Black Men United was created in 2003 by Willie Hamilton, Founder and Executive Director, who was concerned for his sons and the violence and difficulties they may face in the Omaha community. Since then, Black Men United became a 501c3 non profit organization in 2009 and has evolved from a grassroots organization that provided a wide variety of small, volunteer based programs to support men and boys of color, into a growing organization that supports the elimination of poverty by supporting the long term unemployed population with training and access to living wage jobs and by providing a space for growth, The Kumani Center, for small start up businesses, entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations, which are a critical component to the strength of local economies which present new employment opportunities and serve as the building blocks of the United States largest corporations.