In all we do, Emspace + Lovgren strives to support a strong and connected community. That’s why we offer our team members the benefit of eight annual hours of PTO for “community hours” to build connections, learn from diverse perspectives and give back. We also plan group outing opportunities to bond as a team, find inspiration and explore our city.
As a group, we used our community hours to clean up 171 pounds of litter in our beloved Gifford Park neighborhood on behalf of Keep Omaha Beautiful and created menstrual supply kits for Access Period during an in-office packing party.
Team members also took advantage of their community hours to support events and causes that are meaningful to them. Sarah helped put on another successful Maha Festival as a board member; Reece and Ashley helped Epic For Girls work the PGA Pinnacle Bank Classic to raise funds; Elizebeth hosted and mentored students for Iowa State University’s BUILD (Building Up Inclusive Leadership in Design) program; Casey served his fifth and final year on the board of Nebraska Writer’s Collective; Keegan served on the board of trustees for the Omaha Public Library; and Randy, Ashley, Leen and Karina attended the Omaha Chamber’s Conference on Opportunity, Diversity and Equity.
As a team of curious minds and design lovers, we were eager to explore the beautiful exhibitions hosted by several of Omaha’s important institutions: Great Plains Black History Museum, El Museo Latino and Bemis Center for Contemporary Art.
After working with the Great Plains Black History Museum to refresh its logo and build awareness of its location, we scheduled a team-wide tour to celebrate Black History Month. The museum’s rotating exhibit featured the history and memorabilia of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Thank you to Eric Ewing for welcoming our team into this one-of-a-kind space to share local, regional and national Black history.
El Museo Latino featured a fascinating selection of photographs by Rafael Doníz, presenting the coloring process using three natural dyes from Oaxaca, Mexico. Thank you to the El Museo Latino staff for an informative and engaging tour.
Bemis Center’s “Presence in the Pause” and “Eat Bitterness” exhibitions each challenged and explored identity. Thank you to the Bemis Center for bringing together these incredibly talented women and non-binary artists in a free and welcoming space.
The E+L team is looking forward to planning more ways to support and celebrate our city’s people, places and spaces in the year ahead.