By Alejandra Wells
Some moments stick with you, not because they were loud or dramatic, but because they were true. Meeting Omaha Mayor John Ewing again at a recent community event reminded me that real leadership isn’t about titles or power. It’s about presence.
In a room full of people — young, old, dressed in suits or sneakers — Mayor Ewing greeted everyone the same way: with respect.
His smile was steady, his words were warm, and every handshake was full of intention. It didn’t matter if you were a student or a city official. He saw you.
That’s a kind of leadership I want to model.
During our conversation, Mayor Ewing said something that really stuck with me: “There’s always room to love yourself.”
He told me that it’s okay to pat yourself on the back, to celebrate your wins, even the small ones. It wasn’t arrogance. It was grace.
As a young woman running a mental health-centered jewelry brand, I’ve often struggled with feeling like I have to stay humble, quiet, or small. But hearing that from someone like him, someone who’s walked through barriers and into history, gave me permission to breathe a little deeper and shine a little brighter.
He spreads love so effortlessly, simply by showing up and being kind. That, to me, is a powerful form of advocacy. And it's something I hope to pass forward.
