come full circle (ha!) and in 2022 launched an Emerging Leaders Circle in collaboration with Urban Abbey to continue engaging the next generation of leaders. Emerging Leaders Circle applications open in August, and the program runs for eight weeks in the fall. It’s cost-free and anyone, ages 18-25, is eligible to apply. For more information about Emerging Leaders Circle, reach out to OPatinkin@OmahaWomensFund.org.