Originally published by #News #Horizons Omaha, resharing with Ron Petersen’s permission written by #Leo #Adam #Biga.
John W Ewing Jr and Viv Ewing, Ph.D. embark on new leadership path with his historic election as mayor
With his historic May 13 election as Omaha's first Black mayor John Ewing
Jr. ushered in "a new chapter" in the city he's always called home.
A familiar face in local public service circles, he enjoyed a long career with the Omaha Police Department before becoming Douglas County Treasurer. He's been an Empowerment Network leader and prolific nonprofit board member.
Wife Viv Ewing has been at his side on the campaign trail, on election night and in the community as his number one fan and adviser. Reaching the heights of city politics is just the latest accomplishment for this power couple who delight in each other's successes and do everything as a team.
As First Lady, Viv will have her husband's ear. "I have a lot of background to bring to bear however that might be needed," she said.
"Yeah, I'll certainly be available for anything John might need. I'll make myself available to help in any way that I can providing any kind of sound advice that I can offer."
Mayor Ewing's chief of staff Thomas Warren, a lifetime friend and former OPD colleague, said the couple remind him of Barack and Michele Obama. “ John is blessed to have such a successful confidante that will motivate and encourage him while providing him with the love and support necessary in order for him to be able to thrive in such a high profile position."
A fellow Omaha native, Viv's filled executive roles in corporate and nonprofit spaces and has her own strategic consultancy. Together with their daughters, Christina and Alexandria, both Omaha professionals who pitched in during the campaign, the tight-knit family form Team Ewing, whose strong bond is built on faith and service rooted in home and community.
"We really felt the effort was worth it for this community because this is home," said John. "We've always been committed to doing whatever we can to make home bet-ter. That's not to say Omaha's not a great place because I believe it is.
But that's why we've stayed committed."
Said Viv. "That's absolutely right.
We saw this as a community win across Omaha - north, south, east, west - because all sectors of the community that helped us get here." Speaking to that broad-based consensus, Mayor Ewing said, "We are in this together."
A Democrat, his decisive (57 to 43 percent) victory over three-term incumbent Republican Jean Stothert made national news, for among other reasons, educating the country that there are Black people in Nebraska
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https://issuu.com/newhorizonsomaha/docs/new_horizons_july_2025
Today we remember the lives lost, the heroes who rose, and the resilience that followed. 🇺🇸 #NeverForget #September11#911Memorial #HonorAndRemember #UnitedWeStand #InRemembrance #WeRemember #AmericanStrength #DayOfRemembrance
A sixth-grader on Chicago's South Side asked his mother: "Who decides what buildings look like?"
Her answer changed everything: "Google it."
That kid is now sitting on the Omaha Inland Port Authority board, transforming how we think about community development.
Davielle Phillips didn't just become an architect. He became a systems thinker who sees vacant lots as innovation districts, abandoned buildings as community anchors, and broken windows as opportunities for comprehensive change.
While most professionals talk about "giving back to the community," Phillips organizes monthly cleanups, renovates historic buildings, and applies the broken window theory in reverse—creating visible improvements that generate momentum for larger transformation.
His approach to North Omaha development challenges every assumption about how change happens in cities.
Three minutes. That's all it takes to understand why Omaha's civic leaders are paying attention to what this dual-degree architect is building—and it's not what you think.
The conversation reveals how someone can arrive in a city with nothing but education and vision, then position themselves to influence millions in development funding through genuine community engagement.
No rhetoric. No platitudes. Just a blueprint for how real change gets built.
Watch how it's done.
Full Episode at
