Growing Families For Foster Care Awareness Month in May 2018, Vic Klafter, who was an intern at the time and is now a community organizer for our Collective Impact Lincoln program, made a podcast about the state of foster care in Nebraska, specifically around the intersections of LGBTQ+ identities and foster care and the juvenile justice system and foster care.… Read more →
Building a Solid Foundation Note: This is a guest blog post from child welfare advocate, Cindy Reed. I’ve been incredibly blessed. I was a stay-at-home mom while I was finishing my undergraduate degree. I was able to use the work I moved into for my practicum, and I helped build a movement for youth-engaged practice in my state. I come… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Wednesday, May 27, 2020 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Community Eligibility Provision is a major opportunity for Nebraska Schools, despite low national ranking Participation in CEP provides more students with nutritious school meals LINCOLN, NE – During the 2019-20 school year, less than 10 percent of eligible Nebraska schools participated in the Community… Read more →
Supporting youth in foster care during the pandemic Note: This is a guest blog post from YHDP Coordinator for Dodge County, Roxanne Knobbe. Hello! My name is Roxanne Knobbe and I am the YHDP Coordinator for Dodge County, Nebraska at Care Corps’ LifeHouse. YHDP stands for Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project. HUD awarded Nebraska funding for unconnected youth typically between the… Read more →
Join Us Today to #ThankAHungerHero Note: This is a guest blog post from Economic Justice Fellows, Temi Onayemi and Claire Breen. Today community members across the nation will be thanking Hunger Heroes serving school meals to kids even though schools are closed! We will be joining the national nonprofit, No Kid Hungry, and the rest of the United States in… Read more →
In the midst of a pandemic, our communities have been hit hard by COVID-19, particularly for young people with foster care experience. Many of them are struggling to stay housed, afford food, and are worried about their futures. In Nebraska, we are fortunate to have a program like Bridge to Independence (B2I), which supports young people who age out of… Read more →
Note: This is a guest post from Rich Patton, Nebraska Appleseed volunteer. My name is Rich Patton. I am retired from 37 years of award-winning public school service (teacher, principal, special education director, superintendent). In retirement, I am a performing musician. During the Insure the Good Life campaign in 2018, I volunteered to circulate petitions, deliver letters, and have written… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Tuesday, May 19, 2020 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed O: (402) 438-8853 ext 119 C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Statement from Executive Director Becky Gould on Governor Ricketts Allowing Evictions to Proceed LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Ricketts, during his daily press conference on COVID-19 response measures, announced he would not extend the existing Executive Order 20-07… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Friday, May 15, 2020 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed O: (402) 438-8853 ext 119 C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Statement from Executive Director Becky Gould on the passage of the HEROES Act Lincoln, NE — On Friday, The US House of Representatives voted to pass the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act. The… Read more →
In February, the City of Lincoln released a draft of its 2020 Affordable Housing Coordinated Action Plan. The Affordable Housing Coordinated Action Plan is built from a wealth of information that forms a picture of Lincoln’s housing market today. It includes an examination of Lincoln’s historic trends, population demographics, economy, and housing market conditions. The plan confirms what we’ve heard… Read more →
As early as Friday, the US House of Representatives could vote on the Heroes Act which is designed to close gaps in previous relief measures and support families and communities as they continue to confront the COVID-19 public health crisis and its ripple effects. This bill would provide critical relief to thousands of Nebraskans left out of the CARES Act,… Read more →
Each week we are getting new updates about resources available to Nebraskans during the pandemic. We have been keeping tabs on a number of topics and will continue sharing information with you as we learn more about what is out there to help Nebraskans and their families across our state. How SNAP can help you during the pandemic The Supplemental… Read more →
Note: This is a guest post from Nedhal Al-kazahy, Nebraska Appleseed’s former Child Welfare Youth Fellow. Hey all, I’m back! As many of yall know, it’s foster care awareness month so let’s talk about foster care. For those of you that have been following my blogs, you know that I was in foster care for 14 years and I have… Read more →
“How are kids supposed to eat if they aren’t allowed in the school?” “Where am I going to get the money to pay for 10 more meals a week?” “Is help available?” Questions like these likely came up thousands of times as schools across Nebraska closed their doors for the school year because of COVID-19 coming from parents, caretakers, and… Read more →
COVID-19 has exposed longstanding systemic inequities in American health care There isn’t one part of American life right now that hasn’t been impacted in some way by COVID-19. However, the data available as the pandemic continues shows that communities of color are disproportionately harmed by the pandemic. Recent data from the Center for Disease Control shows that, despite making up… Read more →
This May, you have two great opportunities to support Appleseed and ensure no one in our communities is left behind amid COVID-19. First, we’re celebrating Omaha Gives on Wednesday, May 20. When you give, a generous supporter will match the first $5,000 donated, dollar-for-dollar. Schedule your gift here now through May 20 and DOUBLE your donation! A week later, we’re… Read more →
***Para su publicación inmediata*** miércoles, el 6 de mayo de 2020 Magdalena Cazarez Directora de Comunicaciones, Nebraska Appleseed O: (402) 438-8853 ext 119 C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Falta de protecciones de COVID-19 pone a trabajadores, comunidades y producción alimentaria de Nebraska en riesgo Grupos comunitarios señalan la falta de protecciones y ofrecen asistencia Lincoln, NE — El miércoles, el 6… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Tuesday, May 5, 2020 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed O: (402) 438-8853 ext 119 C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Pandemic EBT can help feed Nebraska families during COVID-19 Ensuring that over 170,600 children in Nebraska have the meals they need to stay healthy Lincoln, NE — On Monday, May 4, Nebraska advocacy, education, and food security… Read more →
I’m Nora Brown, a community organizer at Nebraska Appleseed. Although the coronavirus pandemic brings uncertainty for us all, now more than ever we need to come together to fight for justice for all Nebraskans. After years of waiting, Nebraskans in the coverage gap will finally be able to enroll in expanded Medicaid coverage later this year. Still, even though Nebraskans… Read more →
Nebraska communities need critical missing COVID-19 protections for meat and poultry workers without delay. Our families’ health, community health, and continued food production are at risk, as highlighted by growing numbers of COVID-19 outbreaks and meat and poultry plant closures across our state and the country. Friends and family working in the plants are still standing elbow-to-elbow on fast-paced production… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Wednesday, April 29, 2020 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed O: (402) 438-8853 ext 119 C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Lack of COVID protections threatens Nebraska workers, communities, food production Community groups highlight missing protections, offer assistance Lincoln, NE — On Wednesday, April 29, Nebraska community advocates, food production workers, and public health organizations held a virtual… Read more →
Meatpacking outbreaks highlight immediate need to protect workers As meatpacking plants in Nebraska become the epicenter of the state’s coronavirus outbreak, the struggles faced by the workers inside are becoming increasingly apparent and alarming. Many face a difficult choice: go to work and risk exposing yourself and your family, or stay at home with no pay. This crisis has deepened… Read more →
As the country continues to navigate the public health and economic crisis, it is critical for Congress to respond to the vital needs of our communities by passing an inclusive, fourth coronavirus relief package. This legislation must ensure that testing, medical care, financial relief, food assistance, and foster care funding covers all Americans, regardless of immigration status. As federal policymakers… Read more →
With so many Nebraskans facing unemployment and reduced income, many are confronting challenges making ends meet. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can help. SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, can help individuals and families get nutritious food on their tables. Who is eligible for SNAP? Because of the major economic changes caused by COVID-19 many people may find themselves eligible… Read more →
Essential workers must have essential protections Nebraska’s meatpacking workers find themselves in dangerous working conditions As meatpacking plants in Nebraska become the epicenter of the state’s coronavirus outbreak, the struggles faced by the workers inside are becoming increasingly apparent and alarming. Many face a difficult choice: go to work and risk exposing yourself and your family, or stay at home… Read more →
Nebraska sigue siendo líder en el país para el censo, entre los estados con más cuestionarios completados, y necesitamos su ayuda para mantener este nivel de respuestas. Eso, especialmente cuando estamos contando las comunidades que son frecuentemente menos reportadas, incluyendo los jóvenes en cuidados alternativos, como ‘foster care’. Es muy importante contar a los jóvenes – éstas estadísticas son usadas… Read more →
Nebraska is currently one of the top states in the nation for census self-response, and we need your help to keep that up, especially in counting communities that often go under-reported, including youth in foster care. Counting children in the 2020 census is so important – these statistics will be used to determine how billions of dollars will be allocated… Read more →
Gracias a Telemundo Nebraska y Radio Lobo Omaha por la oportunidad de hablar sobre el Censo 2020 y la importancia de la participación de la comunidad. ¡Recuerda, completar el censo es rápido, fácil y seguro! Para ver la entrevista sobre como completar el censo, pulsa aquí. Si quieres saber más sobre el Censo y la importancia de contar a… Read more →
Now, more than ever, everyone in our state needs affordable, quality health insurance. During this difficult time, it is vital that all Nebraskans know some of the coverage options available. Getting and Staying Covered If eligible, you may be able to enroll in Marketplace or Medicaid insurance. Marketplace Insurance: If you lose your coverage, your household income changes, or you… Read more →
¿Quién es elegible para el cheque de ayuda económica? La elegibilidad depende de los ingresos y de otros elementos como estatus migratorio. Los individuos que ganaron hasta $75,000 por año y los casados que hacen impuestos juntos quien ganaron hasta $150,000 por año son elegibles. Si quieres saber si eres elegible o cuánto dinero vas a recibir, el IRS ha… Read more →
In February, the City of Lincoln released a draft of its 2020 Affordable Housing Coordinated Action Plan. The Affordable Coordinated Action Plan is built from a wealth of information that forms a picture of Lincoln’s housing market today. It includes an examination of Lincoln’s historic trends, population demographics, economy, and housing market conditions. The plan confirms what we’ve heard directly… Read more →
All people need access to critical supports and services during a crisis. The CARES Act was an important step to help communities in need during the pandemic, yet many immigrant families were excluded from this relief package. Congress returns from recess on May 4th, but members are working now on the next coronavirus bill package. We are all in this… Read more →
At the end of March, Congress passed the CARES Act, which among other things created “economic impact payments” for eligible individuals. These are cash payments directly to those who are eligible, that can be used for food, rent, health care or any other need. Who is eligible for economic impact payments? Eligibility for the payment depends on income and other… Read more →
Nebraska Appleseed’s Weekly Update Over the past month, the focus of our weekly Legislative Update has pivoted to provide timely updates about the many policy changes happening to help communities amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Given the rapid changes happening each week, and our newsletter’s broadening scope, we decided to pause our normal Legislative Update and instead send a Weekly Update… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Friday, April 10, 2020 Contact: Molly McCleery Health Care Access Program Director, Nebraska Appleseed C: (641) 891-7201 mmccleery@neappleseed.org Delay of complex waiver provisions bolsters case to start Medicaid expansion now LINCOLN—Today, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services announced changes to how they are moving forward with Medicaid Expansion implementation. In response, Molly McCleery, Health Care… Read more →
We hope you’re able to take the time you need to care for yourself and your loved ones. Many people we care about are vulnerable and struggling. We know that social distancing and economic uncertainty is difficult, and even more so for many members of our community. This moment has made clear how our communities are connected, and our fates… Read more →
Los beneficios del desempleo: Un apoyo para la gente de Nebraska durante momentos difíciles La pandemia del Coronavirus está afectando nuestras vidas de muchas maneras, incluyendo el desafío de mantener el empleo. La semana pasada, el Departamento de Labor de Nebraska anunció que más de 25.000 personas de Nebraska habían solicitado beneficios de desempleo. Es afortunado que nuestros líderes hayan… Read more →
Unemployment benefits: A lifeline for Nebraskans struggling in hard times The Coronavirus pandemic is impacting Nebraskans’ lives in many ways, not least of which is the challenge in maintaining employment. Last week, the Nebraska Department of Labor revealed more than 25,000 Nebraskans had filed for unemployment benefits. It is fortunate that our leaders have taken action at the state and… Read more →
Federico T. Vicente joined our team as a Community Organizer with our Immigrants & Communities Program this year! Federico’s pronouns are he/him/his. As a community organizer, Federico works on coordinating grassroots, community-driven advocacy and engagement efforts to develop targeted solutions to community issues including the development of policy, legal solutions, and organizing. He’s excited to engage with communities throughout… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Wednesday, April 8, 2020 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Governor Ricketts maximizes SNAP to help Nebraska families during the COVID-19 pandemic Nebraska Appleseed recommends implementing additional programs available to Nebraska Lincoln, NE — On Tuesday, April 7, Nebraska Governor Ricketts announced temporary changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that… Read more →
Nebraskans need quality, affordable health care without barriers and limitations. We want to share another opportunity for you to voice your concerns with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) proposed Medicaid expansion waiver program, also known as the Heritage Health Adult Program. This Thursday, DHHS will be holding a public hearing on their proposed regulations on Medicaid… Read more →
Thousands of Nebraska families are hurting now, with job losses and the resulting loss in income. Some of these same families now have kids at home who once received meals in school, too. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can go a long way to help, but our leaders need to prioritize taking up new federal options now available to… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Friday, April 3, 2020 Contact Eric Savaiano Senior Program Coordinator, Nebraska Appleseed O: (402) 438-8853 ext. 126 E: esavaiano@neappleseed.org Kids and families can find meals through text service Schools are closed but meal service continues across Nebraska Lincoln, NE — The COVID-19 virus has forced all of Nebraska 244 school districts to close for the foreseeable future,… Read more →
¡Todos Contamos! Juntos podemos asegurarnos de contar a nuestras comunidades Bienvenido de nuevo a “Todos Contamos”, una serie corta centrada en la construcción del poder comunitario y el compromiso cívico en Nebraska. La Oficina del Censo ha comenzado a enviar cartas con información sobre cómo completar el censo en línea. ¿Ha completado el suyo? Sabemos que estos son tiempos inciertos… Read more →
As you may be aware, the Supreme Court is expected to rule on several cases related to the successful DACA program (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) in the very near future — as soon as this coming Monday. Recent news reports point out that ending DACA during a pandemic would be catastrophic. The New York Times notes that approximately 27,000… Read more →
***Para su publicación inmediata*** Miercoles, el 1 de Abril de 2020 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Directora de Comunicaciones, Nebraska Appleseed C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Únase con organizaciones comunitarias de Nebraska para el Día del Censo, “¡Todos Contamos!” Asegurando que las voces de los residentes de Nebraska sean escuchadas y representadas Lincoln, NE — El 1 de Abril de 2020, organizaciones comunitarias… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Wednesday, April 1, 2020 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Join Nebraska community organizations for “We Count!” on Census Day Ensuring Nebraska voices are heard and represented Lincoln, NE — On April 1, 2020, Nebraska community organizations are celebrating Census Day by mobilizing communities across the state to get counted in the… Read more →
As the novel coronavirus continues to spread throughout our communities, it becomes increasingly important to ensure that everyone has a safe, stable place to call home. And even absent the COVID-19 pandemic, evictions are already hugely destabilizing events that displace tenants and often result in homelessness. Through a series of statewide and federal actions, certain protections against evictions are being… Read more →
School meals available for children and families Schools are closed but meal service continues across Nebraska The COVID-19 virus has forced all of Nebraska 244 school districts to close for the foreseeable future, but it has not stopped the heroic efforts of school personnel to feed students. Grab and Go Below is a list of known communities that are offering… Read more →
We Count! Nebraska is #1 in the nation for census self-response Welcome back to “We Count,” a short series focused on building community power and civic engagement in Nebraska. The Census Bureau has begun sending out letters with information on how to fill out the census online — have you completed yours? We know that these are uncertain and challenging… Read more →
COVID-19 Resources for Families and Older Youth in the Child Welfare System While there are many concerns to be addressed during this unprecedented time for families at risk of entering the child welfare system as well as those already system-involved, there are resources available for young people who have aged out of the foster care system in Nebraska. The Children’s… Read more →
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)! The ACA has dramatically altered the health care landscape across the United States, including here in Nebraska, and has been a driving force in Appleseed’s work since before its passage. Fighting for Nebraskans’ access to quality, affordable health coverage has long been a core piece of Appleseed’s mission. Alongside… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Friday, March 20, 2020 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Nebraska Advocates Urge Action to Protect the Health and Safety of all Nebraskans Our state leaders must take immediate steps in this time of uncertainty Lincoln, NE—On Friday, Nebraska advocacy organizations and leaders sent a letter to Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts outlining… Read more →
Last week, the House passed H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, to address the economic uncertainty caused by the coronavirus. This legislation focused on supporting families as we all prioritize the safety and well-being of our communities across the state by including paid sick and family leave, expanding unemployment insurance, food assistance, increased Medicaid funding, and free COVID-19… Read more →
As we all do our part to help keep our communities safe as the situation unfolds, we wanted to share with you Nebraska Appleseed’s plan for how we are adapting our work. Our office in Lincoln will be closed until further notice. However, our staff will be working remotely and continuing our advocacy for the policies we need in this… Read more →
The safety and well-being of our communities is top priority. We need compassionate policies that support Nebraska families and children. As the number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases are identified across our state and the nation, Nebraska Appleseed emphasizes the need for compassionate and comprehensive policies that prioritize the safety and well-being of our communities across our state. We are only… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Friday, March 13, 2020 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed O: (402) 438-8853 ext 119 C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Start Medicaid expansion to combat the spread of Coronavirus Lincoln, NE –Today, Nebraska Governor Ricketts, as part of his address on the Coronavirus situation unfolding across the state, dismissed press questions about Nebraska’s current lack of Medicaid… Read more →
¡Todos Contamos! El Poder de Participación ¡Bienvenidos a “Nosotros Contamos,” una serie enfocada en desarrollar poder comunitario y participación cívica en Nebraska! El censo de 2020 se acerca y necesitamos su ayuda para asegurar que recibimos los fondos, la representación y la información que reflejan las comunidades creciendo en Nebraska. El censo es importante porque… ¡Hay poder en participar! Por… Read more →
This week, Nebraska state senators will take up a proposal to improve protections against utility shut-offs and they need to hear your support. Each month, an estimated 1 in 20 households in Nebraska have their power shut off due to an inability to pay their utility bills. LB933, introduced by Senator Sue Crawford, would limit fees related to utility shut-offs… Read more →
This week, the House will vote on The NO BAN Act, which would repeal the Trump administration’s destructive Muslim, asylum, and refugee bans, and limits future administrations from enacting similar bans. Nebraskans recognize the great contributions new families bring to our communities. These harmful policies run contrary to Nebraska’s values of welcoming refugees and asylum seekers by cruelly turning our… Read more →
Fighting for justice and opportunity for all at the Nebraska Legislature We are now more than half-way through the 2020 Nebraska legislative session. Senators have chosen their priority bills and several of Nebraska Appleseed’s priorities made the list! You can find the complete list of priority bills here. The following list of bills is a snapshot of key legislation we’ve… Read more →
We Count! The Power of Participation Welcome to “We Count,” a short series focused on building community power and civic engagement in Nebraska. The 2020 census is coming up soon and we need your help to make sure we receive the funding, representation, and information that reflects Nebraska’s growing communities. The census is important because… There is power in participation!… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Wednesday, March 4, 2020 Contacts: Eric Savaiano Go Big Breakfast Facilitator Senior Program Coordinator, Nebraska Appleseed (402) 438-8853 ext. 126, esavaiano@neappleseed.org Sharon Davis Administrator, Office of Nutrition Services Nebraska Department of Education (402) 471-3559, Sharon.L.Davis@nebraska.gov Go Big Breakfast Coalition and No Kid Hungry support Breakfast Programs through local school grants 20 Nebraska public schools awarded grants to… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Tuesday, March 3, 2020 Contact: Eric Savaiano Economic Justice Senior Program Coordinator Office: (402) 438-8853 ext 126 esavaiano@neappleseed.org New Report: Go Big Breakfast helping Nebraska schools fight hunger Schools are seeing better results in student health and academic performance LINCOLN, NE – National data shows Nebraska continues to trail behind nearly all states in providing children with… Read more →
Note: This is a guest post from Carol Russell, an Omaha resident, Appleseed volunteer, and monthly donor. I’m a native Nebraskan, born and raised in Omaha. I attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, ending with a Masters Degree in Pathology. I did cancer research at UNMC, but my main “career” was volunteering in the… Read more →
Understanding the new public charge wealth test and defending families and communities. The administration has been building an ‘Invisible Wall’ to create real barriers for families, including a wealth test (known as the public charge rule) that makes it harder for people with low or moderate incomes to navigate the immigration system. This wealth test decides whether a person can… Read more →
We are a state that values the health and well-being of our family members, friends, and neighbors. This is why nearly two years ago, Nebraskans voted to implement Medicaid expansion. However, the state is pursuing a complicated Section 1115 waiver program that includes numerous barriers, including tiered benefits, work requirements, and a waiver of retroactive eligibility. LB815, introduced by Senator… Read more →
The Summer Food Service Programs (SFSP) provides a vital service to Nebraska communities by providing children ages one to 18 with free meals during the months when school is out. Kids can show up to a safe, welcoming location — often at a school or local community organization — to eat a balanced and nutritious meal that keeps them active… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** February 13, 2020 Contact, Eric Savaiano Senior Program Coordinator, Nebraska Appleseed O: (402) 438-8853 ext. 126 E: esavaiano@neappleseed.org Nebraska continues to rank near bottom of U.S. in School Breakfast State’s low participation in school breakfast means poorer outcomes for students, missed federal funding Lincoln, NE — Although Nebraska still ranks near the bottom of the country in… Read more →
Medicaid saves lives. Block Grants takeaway care. Last week, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance, which CMS refers to as the “Healthy Adult Opportunity,” that encourages states to apply for Medicaid block grants. Block grants will result in cuts to Medicaid, a program that is a lifeline to millions of Americans, including 1 in… Read more →
The Nebraska Legislature introduced over 470 bills this session, including several constitutional amendments. We’re starting this week with a number of hearings and, alongside you, we are ready to advocate for better benefits for Nebraska workers, for the rights of young people in the foster care and juvenile justice systems, and to end housing discrimination. Hearings this week Reducing injuries… Read more →
$5,000 Grants Available to Help Nebraska Schools Start the Day With a Win Note: This is a guest post from Bailey Hansen, Appleseed’s Youth Ambassador Breakfast at school can be hard to get to for many students thanks to busy mornings, late buses, or before-school extracurricular activities. However, schools that serve breakfast through Grab and Go, Breakfast in the… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Thursday, January 16, 2020 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed O: (402) 438-8853 ext 119 C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Introduction of Nebraska’s first Youth in Care Bill of Rights in the right direction Legislative bill 941 protects the rights of youth in the foster care and juvenile justice systems Lincoln — On Monday, Senator Megan… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Wednesday, January 15, 2020 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed O: (402) 438-8853 ext 119 C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Response to the Governor’s State of the State Address Opportunities abound to support workers, strengthen the child welfare system, address the crisis in our prison system, and implement Medicaid Expansion Lincoln — Nebraska Appleseed Executive… Read more →
The Nebraska Legislature kicked off the 2020 session last Wednesday! Since then, senators have introduced hundreds of bills, with several being top of mind for Nebraska Appleseed. Strengthening Nebraska’s child welfare system Over the interim, youth with foster care and juvenile justice experience shared their input with Senator Megan Hunt to draft legislation to ensure youth in out-of-home placements… Read more →
As our Community Organizer for our collaborative project Collective Impact Lincoln, Vic Klafter is eager to focus on connecting with insightful and talented neighbors, especially in the Belmont and Clinton neighborhoods. Vic’s pronouns are he/him/his. After growing up in Norfolk, Vic attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and graduated in 2018. During his undergraduate years, he volunteered and interned for… Read more →
Despite comments from hundreds of Nebraskans in opposition, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services submitted their proposed Medicaid expansion waiver with minimal changes to the federal government for approval. Unfortunately, the proposed Section 1115 waiver still includes a two-tiered benefits system, work and wellness requirements, and changes to retroactive eligibility. It is clear that Nebraskans do… Read more →
Khenda Mustafa joined our team as Welcoming Coordinator this fall! Khenda’s pronouns are she/her/hers. As the Welcoming Coordinator, Khenda works alongside community leaders from diverse sectors and backgrounds to create a welcoming and inclusive culture and promote racial equity across Nebraska. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and comes from a refugee background. … Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Thursday, December 19, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed O: (402) 438-8853 ext 119 C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling on the Affordable Care Act potentially dangers health coverage for millions of Americans Affordable Care Act and expanding Medicaid are essential to keep Nebraskans healthy. Lincoln, NE — Today, Nebraska… Read more →
Vanessa Martinez joined Nebraska Appleseed in October 2019 as the Organizing Manager for the Immigrants & Communities Program. Vanessa’s pronouns are she/her/hers. Vanessa is from Lincoln, Nebraska and graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University with degrees in English and Music — she plays the clarinet! Her career as a human rights advocate began at Appleseed back in 2008 when she… Read more →
Press Release December 13, 2019 Contact: Molly McCleery Health Care Access Program Director Nebraska Appleseed O: (402) 438-8853 ext 113 mmccleery@neappleseed.org Medicaid expansion waiver submitted to the federal government with minimal changes The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services’ proposed waiver submitted to federal government despite comments from hundreds of Nebraskans opposing the waiver LINCOLN—Yesterday, the Nebraska Department of… Read more →
Immigrants contribute so much to the strength and betterment of our communities across our state and nation. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to thrive in the place they call home. However, last month the administration proposed a new rule that targets low-income and working class immigrants by dramatically increasing application fees for citizenship, asylum, work permits, and other… Read more →
Note: This is a guest post from Natalie Bielenberg, Nebraska Appleseed’s Child Welfare Intern. On February 9, 2018, the Trump Administration signed into law the bipartisan Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), with a number of significant changes made to the Act. The FFPSA gave states the flexibility to use federal Title IV-E funds to improve prevention through upfront, evidence-based… Read more →
Lisa Holmquist joined Nebraska Appleseed this fall as the Executive Assistant. She grew up in Ogallala, NE, and loved having Lake McConaughy close by! Nonetheless, she’s been happy to call Lincoln ‘home’ for many years. Lisa’s pronouns are she/her/hers. Lisa received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Sociology from Nebraska Wesleyan University. She spent the past 17 years… Read more →
Today, we begin an important campaign: we’ve set an ambitious goal to raise $50,000 by this Friday, December 6 to carry the fight for justice and opportunity for all into 2020. Through this drive, we’re raising the resources to build the Nebraska we all want to see: a just, vibrant, and inclusive community where everyone can thrive. To help us… Read more →
Thank you for submitting a comment against the Medicaid expansion waiver and helping us spread the word! With your support, we were able to connect with hundreds of Nebraskans who raised their voices against the Medicaid expansion waiver! The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) proposed to expand Medicaid with a waiver called the Heritage Health Adult Plan, which… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Thursday, November 21, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed O: (402) 438-8853 ext 119 C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Ensuring all Nebraskans are counted and represented in every community Nebraska is the first state to release confidential information to the U.S. Census Bureau LINCOLN—The Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) recently released it will be… Read more →
In 2013, the Nebraska Legislature passed the Young Adult Voluntary Services and Supports Act to better support young adults who exited foster care in “transitioning to adulthood, becoming self-sufficient, and creating permanent relationships. This created Nebraska’s Bridge to Independence (b2i) program, which was structured through the input of many young advocates with former foster care experience. B2i participants eligibility requirements… Read more →
Today, the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services released their proposed plan to implement Medicaid expansion, a Section 1115 waiver known as the Heritage Health Adult Program. The proposed waiver includes a two-tiered benefits system, work and wellness requirements, and changes to retroactive eligibility. Over the next month, you have the opportunity to raise concerns about the proposed waiver at public hearings held… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Friday, October 25, 2019 Contact: Molly McCleery Health Care Access Program Director Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Ext 113 mmccleery@neappleseed.org Medicaid expansion proposal raises significant concerns with work requirements and benefits restrictions Concerned Nebraskans have opportunity to provide comments at upcoming hearings LINCOLN—Today, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services released their proposed plan for implementing… Read more →
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is delaying voter approved Medicaid expansion and is pursuing a complicated Medicaid expansion plan, known as a Section 1115 waiver. Contrary to voter intent, DHHS is seeking to deny important vision and dental coverage to Nebraskans in the expansion group that Do not prove that they have met DHHS’ legally suspect,… Read more →
Note: This a guest post from Bailey Hansen, Appleseed’s Youth Ambassador During the school year, breakfast and lunch served at school may be the only meals kids and teens get during the week. But what happens when school ends and summer begins? Many Nebraska families are left scrambling to cover the gap and make ends meet. That’s where summer meals… Read more →
School and District leadership plays a vital role in whether students get the food they need during the school day. It’s their observations, attention to data, and decisions that dictate many students’ meal-time experiences in school. Superintendent James McGown of Brady Public Schools, about 30 minutes east of North Platte, is one leader whose decisions helped reduce hunger in his… Read more →
What is the Medicaid expansion waiver? Why are work requirements problematic? Last November, Nebraskans passed Initiative 427, expanding Medicaid to adults who make up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (about $17,000 a year for an individual). Instead of honoring the vote and promptly starting the program, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is intentionally seeking… Read more →
Kasey Ogle joined us this summer as our staff attorney for Collective Impact Lincoln, a collaborative project with Civic Nebraska and South of Downtown. Kasey graduated from the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville with a Bachelor’s in Sociology and Criminal Justice, and continued on to receive her J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law. “I knew I wanted… Read more →
On October 10, Nebraska Appleseed is celebrating the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations who have stood up for justice and opportunity for all the 2019 Good Apple Awards. We are proud to introduce you to the honorees we are recognizing this year. The Jim Wolf Equal Justice Award recognizes a Nebraskan who has made significant contributions to justice for… Read more →
Nora Brown is our new Weitz Fellow from Brooklyn, New York! She recently graduated from Carleton College with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Spanish. Nora is working with all of our programs in Health Care, Immigrants & Communities, Child Welfare, Economic Justice, and with our Collective Impact Lincoln project. Nora interned in Ecuador and Argentina at nonprofits offering… Read more →
On October 10, Nebraska Appleseed is celebrating the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations who have stood up for justice and opportunity for all the 2019 Good Apple Awards. We are proud to introduce you to the honorees we are recognizing this year. The Milo Mumgaard Emerging Leader Award, named after Appleseed’s founding executive director, recognizes emerging leaders who have… Read more →
You did it. You showed your support for Medicaid expansion. Last Friday, we kicked off the day listening to inspirational health care advocates at our press conference. Then, we filled the room for the Legislature’s Medicaid expansion hearing at the Capitol! Thank you for standing up for Medicaid expansion. But the fight is not over yet. You voted to expand… Read more →
The national benchmark, for school breakfast participation is 7 low-income students eating breakfast for every 10 eating lunch. Nationally, we serve a little over 5 in 10 kids. In Nebraska, we serve 4 in 10, placing us 48th in the nation. However, around 17 districts in our state are hitting or exceeding the national benchmark including Bayard Public Schools. About… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Friday, September 20, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Ext 119 Cell: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Nebraska health care advocates call for implementation of Medicaid expansion Stand For Expansion. Do Not Waiver. LINCOLN — Today, Nebraska health care advocates, including medical professionals, voiced resounding support for implementation of Medicaid expansion and… Read more →
Ralph Kellogg joined our team as the Human Resources Director. Ralph also works as an Adjunct Instructor at Bellevue University where he teaches courses in graduate and undergraduate level human resources classes. He has an extensive background in strategic planning, training, corporate communications, and human labor union management. “I am honored to work for Nebraska Appleseed. Working for Appleseed and… Read more →
Seeds of Justice: Legal Aid of Nebraska On October 10, Nebraska Appleseed is celebrating the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations who have stood up for justice and opportunity for all the 2019 Good Apple Awards. We are proud to introduce you to the honorees we are recognizing this year. The Seeds of Justice Award honors outstanding legal contributions to… Read more →
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently proposed a drastic change to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that would eliminate access to critical food assistance for 3 million people, including 10,000 Nebraskans. You can help us fight against this proposal by commenting to protect our neighbors by Monday, September 23. SNAP is an essential tool to fight hunger and… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Tuesday, September 17, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Ext 119 Cell: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Nebraska Workers and Consumers at Risk with New Pork Rule USDA finalizes rule removing federal food inspectors and limits on processing speeds LINCOLN — Today, in a step backward toward the days of Upton Sinclair’s… Read more →
Sarah Maresh joined our team this summer as the staff attorney for our Health Care Access Program. She is a two-time Husker alumni, graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with her undergraduate degree with highest distinction in Sociology and International Studies and her J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law with highest distinction. Sarah is a member of… Read more →
Roots of Justice Award: Omaha Together One Community On October 10, Nebraska Appleseed is celebrating the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations who have stood up for justice and opportunity for all the 2019 Good Apple Awards. We are proud to introduce you to the honorees we are recognizing this year. The Roots of Justice Award recognizes grassroots advocates… Read more →
Edgar Reynaga joined our team as the Development Associate in the Spring. Edgar graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. “When I interned for the Immigrants & Communities Program in the fall of 2016, I knew then I wanted to work in nonprofit. Interning through an election cycle was an inspiring time… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Wednesday, September 4, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Ext 119 Cell: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Abbie Kretz Senior Organizer, Heartland Workers Center Cell: (402) 630-6695 abbie@heartlandworkerscenter.org Meatpacking workers’ safety and rights under threat National report shows deregulation will worsen hazardous conditions LINCOLN — In a major national report released… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Tuesday, September 3, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Ext 119 Cell: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed files lawsuit seeking stability for Nebraska’s child welfare system Suit says current private contracts violate Nebraska’s Constitution LINCOLN – Today, Nebraska Appleseed filed a lawsuit in Lancaster County District Court on behalf of a child… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Monday, August 28, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Ext 119 Cell: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Nebraskans file suit to ensure Medicaid expansion starts in 2019 Officials have a duty to start coverage for 90,000 and bring back $149 million in Nebraska tax dollars LINCOLN – Today, two Nebraskans filed a lawsuit seeking… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Monday, August 26, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Ext 119 Cell: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed Seeks Stability for Nebraska’s Child Welfare System The current private contracts violate Nebraska’s Constitution LINCOLN – Today, Nebraska Appleseed sent a demand letter to officials at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, the Nebraska… Read more →
Every Nebraskan deserves affordable medicine to maintain a healthy life This afternoon, Nebraska Appleseed is joining the People Over Pharma Profits National Day of Action by delivering letters from impacted Nebraskans and health care advocates. At some point, everyone gets sick and may need prescription medicine to feel better. Every Nebraskan deserves affordable prescription medicine to maintain a healthy life… Read more →
Note: This a guest post from Claire Breen, Economic Justice Intern For faculty and staff at Campbell Elementary School in Lincoln, NE, focusing on the well-being of their students has always been a priority. So, when it became clear that many of their students didn’t always have a chance to eat breakfast before school, they took immediate steps to implement… Read more →
Magdalena Cazarez, also known as Maggie, has been leading our communications work since joining Appleseed in April. From Omaha, Maggie is a proud alumna of UNL’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications. She’s passionate about reframing narratives and conversations through thoughtful and creative storytelling. She has experience in branding, marketing, graphic design, and digital communications. “I’m excited to be back… Read more →
Voices for Children Report highlights race equity lens in Nebraska’s child welfare system All children and families deserve an equal opportunity to a brighter future Our friends at Voices for Children in Nebraska recently released their report, Equity Before the Law: Race & Ethnicity in the Front End of Nebraska’s Child Welfare System. This report shows how the child welfare… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Monday, August 12, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Ext 119 Cell: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Final Public Charge policy blocks aspiring Americans from becoming lawful permanent residents The health and wellbeing of families will be greatly impacted, including U.S. citizen children LINCOLN – Today, the Trump administration finalized a harmful, sweeping change to… Read more →
Immigrants bring vibrancy and resiliency to our communities Once again, hatred and violence devastate communities across our country As we mourn the devastating attacks that occurred this weekend in El Paso,TX and Dayton, OH, we stand with these vibrant and resilient communities. Inhumane and violent actions toward our neighbors do not reflect our core values as a country. Below is… Read more →
Note: This is a guest post from Denise Dickeson, Lincoln resident and volunteer. My name is Denise Dickeson and I have been disabled for over 20 years with an invisible condition called Meniere’s disease. If I could, I would work, but my condition does not allow me to have a stable job. Instead, I spend my free time volunteering and… Read more →
Immigrants targeted through Expedited Removal expansion “Show me your papers” policy leads to racial profiling, U.S. citizens being detained, and immigrants hastily being deported without due process Our diverse and inclusive community is a tapestry woven of mixed status families, naturalized citizens and citizens born on U.S. soil or to a U.S. parent, foreign exchange students, refugees, TPS residents,… Read more →
Diane Rolfsmeyer became the Finance and Administrative Coordinator for Nebraska Appleseed in April. She’s from small town Milford, Nebraska and came to Lincoln originally to attend the University of Nebraska. She soon discovered how much she loved Lincoln and been here ever since! Diane has a long history in finance with 25 years being a Certified Financial Planning Professional in… Read more →
Medicaid turns 54! It’s time for Nebraska to implement Medicaid expansion Today, Medicaid turns 54! Since it began, it’s saved many, many lives, lifting people out of poverty and giving them the chance to pursue their passions and dreams. For decades, Medicaid has provided stable coverage for millions of Americans, including thousands of Nebraskans. Many of Nebraska’s low-income parents,… Read more →
Raising the minimum wage is a step toward increasing opportunity No one should have to choose between paying rent and buying groceries Last week, the House of Representatives passed the Raise the Wage Act, which would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. Increasing the minimum wage is a crucial step to build a country… Read more →
Proposed SNAP rule would cut benefits for 3.1 million Americans Food assistance helps reduce food instability and contributes to a healthy Nebraska Lincoln, NE – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed a regulatory change that will harm 3.1 million people, including working families with children, the elderly and people with disabilities. The proposed rule would dramatically alter… Read more →
Children and families should have the chance to seek safety and rebuild their lives All people have the right to escape violent situations under international asylum law. Children and families flee their homes due to violence and persecution to seek safe haven in another country. The legal process for claiming asylum is to apply at the border or other ports… Read more →
Tell Congress it’s time to ‘Raise the Wage’ Raising the minimum wage is an investment in the future of Nebraska This week, the House of Representatives will vote on the Raise the Wage Act, a bill that would gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. Despite the fact that our nation’s productivity has doubled in the… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Thursday, July 11, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Ext 119 Cell: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Nebraska continues to rank near bottom of U.S. in Summer Meals Participation in summer meals helps children get prepared for classroom success LINCOLN – Nutritious summer meals should be available to all children all year round. However, national… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Monday, July 8, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Ext 119 Cell: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org The new child welfare contract creates challenges and concerns for Nebraska Nebraska’s child welfare system should ensure stability for children and families LINCOLN – Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services finalized the child welfare contract… Read more →
Can you imagine your child being caged without access to critical care and treatment? This is what children and their families are facing while seeking safety. The U.S. government should protect children from harm, with special care given to children without guardians because they are particularly vulnerable. As children and their families are fleeing violence and instability, U.S. policies… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Thursday, June 27, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Ext 119 Cell: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Ensuring all Nebraskans are counted and represented Supreme Court rules a citizenship question cannot go forward before a legally justifiable reason is presented. LINCOLN – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling questioning the administration’s justifications for adding… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Tuesday, June 4, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Ext 119 Cell: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Ensuring access to adequate mental health care for incarcerated people in Nebraska A humane and civil approach toward a sustainable prison reform. LINCOLN – Today, the Nebraska Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights gathered for… Read more →
Last Friday, the 2019 Nebraska Legislature adjourned sine die until January. Small victories for children and families and low-income community members were made during this legislative session. However, there is still more work to be done and Appleseed continues engaging with state policymakers on a variety of issues impacting Nebraskans throughout the interim. Below are some of the highlights from… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Tuesday, June 4, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Ext 119 Cell: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Congress makes history with House passage of the Dream and Promise Act Protecting Dreamers and TPS residents is a common ground principle for America LINCOLN – Today, the House of Representatives took a positive stride for our country by… Read more →
Note: This a guest post from Claire Breen, Economic Justice Intern Nebraska Summer Food Service Program Begins Now Tools available for families to access free healthy meals during summer months Summer is here! Nebraska’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sites are helping feed Nebraskan children, ensuring everyone has the meals they need to stay healthy and be ready for classroom… Read more →
As Foster Care Awareness Month wraps up, we want to make sure foster parents, caregivers, and young people in foster care are aware of an opportunity in Nebraska to make your voice heard in court. For foster parents For young person in foster care Are you a foster parent or caregiver to a young person in foster care? The… Read more →
Last week, the American Dream and Promise Act passed out of the House Judiciary committee. These bills would provide protections to Dreamers and longtime residents with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status who are part of the fabric of communities across our state of Nebraska and the nation. Did you know the average age of a… Read more →
Note: This is a guest post from Bobbi Taylor, Nebraska Appleseed’s Child Welfare Youth Fellow. My biggest fear is failure. I use that fear to fuel the drive in myself everyday. That never used to be a fear, until I entered the foster care system. I cannot count the times that placement staff, caseworkers, foster parents, and my own… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Thursday, May 23, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director (402) 438-8853 Ext. 119 mcazarez@neappleseed.org A Step in the Right Direction for Positive Immigration Laws Longtime immigrant Nebraskans need permanent protections to continue contributing to local communities LINCOLN – Yesterday, the Dream Act and American Promise Act passed out of the House Judiciary committee. These positive, long… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Friday, May 17, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director Cell: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Family-based and humanitarian immigration strengthen our communities Keeping families separated undermines our American values LINCOLN – Yesterday, the Administration gave a speech at the Rose Garden about changing the current immigration system. His message included cutting the number of family-based and humanitarian visas… Read more →
The ‘Invisible Wall’ is creating real barriers for local residents Processing wait times for U.S citizenship are getting longer Recent headlines have focused on the numerous attacks on asylum seekers and refugees, program terminations for certain immigrant groups, and a call to build one large wall at the southern border of the United States and Mexico. Meanwhile, the administration is… Read more →
Note: This is a guest post from Nedhal Al-kazahy, Nebraska Appleseed’s Child Welfare Youth Fellow. Click here to read Nedhal’s first blog post from May 2018. Since beginning my internship at Nebraska Appleseed in April 2018, I’ve had many amazing opportunities come my way. I’ve used my experience as an advocate. I created a Tips sheet on how to have successful… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Friday, May 10, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director (402) 438-8853 Ext. 119 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Lincoln Unites! A multicultural celebration welcoming cultures and vibrancy to Lincoln Dance, Food, and Entertainment! Experience Lincoln’s diverse communities LINCOLN – The Lincoln Unites! multicultural celebration will be held Friday, May 10 at the Nebraska History Museum (131 Centennial Mall N) in downtown… Read more →
This month, there are two great opportunities to support Appleseed and advance the fight for justice for all in Nebraska. First, we’re celebrating Omaha Gives! on Wednesday, May 22. It’s an annual community giving celebration of nonprofits serving the greater Omaha area. When you give to Appleseed for Omaha Gives, your donation will go even further! This year, two generous… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Tuesday, May 7, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director (402) 438-8853 Ext. 119 mcazarez@neappleseed.org More Nebraska schools eligible to fight classroom hunger with nutritious meals Healthy meals at school is an essential part of many students’ days. LINCOLN – 275 Nebraska schools will be eligible to serve more students free meals for the 2019-20 school year… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Monday, April 29, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director (402) 438-8853 Ext. 119 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Lincoln City Council introduces ordinance addressing rental housing conditions Proposal would address housing adequacy and conditions in rental units LINCOLN – On Monday, April 29, 2019, the Lincoln City Council introduced Ordinance 19-52 to improve the adequacy and conditions of rental units in… Read more →
There have been a lot of developments in the last few weeks around Medicaid expansion in Nebraska. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has announced a series of choices they made that will delay Medicaid expansion’s rollout until 2020, implement a series of complex and costly work requirements, and reduce coverage options for current Medicaid enrollees. On April… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Wednesday, April 24, 2019 Contact: Misty Frazier Executive Director – Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Coalition Office: (855) 280-2526, ext. 500 misty@nicwc.org Nebraska Indigenous child welfare nonprofit mobilizes to protect ICWA Hosts regional convening to discuss impact of high-profile Native American child adoption case BLOOMFIED, Nebraska – Looking to provide clarity and mobilize after a challenge to the… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Thursday, April 18, 2019 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director (402) 504-0074 (cell) mcazarez@neappleseed.org Positive immigration legislation would allow Dreamers and TPS residents to continue contributing to communities Community leaders and Dreamers tell Congress the time is now to protect immigrant Nebraskans LINCOLN – Nebraska community leaders including Dreamers and TPS residents voiced resounding support for the U.S.… Read more →
***Media Advisory*** April 16, 2019 Contact, Darcy Tromanhauser (402) 803-0382 (cell) dtromanhauser@neappleseed.org ADVISORY: Community members call for permanent protections for immigrant Nebraskans at April 18 Press Conference Nebraskans urge congressional delegation to pass new positive immigration legislation to create stability for Nebraska families and communities LINCOLN — On Thursday, April 18, Dreamer Nebraskans and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) residents –… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** April 1, 2019 Contact, Molly McCleery Health Care Access Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853, Ext. 113 Email: mmccleery@neappleseed.org Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Chooses to Ignore Voter Intent in Medicaid Expansion Implementation Proposes to delay start for two more years and adds complex scheme including work requirements LINCOLN – Today, the Nebraska Department of… Read more →
The recent flooding in Nebraska has been devastating for many communities. For those that need food, or have lost food due to the flooding, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly food stamps, may be able to help. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, “Residents of Butler, Cass, Colfax, Dodge, Douglas, Nemaha, Sarpy, Saunders or Washington counties… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** March 27, 2019 Contact: James Goddard Economic Justice Program Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853, Ext. 108 Email: jgoddard@neappleseed.org Nebraska legislature misses critical opportunity to help Nebraskans meet basic needs, address overcrowding in Nebraska prisons LINCOLN – Today, the Nebraska legislature struck down LB 169, a bill that would have ended a ban on providing critical food… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** March 26, 2019 Contact: Omaid Zabih Federal Policy Director Nebraska Appleseed Phone: 402-438-8853 x128 Mobile: 605-310-4060 Email: ozabih@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed Welcomes Senate Introduction of the Dream Act and the Secure Act of 2019 Long overdue legislation would provide stability for Nebraska families and communities Lincoln, NE – Today, Senators Dick Durbin and Lindsey Graham introduced the Dream… Read more →
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released their final enrollment report for the 2018 open enrollment period this week. Enrollment data tables by state, county, and zip code were released as well. From this data, we can see that, indeed, the Health Insurance Marketplace is still a functional and vital resource for Nebraskans and the United States. Amid… Read more →
In August 2017, Appleseed joined the ACLU of Nebraska, the ACLU National Prison Project, the National Association for the Deaf, and other legal partners in a federal lawsuit against the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services over inhumane, dangerous conditions in Nebraska’s prisons. Since that time, our staff attorneys have continued to aid in the lawsuit’s progress, focusing on the insufficient… Read more →
The Nebraska Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony March 7 on two bills introduced by Sen. Kate Bolz that would make a profound difference for Nebraska children and families. LB 332: Closing gaps in support for young people entering adulthood The first child welfare bill discussed, LB 332, would allow more young adults to access the Bridge to… Read more →
Nebraska is a state where we strive to take care of our young people and want them to have a real opportunity to live productive and healthy lives, supporting them as they transition into adulthood. A new report form the Annie E. Casey Foundation – Future Savings – discusses opportunities to uphold this commitment for our young people who are… Read more →
We are nearly one-third of the way into the 2019 Nebraska Legislative Session. With bill hearings well under way, Appleseed staff, partners, and friends are maintaining a strong presence at the Capitol to advocate for a number of measures that would open doors to greater opportunity for Nebraskans. We’ll also be voicing our opposition to a few proposals that create… Read more →
Congress has passed an agreement to fund the government, averting a second government shutdown in the new year. Unfortunately, this bill provides over 1 billion dollars for unnecessary border fencing that the public does not support and increases ICE funding to continue detaining children and families in prison-like settings. Darcy Tromanhauser, Nebraska Appleseed Immigrants & Communities Program Director, issued the… Read more →
As you know, Nebraska voters approved Initiative 427 this past November to expand Medicaid to 90,000 Nebraskans. Finally, many of our hard-working, uninsured friends and neighbors will be able to get the health coverage that everyone needs. Moving forward with Medicaid expansion We know there are still many questions about next steps for expanding Medicaid and how our leaders will… Read more →
State’s low participation in school breakfast means poorer outcomes for students, missed federal funding Despite a slight increase in participation, Nebraska still ranks near the bottom of the country in providing students in need with a nutritious breakfast at school according to the School Breakfast Scorecard, released annually by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). Each year, FRAC’s School… Read more →
Working hard and taking care of each other are foundational Nebraska values. Our state has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country and one of the highest rates of parents participating in the workforce. Yet, many of our friends and families are struggling to get ahead despite their hard work. This is because our minimum wage and tipped… Read more →
I sent the email with a dash of hope – a hope that something had changed. It had been about two months since I had talked to Stephanie Gonzalez, whose mom had been detained during a raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in O’Neill, Ne. When I last spoke with Stephanie, weeks had passed since the raid, and she… Read more →
Yesterday the Judiciary Committee of the Nebraska Legislature heard testimony on a bill that would remove barriers that stand in the way of young people in foster care learning to drive and getting their driver’s license. Learning how to drive and obtaining a driver’s license are not only exciting achievements but also necessities for young people as the pursue their… Read more →
In just a few days, a small group of dedicated school nutrition directors from Central Nebraska will be convening around a shared goal: getting more students to participate in school breakfast. Nebraska Appleseed will be hosting this group that we’re calling the Better Breakfast Partners. We know that hunger exists in Nebraska schools, even in communities with low levels of… Read more →
The longest government shutdown in history has caused serious harm to families, communities, and workers across the country. Services for nutrition programs, Native American health care, rental housing, and public health and safety are increasingly threatened. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers have felt the financial strain that has made paying rent, feeding their families, or going to the doctor… Read more →
Offers meager protections in exchange for unproductive, harmful wall the public does not support Today, during the Dr. Martin Luther King Day holiday weekend, President Trump is offering meager protections that would keep hardworking youth and families in a continued state of uncertainty and second-class status in exchange for unproductive and wasteful border wall funding. Darcy Tromanhauser, Nebraska Appleseed Immigrants… Read more →
Full implementation of Medicaid expansion in Governor’s budget proposal will benefit Nebraska Nebraska Appleseed Executive Director Rebecca Gould issued the following statement in response to Governor Ricketts’ State of the State address delivered Tuesday morning. “We are pleased the Governor’s budget upholds the will and priorities of the people of Nebraska by fully implementing Initiative 427, which expanded health care… Read more →
If you are one of the 166,000 people in Nebraska who receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or if you are considering applying for SNAP benefits, you may be wondering how the partial government shutdown may impact SNAP in Nebraska. Here are the important things for you to know: If you have a January recertification deadline,… Read more →
Tonight, President Trump stated that the government shutdown will continue. This decision is detrimental to families and communities across the country. Instead of reversing the Administration’s cruel policies towards children and families – tearing apart kids from their parents, jailing children in cages, and tear-gassing families fleeing violence – the president wants to move forward with an unproductive, wasteful plan… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** December 20, 2018 Contact: Eric Savaiano Program Associate, Economic Justice Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402)438-8853, Ext. 126 Email: esaviano@neappleseed.org Seniors in Nebraska Struggle with Food Insecurity Nebraska’s senior SNAP participation lags behind the rest of the country LINCOLN — In Nebraska, 8.3 percent of households with seniors (60+) face food insecurity, according to an analysis by the Food Research &… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** December 14, 2018 Contact: Darcy Tromanhauser Immigrants & Communities Program Director Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402)438-8853, Ext. 112 Email: dtromanhauser@neappleseed.org Child’s death highlights urgent need for safe asylum process for families LINCOLN — Today, reports released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) revealed that a seven-year-old child from Guatemala died while in CBP custody a week ago… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** December 11, 2018 Contact: James Goddard Economic Justice Program Director Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402)438-8853, Ext. 108 Email: jgoddard@neappleseed.org Proposed Farm Bill Would Protect SNAP Legislation released this week would support thousands of working families LINCOLN — The nutrition provisions of the farm bill that the House-Senate Conference Committee recently released would ensure that thousands of struggling families and individuals… Read more →
Nebraska Appleseed received the following letter from Kate Trindle, a retired social studies teacher who volunteers to tutor GED students, in response to our recently released report, Diminished Returns: Low GED® Participation Adds to Nebraska’s Workforce Challenges. Kate has personally seen how changes to the GED program in Nebraska have hurt accessibility and completion in Nebraska. She agreed to let us share… Read more →
We believe that no family should have to suffer a harsh Nebraska winter without heat to keep their families warm and safe. Through our intake line where we connect families across the state to the services they need to survive and thrive, we’re receiving more and more calls about from Nebraskan families who are receiving shut-off notices, or their utilities… Read more →
Immigrant Nebraskans – our friends, our family members – and local communities are living in a constant state of alert. After decades of inaction by Congress to fix outdated immigration laws, the current Administration’s harsh policies are harming many longtime residents who are an important part of Nebraska communities. After the raids that devastated families and the community of O’Neill,… Read more →
No Nebraskan should ever have to suffer cruel and unusual punishment; we’re a state that cares about its people. Yet across Nebraska, incarcerated people are subjected to severe human rights violations in our prison system. That’s why we’re working with the ACLU of Nebraska on a federal lawsuit against the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services over unlawful conditions of confinement… Read more →
After 6 years, we finally did it – Nebraskans voted to expand Medicaid to 90,000 of our friends and neighbors. But we know our work isn’t finished. We’ll be there to ensure that Medicaid expansion is implemented and funded effectively in 2019 – at the Capitol, in the community, and in the courthouse, if necessary. That’s why we need your… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** December 3, 2018 Contact, Eric Savaiano Program Associate, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402)438-8853, Ext. 126 Email: esavaiano@neappleseed.org New Report: Low GED® Participation Adds to Nebraska’s Workforce Challenges Nebraska’s GED® completion rate fell 80% between 2013 and 2015 LINCOLN — Earning a high school diploma or its equivalent is more important than ever to ensure personal and professional success.… Read more →
The last couple of years have seen destructive policies coming from Washington, D.C., that threaten our communities, neighbors and family members who are immigrants, refugees, and those seeking asylum. Rights and protections have been stripped away by dangerous White House policies, and our state has been shocked by Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids that targeted hard-working Nebraska families and threw… Read more →
As we look toward Thanksgiving, we feel deeply thankful for the many wonderful people across the state who worked hard to ensure local community members were ready to vote in this year’s elections! – knocking thousands of doors through rain and snow in a nonpartisan effort to share information about options for voting by mail, early in-person, and at the… Read more →
This coming year, Appleseed will continue our fight to strengthen and improve Nebraska’s child welfare system at both the Legislature and through the courts. But one of the biggest priorities in 2019 is to make sure we take advantage of a golden opportunity presented by a new federal law that could improve the prospects of safe, united families and better… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** November 8, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853, Ext. 119 Cell: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Ahead of Veterans Day, Nebraska Advocates Urge Congress to Protect Food Assistance for Veterans Program helps nearly 1.4 million low-income veterans, including thousands in Nebraska LINCOLN — As the nation prepares to observe Veterans… Read more →
You did it! On Election Day, Nebraska voters approved Initiative 427, which will help many of our hard-working, uninsured friends and neighbors finally get the health coverage they need. We are so grateful for and humbled by your support. So many of you not only voted for Initiative 427, but went above and beyond to even give Nebraskans the chance… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** November 6, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Office: (402) 438-8853, Ext. 119 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed Statement on voters passing Initiative 427 Nebraskans chose a healthier future for our hard-working people by expanding Medicaid LINCOLN — Tonight, Nebraska voters passed Initiative 427 to expand Medicaid and allow 90,000… Read more →
Families seeking safety and asylum at our southern border are currently being separated. While that is horrible enough, the White House is seeking to implement an even-worse plan. The Trump Administration is currently attempting to replace a family-separation policy rejected nationwide with indefinite child and family detention, which would subject children to further trauma and abuse. Take Action! You can… Read more →
There are only six days left until Election Day, and we’re working hard to get Nebraskans to vote “FOR Initiative 427.” With your continued help, 90,000 of our hard-working neighbors and friends will have a path to a healthier future next week. Here are a few ways you can help leading up to November 6. VOTE – This is the… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** October 29, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed Stands in Solidarity with the Jewish Community Leaders must end hateful speech that incites hate-fueled violence LINCOLN – Monday, Nebraska Appleseed Executive Director Rebecca Gould released the following statement regarding this weekend’s horrific mass… Read more →
We have seen national outcry since the Trump Administration announced earlier this month that it would cut refugee admissions next year from an already-low 45,000 to 30,000. It is the lowest ceiling on refugee admissions in the nearly 40 years since the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program began. Previous administrations viewed the ceiling as a goal and often approached the ceiling… Read more →
Last week, the Trump Administration announced a proposal that would radically alter immigration law and undermine our nation’s long-standing commitment to welcoming immigrants. The proposal would stop many aspiring Americans from being able to become lawful permanent residents if they have used certain work-support programs or temporary safety nets that help many hard-working families continue their jobs and move out… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** October 15, 2018 Contact, Kate Wolfe Insure The Good Life Communications Director (402) 601-7269 kate@insurethegoodlife.com Study Released Today Underscores the Economic Benefits of Medicaid Expansion With Three Weeks to Go Before Election Day, New Report Shows Initiative 427 Would Create Nearly 11,000 Jobs and Generate $1.3 Billion in Economic Activity LINCOLN – A new study released… Read more →
Blog written by Katie Hile, U.S. Citizenship Instructor for the Asian Community and Cultural Center with quotes and contributions by Hieu-Bui, citizenship student and New Nebraskan. As a part of Welcoming Week 2018, History Nebraska hosted a dynamic evening at the Nebraska History Museum for twenty-five students currently enrolled in citizenship preparation classes at the Asian Community and Cultural Center… Read more →
On October 11, we will celebrate the outstanding contributions of Nebraskans who have stood up for justice and opportunity for all at the 2018 Good Apple Awards in Omaha. In the days leading up to the Good Apple Awards, we are proud to introduce you to the honorees we are recognizing this year. The Roots of Justice Award recognizes grassroots… Read more →
On October 11, we will celebrate the outstanding contributions of Nebraskans who have stood up for justice and opportunity for all at the 2018 Good Apple Awards in Omaha. In the days leading up to the Good Apple Awards, we are proud to introduce you to the honorees we are recognizing this year. The Milo Mumgaard Emerging Leader Award, named… Read more →
Expanding Medicaid in Nebraska would be great news for Nebraska’s rural communities, according to a new report released today. The analysis by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families and the North Carolina Rural Health Research Program found a higher percentage of people living in rural communities are uninsured, but would be eligible for health coverage if Nebraska voters… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** September 22, 2018 Contact, Omaid Zabih Federal Policy Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 x128 Email: ozabih@neappleseed.org Statement on White House’s proposed changes to family work supports and temporary safety nets New restrictions will punish aspiring Americans for meeting their basic needs, endangers health of U.S. citizen children LINCOLN – Today, the Trump Administration announced… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** September 18, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org State urged to increase outreach to seniors struggling with hunger Nebraska seniors who are eligible for food assistance participate in rates below the national average LINCOLN — With Congress needing to pass the 2018 Farm Bill… Read more →
Nebraska Appleseed is proud to recognize advocates who have made outstanding contributions to the fight for justice and opportunity for all Nebraskans at the 2018 Good Apple Awards on October 11th in Omaha. The Jim Wolf Equal Justice Award recognizes a Nebraskan who has made significant contributions to justice for all throughout her career. The award is given in the… Read more →
On October 11, we will celebrate the outstanding contributions of Nebraskans who have stood up for justice and opportunity for all at the 2018 Good Apple Awards in Omaha. In the days leading up to the Good Apple Awards, we are proud to introduce you to the honorees we are recognizing this year. The Seeds of Justice Award honors outstanding… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** September 7, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 jsheldon@neappleseed.org Medicaid expansion would improve health of workers in vital industries New report illustrates Medicaid expansion would cover workers in occupations that are the foundation of Nebraska’s economy LINCOLN — The vast majority of Nebraskans in the coverage… Read more →
Mark your calendar for upcoming local events across Nebraska celebrating this year’s National Welcoming Week! This month, towns in Nebraska and nationwide celebrate how our communities are strongest when everyone feels welcome during the 7th annual National Welcoming Week September 14-23. In 2017, there were more than 700 events around the country. Nebraska communities are excited to make this year… Read more →
First of all, we want to say “thank you so much” for all of your hard work during the signature collection phase of the Insure the Good Life campaign to expand Medicaid in Nebraska! With help from volunteers like you, we were able to collect signatures from all 93 counties across Nebraska. Last week, the Secretary of State certified over 105,000 signatures – well over the… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** August 24, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Petition signature count certified to let Nebraskans vote on expanding Medicaid Secretary of State confirms ballot measure received well more than enough signatures to qualify for November election LINCOLN – Today, Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale confirmed the ballot… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** August 15, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraska civic, community, business, faith leaders call for updated immigration laws Leaders demand Congressional action in wake of communities devastated by ICE raids Wednesday, more than 80 Nebraska civic, community, business, and faith leaders urged Nebraska’s members… Read more →
So many of you have reached out asking how you can help the community of O’Neill following last week’s devastating ICE raids that shattered hard-working families and left many people in dire financial circumstances. Here are a couple ways you can take action today to make a big difference. Make a Donation Local organizations have set up ways to make a financial… Read more →
(Espanol abajo) ***For Immediate Release*** August 8, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org O’Neill ICE Raids Impose Destruction and Fear on Peaceful Families NE members of Congress now have a front-row seat to the damage caused by cruel anti-immigrant policies LINCOLN — Wednesday morning, reports indicated Immigration… Read more →
The actions you’ve taken in 2018 have renewed the fight for a more-just society, building a Nebraska where everyone can have the justice and opportunity they need to get ahead. Health Care for Every Nebraskan You astounded us. Thousands of Nebraskans have contacted their elected officials, made office visits, signed petitions and taken other actions to protect access to… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** August 1, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org National Survey Finds 12 Percent of Nebraska Households Struggle to Afford Food New Data Underscores Need to Protect and Improve Federal Nutrition Programs LINCOLN — In every part of the United States, a large number of… Read more →
Some big news came out from the Nebraska Supreme Court last week that we hope leads to more young Nebraskans staying in safe and permanent family situations. In the case In re Guardianship of Carlos D. the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that county courts can decide whether or not young immigrant Nebraskans are eligible to apply for what’s known as… Read more →
Recently, we were proud to welcome three new members to our staff. We’re proud to introduce you to these passionate advocates who will help advance our work to create a more-just society in Nebraska. Morgann Freeman – Development Associate Our new Development Associate, Morgann Freeman, has a background in activism, advocacy and community organizing in Omaha around issues ranging… Read more →
Every Nebraska child should have a safe and loving family. Our state’s foster and adoptive parents play this essential role every day to make sure children are cared about and provided for. But right now, Nebraska kids who are in need of these safe, loving homes are being threatened by discrimination that our state has already rejected. In an alarming… Read more →
Each year, Appleseed is fortunate to work with bright, talented, and dedicated interns and law clerks who are passionate about fighting for justice and opportunity for all Nebraskans. Meet some of these outstanding young Nebraskans who dedicate their time to positive change in their communities. Special thanks to Immigrants & Communities intern Maret Wibel for putting together these stories. … Read more →
As the last of the fireworks were going off on the Fourth of July, we began to finally get the full picture of the amazing thing you all helped accomplish. You signed your name. You gathered petition signatures from your friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors. Beginning in a chilly spring and continuing into the blistering summer, you helped give 90,000… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** July 6, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Medicaid Expansion supporters submit 133,000 petition signatures on Thursday Nebraskans across the state call for chance to vote for healthier future in November LINCOLN — Today, supporters of the Insure The Good Life campaign submitted more… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** June 26, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed Statement on Supreme Court decision on Trump v. Hawaii High court decision allows legalized discrimination that ignores American values LINCOLN — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in its decision in Trump v. Hawaii,… Read more →
We all have looked on in horror at the recent images and sounds of children and families being torn apart and locked in cages after arriving in the U.S. to seek a safe home. Nebraskans are ready to stand together to denounce family imprisonment because families belong in communities, not cages. Many Nebraskans raised their voices in local newspapers to… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** June 21, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Cell: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org SNAP cuts in House Farm Bill will punish Nebraskans struggling with hunger Congressmen’s vote today will take food off the table for seniors, children, and those between jobs LINCOLN — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** June 20, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 jsheldon@neappleseed.org Statement on President’s Executive Order on Child Detention Locking up families who are seeking asylum does nothing to end humanitarian crisis the White House has chosen to create LINCOLN — Today, the President signed an executive order that… Read more →
This is a guest post from Sarah Liewer, Nebraska campaign lead for No Kid Hungry. Adequate meals in the summer are essential to children’s health and learning retention, however, thousands of children in Nebraska are food insecure and struggle to eat when they are not in school – most importantly in the summer months. Currently, only 15 percent of children… Read more →
Over the past few years, Nebraskans across the state have stood with hard-working, talented young Dreamers, whose roots have been planted in this state since childhood. Dreamers like Joseline and Joel grew up in Nebraska, went to our schools, and are starting their careers here. Now, they and their families are under threat and need our help. At a time… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** June 13, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed\ Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 jsheldon@neappleseed.org Senate Farm Bill reaffirms important, bipartisan commitment to food assistance Bill protects SNAP, Nebraska Senators urged to oppose harmful amendments that would increase hunger LINCOLN — Wednesday, the Senate Agriculture Committee voted 20-1 to advance the Senate’s… Read more →
Any parent can tell you that having young children takes up most of your attention, and even on the best days, will require most of your energy. So every parent needs to be able to guard their health, not just for themselves, but to be at their best for their children as well. Unfortunately, like many Nebraska parents, Heather doesn’t… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** June 6, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 jsheldon@neappleseed.org Summer Food sites ensure Nebraska kids don’t go hungry when school lets out Adequate meals in summer are essential to children’s health, learning retention LINCOLN — Thousands of children in Nebraska are food insecure and struggle to get… Read more →
Note: For Foster Care Awareness Month in May, we are releasing a series of podcasts hosted by Appleseed intern Vic Klafter built on fantastic interviews with incredible Nebraskans who have been involved with the child welfare or juvenile justice system, with a focus on foster care and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender people. In the middle of the series we’ll… Read more →
Nebraskans agree that strong, united families are the foundation of successful communities. And for generations, our immigration laws reflected those values. But now, cruel and inhumane new policies are threatening families who are seeking safety in the U.S. from danger. The White House has announced a new plan to separate children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border and warehouse kids… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** May 30, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Statement on Trump Administration policy of separating families seeking asylum Cruel, inhumane choice to tear children from parents will cause lasting trauma, violates American values of decency and humanity LINCOLN — Wednesday, Nebraska Appleseed joined the… Read more →
Note: For Foster Care Awareness Month in May, we are releasing a series of podcasts hosted by Appleseed intern Vic Klafter built on fantastic interviews with incredible Nebraskans who have been involved with the child welfare or juvenile justice system, with a focus on foster care and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender people. In the middle of the series we’ll feature a guest… Read more →
Note: This blog is part of our continuing series examining foster care in Nebraska during Foster Care Awareness Month in May. This is a guest post from Appleseed intern Nedhal Al-kazahy about her experience growing up in Nebraska’s foster care system. My name is Nedhal, I was a foster youth for 14 years. At the age of 5, my siblings and… Read more →
No one should be devastated financially for suffering an on-the-job injury, but after Jennifer got hurt working in a hotel, she found that getting healthy enough to get back to work was harder than she ever could have imagined. The injury forced the Bellevue woman to lose her job, which made affording health coverage nearly impossible, and her applications for… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** May 9, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 jsheldon@neappleseed.org Advocates, Workers formally oppose dangerous USDA pork plan Increasing already high processing line speeds pose greater risk to food and worker safety LINCOLN — Last week, Nebraska Appleseed joined current and former Nebraska pork processing plant employees,… Read more →
Note: For Foster Care Awareness Month in May, we are releasing a series of podcasts hosted by Appleseed intern Vic Klafter built on fantastic interviews with incredible Nebraskans who have been involved with the child welfare or juvenile justice system, with a focus on foster care and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender people. In the middle of the series we’ll feature a guest… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** May 4, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Statement on ending Temporary Protected Status for Hondurans Decision cruelly endangers lives of families and children who have long-standing ties to Nebraska communities LINCOLN — Friday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced it would end… Read more →
Note: For Foster Care Awareness Month in May, we are releasing a series of podcasts hosted by Appleseed intern Victory Klafter built on fantastic interviews with incredible Nebraskans who have been involved with the child welfare or juvenile justice system, with a focus on foster care and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender people. In the middle of the series we’ll feature a guest… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** May 2, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraska Attorney General continues to target valuable young Nebraskans and their families DACA a successful measure of security until Congress updates immigration laws LINCOLN — Monday, Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson attempted to justify his decision… Read more →
It’s Spring (finally!), it’s May, but most importantly, it’s Foster Care Awareness Month! To commemorate, we are releasing three podcast episodes over the first four weeks of May. In the middle of the series we’ll feature a guest blog post from our newest child welfare intern and then cap it off with a long-form episode compiling the three segments together… Read more →
Right now, Congress is considering the reauthorization of the Farm Bill. While the name may make one think of fields and agricultural equipment, the Farm Bill has a far-reaching impact on programs that ensure food security and fight poverty in the United States. Farm Bill Background The Farm Bill is a broad piece of legislation that addresses most federal… Read more →
Darrell Allen Roth, an Omaha native, is a familiar face in his neighborhood. Darrell has been working in the salvage business for over 20 years, and after learning the trade with a local company, he set out on his own in 2005. Since becoming self-employed, Darrell realized how expensive health insurance have gotten for those who need to purchase coverage… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** April 18, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraska organizations applaud passage of Predatory Lending Reform bill Law will be small step forward to curb abusive lending, but future reforms are also needed LINCOLN — Today Nebraska organizations applaud the Final Reading passage of payday lending reform… Read more →
Will you make a phone call today to protect the ability for tens of thousands of Nebraskans to put food on their table? Now is an important time for your Congressman to hear from you. Last week, the House Agriculture Committee proposed the 2018 Farm Bill, which put forward drastic cuts and harmful new restrictions to our country’s most-important food security program, the Supplemental… Read more →
In the 2018 Nebraska Legislative session, State Senators passed important bills, which we were proud to support, that increase safety and accountability in the child welfare system and take a small step forward on protecting Nebraska borrowers from predatory lending. Just as important, you helped us defeat an irresponsible tax plan that would have made our budget shortfall worse, and reject… Read more →
When the White House announced the elimination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program on September 5th, 2017, Nebraskan DACA recipients felt concern, sadness, and uncertainty. In response, remarkable young people like Joseline, Armando, and Alejandra bravely shared their stories with their lawmakers and communities with the hope that their efforts would allow them to continue to live,… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** April 12, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Cell: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org SNAP cuts proposed in draft Farm Bill would hurt thousands of Nebraska families New restrictions on food assistance will take meals off the table, plunge more Nebraskans into poverty LINCOLN — The 2018 Farm Bill introduced today by the… Read more →
Local business tours are an excellent way to introduce community members to the people behind the storefronts they pass every day. Through the door of each restaurant, market, insurance office, or repair shop, lies the stories of the people who work hard to serve the needs of the people in their towns. At “Taste of 27th Street,” on March 22,… Read more →
Nebraska Appleseed is excited to be a part of Every Kid Healthy Week in 2018! Every Kid Healthy Week is an annual week-long recognition of wellness achievements in schools across the country. It was launched by our partners at Action for Healthy Kids in 2013 and will be hosted this year from April 23-27. Schools can join us in celebrating… Read more →
Marea Bishop vowed not to let her health problems define her. But that didn’t mean the single mother from Bellevue was immune from the harsh effects of being unable to afford health coverage. Marea told her story in an Omaha World-Herald piece, laying out how chronic health problems chipped away at her ability to work and eventually forced her to… Read more →
On Tuesday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final report for the 2018 Open Enrollment Period for the Health Insurance Marketplace. Overall, national enrollment of approximately 11.8 million Americans was just three percent below last year’s total. Clearly, there is strong demand for quality and affordable health insurance and the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) ability to… Read more →
Midwest Dairy is pleased to offer School Nutrition Equipment Grants. The on-line grant application will be open from April 1-30. The purpose of the grant is to assist School Nutrition Directors in the purchase of equipment that will enhance the long-term implementation of their school meal programs with a preference to increasing school breakfasts served outside the cafeteria and after-school suppers. Nebraska… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** March 29, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Appleseed Statement on passage of Child Welfare Reform bill LB 1078 Bill takes important steps to curb abuse within foster care system and protect youth LINCOLN — Thursday, Nebraska Appleseed Child Welfare Director Sarah Helvey released the following statement… Read more →
With only a couple of weeks left in the 2018 Nebraska Legislative session, the days will start to get long. Starting last week, debate began to stretch into the evening, meaning the remaining days at the Capitol will end after the sun goes down. Here’s what we’ll be keeping an eye on for the rest of the session. Child… Read more →
For the last six years, we’ve been fighting tooth and nail to get the Nebraska Legislature to expand Medicaid so that 90,000 hard-working people in our state can finally get the health care they need. For far too long, our lawmakers have failed to provide a way for many of our family, friends, and neighbors to afford the coverage that… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** March 8, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org New Report: Tools available to help Nebraska Schools fight student hunger Data shows Nebraska lags in national school breakfast rankings, but some schools finding success fighting classroom hunger with innovative strategies LINCOLN — National data shows Nebraska falls behind… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** March 5, 2018 Contact, Cooper Christiancy President, Define American-UNL Chapter Cell: (402) 419-6972 cochristiancy@gmail.com Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Cell: (402) 840-7289 jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraskans demand Congress protect immigrant families, communities during nationwide day of action As DACA deadline arrives, nationwide and statewide actions will urge Congress “Stop Playing Games” LINCOLN — On Monday, the day… Read more →
In the months since the President announced he would end DACA on March 5, Congress has failed to protect hard-working young Nebraskans, their families, and the communities who count on them. Join local efforts to tell Congress “Stop playing games: Protect Immigrant Youth & Families Now.” Our communities are strongest with the contributions of hard-working young Nebraskans, families with Temporary… Read more →
Appleseed’s physical offices are closed following a recent fire in the Terminal Building. Thankfully, none of our staff were injured, and our work to fight for justice and opportunity for all Nebraskans will continue with limited interruption. However, it may take a little extra time for us to respond to you in the near future, and for that, we do… Read more →
We’re asking for you to take a minute today to stand with DREAMers, their families, and strong Nebraska communities. Call our members of Congress. Tell them they must pass a clean version of the bipartisan “DREAM Act of 2017” this week and avoid potentially another costly government shutdown. Our communities are stronger with Nebraska Dreamers in the picture! Sen. Deb… Read more →
Earlier this month we shared a blog about the state of child welfare in Nebraska when reports were released calling for reform after the investigations of the death, serious injury and sexual assault of children in foster care. Nebraska State Senators have continued to take a stand and call for reforms through the introduction of a number of important bills… Read more →
At Nebraska Appleseed we advocate for policies and practices that help prevent families from becoming involved with the foster care system. For the times when the support of the system may be needed – when children enter foster care – the state becomes their guardian and takes on the responsibility of ensuring their safety and wellbeing. Recently released reports from… Read more →
Late Tuesday a federal judge in California temporarily blocked President Trump’s efforts to end DACA renewals. However, nothing has been solved yet, and it’s important to understand we still need the DREAM Act. So keep calling Congress! The ruling instructs the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) to resume receiving DACA renewal applications, however it does not allow for new… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** January 10, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Appleseed Executive Director Rebecca Gould responds to State of the State address Further revenue cuts will worsen budget shortfall, focus must be on investing in healthy communities and educated workforce LINCOLN — Wednesday, Nebraska Appleseed Executive… Read more →
There has been a lot of talk lately about the need for Congress to fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). But what is CHIP, and why is it important? Here’s what is important to know. What is the Children’s Health Insurance Program? The Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP, is a federal-state partnership program that provides health… Read more →
At Appleseed, we believe that every Nebraskan should have access to quality and affordable health care, and we are constantly looking for new and refreshing ways to engage community members in that fight. One of those ways is through poetry. Creative writing and performing can have a huge positive impact on people and communities. It can help organize people around… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** January 8, 2018 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed Statement on ending Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador Decision cruelly endangers lives of families and children who have long-standing ties to U.S. communities LINCOLN — Monday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced… Read more →
A new study released in December confirms passing the Dream Act of 2017 would be an enormous economic stimulus across Nebraska. According to new data compiled jointly by the University of Southern California’s Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration and the Center for American Progress, Nebraska would see an economic boost of more than $247 million. This is the… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** December 20, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed Statement on Congress’ tax bill Bill endangers investments in health care, education, and other essential public systems LINCOLN — Nebraska Appleseed Executive Director Rebecca Gould issued the following statement in response to Congress passing… Read more →
This is a guest post by Appleseed health care intern Suzie Cho. In recent months, there has been a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Affordable Care Act and the Health Insurance Marketplace. Despite that, the national trend shows that more people have been signing up for marketplace coverage than in previous years. For many Nebraskans like Rayna Collins, the current… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** November 21, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed Statement on ending Temporary Protected Status for Haitians Decision cruelly endangers lives of families and children who bring value to U.S. communities LINCOLN — Monday night, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced it… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** November 20, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Cell: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org This Thanksgiving, Nebraska organizations urge strengthening of programs that fight hunger SNAP cuts would deepen poverty for Nebraska children, families LINCOLN — With Nebraska’s food insecurity rate at nearly 12 percent, hundreds of thousands of Nebraska… Read more →
This is a guest post from Appleseed Health Care intern Suzie Cho. During the month of October, Nebraska Appleseed, in partnership with Safeway and the Albertsons Companies Foundation, hosted the Western Nebraska Better Breakfast Challenge to help schools jumpstart their breakfast programs and improve participation. The Challenge saw 12 elementary schools in Gering, Hemingford, Mitchell, Morrill, Paxton, and Scottsbluff compete… Read more →
Congress is risking Nebraskans’ health coverage as part of its tax plan, and we’re asking you to make a call today to keep it from happening. Please call both of our U.S. Senators. Tell them the Senate tax bill must not repeal the ACA’s individual mandate or result in cuts to Medicare. These changes would cause many Nebraskans to… Read more →
Note: This is a guest post from Sebastian, an Appleseed child welfare intern. I advocate for reform of the foster care system, because I know what it is like to move from home to home and not have my needs met in the system. I am writing this blog to introduce myself and ask you to be an advocate too.… Read more →
Things are moving fast in Congress, and we’re asking you to take action today to protect important investments that help Nebraska’s children and hard-working families meet their needs and get ahead. Just like your household budget reflects what you think is important to spend money on, our national budget shows what we as a country believe is important — our… Read more →
In the past few weeks, the Trump Administration has announced several significant changes to the American health care system. I recently blogged about the rule changes regarding birth control coverage in employer-sponsored health plans. Here’s another. On October 12, the President announced that the administration would no longer make payments for cost sharing reductions (CSRs) that help people with low… Read more →
Nebraska Appleseed is proud to recognize advocates who have made outstanding contributions to the fight for justice and opportunity for all Nebraskans at the 2017 Good Apple Awards on October 19th in Omaha. 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… Read more →
On October 6, the Trump Administration issued new rule changes that will impact coverage of birth control in employer-sponsored health insurance plans. We’ve blogged about the birth control rules in the past, and how they’ve been a game changer for women’s health in the U.S. This is a big change to an essential health benefit Under the ACA, plans… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** October 13, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Appleseed Statement on President’s decision to end Cost-Sharing Reductions Unnecessary move will destabilize the Marketplace and endanger Nebraskans LINCOLN — Last night, President Donald Trump announced the administration would end important payments to insurance companies that… Read more →
Nebraska Appleseed is proud to recognize phenomenal advocates who have made contributions to the fight for justice and opportunity for all Nebraskans at the 2017 Good Apple Awards: Root Down, Rise Up on October 19th in Omaha. The Milo Mumgaard Emerging Leader Award, named after Nebraska Appleseed’s founding executive director, recognizes young, emerging leaders who have a vision for the… Read more →
OMAHA — A coalition of immigrant-serving organizations in Nebraska have partnered to launch “We Are All Dreamers,” a campaign created in response to President Trump’s September 5th decision to terminate the DACA program. The campaign – housed online and on social media platforms – was created to show support for “Dreamers,” immigrant youth eligible for the 2017 DREAM Act. We… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** October 5, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org New rule a good first step to protect Nebraskans against predatory lending CFPB rule makes progress, but Legislature still must pass true reform to end exploitative lending Today, a group of Nebraska advocacy organizations – Nebraska… Read more →
Nebraska Appleseed is proud to recognize phenomenal advocates who have made contributions to the fight for justice and opportunity for all Nebraskans at the 2017 Good Apple Awards: Root Down, Rise Up on October 19th in Omaha. The Seeds of Justice Award recognizes individuals and organizations for outstanding work in the field of public interest law. This year, Nebraska Appleseed has… Read more →
In this month’s edition of Appleseed In Action: Senate ends latest attempt to repeal the ACA Let’s pass a clean Dream Act Inspector General report raises alarm in child welfare system Nebraskans celebrate National Welcoming Week 2017 Good Apple Awards Upcoming open enrollment period Senate ends latest attempt to repeal the ACA Your voices were heard again! On September 26,… Read more →
Nebraska Appleseed is proud to recognize advocates who have made outstanding contributions to the fight for justice and opportunity for all Nebraskans at the 2017 Good Apple Awards on October 19th in Omaha. 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. This… Read more →
Note: This is a guest post from Appleseed intern Vic Klafter. About 37 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer) in Nebraska, even though LGBTQ youth are only about 3 percent of the population. Fifty percent of homeless youth were asked to leave their homes by a parent. Sixty percent were abused… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** September 26, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed Statement on Graham-Cassidy CBO score Analysis reveals bill would gut Medicaid, endanger coverage for millions of Americans LINCOLN — Monday evening, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its analysis of the Graham-Cassidy Senate health… Read more →
Note: We’ve been overwhelmed by the number of Nebraskans who wanted to tell us how the health insurance protections of the Affordable Care Act have improved their lives. This is one of those stories. Genevieve’s Story I am writing this as a Type 1 diabetic who works for Metropolitan Community College and Nebraska Writers Collective. I have part-time jobs in… Read more →
The fight to protect quality health coverage for Nebraskans is at another critical moment. The Senate officially has until the end of September to use the budget reconciliation process to pass a bill that repeals the Affordable Care Act and dismantles Medicaid with only 50 votes. In recent days, there are reports of momentum growing around a plan sponsored by… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** September 14, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Child advocates respond to troubling Inspector General report Continued failures to provide child welfare resources leads to more deadly outcomes LINCOLN – On Wednesday, the Office of Inspector General Office released a report concerning deeply troubling… Read more →
National Welcoming Week, September 2017 The momentum in local communities is real! This annual event is a week when communities across the country and across Nebraska bring together immigrants, refugees, and native-born residents to raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone. We invite you to join in one of these events or create your own! The Quilted Conscience… Read more →
Nebraska Appleseed is proud to recognize advocates who have made outstanding contributions to the fight for justice and opportunity for all Nebraskans at the 2017 Good Apple Awards on October 19th in Omaha. The Jim Wolf Equal Justice Award recognizes a Nebraskan who has made significant contributions to justice for all throughout her career. The award is given in the… Read more →
My name is Raul Noguera-McElroy and I am the new Weitz Fellow at Appleseed! I am a cross-program person working with the Child Welfare team on driver’s licenses for youth in foster care, working with the Field Team on Get Out the Vote (GOTV) work, and working on the new Collective Impact Lincoln program to engage Lincolnites on everyday issues.… Read more →
Billie Gallagher’s first job as an attorney brings her back to her hometown, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome her to the Appleseed team. Billie, a Lincoln Southeast High School graduate, is our newest staff attorney in our Economic Justice program, where she will contribute her legal skills to pursue justice for all Nebraskans. She recently graduated from… Read more →
On September 5, the Trump Administration announced that over the next six months it will end the successful Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that has allowed Nebraska to benefit from skills, talents, passions, and energy of over 3,000 hard-working young people. We know Nebraskans stand with DREAMers. We saw it today when nearly 500 of you stood in… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** September 5, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraska civic leaders, organizations support DREAMers Leaders call for urgent Congressional action to protect hard-working young immigrant Nebraskans LINCOLN – Today, Nebraska civic, business, and faith leaders joined Nebraska DREAMers at a State Capitol press… Read more →
Contact, Jeff Sheldon Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed Office: 402-438-8853 Mobile: 402-840-7289 jsheldon@neappleseed.org Ending DACA will have devastating impact on Nebraska families, communities and economy Removing opportunity for hardworking young people only does harm to our state, nation LINCOLN – Today, the White House announced the elimination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a decision that will… Read more →
Last weekend, Nebraska Appleseed brought together Nebraskans from across the state for a Midwest Academy training focused on how to effectively organize to create positive change. Participants connected with various local leaders and organizations from diverse professional and personal backgrounds. At the end of the training, participants put their acting hats on and put their new skills to the test… Read more →
Valeria Rodriguez has walked in the shoes of many immigrant Nebraskans, and as Appleseed’s newest Field Organizer, she is looking forward to empowering leaders in communities across the state to work for positive change in their towns. “I am excited to join Nebraska Appleseed as a Field Organizer because I get the opportunity to work with six great communities to… Read more →
For more than 20 years, Nebraska Appleseed has made it our mission to fight for justice and opportunity for all Nebraskans. Diversity, community, and inclusion are not just the values our work is built on, they are principles that are vital to the future of Nebraska. The challenges our state faces can only be faced together. The progress that will… Read more →
CONTACT: Tyler Richard, ACLU of Nebraska, 402-476-8091 x104, trichard@aclunebraska.org Alexandra Ringe, 212-549-2582 (office) or 917-207-2290 (cell), aringe@aclu.org Michael Bien, Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP, (415) 433-6830, mbien@rbgg.com Jeff Sheldon, Nebraska Appleseed, 402-438-8853, jsheldon@neappleseed.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 16, 2017 LINCOLN, Neb. – The ACLU of Nebraska, the ACLU National Prison Project, Nebraska Appleseed, the National Association of… Read more →
In July, Appleseed was pleased to welcome our newest field organizer, Felipe Blanco. Felipe comes to Appleseed with a wealth of experience in public policy and will work in our Health Care and Economic Justice programs, connecting with people in communities all across the state on ways they can create positive change for themselves and their neighbors. “I am excited… Read more →
Note: Part of fighting for positive change in our communities means getting to work with outstanding, like-minded volunteer partners who share our goal of expanding justice and opportunity in Nebraska. Periodically, we will feature individuals and organizations with whom we have been fortunate to work to build a brighter future in our state. This is a guest post by… Read more →
Appleseed In Action – August 2017 News and Events In this month’s edition of Appleseed In Action: Senate rejects latest ACA repeal effort New bills would allow DREAMers to earn citizenship House budget proposal would endanger many working families Appleseed welcomes organizer Felipe Blanco 2017 Good Apple Awards – Meet the Honorees Senate rejects another effort to repeal Affordable… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** August 1, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraska Attorney General continues to target valuable young Nebraskans and their families DACA a necessary measure of security until Congress updates immigration laws LINCOLN — Today, Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson attempted to justify his decision… Read more →
Like many of you, we were watching the news of last night’s Senate vote on health care. We were concerned that despite thousands of your calls, emails, letters, and office visits, when the clock struck midnight, the health care of tens of thousands of Nebraskans might be put at risk. But it wasn’t. And that’s thanks to you, and countless… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** July 28, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed Statement on Senate Health Care Bill Senate wisely rejects bill to strip health insurance for thousands of Nebraskans who need it most LINCOLN — Early this morning the U.S. Senate voted down its latest… Read more →
Note: We first heard Jessyca’s family’s story earlier this year. In January, she talked about how repealing the ACA would be incredibly dangerous for her family, specifically her children. She is one of thousands of worried Nebraska parents whose lives – and the lives of their children – are in the balance of Congress’ health care negotiations. Jessyca’s Story The… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** July 25, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Appleseed Statement on Senate health care vote Senate vote is great risk to tens of thousands of Nebraskans’ health insurance LINCOLN — This afternoon, the U.S. Senate voted to begin debate on a bill that could… Read more →
There are hundreds of thousands of Nebraska families that struggle with hunger, and food security programs are some of the most-effective ways to make sure that every Nebraskan – children, seniors, veterans, and other hard-working people – are able to get the food they need. Friday, a group of 10 Nebraska organizations sent a letter to Nebraska’s three House members… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** July 20, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed Statement on introduction of Senate’s Dream Act Bipartisan bill would provide long-overdue process for young Nebraska immigrants to become citizens LINCOLN — This morning, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R – South Carolina) and Dick… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** July 18, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed Statement on Senate effort to repeal ACA with no replacement Move would throw insurance markets into chaos, force even more Nebraskans to lose coverage LINCOLN — This afternoon Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said… Read more →
Note: Part of fighting for positive change in our communities means getting to work with outstanding, like-minded volunteer partners who share our goal of expanding justice and opportunity in Nebraska. Periodically, we will feature individuals and organizations with whom we have been fortunate to work to build a brighter future in our state. This is a guest post by Appleseed… Read more →
In This Issue Policy Spotlight: The Foster Youth and Driving Act Court Opinions: In re Interest of Carmelo G., Jill B. and Travis B. v. State Legislative Actions: 2017 Child Welfare Interim Studies Policy Spotlight Advocates and lawmakers across the nation have been working to reduce the barriers faced by youth in foster care when learning how to drive, obtain… Read more →
Today, the Senate released a revised version its health care bill, and it’s another verse in the same song for Nebraskans. The changes to the bill, the “Better Care Reconciliation Act,” do nothing to enhance protections or affordability for Nebraskans’ health insurance. In several big ways, it’s even worse than the original version. Nearly 1 in 10 Nebraskans could still… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** July 13, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed Statement on changes to Senate Health Care Bill Cosmetic changes still will leave hundreds of thousands of Nebraskans uninsured LINCOLN — Today the U.S. Senate released an updated version of its bill to overhaul… Read more →
News and Events from Nebraska Appleseed – July 2017 In this June edition of “Appleseed in Action”: Tell our Senators no health care cuts Speak up to protect DREAMers Successful June with Urban Abbey Meet our 2017 summer interns and law clerks Save the Date: Good Apple Awards – October 19, 2017 Tell our Senators no health care cuts… Read more →
Access to food is critical to the education and well-being of children in both Nebraska’s urban and rural communities. By using tools such as the summer foods programs to their maximum benefit, we can make sure our kids are healthy and hunger-free throughout the summer months. For some students from lower-income families, their school is sometimes the only place they… Read more →
Note: Each year, Appleseed is fortunate to work with bright, talented, and dedicated interns and law clerks who are passionate about fighting for justice and opportunity for all Nebraskans. Meet some of these outstanding young Nebraskans who dedicate their time to positive change in their communities. Makayla Haussler Makayla is excited to return to Lincoln and to Appleseed, having interned… Read more →
Yesterday, Nebraska’s Attorney General, Doug Peterson, joined nine other state Attorneys General in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The letter threatened to file a lawsuit to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program if the Trump Administration does not end the program within the next several months. The DACA program allows young immigrant Nebraskans known… Read more →
Removing opportunity for hardworking young people only does harm to our state, nation. LINCOLN – Yesterday, Nebraska’s Attorney General, Doug Peterson, joined nine other state Attorneys General in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The letter threatened to file a lawsuit to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program if the Administration does not end the program within… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** June 26, 2017 Contact, Molly McCleery Nebraska Appleseed Deputy Health Care Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Email: mmccleery@neappleseed.org CBO score confirms Senate health care bill devastating for Nebraska BCRA would cause millions of Americans to lose coverage LINCOLN — Monday, Nebraska Appleseed Health Care Director James Goddard issued the following statement on the Congressional Budget Office… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** June 15, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Cell: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraskans helped by Medicaid urge Senators against cuts Constituents share Medicaid success stories and tell Senators to protect health coverage LINCOLN — Thursday, Nebraskans who have been helped by Medicaid urged U.S. Senators to oppose any… Read more →
Note: Part of fighting for positive change in our communities means getting to work with outstanding, like-minded volunteer partners who share our goal of expanding justice and opportunity in Nebraska. Periodically, we will feature individuals and organizations with whom we have been fortunate to work to build a brighter future in our state. This is a guest post from Appleseed… Read more →
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA), its bill to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act (ACA), early last month. Since then, we have received a lot of questions about what the AHCA actually includes and does. To help clear up some of the confusion, we put together some one-page overviews of the bill… Read more →
Note: Part of fighting for positive change in our communities means getting to work with outstanding, like-minded volunteer partners who share our goal of expanding justice and opportunity in Nebraska. Periodically, we will feature individuals and organizations with whom we have been fortunate to work to build a brighter future in our state. This is a guest post from… Read more →
News and Events from Nebraska Appleseed – June 2017 In this June edition of “Appleseed in Action”: Protect quality health coverage 2017 Nebraska Legislative Recap President’s budget harmful to Nebraska families Court victory for Nebraska foster youth June events at Urban Abbey Job Opening – Staff Attorney Tell our Senators to protect quality health coverage The numbers were as… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** June 7, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Cell: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Jordan Rasmussen Policy Associate, Center for Rural Affairs Office: (402) 687-2100, ext. 1032 Email: jordanr@cfra.org Congress’ Health Care Changes Would Be Devastating to Rural Nebraska Premium increases, Medicaid cuts would cause great harm in smaller communities LINCOLN… Read more →
Last month, leading national advocacy organizations Children’s Rights, Lambda Legal, and the Center for the Study of Social Policy published a study on transgender and nonbinary youth in the foster care system called Safe Havens: Closing the Gap Between Recommended Practice Reality for Transgender and Gender Expansive Youth in Out-Home Care. … Read more →
Congress must protect, not dismantle essential health coverage protections that help thousands of Nebraskans 23 million people. That’s how many Americans would lose health coverage if the U.S. Senate passes the American Health Care Act (AHCA) that was passed by the House of Representatives. And even people who could still afford insurance would see a big loss of protections… Read more →
The 2017 Nebraska Legislative Session came to an end last Tuesday, concluding a session that contained several setbacks for efforts to improve opportunities for hard-working, low-income families and children. Still, a few important advancements were made to improve access to justice and opportunity for more Nebraskans. Your support and hard work, combined with some outstanding leaders in the Legislature, helped… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** May 24, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org CBO score confirms House health care bill devastating for Nebraska AHCA would make health care unaffordable for millions more Americans LINCOLN — Wednesday, Nebraska Appleseed Deputy Health Care Director Molly McCleery issued the following statement on… Read more →
Research has shown the connection between foster care and homelessness – one study found that of more than 800 youth who were homeless in 11 cities — including Omaha — half spent time in foster care. This report also found nearly 30 percent of the homeless youth had identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual and 7 percent identified as transgender. Our previous Foster… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** May 23, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org President’s budget proposal a harsh attack on Nebraska families Drastic cuts will harm low-income families, children, seniors, Nebraskans with disabilities LINCOLN — Today, Nebraska Appleseed Executive Director Rebecca Gould issued the following statement on the President’s… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** May 17, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Statement on vote to override budget vetoes Votes risk harm to health and safety of vulnerable Nebraskans LINCOLN — Today, Nebraska Appleseed Executive Director Rebecca Gould issued the following statement on the failure to override the Governor’s line-item… Read more →
Nebraska is a state that has learned hard lessons about what can happen to children and families when their needs go unmet. Yet, the Governor keeps making choices that cause further harm to our most-vulnerable Nebraskans. Today, Governor Ricketts issued several line-item vetoes to the state budget (LB 327) that will cause long-lasting harm to the safety of children in… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** May 15, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Legislature adopts resolutions supporting DREAMers and refugees Lawmakers recognize valuable contributions immigrants and refugees make to Nebraska LINCOLN — Today, the Legislature voted to adopt Legislative Resolutions 26 and 27. LR 26 stated the Legislature’s support for… Read more →
Note: We’ve been overwhelmed by the number of Nebraskans who wanted to tell us how the health insurance protections of the Affordable Care Act have improved their lives. This is one of those stories. Andrea’s Story I am a nurse and a single parent of three children over the age of 19, but under the age of 26. My children… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** May 11, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Court ruling a victory for Nebraska youth formerly in foster care Judge rules young Nebraskan eligible for Medicaid coverage LINCOLN — Wednesday, Lancaster County District Court Judge Susan Strong ruled in favor of Azar Webb, a… Read more →
For generations, immigrants and refugee Nebraskans have made valuable contributions to our state – and are an important part of strong communities, local businesses, and Nebraska families. But recent harmful and divisive policies in Washington, D.C. have created fear and uncertainty in many local communities. We have a chance now to show Nebraskans stand with immigrant and refugee neighbors. Early… Read more →
May is National Foster Care Month, a time to recognize the children and youth who have been involved in the foster care system and acknowledge that we each can play a role in improving their lives. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are approximately 420,000 children in foster care in the United States. In Nebraska,… Read more →
This week the Legislature will take a vote on passing the state budget while debating two items that will have a big impact on voting rights. Take Actions to protect voting rights Monday, the Legislature will vote whether or not to override the Governor’s veto of LB 75. Introduced by Sen. Justin Wayne, LB 75 would end the arbitrary two-year… Read more →
May is National Foster Care Month. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan issued the first Presidential proclamation that established May as National Foster Care Month. This month, Nebraska Appleseed will be publishing a series of blogs on the work we do, alongside young adult advocates, to improve Nebraska’s foster care system. Nebraska Appleseed works with government agencies, lawmakers, and communities on… Read more →
La versión en español está abajo. It just happened. Today, the House of Representatives voted to pass the American Health Care Act (AHCA), a bill that will cause potentially tens of thousands of Nebraskans like Rose and Matt to lose their health coverage. Because the House rushed a vote on this bill before the Congressional Budget Office could analyze… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** May 4, 2017 Contact, Jeff Sheldon Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Office: (402) 438-8853 Mobile: (402) 840-7289 Email: jsheldon@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed Statement on American Health Care Act House vote endangers health insurance for millions of Americans LINCOLN — Today the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the American Health Care Act (AHCA) despite it… Read more →
Strong, united families and communities are the building blocks of Nebraska. But presently, certain harmful policies threaten to tear apart our families and separate loved ones. Nebraskans across the state are invited today to showcase their images representing why unified families and neighborhoods are vital to a healthy future for everyone in the “We Belong Together” campaign. Participants are invited… Read more →
There’s one more hurdle to overcome to protect voting rights for thousands of Nebraskans. Thursday afternoon, Governor Ricketts vetoed LB 75, a bill that would end the arbitrary two-year waiting period for someone to vote after they complete a prison sentence or probation. Will you call or email your State Senator today? Urge them to vote to override the veto… Read more →
For many years, meat and poultry workers, together with a broad coalition of workers’ rights and civil rights groups from across the country, have continued a concerted effort to highlight the industry’s dangerous conditions and the all-too-common permanently disabling injuries that come from crippling work speeds. Oxfam America – together with these allies – began a poultry worker justice campaign… Read more →
Believe it or not, we’re not done fighting off a bill that would take affordable health insurance away from tens of thousands of Nebraskans. The House of Representatives has brought back the American Health Care Act (AHCA) that you helped to defeat earlier this month. But now, a new amendment will make the bill even worse, dismantling Medicaid and removing… Read more →
Growing up, I was taught that when you believe in something, you get off the fence and support it. After getting to know Nebraska Appleseed as a volunteer, it was clear to me how important the work they do is to my community. This is why I became a monthly sustaining donor to Nebraska Appleseed – and invite you to… Read more →
Note: We’ve been overwhelmed by the number of Nebraskans who wanted to tell us how the health insurance protections of the Affordable Care Act have improved their lives. This is one of those stories. Sanel’s Story I am a full time student who immigrated to Lincoln in 2001 and has been here since. My health insurance plan accounts for me… Read more →
