One Mayor, Two Moms; On Hunger Hitting Close To Home
Omaha Mayor John Ewing, Hastings, NE organizer Sierra Edmisten, and Bellevue, NE SNAP career navigator Alicia Fremont-Musil about food insecurity...
About This Episode
Omaha Mayor John Ewing, Hastings, NE organizer Sierra Edmisten, and Bellevue, NE SNAP career navigator Alicia Fremont-Musil about food insecurity, poverty, SNAP cuts, and the pressure families face when groceries, school meals, child care, and work requirements collide. Mayor Ewing shares how Omaha mobilized after SNAP benefits were cut, raising $15 million to support food banks and pantries while investing in community gardens and weekend food programs for children. Edmisten and Fremont describe the lived reality behind the numbers: parents skipping meals, children recognizing when food is running low, families losing benefits over paperwork or income thresholds, and the lasting trauma of not knowing how to feed a family.Resources and Mentions:
Alicia Freemont-Musil
SNAP Career Navigator
Omaha Tribe of Nebraska member Alicia is a mother, SNAP Career Navigator, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for her community. Her childhood experiences of feeling unheard and unseen didn’t break her—they became the foundation of her purpose.
Today, Alicia is committed to making sure others, especially our youth, know they are seen, valued, and supported. Whether through her work, her community, or motherhood, she leads with heart and compassion.
Sierra Edmisten
Senior Power Building Organizer
John Ewing
Mayor
Mayor John Ewing, Jr. is a proud son of Omaha, born and raised on the city’s north side. He knows personally the difference affordable housing can make and remembers, at age 15, when his parents were able to buy their first home. His initials are still in the cement at that house in north Omaha, and he is happy to say his parents still live there. He is the oldest of three children, the husband of Dr. Viv Ewing, and the father of two wonderful daughters and a grandson. He is a graduate of Northwest High School and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he holds two degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Business and a Master of Science in Urban Studies. Mayor Ewing served with the Omaha Police Department for 25 years, from 1981 to 2006, and retired at the rank of deputy chief. He is an associate minister with Salem Baptist Church. In 2006, he was elected five times to the Douglas County Treasurer’s Office and served the people of Douglas County for 18 years. He became the city of Omaha’s 52nd mayor on June 9, 2025.
Nebraska Table
Nebraska Table is building community power alongside nonprofits. Nebraska Table is a service-oriented organization focused on providing direct core support and capacity-building training and resources to our 501(c)(3) nonprofit members. They help nonprofits who provide direct services to, or advocate for, underrepresented communities to create, expand, and sustain civic engagement and nonpartisan voter outreach programs. They also help our nonprofit Member organizations build the organizational capacity needed to support grassroots advocacy and voter engagement initiatives, in addition to their other programs. They strengthen the nonprofit community through collaboration, leadership development, and professional training and resources.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-programSNAP provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency.
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