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Lakesha Green has stepped into her role as executive director of The Union for Contemporary Art in Omaha, bringing with her a visionary approach and a wealth of expertise. With over 25 years of experience in the arts and nonprofit sectors, Green is poised to build on the foundation laid by her predecessor, Brigitte McQueen, and lead The Union into an exciting new chapter.
For Green, leading The Union is more than just a career move—it’s the realization of a lifelong journey. “This really is my dream job,” she said. “Being at The Union, and all the cultural offerings of this community, feels like everything I’ve always worked toward.” Green sees this role as an opportunity to make a lasting impact in North Omaha, a place she describes as “full of potential.”
Before joining The Union, Green served as the executive director of the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts in Warsaw, Indiana, where she was instrumental in expanding the organization’s community engagement and programming. Her career has been marked by a passion for making art accessible to all, especially underserved populations, and by her ability to secure funding and build capacities for nonprofit organizations.
Green’s transition to Omaha and her new role has been remarkably smooth, a testament to the solid foundation laid by McQueen, The Union’s founder and former executive director. “Brigitte really equipped me to step in and take The Union to the next level from where she left off,” Green reflected. “She did a phenomenal job at putting these teams together. I’ve been in many work environments, and I must say, this is the most beautiful one of them all.”
The Union’s board president, Shavonne Washington-Krauth, credits the synergy between McQueen’s legacy and Green’s forward-thinking vision for the easy shift. “These are two visionary powerhouses who have developed a high amount of respect for one another in a short period of time,” Washington-Krauth said, emphasizing that while McQueen set a high standard, Green can progress The Union even further.
“My role in advancing The Union’s focus on social justice is maintaining these safe spaces for conversations—determining which policies should be implemented where, and how we can help drive things forward,” Green asserted. Her approach is solution-oriented, she explained, with a strong belief in the power of art to address societal challenges.
Through The Union’s programming, Green aims to foster an environment where the community feels empowered to drive the narrative. “When it comes to social impact, I want to be able to see real data and feedback to ensure we’re making informed decisions that will have a lasting effect. Everything we do now will shape our future—I want people to know that The Union continues to look forward, and we recognize that it’s a communal effort.”
One of Green’s priorities is to revitalize The Union’s performing arts program, leveraging her own bachelor’s degree in theater arts and master’s in media and performing arts. “We want to keep hearing the public’s ideas for continuing to expand that program, and keep fostering more partnerships within the community and school system,” she shared.
Green is equally dedicated to enhancing The Union’s youth and community engagement efforts. “Investing in our youth is crucial—they are the foundation of our future,” she said. “Building strong relationships with young people is especially essential for The Union, because we definitely want this to outlive all of us.” Green plans to launch a series of community forums to collect direct feedback and ideas from those she serves.
Washington-Krauth praised Green’s blend of vision and experience. “Aside from the fact that she’s amazingly personable and visionary, Lakesha has a fantastic understanding and appreciation of The Union’s evolution,” Washington-Krauth said. “She strives to learn about, understand, and immerse herself in the community so that she can be of service to them.
“[Green] sees all the potential The Union has. She’s determined to help everyone grow, to make all aspects of The Union successful, and already has a vision of how to begin to make that happen. That’s the kind of leadership we need now that the torch has been passed.”
Green encourages the community to stay connected with The Union and actively participate in public forums. Her approach is to remain adaptable and open-minded to necessary changes while guiding the development of new programs according to the public’s input.
“The past is incredibly important to learn from and build upon, but it’s taking that knowledge and respect, and blending it with both the present and the future, that allows us to flourish to our full potential,” Washington-Krauth said. “Lakesha will do that.”
As Green establishes herself further in her role, her enthusiasm and dedication to fostering creativity, social justice, and community engagement are clear-cut.
“The Union has a remarkable legacy that I’m honored to build upon,” Green said.
“Omaha is gaining well-deserved recognition, and I’m eager for us to continue to be a driving force in that momentum, our voices together as one. This is just the beginning.”
For more information, visit u-ca.org.
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2024 issue of Omaha Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
