Carver Savings and Loan Association facts for kids

The Carver Savings and Loan Association (Carver S&L) was a special bank that opened in 1944. It was the first financial place in Omaha, Nebraska created by and for African-American people. It was located at 2416 Lake Street, in the busy North 24th Street area. This was the heart of the Near North Omaha neighborhood, a key business spot for African Americans.

Helping Families Buy Homes

In the 1950s, a leader named Whitney Young worked with Carver S&L. He was the head of Omaha's Urban League, a group that helps people. They started a special program to help African-American families buy homes.

This program fought against unfair rules called redlining. Redlining was when banks refused to give loans in certain neighborhoods. These neighborhoods were often where minority families lived. This made it very hard for people in those areas to get money to buy a house.

Carver S&L's program changed things. In just three years, African-American families bought more homes than they had in the previous ten years. This showed how important Carver S&L was to the community.

A Historic Building

The building where Carver S&L used to be is very important. It tells a big part of the neighborhood's history. It also shares the story of African Americans in Omaha.

In 2012, there were plans to make the building part of a new arts area. This project would bring new life to the North 24th Street corridor.

The old bank building is now being fixed up. The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Theaster Gates, and the Rebuild Foundation are working on it. They plan to use it as an art gallery. Students from Omaha North High School and the University of Nebraska-Omaha have even helped. They volunteered their time to clean up and improve the area.