Lunch for the Girls Featuring Poet & Author Nikki Giovanni

Poet, educator, and best-selling author Nikki Giovanni will be the featured speaker at Girls Inc.’s 24th annual Lunch for the Girls. The luncheon will be held at the CHI Health Center Omaha (455 N. 10th St.) on Tuesday, August 27 from 11:30am – 1:00pm.

Called a “living legend” by Oprah Winfrey, Nikki Giovanni has written more than thirty volumes of poetry and prose, including several children’s books. Among the latter is Rosa, an illustrated biography about Rosa Parks that was awarded the coveted Caldecott Medal. Her adult poetry books range from such early volumes as Black Feeling Black Talk/Black Judgement and My House to more recent ones such as Bicycles, Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea, and Make Me Rain.

Giovanni is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including Woman of the Year Awards from both Ebony and Mademoiselle magazines; Governor’s Awards from both Tennessee and Virginia; keys to more than two dozen cities; some 31 Honorary Doctorates; and, most recently, the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize from the Poetry Foundation. She has also recorded several award-winning spoken-word albums, among them Truth Is On Its Way and The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection. In addition, Giovanni is the recipient of the Langston Hughes Medal and the NAACP Image Award and has been nominated for a Grammy Award. A recent documentary titled Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Story received high honors from the Sundance Film Festival in 2023.

Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Nikki Giovanni rose to fame in the late 1960s as part of the Black Arts Movement, using inspiration from her African heritage to present the Black experience in America. Her work explores race, gender, sexuality, and the African American family and she has dedicated herself to uplifting other Black writers, especially Black women writers. She has taught at many universities, including Rutgers, The Ohio State University, Queens College (City University of New York), and Virginia Tech.

“I am thrilled that Nikki Giovanni will be joining us as the keynote for Lunch for the Girls,” said Candias (Candi) Jones, Girls Inc. Executive Director. “Ms. Giovanni’s unparalleled wisdom and empowering words will not only inspire our girls but also resonate deeply within our community. Her presence promises to ignite a fire of ambition and determination within each attendee – she exemplifies what it means to create a future where our girls lead with confidence and courage and a boldness that we need. This is an opportunity for our girls and the community to be part of something truly extraordinary—a moment where we see a legacy of poetry, advocacy, and so much power, right there for us all to witness. The moment will be remembered for years to come. You don’t want to miss it!”

Girls Inc. is honored to welcome Ms. Giovanni to its signature fundraising event. Past Lunch for the Girls speakers include Malala Yousafzai, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Madeleine Albright, Barbara and Jenna Bush, Stacey Abrams, Gloria Steinem, Dr. Mae Jemison, Debra Lee, and Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar.

Reservations for Lunch for the Girls are available starting May 15 for $100 per person or $200 per person for patron reservations. Reservations can be made online through https://2024LFTG.eventbrite.com , or visiting https://girlsincomaha.org/special-events/lunch-for-the-girls/ , downloading a reservation form, and submitting it by email to sdunning@girlsincomaha.org.