Residents, community leaders and guests gathered at the Kroc Center for SONA’s 60th Anniversary SONA Banquet Diamond Edition on June 4, 2026. Photo by Tar Macías.
Hola Nebraska
The South Omaha Neighborhood Alliance brought residents, volunteers, neighborhood leaders and community organizations together Thursday to celebrate 60 years of civic participation, neighborhood collaboration and efforts to improve quality of life in South Omaha.
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SONA, as the organization is commonly known, held its 60th Anniversary SONA Banquet Diamond Edition on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the Kroc Center. The reception began at 5:30 p.m., followed by the main program at 6 p.m.
Funds raised through the banquet support SONA’s mission through mini-grants, scholarships, community engagement efforts and other neighborhood-focused projects.
The celebration recognized volunteers and organizations that continue contributing to South Omaha neighborhoods. The program also included remarks from past presidents, local talent and a presentation on the history of the Southside Terrace Housing Community.
During the banquet, the South Omaha Immigrant History Museum received the Organization of the Year Award.
The South Omaha Immigrant History Museum received the Organization of the Year Award during SONA’s 60th anniversary banquet. Photo by Hola Nebraska.
Douglas County Commissioner Roger Garcia, one of the speakers at the event, said organizations like SONA show that leadership can come from anyone willing to serve their community.
“The simple secret is this, that anyone, regardless of role, education, or socioeconomic status, anyone can rise up as a leader to make their neighborhood a better place and to bring people together,” Garcia said in his remarks.
He also thanked SONA’s leadership and the neighborhood associations connected to the organization for keeping the work active for 60 years.
Guests applauded during the 60th anniversary program, which recognized neighborhood service and community leadership in South Omaha. Photo by Hola Nebraska.
SONA began its community work in 1965
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The organization originally known as South Omaha Neighborhood Association was founded in 1965 with the goal of improving the South Omaha community.
From its earliest years, SONA worked to encourage residents’ interest, education and involvement in issues affecting their neighborhoods.
The organization’s articles of incorporation were filed in July 1969. SONA also maintained a contract with the City of Omaha to support its community work.
Its efforts focused on strengthening civic participation and helping create better living conditions for South Omaha residents.
A neighborhood coalition took shape in 1996
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The banquet brought together residents, volunteers, neighborhood leaders and community organizations to mark SONA’s 60 years of work. Photo by Hola Nebraska.
On Aug. 27, 1996, then-State Sen. Don Preister called a meeting of neighborhood associations from the greater South Omaha area.
The meeting focused on forming a coalition that could bring together leaders from different neighborhoods to address shared concerns.
The issues identified included housing code enforcement, graffiti, sewer problems, economic opportunities and political involvement.
All 26 people in attendance expressed support for the initiative and agreed to establish the coalition.
The first organizational meeting was held Oct. 30, 1996, at St. Bridget’s Church at 27th and F streets.
South Omaha Neighborhood Action and Response, known as SONAR, was created during that meeting. The name was proposed by Susan Koneck.
Fourteen neighborhood organizations helped establish SONAR
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SONAR’s founding organizations represented several areas of South Omaha.
They included Spring Lake, H & L, Deer Park, Highland South, Christie Heights, Highland Park, Indian Hill, Karen Western, Columbus Park, Hanscom Park, Southside Acres, Weircrest, Southside Terrace and Social Settlement.
SONAR was created to strengthen and support the work of individual neighborhood organizations through a unified voice.
Later meetings were held monthly under Preister’s leadership at the SONA building at 31st and Q streets.
The coalition’s original boundaries extended from the Missouri River to 72nd Street and from Harrison Street to Leavenworth Street.
SONA and SONAR began discussing a merger
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In early 1996, the City of Omaha informed SONA that it planned to sell the community building used by the organization.
SONA’s board rejected the city’s purchase proposal because of the high cost of rehabilitating the building.
The city’s decision to end its agreement with SONA and the South Omaha community created uncertainty about the future of both the building and the organization.
In September 1997, Dave Schinzel, representing SONA, wrote to Preister to suggest a possible merger between SONA and SONAR.
Schinzel and other SONA board members attended a SONAR meeting on Oct. 9, 1997, to discuss the changes facing the organization.
During that meeting, participants agreed to form a committee to study how a transition could take place. The committee, chaired by Elaine Heaston, concluded that a merger was possible and beneficial to both organizations.
The merger became official in 1998
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SONA and SONAR members received a formal merger proposal during a regular SONAR meeting on Dec. 11, 1997.
Because the two organizations shared goals related to quality of life in South Omaha, the proposal was unanimously approved.
New board members were also nominated during that meeting, with their terms set to begin in January 1998.
The organization selected interim officers: Steve Brand as president, Joan Sylva as vice president, Janet Bonet as secretary and Bob Graybeal as treasurer.
The new organization’s boundaries were adjusted to include Dodge Street to the north, 72nd Street to the west, Harrison Street to the south and the river to the east.
The merger became official on Feb. 12, 1998, when SONA approved the minutes from the December meeting. The current organization emerged from the union of the original SONA and SONAR.
The banquet recognized generations of neighborhood service
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The evening included recognitions, remarks and a celebration of neighborhood-led work across South Omaha. Photo by Hola Nebraska.
The 60th anniversary banquet highlighted SONA’s long relationship with residents, volunteers and neighborhood associations across South Omaha.
The evening also reflected the organization’s ongoing work through grants, scholarships, civic engagement and support for neighborhood-led initiatives.
Garcia said SONA and the associations that make up the alliance create opportunities for residents to step into leadership, including parents, working professionals, retired elders and young people.
“Leadership does not come from any specialized training, but from the heart, the desire to give back, the passion for people, and the willingness to step up,” Garcia added.
The event closed as a celebration of SONA’s history and a recognition of the residents and organizations that continue working for the well-being of South Omaha neighborhoods.
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