Welcome to Potluck Possibilities!

Join us on 4th Fridays for a potluck meal at 5:30 pm followed by a “potluck” of presentations at 6:30 pm. Presentation topics will range from serious informative to fun informative.

In August, Dean Settle will tell us about his book Inside Nebraska Courthouses.

Dean B. Settle is a passionate historian and preservation advocate whose work reflects a deep respect for local government, architecture, and community heritage. With an enduring curiosity about the stories embedded in public spaces, he has dedicated much of his life to exploring and documenting the significance of civic landmarks. His work is driven not only by historical interest but by a sincere belief that these structures represent the identity, values, and resilience of the communities they serve.

Alongside his late wife, Harriet, Dean undertook the remarkable journey of personally visiting every courthouse in Nebraska, carefully documenting their histories with authenticity and care. This shared endeavor was as much a labor of love as it was a scholarly pursuit, capturing both the architectural beauty and the human stories tied to each location. Through his writing, Dean bridges the gap between history and humanity, preserving these important landmarks and ensuring their legacy continues to inspire and educate future generations.

Note: The potluck meal is optional. SMoC volunteers will focus on providing main entrees (proteins). Guests can bring fruit, vegetables, bread, desserts – or anything they’d like to share. Plates, tableware, and basic beverages will be provided. Dietary concerns? You are welcome to bring your own food and sit to eat and listen with us!

Welcome to Poetry at the Lion! All poets and poetry fans are welcome!

Each month, a featured poet will read from their works and shape the evening’s experience. Poetry lovers can stop on their way to eat out or bring a brown bag meal and stay for the whole evening. Light refreshments will be provided.

The originally featured poet for August, Robert Fernandez, had to cancel. We are delighted that Kelly Madigain and friends -- Brad Anderson, Amy Plettner, and Karen Shoemaker -- will share their poetry with us instead.

Kelly Madigan is a poet, an essayist, and a licensed drug and alcohol counselor. She is the author of a book of nonfiction prose, *Getting Sober: A Practical Guide to Making It Through the First 30 Days *(2007), and a collection of poetry, The Edge of Known Things (2013).

Brad Anderson began writing poetry after his wife was diagnosed with dementia in 2010, as a "survival tactic."

Amy Plettner is an outdoor educator on Nebraska's endangered tallgrass prairie. Her poetry has been published in a variety of anthologies and journals, most recently The Sow's Ear Poetry Review, burntdistrict, Rattle, Prairie Wind and The Untidy Season.

Karen Shoemaker is the author of the novel The Meaning of Names, a One Book One Nebraska selection for 2016 and Omaha Reads selection for 2014. Her award-winning collection of short stories, Night Sounds and Other Stories was published in 2002, and re-published in the United Kingdom in 2006. She has taught creative writing and literature classes for more than 25 years. She is the founder and director of Larksong Writers Place.

Welcome to Potluck Possibilities!

Join us on 4th Fridays for a potluck meal at 5:30 pm followed by a “potluck” of presentations at 6:30 pm. Presentation topics will range from serious informative to fun informative.

In June, Tessa Miller will tell us about Magdalene Omaha. From the their website:

Magdalene Omaha provides individualized support for survivors of sex trafficking to achieve freedom from violence, trauma, and addiction. It was created by survivors and dedicated to the belief that love is the most powerful force for change. Thanks to generous community support, Magdalene Omaha has continued to evaluate, adapt, and grow their programming to best meet the evolving needs of local survivors for ten years.

Heal. Recover. Blossom!

Note: The potluck meal is optional. SMoC volunteers will focus on providing main entrees (proteins). Guests can bring fruit, vegetables, bread, desserts – or anything they’d like to share. Plates, tableware, and basic beverages will be provided. Dietary concerns? You are welcome to bring your own food and sit to eat and listen with us!

Welcome to Poetry at the Lion! All poets and poetry fans are welcome!

Each month, a featured poet will read from their works and shape the evening’s experience. Poetry lovers can stop on their way to eat out or bring a brown bag meal and stay for the whole evening. Light refreshments will be provided.

The featured poet for July is Mary Hickman.

Mary Hickman is a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and the author of two books of poetry, This Is the Homeland (Ahsahta Press, 2015) and Rayfish (Omnidawn Publications, 2017), which won the 2016 James Laughlin Award from the Academy of American Poets, and two chapbooks, Ecce Animot (Projective Industries, 2012) and How to Be Healthy and Heal (Cosa Nostra Editions, 2011). Her work has been featured as a Boston Review Poet's Sampler and in the PEN America Poetry Series. Her poems and essays have also appeared in numerous journals, including Colorado Review, Fourteen Hills, jubilat, and Sonora Review. She recently read in Turkey and Armenia with the US Department of State's American Writers on Tour program.

Welcome to Potluck Possibilities!

Join us on 4th Fridays for a potluck meal at 5:30 pm followed by a “potluck” of presentations at 6:30 pm. Presentation topics will range from serious informative to fun informative.

In June, Jake Hanshaw will tell us about Habitat for Humanity-Lincoln. From the their website:

"At Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln, we believe everyone deserves a decent, affordable place to call home. We are dedicated to empowering families in our greater Lincoln community to achieve strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. We build and sell homes to hardworking individuals and families in need of decent housing. Partnering with low- and moderate-income families willing to invest their time and effort, our homeownership program helps them build and buy their own homes. Habitat homeowners not only help construct their future but also take on an affordable mortgage, fostering independence and stability."

Note: The potluck meal is optional. SMoC volunteers will focus on providing main entrees (proteins). Guests can bring fruit, vegetables, bread, desserts – or anything they’d like to share. Plates, tableware, and basic beverages will be provided. Dietary concerns? You are welcome to bring your own food and sit to eat and listen with us!