On October 10, 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 2024 Good Apple Awards. We are proud to recognize this year’s honorees.
The Milo Mumgaard Emerging Leader Award, named after Appleseed’s founding executive director, recognizes young, emerging leaders who have a vision for the best of what Nebraska can be and, through initiative, hard work, and dedication, are pushing to make their vision a reality.
“Sierra Edmisten embodies all these qualities as a steadfast advocate who happily takes on the task of making Nebraska a better place for all of us.
Sierra’s advocacy journey began when she joined the pilot year of our Food Access Community Advocacy Cohort. Her time with the cohort saw her blossom into an advocate who gracefully spoke with the media, passionately shared her thoughts as a testifier in Legislative hearings, and even spent time in DC sharing her story at a rally in front of the Supreme Court and with our members of Congress. Sierra has always pushed for a better world, and with 3 kids, still makes the time to show up to any event she can to share her support. Her cohort participation led her to successfully apply for a Power-building organizer role at The Nebraska Civic Engagement Table. At the Table, Sierra has continued to be a champion of many key ballot initiatives including Save our Schools, Paid Sick, and Protect Our Rights. Sierra also became one of 3 Paid Sick Leave ballot initiative sponsors for our Nebraska Appleseed Action Fund. She’s achieved all of this in under two years – with no prior experience.
Sierra believes in the potential of Nebraska, and consistently shows up to do the hard work, no matter how busy her life gets. She is a gifted storyteller with the power to cut to the heart of the issue and move her audience to action and she continues to use that power to fight for justice. Nebraska is, and continues to be a better place because of her and her work.” – Megan Hamann, Community Organizer: Food and Nutrition Access, Economic Justice
Sierra Edmisten is a grassroots advocate based in Hastings, Nebraska. When she is not out in the community meeting with people or collecting signatures for a variety of petitions, Sierra can be found spending time with her four children, helping judge highschool debate and more recently volunteering with Anime Nebraskon, the largest and longest-running anime and pop culture convention in Nebraska. After being an early childhood educator Sierra realized that she wanted a better and more inclusive Nebraska for not only her children but all children to grow up in, fueling her advocacy passion in many different areas.
Join us in celebrating Sierra Edmisten at the 2024 Good Apple Awards on October 10, 2024 or make a donation in honor of this year’s honorees. For more information, contact Denni Mitchell at dmitchell@neappleseed.org.