On October 5, Nebraska Appleseed will gather again to celebrate the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations who have stood up for justice and opportunity for all during the 2023 Good Apple Awards. We are proud to recognize this year’s honorees.
The Roots of Justice Award recognizes grassroots advocates who have made outstanding contributions to justice and opportunity for all and have helped build a stronger community.
“The Karen Society of Nebraska is a leader and innovator in creating inclusive activities and events. We have seen relationships deepen with local elected officials, community leaders and neighbors because of the Karen Society’s leadership and purposeful engagement. The Karen Society has been successful in their mission to improve and create communications of both learning and sharing cultures among all Nebraskans.” – Christa Yoakum, Senior Welcoming Coordinator – Immigrants & Communities
The Karen Society of Nebraska’s mission is to help refugees and immigrants from Burma build and sustain a high quality of life and achieve self-sufficiency in Nebraska. With offices located in Omaha, Lincoln, and Madison/Norfolk, the Karen Society aims to:
- assist refugees and immigrants to become well-integrated into Nebraskan society
- help the refugees and immigrants preserve their heritage and culture, for their benefit and the benefit of the whole society
- increase the ability of the organization to meet the needs of the entire community
The Karen Society of Nebraska was founded in 2008 and has since been working to make a better transition for people in the Burma community transition into American society. They join hands and work together as a family; leading their community in moving forward to achieve self-sufficiency. In 2010, The Karen Society of Nebraska registered as a 501(c)(3) non profit organization, recognized by the State of Nebraska. They also work to make positive relationships with employers, organizations and churches in our local community to make sure our community gets maximum benefit from it.
The Karen (pronounced Ka-REN) are an ethnic group from the mountainous border regions of Burma and Thailand, where they are the second largest ethnic group in each country. They have long been subject to persecution and ethnic cleansing by the Burmese government, and many have been living in refugee camps in Thailand for years before being resettled to Nebraska. There are approximately 5,500 Karen living in Nebraska with an additional 300 refugees from other ethnic groups in Burma. Because of the employment opportunity and family reunion, Omaha currently has the largest and fastest-growing Karen populations in the U.S. Other communities in Nebraska with a large Karen population include Lincoln, Crete, Nebraska City, Grand Island, Norfolk and Dakota City.
Connect with the Karen Society of Nebraska on their Website, Facebook, and YouTube.
Join us in celebrating Karen Society of Nebraska at the 2023 Good Apple Awards on October 5, 2023 or make a donation in honor of this year’s honorees. For more information, contact Drew Duncan at dduncan@neappleseed.org.