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Omaha's New Immigrant Communities

A group of people, mostly young adults, sitting on stairs and wearing matching t-shirts, posing for a photograph in what appears to be an indoor setting with a white ceiling and walls.

2021 MIHV GIS Students and Teachers

A group of people standing in front of a colorful mural on a building, surrounded by trees and a sunny outdoor setting.

Artist Jair Rodriguez talks about the Mayan Mural at 24th and N Streets.

A smiling young man in a striped shirt is seated in a wheelchair, enjoying a meal of pasta and vegetables on a tray in front of him, with a window overlooking a lush, green outdoor scene in the background.

Benson graduate Hser Nay makes Papaya Salad for the group.

The image shows a group of people examining and discussing a colorful, patterned textile or garment in what appears to be a clothing or retail store setting, with various clothing items visible in the background.

Trying on Karen clothing at Ler Mu Grocery

The image shows a group of people standing in what appears to be a convenience store or small market, with various shelves and products visible in the background.

Visit to an African Grocery Store

A group of people, likely students, posing together in what appears to be a classroom setting, with various educational materials and posters visible in the background.

Celebrating Karen student Ku Wah becoming a naturalized citizen during the program.

2021 New Immigrant Communities Project

In June 2021, 12 high schoolers, three social studies teachers and four college students worked with GIS software to map where Omaha’s Karen, Somali and Guatemalan communities live, work, worship and shop and then compared this uncovered information to Omaha’s late 19th and early 20th century immigrants.

Highlights included two Benson High School graduates, one Karen speaking and one Somali speaker, helping with the program by serving as tour guides and interpreters as participants spent the day in their communities. The group also worked with Omaha Public Schools Migrant and Refugee program educators and Omaha’s Refugee Task Force. The maps the students produced were presented to the task force’s members and shared with new immigrants from these communities as they arrived in Omaha. Plus, attendees enjoyed plenty of food from each of these countries, including Papya Salad and Somosas made by Hser Nay and African spiced tea made by Sophia.

The program was made possible thanks to funding from the Sherwood Foundation. Special thanks to the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Geography Department for hosting the program and to instructor Paul Hunt for all his help. 

Below you will find pdfs of the final maps. 

Omaha's Karen Community Map

Omaha's Somali Community Map

Omaha's Guatemalan Community Map

Also, explore the students' final projects about the Karen, Somali and Guatemalan communities.