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 Jim Wolf Equal Justice Award recognizes a Nebraskan who has made significant contributions to justice for all throughout their career. The award is given in the spirit of the late Jim Wolf, a founding Appleseed board member who possessed a lifelong dedication to promoting the common good. The individual is someone who, like Jim, stepped outside of the comfort of their day-to-day lives and, without thought for their own economic or political gain, devoted themselves to public service to benefit the common good while heeding the call to respond to adversarial and difficult circumstances facing others.
“Since making her home in Bellevue, Nebraska in the 1960s, Marta has made a significant impact in the fight for justice and opportunity for all Nebraskans by engaging in her community, supporting young people in becoming leaders in their communities, using her tenacious positive spirit to inspire others to what is possible. Her background in social work has drawn her to efforts to get ahead of problems and find tangible ways to make the world a better place for everyone. She has long focused on the power of advocacy and everyone using their voice in the democratic process, because everyone’s voice matters.
From her work with nonprofits, to her efforts to help people build bridges across differences, to a long history of identifying future leaders and mentoring Latinx youth, the ripple effects of Marta’s work will be felt for generations.
Positive, inspiring, encouraging, kind, and a tireless advocate for justice and opportunity for all. That is just who Marta Nieves is. In every space she is in, she is always encouraging others and making space for younger and newer leaders to learn and contribute.” – Becky Gould, Executive Director
Born in Tampa and raised in New York City, Marta Nieves settled in Bellevue with her family in 1964. She earned a BS in Psychology from Bellevue University, a Masters in Social Work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and certifications in Neuro Linguistic Programming.
She spent 20 years working for nonprofits, including Girl Scouts, Girls Inc, and the National Council for Christians and Jews (Inclusive Communities). She focused on developing cultural competence programming to improve working with diverse populations in the workplace. She also worked on the Green Circle program which was delivered to schools, churches, and community centers to help children explore human differences and enhance their understanding and compassion for one another.
Marta has also been an active volunteer throughout her life. She’s served on The Women’s Fund Board of Greater Omaha and volunteered with Our Healthy Community Partnership, The Nebraska Children’s & Family Foundation, Business & Professional Women, Altrusa International Club of Bellevue, Latinas Unidas, and the WCA of Omaha. She also served two terms on the UNMC Board of Counselors. She is also a registrar for the League of Women voters. She has remained dedicated to service, with social and economic justice a motivating factor. She is also active in the Nebraska Democratic Party where she developed the Latinx caucus and continues work to engage more Hispanic persons in the democratic process.
Join us in celebrating Marta Nieves 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.