On a full-day visit to explore Omaha’s development and civic planning, the Youth Leadership Omaha cohort, consisting of approximately 40 high school students, heard from local leaders, including Dr. Dell Gines, who led a foundational session on economic development. The event was hosted by Creighton University and featured presentations, tours, and hands-on activities.

Dr. Gines opened the day at The Greenhouse with an engaging overview titled “What is Economic Development?” He explained how economic development is centered on improving the quality of life through strategic investment, resource distribution, and business growth. One student reflected, “Admittedly, I didn’t know anything about economic development before today. As Dr. Dell Gines put it, the goal of economic development is to improve people’s quality of life. He explained that creating and supporting more businesses would grow the tax base, which would lead to more community funding… I’ve come to realize that this topic’s sole effort is dedicated to benefiting the people.”

Students participated in a city planning and budgeting exercise, heard from Doug Bisson on Omaha’s growth and urban design, and went on a walking tour of Gene Leahy Mall, followed by a narrated bus tour of Omaha’s development projects. Lunch was held at Aksarben’s Inner Rail, and the day concluded with an interactive planning session led by Jacquelyn Morrison.

Feedback from students highlighted the program’s impact:

• “It was eye-opening to learn about the ongoing work that goes into improving our city, especially the effort put toward addressing issues like homelessness and protecting the environment.”
• “Doug Bisson shared valuable information about Omaha’s growth and future plans. His presentation made me more curious about what it takes to design a successful city.”
• “This seminar made me realize that city development is much more complicated than it appears. There are many people working behind the scenes to support Omaha’s long-term economic health.”

The event offered students a unique opportunity to connect classroom concepts to real-world initiatives and left them with a deeper appreciation for the work being done to shape Omaha’s future.