O.M.A Newletters
White Allyship is a Verb for OMA? ( 01/11-01/13)
1921 in Oklahoma, whites looted and destroyed Tulsa's Greenwood District, known for its affluent Black community. Historians believe that as many as 300 Black people were killed. Last Wednesday, the fakest patriots ever white supremacist terrorists got to do what they ultimately planned to showcase just how powerful their privilege is.
Black Unity! ( 01/04-01/08)
First, let’s define New Year's Resolutions: Noun – A promise that you make to yourself to start doing something good or stop doing something bad on the first day of the year. And now Affirmations: Noun – Consciously choosing words that will either help eliminate something from your life or help create something new in your life. Every thought you think, and every word you speak is an affirmations.
Happy Holidays ( Dec 23, 2020)
We are always going to remind you if-your-reading this right now that you are amazing, wonderful, and all things magical and, most of all, appreciated. It was because of you, whether you tuned in or shared, that this event was a success. It is because of your support OMA is a success. The Ripple Effect is an example of OMA’s success in supporting and uplighting our communities.
We Can Overcome This Economic Hardships Together (Dec 17, 2020)
What if there was a way to help fix the economic wounds of America without waiting for the government? What if society as a whole joined forced to create jobs, financial security, and generational wealth that is not dictated by systematic racism? There is a way. That way starts with you and me joining forces this Saturday to help America heal; financially, socially, and emotionally.
Tis' the Season (11/7-11/9)
OMA, we’re so excited! The Ripple-Effect Fundraiser is happening this Saturday, December 19th, 12 pm-3 pm. Created by our founder Jestina Weems, the purpose of this fundraiser is to help heal the economic wounds of America.
Click here to read more
Your Blessing is Around The Corner (11/30-12/2)
OMA members, if you have time, go ahead and play Bag Lady by Erykah Badu.
In the case of this song, Bag Lady, if you asked someone at first listen what this song is about, they may have not even considered it has a deeper meaning beyond homelessness...This is a frequently asked question?
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
We can change the world together (11/23-11/25)
The future is not promised, but envisioning a future evolutionary state is an act of power. No matter how you feel about your past or your station in life right now, OMA members, we say this until we are blue in the face KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE WHAT DOES NOT SERVE YOU, and MAKE GREATER THOSE THINGS THAT DO. The authority is yours to take action. Look back at your lives five years ago, so much has changed! We are all works in progress, and the beautiful thing about each of our timeline is that with each new chapter, we have the opportunity to grow, learn, expand, and gain higher command of our destiny.
Thankfulness:You are not alone (11/16-11/18)
Life happens, this pandemic is happening, and everyone experiences seasons were challenges. So, as we draw closer to this Thanksgiving Day, I sure understand why it might be easy for some to forget the “giving thanks” part at the core of this holiday. On the other hand, if we are not careful, it is so easy to slip into a pervasive attitude of negativity, and one that we, as parents, can unintentionally project our attitudes onto others. When we choose to focus on this pandemic's bad experiences, our shattered dreams, and our losses, we can become ungrateful and take for granted the many blessings our Creator has given to us, reducing Thanksgiving Day into just another family gathering and meal. Happy Thanksgiving? Not so much.
Love Yourself First: So have the energy to love others (11/9-11/11)
OMA members, may you feel safe. May you feel happy. May you feel healthy. May you live with ease. During these times, it’s important to love yourself because of the simple truth that you cannot take care of others until you take care of yourself first. When you fully love yourself, you can move through the world with deeper compassion for others. This deeper compassion and commitment to love is the fuel we in OMA need to economically and emotionally emancipate our people into prosperity, self-sufficiency, and intergenerational healing. Self-love is a practice; it's something you learn and implement into your everyday life. Let us be reminded that this movement is not asking us for rights; we are demanding to stop being prevented from exercising our rights. Through OMA, we create space for Black imagination and innovation, centering Black joy; we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.
Yes We Can!: Over come all odds ( 11/2-11-4)
OMA, Trump and his crew are out, YES!. Well, maybe not today, but after the inauguration. Either way, we are so glad Trump is gone, and now OMA must carry on our legislative advocacy and entrepreneurial empowerment. Our legislative advocacy works with individual lawmakers and lawmaking bodies to gain support for our people’s needs. One of the most fundamental pieces of a solid advocacy effort is the understanding that advocacy takes time. It may take years to get a bill passed. Understand as an OMA member; you are a part of a dynamic group willing to keep at it, even in the face of indifference. OMA is working on establishing, maintaining, updating our alliances and communication with, and approaches to, legislators and local lawmakers. By forming ongoing personal relationships with legislators and aides and by acquainting legislators with the real people affected by their policy and the consequences of their votes, we can make sure that our issues are understood and considered.
Regardless Who Wins, Our Fight Continues:Beyond the Election (10/26-10/28)
Black Royalty, we can agree that we all can engage in structural level changes that may seem beyond your scope. For example, being a member of OMA means that you are committed to raising awareness of, supporting, and working to achieve equity, Black equity. Equity focuses more on dividing resources proportionally to achieve a fair outcome for those involved, and we are involved, and that's what we want we deserve. We are entitled to EQUITY. Understand that being a part of the OMA family means being focused on legislative action for Black people’s rights and supporting Black entrepreneurs educating, healing, and investing in Black communities. The work is already being done, kinfolk! We are all working toward closing this wealth gap. We are our ancestors' wildest dreams because of what we accomplished and how we resisted and still be here to adjust our crows. As writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin said, “Our crowns have been bought, and paid for…All we have to do is put them on our heads.”
We are more then conquerors:We are rulers of our destiny. (10/19-10/21)
“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others; I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.” – Dalai Lama
Thank you for your support:We wouldn't be here without you (10/12-10/14)
We are always grateful for your presence, participation, and promotion with and of OMA. This week we can't want to hear from you. Your thoughts matter; we want to hear how we can be more effective in serving the needs of our members. Send us what type of classes you would like to tune into, what kind of zoom sessions will just have you smiling ear to ear, learn something new, we want to know.
Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day:Celebrating Innovation (10/05-10/07)
Today has been reclaimed as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a day of honoring the cultures, existence, histories, experiences, and triumph of Indigenous Peoples. Being a part OMA means we value and affirm our Blackness and celebrate the diversity of all people of color. In the spirit of celebrating, let us honor our abilities to turn ideas into solutions. Let us honor innovation!
Investing In Ourselves:The benefits of buying our own land (09/28-09/02)
O.M.A's focus moving forward is creating generational wealth without waiting on the government to pass any form of reparations. We are currently working on two projects. Our first project, O.M.A is looking at property in Tallulah Louisiana. This unique property will be converted in to a solar panel assembly and storage. this facility will also have a halfway house. Residence will be given job training and the opportunity to buy into the solar panel franchise. Currently the department of corrections is renting space in the building. This will be the first of many business ventures for O.M.A members.