Jade R. Rogers
Founder/Chief Innovation Officer

Jade Rogers is a Historian, an adjunct professor at Metropolitan Community College and the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of The House of Afros, Capes, & Curls.
After receiving a B.A. in Black Studies and Elementary Education, she obtained a Master’s in African American World Studies from the University of Iowa. She has also completed all course work towards her PhD in History at Morgan State University and has training as an Archivist and Oral Historian.
Jade has taught on the elementary level in the District of Columbia Public Schools, and the University of Iowa as well. She has worked with numerous non-profit youth serving organizations including Boys & Girls Clubs of Omaha and Greater Washington in Maryland, Girls Inc., The Center for Holistic Development and most recently served as the Youth Engagement Manager at The Union for Contemporary Arts.
Building community and service are a part of Jade’s strong belief system. A Class XIX graduate from Heartland Blueprint, a United Way of the Midlands program to help increase minority racial/ethnic volunteer leadership, and she has served on many education and non-profit executive boards.
With over 20 years of teaching and community engagement experience, she strives to raise the visibility of the tremendous contributions and accomplishments of African Americans in the Midwest. For The Great Plains Black History Museum, she has served as its Archivist, facilitates public programs on a variety of historical topics and also conducts Oral History and Genealogy workshops.
And...she's a blerd at heart. Science fiction, fantasy, World of Warcraft, The Sims and Octavia Butler. Star Wars + Star Trek + the X-Men hold equal space in her heart.
After receiving a B.A. in Black Studies and Elementary Education, she obtained a Master’s in African American World Studies from the University of Iowa. She has also completed all course work towards her PhD in History at Morgan State University and has training as an Archivist and Oral Historian.
Jade has taught on the elementary level in the District of Columbia Public Schools, and the University of Iowa as well. She has worked with numerous non-profit youth serving organizations including Boys & Girls Clubs of Omaha and Greater Washington in Maryland, Girls Inc., The Center for Holistic Development and most recently served as the Youth Engagement Manager at The Union for Contemporary Arts.
Building community and service are a part of Jade’s strong belief system. A Class XIX graduate from Heartland Blueprint, a United Way of the Midlands program to help increase minority racial/ethnic volunteer leadership, and she has served on many education and non-profit executive boards.
With over 20 years of teaching and community engagement experience, she strives to raise the visibility of the tremendous contributions and accomplishments of African Americans in the Midwest. For The Great Plains Black History Museum, she has served as its Archivist, facilitates public programs on a variety of historical topics and also conducts Oral History and Genealogy workshops.
And...she's a blerd at heart. Science fiction, fantasy, World of Warcraft, The Sims and Octavia Butler. Star Wars + Star Trek + the X-Men hold equal space in her heart.
The House Executive Board
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Wayne Brown
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Victoria Jones
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Victoria helps bring the House of Afros, Capes, and Curls mission and vision to life through graphics and design. Before joining The House, Victoria did work with local nonprofits Voices for Children and Holland Children's Movement and Institute. She graduated with her B.S. in Communications from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in December of 2015.
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Not Pictured: Rolanda Horton, Treasurer
The Support Team
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Mariah Person
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Mariah Person is a dancer, builder, and collaborator who deeply values community. She uses dance as a tool to navigate mental illness and sexual assault, inspire confidence in people of all ages, and affirm the creative capacity in everyone. Mariah has collaborated with the Omaha-based dance group Afromah, Peartree Performing Arts, and Purpose Driven Advocacy Center. She is currently creating new choreography in collaboration with local artists.
The House Advisory Council
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Nancy Williams |

Nancy Williams has been practicing agriculture for a long time: first as a 4-H member in elementary school then as an FFA member in high school. Her family raised most of the produce they consumed; at one time maintaining as many as six gardens to feed themselves and share with neighbors. Nancy earned scholarships to study Horticulture. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Louisiana State University then pursued a master of science in Weed Science with a minor in Plant Pathology at Cornell University. Nancy has diverse experiences in agriculture, from corporations, serving as an agronomist for local farmers and entrepreneurs to grassroots organizing and management for nonprofit community organizations. For nearly 15 years, Nancy served as an IT leader for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands; where she led award winning programs, increased technology integration, and supported improved organizational outcomes.
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Denise Chapman |

Denise Chapman is an adjunct professor at Metro Community College. She is a performer who enjoys finding and sharing the universal truths that connects us all as human beings and sharing the stories that are often overlooked or hidden in plain sight. As a theatre educator, Ms. Chapman creates safe spaces for students of all ages to explore self-expression, creativity and step outside of themselves into the unknown. She is an active member of the North Omaha community working with organizations such as the North Omaha Summer Arts (NOSA) and the FLIYE arts party. She believes that art changes our lives for the better, amplifying unheard voices, and bestowing hope within all who are touched by it.
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Jessica Ehule |

Jessica Ehule, MS, MSPH (she/her/hers) serves as a Senior Public Health Project Coordinator at CityMatCH. Her primary project is the Institute for Equity in Birth Outcomes under the umbrella of the BEST Cities Initiative. Jessica earned her Master of Science in Public Health from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. Prior to joining the team at CityMatCH, Jessica served in a variety of teaching, coordination, supervisory, and leadership roles. She has experience in program planning and implementation, program evaluation, and building authentic partnerships. Jessica is passionate about equity for all and addressing the root causes of disparities, such as racism. In her spare time, this Ohio State Buckeye enjoys exploring cuisines of the world, reading, and spending time with her dog, a black pug named Onyx.