Terri Sanders carries on the legacy of the Omaha Star, advocates for the importance of education
Omaha Star publisher and editor Terri Sanders has a mission to expand the reach of her hometown paper.
Founded in 1938 by Mildred D. Brown, The Omaha Star is Omaha’s only African-American newspaper. As publisher, Sanders also serves as executive director of the Mildred D. Brown Memorial Study Center, which provides access to Omaha Star archives, promotes community-based media, and helps students pursue opportunities in journalism and communications.
Growing with the times
An Omaha native, Sanders knew Brown before she passed away in 1989. Since she became publisher in February 2020, she says her goal is to continue Brown’s vision and report on topics that are relevant to the community.
She also says she focuses on publishing positive news and furthering Brown’s mission in the digital age. Sanders is currently working to increase the Omaha Star’s online presence and add a copy service, which will open in the near future.
“This is an entrepreneurial pursuit,” Sanders says. “You have to diversify and expand.”
Education is essential
With 30 years of entrepreneurial experience and a journalism degree from Creighton University, Sanders says she seeks to teach young people the importance of pursuing education in order to obtain opportunities.
“We should stress higher education to students so that they understand the value of that,” she says.
Sanders also say she works to promote the history of the Omaha Star in the community, as many Omahans aren’t knowledgeable about the newspaper’s impact.
“It’s interesting to me that younger people don’t know what the Omaha Star is,” she says. “Being a PR major, I understand how important it is to get the word out.”
Keep moving forward
Sanders says she knows firsthand the responsibilities of running a successful organization like the Omaha Star. While it can be difficult to build a business or achieve a professional goal, she encourages people not to give up.
“Never stop,” Sanders says. “Whatever you do, do it fully and do it with passion.”
About Terri Sanders
Terri D. Sanders is the Publisher of The Omaha Star Newspaper, a biweekly community newspaper. She is a communicator with a passion for moving the needle forward in her community. She also serves a dual role as the Executive Director of the Mildred D Brown Memorial Study Center, a 501(c)(3) organization that which on junior journalism,–promoting the profession of Journalism to high school students, higher education scholarships, archiving of the Omaha Star, and publishing The Omaha Star Newspaper. The Omaha Star was started by Mildred D. Brown, an African American woman 83 years ago and the only paper if its kind in the state. The Omaha Star has never missed publishing the paper since 1938.
Sanders is the former Executive Director of the Great Plains Black History Museum. She has been credited with raising the Great Plains Black History Museum, an African American Museum from a twenty-year inactivity to a thriving museum noted in the mid-west for documenting the contributions of African Americans in the great plains of our country.
She was the initial site manager of the Fair Deal Village MarketPlace, a retail opportunity that includes a grocery store, restaurant, and ten shipping containers that house eight businesses. The MarketPlace is a $2.4 million economic development project by the Omaha Economic Development Corporation in the North Omaha community.
An award winning serial entrepreneur (Omaha Chamber Minority Business of the Year) she has had businesses that have spanned over 35 years from being a seamstress, certified balloon artist, wedding planner, event management, and personal catering.
The mother of three outstanding adults, Daniel II, owner of 2 and 2 Contracting, LLC; Symone D Sanders, Sr. Spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris, and Averi Sanders, who is a Hospitality Professional. She was married to Daniel Sanders for 37 years before his death in 2017.
Terri loves to travel and contributing to the fabric of her community.
