Year Founded
1972
EIN
23-7030433
Local Leader/Exec. Director
Jennifer Bauer
Primary Contact Name
Jaszmin deFreitas
Main Address

PO Box 7707
Omaha, NE 68107
United States

What We Do

The Mission of SONA is to enhance South Omaha neighborhoods through communication, collaboration, empowerment and promoting positive perceptions.

The South Omaha Neighborhood Alliance we know today is the result of the merger of two community organizations which were both established in effort to better the lives the residents of the South Omaha through increased interactions and fostering a sense of community. 

SONA (South Omaha Neighborhood Association), a 501 c 3 non profit, had been formed in 1965, to improve the South Omaha community: to promote interest, education, and involvement of citizens in an effort to secure the best possible neighborhoods for all the residents.

On October 30, 1996 a coalition of neighborhood association officers representing the greater South Omaha area held its first organizational meeting; giving birth to South Omaha Neighborhood Action and Response, SONAR, (named by Susan Koneck). The boundaries were set at the Missouri River to 72nd St. and Harrison to Leavenworth St.  The founding neighborhood organizations 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 formed to strengthen and support, through unity, the efforts of individual neighborhood organizations to improve the quality of life in South Omaha.

On December 11, 1997, during a regular SONAR meeting, a report was given to SONAR and SONA members on the merger proposal.  Because the two groups had common goals regarding the quality of life in South Omaha, it was unanimously decided to merge the two organizations.

The original SONA and SONAR thus officially became the current SONA.

Interesting Info
  • While SONA was formed in 1997, the organization is the product of community cooperation between two groups the 1st with the oldest established in 1965.
  • Today SONA members include residents, leaders of neighborhood associations, nonprofits, local businesses, law enforcement representatives and community leaders.
  • Our meetings include guest speakers to sharing invaluable community information from public resources to community events to business plans and so much more.
Geographic Location

South Omaha

Volunteer Opportunities
Co-Secretary
Repeats monthly on the first Thursday, 6:30pm - 7:30pm for 60 times
Duration of 1 hour

Events
Public Meeting
Repeats monthly on the first Thursday, 6:30pm - 7:30pm for 60 times
Duration of 1 hour
Read More

Coming together as a community is at the core
Our Annual Banquet! Filled with those we appreciate and could never fully realize our mission without.
Homer Early, Marie Tillman, Sam Greenberg and Velma Hill, meeting with President Ford.
Rebuilding our landscape one step at a time
SONA's 2016 Volunteer of the Year Awardee: Nlpoa Omaha-Chapter. Latino Peace Officers Association (LPOA) has been instrumental in developing a number of community service activities including the annual Easter Egg Hunt and a number of youth sports programs with and for local South Omaha young people.
Our members come from all walks of life, ethnicities and ages...
SONA embraces every opportunity to acknowledge that efforts and dedication by the individuals that generously donate their time to serving the community.
The first step to solving the problems facing our community is identifying the problem. We rely on collaboration, communication and public feedback to assess the community's needs and find solutions.
Committed to our community and earning their way through summer. #stepup2012