[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 2, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H341]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bacon) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Black History 
Month and to honor the 15th anniversary of the Empowerment Network, a 
collaboration of thousands of residents and leaders and hundreds of 
organizations working to facilitate positive change in Omaha, Nebraska.
  Formed in September 2006 and officially launched on April 27, 2007, 
the network seeks to collectively improve the economic landscape and 
quality of life for African Americans, North Omaha residents, and 
citizens of the greater Omaha area. The network is led by their CEO and 
founder, Willie D. Barney.
  Willie Barney was born on May 15, 1968, in Hollandale, Mississippi, 
but spent his first years between Arcola and Greenville in the 
Mississippi Delta along Highway 438. He graduated high school from 
Mount Pleasant, Iowa, attended St. Ambrose University in Davenport, 
Iowa, and rose to become an executive in the media industry.
  He and his wife, Yolanda, were married on June 27, 1998. Born in 
Tacoma, Washington, and raised in Kansas City, Yolanda also had a very 
successful career in the media field, working in major cities, 
including Kansas City, Dallas, and Atlanta. They both left their 
corporate jobs to become more directly involved in helping to build 
strong communities and to become entrepreneurs.
  The Empowerment Network Collaborative is one of Omaha's catalysts 
that has helped produce measurable outcomes and results by working 
together to reduce gun violence, decrease unemployment, improve 
graduation rates, increase household incomes, and rebuild the historic 
24th and Lake District and other areas of North Omaha, including the 
Omaha 360, Step-Up Omaha, the Village Strategy, and the Cradle to 
Career.
  In addition to Willie's leadership, he and his wife are founders and 
owners of SMB Enterprises, LLC, a company that provides positive 
events, media, and entertainment in the greater Omaha area. SMB is the 
parent company of Revive Omaha Magazine, Revive Black Business Network, 
and the Revive Center Omaha. They also co-own the new Carver Legacy 
Center, a Black-owned financial institution.
  Willie also serves as the president of WDB Resultants, LLC, a 
national consulting firm that specializes in strategic planning and 
marketing, communications, research, community building, and 
facilitation.
  Willie's passion for improving communities is heavily influenced by 
his late grandmother, Leeanna B. Collins; his mother and stepfather, 
Betty and Willie Mullen; and his father and stepmother, Willie and 
Bertha Murry.
  He is incredibly thankful and grateful for his wife, son, and 
daughter and for the influence of his family from Mississippi, friends 
in Iowa, and partners in Omaha.
  Yolanda honors the memory of her late parents, Morris and Mayumi 
Coppage, through her work ethic and passion for helping others.
  Willie and Yolanda are parents to Nehemiah, an aspiring film director 
studying at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln; and Priscilla, a 
student at Central High School in Omaha, who plans to graduate in 2025, 
with keen interest in international business.
  Mr. and Mrs. Barney walk in faith and highlight it as one of their 
most important priorities and the reason for their many blessings. In 
fact, they are associate ministers at Launch Church International and 
continue to live a life of purpose and serve the community. They are 
committed to seeing individuals reach their full potential.
  In recognizing Willie Barney and the Empowerment Network, we shine a 
spotlight on entrepreneurship, hard work, and the will to transcend and 
achieve success within our communities through unity and collaboration.
  Congratulations to Willie and Yolanda Barney, along with the 
Empowerment Network, on 15 years of service and being a major force for 
change in our community for the better.

                          ____________________