It was a Love Supreme Friday on 1st Sky Omaha in the Morning, and hosts Paul B. and Buddy the God opened the show with something that felt almost like a collective exhale. After weeks of heavy political coverage leading up to the Nebraska primary elections, the two decided to ease off the gas — at least for a day. “We’ve been talking a lot of politics for a while and it’s — we got a little break after the primaries,” Paul B. told viewers. “It doesn’t have to dominate the show today.” That pivot opened the door to a rich, wide-ranging conversation about arts, culture, and what it truly means to build something lasting in North Omaha.
But civic responsibility never fully left the room. Buddy the God made sure of that, reminding the audience that community-building and political engagement go hand in hand. “None of this really matters if the people don’t vote — even down to the Supreme Court decision, because those maps and those numbers are still based on who’s registered, who’s of age, and actually who comes out to vote,” he said. Viewer Kimber Snipes echoed that tension from the chat, writing, “I’ve been having conversations with people between the ages of 20 and 35. What I hear the most is most of them don’t really know what to do and know nothing about the candidates. I don’t think we should be slamming people for not voting when the system is really what has caused this. I think we need to have more education and deep dive discussions.” It was the kind of comment that stopped the hosts mid-thought — and for good reason.
From there, the show settled into its heart: a conversation with Dana Murray, founder and director of the North Omaha Music Academy (NMA), located on the historic North 24th Street corridor. Murray, a musician and educator who grew up in South Omaha and spent eleven years honing his craft in New York City before returning home, is quietly doing some of the most important work in the city — and he does it one young person at a time.
Paul B. framed Murray’s mission through what he called the “secondary matrix” — the deeper purpose underneath the surface work. “Everything that we do has a secondary meaning, a deeper meaning,” Paul B. explained. “In Dana Murray’s case, he teaches kids music — but the secondary matrix is to create critical thinkers.” Murray himself couldn’t have said it better, and in the interview, he didn’t have to.
“We’re not only raising musicians, but more importantly we’re raising more critical thinking human beings,” Murray said. “Not all of these young kids are going to become musicians. Some will become doctors, some will become lawyers, some will become business owners. Whatever they choose to do, they’re going to be better because they were aligned with artistry.” Beyond instruments, NMA teaches live sound engineering, broadcasting, podcasting, and even how to conduct interviews with visiting artists. As Murray put it, “It’s not just telling them they can be something — it’s showing them they can be it right now.”
The conversation widened to the future of North 24th Street itself — a corridor Murray believes holds more authentic cultural history than almost anywhere else in the city. His vision is ambitious but grounded. “The area that has the most history and the one that can claim ‘we are a cultural and arts district’ for real is the North 24th Street corridor,” he said. He ticked off the practical ingredients a thriving district needs: housing, services, parking, eateries, transportation, and destinations — restaurants, entertainment, lounges. “It would be great to have a hotel,” Murray added, noting that a hotel opens the door to larger music festivals and conferences held right in the community.
He also spoke candidly about the challenge of brain drain — something that hits North Omaha harder than most. “Brain drain is a killer for Omaha, period. Juxtapose that with North Omaha, which is about 11 or 12 percent of the population of the rest of the city — that’s devastating to our community.” His answer isn’t to lament it, but to build something so compelling that talent wants to stay. He drew a pointed comparison between NMA and Omaha Performing Arts downtown, noting that OPA generates $40 to $50 million in revenue annually — not just as a cultural institution, but as an economic engine. “We need a vehicle like that for North Omaha, and I see NMA taking up that space.”
Murray also addressed the delicate subject of community pride and inclusivity, offering a thoughtful challenge to the status quo. “One of the things that holds us back is this false sense of security with pride as it pertains to North Omaha,” he said. He pointed to South Omaha’s Cinco de Mayo celebration as a model — an event that champions Latino culture while actively inviting all of Omaha to participate. “I’ve tried to do was reach out and be a beacon for all of Omaha to come down to North 24th Street,” Murray said.
The chat was alive with warmth throughout the segment. Viewer Pops wrote, “I love this interview. This brother’s vibe is so cool and his intentions are admirable. First Sky loves the kids.” And viewer Senator KML added simply, “Thank you, Uncle Dana. You’re changing lives in big ways. We are the students.” Meanwhile, viewer Aeros 402 offered a personal joy to share with the community: “On a love note, my only daughter gave birth to my second granddaughter. They are both new and good. I feel blessed.” — a reminder that on Love Supreme Fridays, there is always room for the personal alongside the profound.
Paul B. closed his thoughts on NMA Fest — the academy’s signature annual event — with unfiltered enthusiasm. “When I’m comparing festivals, I’m saying this one to me is the one. If I was going to put a festival together, it’d be this — and it’s going to be huge.” High praise, and by the sound of it, well earned.
Murray ended with a message that felt like the whole show’s thesis distilled into a single idea: “Our culture is equity. Our artistic genius is equity. The sooner we understand that and begin to monetize it for our community, the better off we’re going to be.”
Music educators interested in joining the NMA team can reach Dana Murray at dmurray@northomahusic.org or assistant Andrew Bailey at abailey@northomahusic.org.
It was the kind of Friday morning conversation that sends you into the weekend feeling like something good is being built — right here, right now, on North 24th Street. Don’t miss what’s coming next week on 1st Sky Omaha in the Morning — your neighborhood, your voices, your show.
