Tawanna Black, is a native of Arkansas City, Kansas. She has a Bachelors Degree of Public Administration from Washburn University. She is also a graduate of the Iowa Community Health Leadership Institute and the United Way of the Midlands Heartland Blueprint. Tawanna has worked with several community development and economic development organizations in Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska and is the former and first host of KPTM’s Fox 42 Omaha Living talk show. 

As the first Executive Director for Destination Midtown, Tawanna lead community economic development and neighborhood revitalization for the urban core of Omaha. Her work has resulted in new investments totaling over $750 Million and over 30 new small businesses opening in the district, in three years.

Tawanna currently serves as Director of Diversity for Cox Communications. In this newly created role, she serves as an advisor to Cox Communications’ senior management team, assisting in setting the highest standards for business growth, innovation and stakeholder return by ensuring that the company understands and acts upon the needs of our diverse communities. More specifically, she assists with everything from purchasing to marketing and from recruitment to community affairs.

In 2004, Tawanna was honored by the Jaycees as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Omahan’s. And, in 2005 the Midlands Business Journal honored her as one of the 40 under 40.

Tawanna is very active in the Omaha community and currently serves the following organizations: President~ Omaha Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, President- Urban League of Nebraska Young Professionals, Board Member- University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor’s Board of Counselors, Board Member- United Way of the Midlands Board of Directors,  Member- Junior League of Omaha, Member- Omaha Chapter of The Links, Inc.,  Member- Women’s Fund of Greater Omaha Ready to Run Committee, Vice President & Board Member-African American Empowerment Network, Board Member- Nebraska Child Abuse Prevention Fund Board of Directors, and Member- Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce Minority Economic Development Council.

Her previous community engagement includes: Junior League of Omaha - Board, Community Council Director, HIP Kids Chair, Omaha by Design Board, Midtown Neighborhood Alliance Board, Friends of Joslyn Castle Board, Every Child Deserves a Home Board, Girls Inc. Board, President Girls Inc. Guild, Creighton University President’s Community Advisory Board, Nebraska Foster Care Review Board, and Family Housing Advisory Services Board of Directors.

She is also the mother of Eric, Jr. and the wife of Eric Black.