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 →
Note: This is a guest post from Nedhal Al-kazahy, Nebraska Appleseed’s Child Welfare Youth Fellow. 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 meetings with young adult advocates for all nonprofit organizations, including… 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Nebraska Appleseed is proud to be working with the Safeway Foundation to increase participation in school breakfast programs in western Nebraska. Nebraska has one of the lowest school breakfast participation rates in the nation, and we are working with partners to make improvements and provide incentives that encourage more schools to provide students with a healthy breakfast. The Western Nebraska… 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. Camille Sippel Camille, a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is originally from Groton,… Read more →
This week, Congress took another step down a path that will endanger the health insurance of hundreds of thousands of Nebraskans. In the early hours of Thursday morning, the U.S. Senate cast its first vote in the process to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which has dramatically improved the quality of health insurance in America. But it’s not too late… Read more →
Our community partners – Community Action of Nebraska and Center for Rural Affairs – would like to invite you talk about how to create an economic future for all Nebraskans and learn more about what’s at stake in the upcoming state Legislative session. Consider attending one of the upcoming community meetings: Monday, December 12 o 6 – 7 pm, Scottsbluff, Gering Public Library … 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 →
My year as a Weitz fellow has been a whirlwind. I didn’t expect Appleseed and Lincoln, NE to find it’s way so close to my heart in the same way that I didn’t expect to feel a “hot breeze” for the first time in my life. Seriously, who knew the wind could blow so hot from something other than an… Read more →
Payday lenders are often the last resort for many Nebraskans who have nowhere else to turn to get small loans to pay for an unexpected expense. But payday lenders have a long history of making loans that trap people in a cycle of debt through outrageously high interest rates and unreasonable repayment terms. On June 2 at a field hearing… 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 post written by Appleseed… 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 →
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 →
Last week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced they will be proposing new rules to rein in some of the worst abuses of the payday loan industry. They’ll unveil the draft rules at a public field hearing on Thursday, June 2nd in Kansas City – and we’re taking a group from Nebraska to the event! Would you like to… Read more →
IN THIS ISSUE Policy Spotlight: 2016 Child Welfare Legislative Recap Court Opinions: In re Interest of Giavonna G. Legislative Actions: 2016 Child Welfare Legislative Bills and Interim Studies POLICY SPOTLIGHT 2016 Child Welfare Legislative Recap The second session of the 104th Nebraska Legislature adjourned sine die on April 20, 2016. During this session, several important measures related to child welfare… Read more →
Nebraska has long benefitted from the hard work and leadership of Nebraskans from all backgrounds. Ensuring more young Nebraskans have the opportunity to further their education means our communities will be able to receive contributions from young people who grew up calling Nebraska home. There are a number of scholarship opportunities that are available to young Nebraskans regardless of their… Read more →
In this February edition of “Appleseed in Action”: Support new Transitional Health Insurance plan 2016 Legislative Priorities Nebraskans call on end to Deportation raids Introducing new Appleseed team members Our response to 2016 State of the State Address Job Announcement – Development Associate Support new Transitional Health Insurance plan The biggest issue of the 2016 Nebraska Legislature session will be… Read more →
In recent weeks, a national conversation was sparked around refugees from Syria. Nebraska has long been a safe and welcoming home for those escaping violence throughout the world, and on November 17, Nebraska Appleseed issued a statement urging our elected leaders to welcome refugees in keeping with our state’s values of compassion and humanity. In the week before the Thanksgiving… Read more →
In this November edition of “Appleseed in Action”: Join the Insure The Good Life campaign Child welfare advocates urge “Let all kids be kids” New report exposes poultry worker abuses Join us November 10 for Happy Hour in Lincoln Good Apple Awards honors outstanding advocates Support health coverage for all Nebraskans. Join the “Insure The Good Life” campaign! Right now,… Read more →
The new Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) allows eligible schools in districts with a high percentage of low-income families to receive funding to pay for free, healthy meals for all students regardless of the income of the students’ families. Appleseed recently spoke with two principals of Omaha elementary schools about their success with CEP — Stephanie Black, Principal at Martin Luther… Read more →
Nebraskans pride themselves on their hard work and the state’s lowest-in-the-nation unemployment rate. Farmers, ranchers, small business owners, and service workers are the foundation of our state’s success and thriving economy. Unfortunately, many of these fundamental jobs don’t provide health insurance, leaving workers without access to care. Marcia McIlheran of Hastings is one of the 77,000 Nebraskans who, despite working… Read more →
Nebraska Appleseed was honored to be selected for the third year in a row to participate in the Maha Music Festival’s Community Village last Saturday! Maha is a nonprofit, day-long music festival bringing together national, regional and local indie and rock artists. Twenty local nonprofits were invited to participate in the Community Village, using engaging activities to share their missions… Read more →
Note: Each year, Nebraska Appleseed is fortunate to work with a number of bright, talented law clerks and interns. This is one of a series of posts that feature Appleseed’s clerks and interns discussing their backgrounds and experiences. She was so sure about what she wanted to do for a career that for three years straight, Nebraska Appleseed intern Ashley… Read more →
Note: Each year, Nebraska Appleseed is fortunate to work with a number of bright, talented law clerks and interns. This is one of a series of posts that feature Appleseed’s clerks and interns discussing their backgrounds and experiences. Go forth and code, young man. Behind all those lines of numbers and letters that add up to documents, presentations and projects… Read more →
Note: Each year, Nebraska Appleseed is fortunate to work with a number of bright, talented law clerks and interns. This is one of a series of posts that feature Appleseed’s clerks and interns discussing their backgrounds and experiences. Sometimes dreams change for the better. “I’ve always wanted to help people. Since I was a little girl I told everyone… Read more →
Note: Each year, Nebraska Appleseed is fortunate to work with a number of bright, talented law clerks and interns. This is one of a series of posts that feature Appleseed’s clerks and interns discussing their backgrounds and experiences. As befits all good fairy tales, for Nebraska Appleseed intern Haley Mead it started with a pair of shoes. “I’ve always been… Read more →
Note: Each year, Nebraska Appleseed is fortunate to work with a number of bright, talented law clerks and interns. This is one of a series of posts that feature Appleseed’s clerks and interns discussing their backgrounds and experiences. Nebraska Appleseed law clerk Leigh Ellis has always aspired to fight for social justice. Whether it was working at a grassroots organization… Read more →
Note: Each year, Nebraska Appleseed is fortunate to work with a number of bright, talented law clerks and interns. This is one of a series of posts that feature Appleseed’s clerks and interns discussing their backgrounds and experiences. “Change comes slowly, but with purpose. The issues of poverty, education, social justice, these are all enormous issues that need to be… Read more →
Note: Each year, Nebraska Appleseed is fortunate to work with a number of bright, talented law clerks and interns. This is one of a series of posts that feature Appleseed’s clerks and interns discussing their backgrounds and experiences. “I thought Appleseed would be a good mixture between my family science background and my future plans to be a lawyer,” Appleseed… Read more →
“I’ve always been interested in how people affect events, and inversely, how events affect people,” Nebraska Appleseed intern Megan Miller said. “At Appleseed, we are experiencing this firsthand.” One of Megan’s sociology professors at Wayne State College, where she is currently an undergraduate student, suggested an internship at Nebraska Appleseed. “My professor is so amazing, and I value her opinion… Read more →
Note: Each year, Nebraska Appleseed is fortunate to work with a number of bright, talented law clerks and interns. This is one of a series of posts that feature Appleseed’s clerks and interns discussing their backgrounds and experiences. Business opens doors. Whether it’s investing in small businesses here in the U.S. or overseas, investing in people is what drives Nebraska Appleseed… Read more →
In June, Nebraska Appleseed was proud to welcome a pair of new staff members. Meet Mary Ann Harvey, a staff attorney in our Economic Justice program, and Becca Brune, our newest Child Welfare Program Associate. Mary Ann Harvey New Appleseed staff attorney Mary Ann Harvey has had a of lot interesting jobs: working with teen moms, as part of the… Read more →
Note: Each year, Nebraska Appleseed is fortunate to work with a number of bright, talented law clerks and interns. This is one of a series of posts that feature Appleseed’s clerks and interns discussing their backgrounds and experiences. A voice for the voiceless, that’s what Nebraska Appleseed law clerk Rene Cramer wants to be. “I wanted to work for Appleseed… Read more →
Note: Each year, Nebraska Appleseed is fortunate to work with a number of bright, talented law clerks and interns. This is one of a series of posts that feature Appleseed’s clerks and interns discussing their backgrounds and experiences. Nebraska Appleseed intern Conner Kozisek, already had a good idea about his future plans from the time he was in Kindergarten.… Read more →
Nebraska Appleseed law clerk Katie Hunsberger wears a lot of hats: mom, law student, clerk, U.S. Navy Lieutenant, but above it all, she just wants to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals. “My background has been in working to help individuals. In seeking to combine law and psychology, I am interested in finding additional ways to help… Read more →
A perfect day for Nebraska Appleseed intern Carissa Hernandes would probably involve dancing the tango, ceviche with tortilla chips and working with people. “I love learning about different cultures and forming relationships with people,” Carissa said. “I want to have a career where I can do that.” A resident of Papillion, NE, and currently a senior international relations major at… Read more →
From blogging in college to working on political campaigns and in government for a few years after graduation, Nebraska Appleseed law clerk Dave Sund knows how the political system works in Nebraska. But he wanted to do more. “Over four years at City Hall (in Omaha), as I became more involved in the legislative agenda, reading bills and making policy… Read more →
If you see someone strolling down the streets of Lincoln with a book in hand, you may have just encountered Nebraska Appleseed Law Clerk and literature enthusiast, Alex Lierz. “I enjoy writing and reading fiction,” Alex said. “Most people know about the reading part as they can see me read while I walk to places downtown but I think not… Read more →
For Nebraska Appleseed Communications intern, Jennifer Connell, detaching herself from the rural world she calls home has been a blessing and a challenge. “I honestly wouldn’t be where I am if my parents hadn’t pushed me to succeed. Every summer I’d come home and enjoy working outside so much that I never wanted to go back to school. My parents… Read more →
NOTE: Iliana Panameno is a former Nebraska Appleseed intern who is now a graduate student at the Boston University School of Social Work. This summer, I had the opportunity to intern for SCAN of Northern Virginia, through my participation in the Institute of Philanthropy and Voluntary Services. I always knew I wanted to work towards bringing social justice to all… Read more →
In the 1970’s the United States had nearly wiped out hunger in our country. So, why are almost 50 million Americans struggling with hunger today? Why are more than 23.5 million kids and teenagers overweight or obese? What triggers and connects these trends? Come to a free showing of “A Place at the Table” and join a community conversation about… Read more →
Last week, we were pleased to see that two federal courts of appeals — the Fifth and Third Circuit — ruled that discriminatory, anti-immigrant ordinances in Farmers Branch, Texas, and Hazleton, Pennsylvania, were unconstitutional. Both circuit courts found that the ordinance was preempted (overridden) by federal law because they were aimed at excluding immigrants within the cities of Farmers Branch… Read more →
Appleseed is always striving to engage people to take action in their community to make Nebraska a better and stronger place to live. We know many Nebraskans are passionate in their support of immigration reform to fix our outdated immigration laws, but it was exciting to see the enthusiasm at our recent Immigration Reform Advocacy Night last week at Urban… Read more →
Note: Thousands of children in Nebraska are food insecure and struggle to get enough to eat in the summer months when they are out of school. Summer Food Service Program sites across the state do amazing work helping feed kids each year to make sure they don’t go hungry. This is the conclusion of our blog series during “National Summer… Read more →
Quilted Conscience is a documentary about the welcoming of cultural diversity in Grand Island. This documentary portrays a remarkable bond formed between a group of 16 Sudanese-American girls and a quilter’s guild, coming together to create something spectacular. Join us at one of two special screenings with John Sorensen, the film’s director, and artist Peggie Hartwell. Lincoln, NE Date: Tuesday,… Read more →
The Affordable Care Act, the new health care law, has been in effect for more than two years now and many of the consumer protections in the law are already in place. Yet, some confusion remains about the details of what the ACA really does. How could it help you better afford medical care? And what are the next steps… Read more →
The Affordable Care Act, the new health care law, has been in effect for more than two years now and many of the consumer protections in the law are already in place. Yet, some confusion remains about the details of what the ACA really does. How could it help you better afford medical care? And what are the next steps… Read more →
Ruth Marimo is a thirty-one-year-old single, lesbian, African mother of two. While awaiting deportation almost two years ago, she began her incredible memoir, Freedom of an Illegal Immigrant. Her story begins in Zimbabwe. At five years old, she lost her mother to suicide, and her sibling died the same year. She was raised by her mother’s relatives and lived with… Read more →
This is one of a series of posts from Appleseed’s summer law clerks discussing their experiences at Nebraska Appleseed At the beginning of my clerkship this summer, I knew very little about Nebraska Appleseed. My understanding was that it was a public interest law firm in Lincoln that mixed litigation with advocacy. Going to law school in Missouri, I had… Read more →
This is one of a series of posts from Appleseed’s summer law clerks discussing their experiences at Nebraska Appleseed I was born and raised in Nebraska and lived there until I left for law school, so many of the problems and issues facing Nebraska are very close to my heart. My experience working at Nebraska Appleseed was absolutely amazing and… Read more →
This is one of a series of posts from Appleseed’s summer law clerks discussing their experiences at Nebraska Appleseed It is fair to say that my two years as a clerk for Nebraska Appleseed reached it’s highest point this summer when the Affordable Care Act was upheld on June 28, 2012. I spent the first part of this summer looking… Read more →
This is one of a series of posts from Appleseed’s summer law clerks discussing their experiences at Nebraska Appleseed Over the course of the summer, I was able to assist the Nebraska Appleseed office attorneys in a number of areas. The main project I worked on over the summer dealt with child welfare litigation. My office brought a class-action suit against… Read more →
This past weekend marked the fourth annual MAHA Music Festival in Omaha. The nonprofit music festival brings local and national music groups together in the spirit of arts celebration and community building. One symbol that was hard to miss the day of the festival was the MAHA bird. The logo pays tribute to Chief Blackbird of the Maha Indian Tribe.… Read more →
You’re Welcome celebrates diverse communities that welcome both immigrant and non-immigrant neighbors. But it’s not just our communities that are enriched when all people are welcome, it is also true that local businesses and economies thrive when all people are able to work together. Forbes magazine recently published an article discussing the business opportunities that immigrants contribute to in our… Read more →
Milo Mumgaard is the founder and former Executive Director of Nebraska Appleseed. Peter Edelman recently wrote an on-point opinion piece in The New York Times on the challenge of ending poverty. This article is sobering stuff with the release of the annual poverty figures coming out next month, which will show the highest percentage of Americans living in poverty since… Read more →
Thanks to everyone who made it out to House of Loom Friday night for Omaha’s You’re Welcome kick-off event! The evening started off with DJ Brent Crampton mixing some tunes as early arrivers viewed vibrant, original screen-prints and art created by Omaha artists. Christa Yoakum, coordinator of You’re Welcome and Nebraska is Home, welcomed the diverse crowd, encouraging them to… Read more →
This evening, more than 20 community organizations, numerous Omaha artists, and other welcoming Omahans will gather for You’re Welcome at House of Loom starting at 8:00pm for a night of art, music, and inclusion. This evening’s kick-off event marks the beginning of You’re Welcome’s work to celebrate Omaha as a diverse and connected community through artistic expression, community engagement, and… Read more →
Seeking political asylum, refugee Joseph Bakura came to the United States in December of 2000. Having initially lived in Maine for six years, he says Nebraska is a very welcoming place. “Nebraska has a large number of Sudanese,” he said. “That’s a good indication that Nebraska is a welcoming place.” Bakura moved to Nebraska for two reasons: 1) he had… Read more →
Nebraska’s summer cultural festivals create a perfect opportunity to recognize and appreciate the diversity in our state. By sharing music, food, and art — as we have for generations — communities come together and begin to create a culture of inclusiveness. Throughout the summer, we’ll be presenting photos of Nebraskans sharing why they believe Nebraska is and should be a… Read more →
“We are not so different.” The boy writing on the dry-erase board had asked about You’re Welcome, a new collaborative effort in Omaha to promote a welcoming, inclusive community. The idea is that immigrants resettling in a community have a far better chance of integrating if the others in that community are receptive to including their new neighbors. One current project is collecting… Read more →
With the U.S. Supreme Court expected to rule on Arizona’s notorious immigration law any day now, states are reflecting on the devastating social and economic effects witnessed in Arizona and Alabama that have caused localities to turn away from the approach. A federal judge temporarily blocked portions of Arizona’s law, including its “Show me your papers” provision, but the state… Read more →
Micah Wullschleger is a former Nebraska Appleseed intern currently working in Haiti. “Whenever the name of Haiti is mentioned in the international media, it is immediately followed by what seems to be a title, a last name or a claim to fame: The poorest country in the western hemisphere. It is the only country whose name is associated with poverty.… Read more →
“I want to give back to a community that has given me so much.” “For me, U.S. citizenship would be an outward manifestation of an inward truth.” Many of America’s undocumented came to the United States as young children and grew up not knowing they didn’t have the right immigration papers. They seek an education and work as hard as… Read more →
I have had the great opportunity to work at Nebraska Appleseed this past semester as an intern for the immigration and racial justice program. As a student at UNL, I had some familiarity with Appleseed and their involvement in the Lincoln community, but as an intern, I came to understand the full extent of Appleseed’s involvement in the state of… Read more →
Appleseed is a place full of movers and shakers, and over the course of my internship here, I have been moved and shaken. I am constantly shown that people are changing things. Appleseed is uprooting the distressing and unacceptable life conditions that some consider permanent. But here, we know that nothing is permanent except change. And we are agents of… Read more →
To say that Jerusha Hancock is happy to be settled in as Nebraska Appleseed’s Staff Attorney for the Health Care Access Program might be an understatement. “I’ve moved 17 times in 25 years, so I’ll let you do the math,” she jokes. After completing her undergraduate degree at UNL, Jerusha took a break from Nebraska life to earn a Masters… Read more →
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging! Read more →
“When it was over, we all sat there in silence for a moment, shocked by what we had seen, waiting for the happy ending ” said Rebecca Gonzales. Last Wednesday night, Appleseed, along with the NAACP Lincoln Branch, the Ethnic Studies Department of UNL and the UNL Progressive Student Coalition hosted a free screening of Luis Argueta’s film “AbUSed: The Postville Raid” at the Ross Theater. Read more →
My name is Brian Schnieder, and I’m part of the ambassador family for the March of Dimes in Omaha, Nebraska. Seven years ago, my son Jackson was born prior to twenty-five weeks. My wife had a medical condition that was undetected until she was further along in her pregnancy. He was born weighing one pound, one ounce, and was small… Read more →
Amy West wears many different hats. On any given day, she could be sitting in class as a MSW/MPA graduate student at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, advocating for a teen in Nebraska’s foster care system as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, or working on a research project with the Nebraska CASA Association through her practicum. Nebraska Appleseed is… Read more →
It all began when Trisha Thompson landed an internship here at Nebraska Appleseed. “I started interning on the intake line at Appleseed last summer and pretty much fell in love with it,” said Trisha. After graduating with her B.S. in psychology from Peru State College, Trisha is happy to be officially on board at Appleseed serving as our new Intake… Read more →
“I’m here … because I think that voting rights are the basis of our democracy. When I see voting rights come under attack I feel personally attacked and my heart goes out to people this bill will affect,” said Claire Hillan when asked why she gathered with over 70 other Nebraskans at the State Capitol Wednesday to lobby state senators… Read more →
“Waiting for Midnight” has nothing to do with Cinderella. Instead, NBC’s Rock Center recently drew attention to a different kind of “mad dash.” Hungry families across America are waiting for midnight at the first of the month when funds under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) become available. With our country’s current economic woes, more… Read more →
Yesterday, the message from consumer advocates, providers, and insurance carriers/producers was clear: we should move forward next legislative session and consider legislation to create a state-based exchange. Several groups, including Nebraska Appleseed, testified in front of the Nebraska Legislature’s Banking, Commerce, and Insurance Committee, along with some members of the Health and Human Services Committee, during a public hearing on… Read more →
As the New York Times reported on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will decide the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in this current term, with a decision probably due by June 2012. The central issue that will be decided by the Court is whether Congress had the authority to create the ACA’s Individual Repsonsibility Provision,… Read more →
On Thursday, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which is the comprehensive health reform law signed into law by President Obama in March 2010. The 2-1 Court of Appeals decision joins dozens of other lawsuits challenging the ACA that have been dismissed because either they found… Read more →
Written for and originally Posted at Forbes A common criticism of the U.S. immigration system is it tilts toward family admissions. This criticism rests, in part, on the mistaken notion that any close relations sponsored by U.S. citizens come to America quickly as permanent residents. However the wait times for sponsoring a close family member are long and, in some… Read more →
I spent a very enjoyable summer working as a law clerk for Nebraska Appleseed. I have always admired the values this organization holds, yet never completely understood the work they do until I was given the opportunity to be a part of it. I spent the summer working primarily on health care access issues; an area I have gained a… Read more →
My time at Nebraska Appleseed has been one of growth. I have taken the skills I learned during my first year of law school and applied them to help address gaps in services for children in the state. I was able to do something that matters and learn about how the law works in the real world. As a clerk… Read more →
My time working as a summer law clerk at Nebraska Appleseed flew by. I was excited to work for an organization motivated by the values of justice and opportunity. By the end of the summer, I had a deeper understanding of both the challenges advocates face when addressing systematic inequality, as well as the creative strategies organizations like Appleseed use… Read more →
On Thursday, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed two constitutional challenges to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), finding that both plaintiffs lacked the requisite standing to challenge the law. Out of the other four other circuits have that have ruled on ACA challenges, only one other (the 11th Circuit) has decided (in a 2-1 opinion) that the individual responsibility… Read more →
As a follow-up to a report released in early June, eight Nebraska advocacy organizations representing consumer interests put forward a set of principles concerning governance and oversight within a Nebraska health insurance exchange. These principles are designed to help guide the conversation that will take place among legislators and state officials in the coming months.The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires… Read more →
We all know that a lower income means more struggles for families. Families with greater economic resources are not only able to better provide important inputs into their children’s development such as nutritious meals, safe neighborhoods, and higher-quality educations, but higher incomes have also been shown to improve parent’s psychological well-being and parental interactions with children. However, public perceptions remain… Read more →
Our good friends at the Center for Rural Affairs released a report this week that examines how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will revive and sustain small towns, farms and ranches. As Nebraska gears up for implementing the final crucial pieces of the ACA, this report provides valuable information concerning Nebraska’s unique urban-rural makeup. The issues discussed in this report… Read more →
Economists at Harvard and MIT recently examined the question of whether the expansion of Medicaid coverage under new health reform laws will translate into medical care that people need. The outcome? The results were encouraging, providing evidence that Medicaid does indeed make a very positive impact on the lives of recipients. Medicaid, a federal-state program for low-income and severely disabled… Read more →
As Nebraska gears up for planning and creating a health insurance exchange as required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), nine Nebraska advocacy organizations representing consumer interests put forward a set of principles designed to help guide the conversation that will take place among legislators and state officials in the coming months. The Affordable Care Act requires… Read more →
At Appleseed we have long worked on programs that help people work. Often called “work supports,” these are the things in our lives that make it possible for us to go to work and maintain our jobs. One clear example is child care. Having a safe place for our children to go while we work – whether that is a… Read more →
Today’s blog post focuses on how young adults benefit from reforms in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was signed into law one year ago this week. As of September 2010, the ACA required all health plans that provide dependent coverage for children to allow parents to keep their adult children who meet certain eligibility criteria on… Read more →
One year ago on Wednesday, President Obama signed into law a historic package of health reforms that has already begun to improve the state of health care in Nebraska and all over the United States. In honor of this momentous achievement, we will be blogging on some of the most notable aspects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act… Read more →
At Nebraska Appleseed, we pride ourselves in our robust internship and clerkship program. When our former interns and clerks check in with us to let us know what they are doing, we like to share their amazing stories. Our latest comes from Katie Hile, who interned with Nebraska Appleseed in 2006-2007. Loving every moment of the journey—from my first internship… Read more →
Alex Gibilisco is a Junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an intern this semester at Nebraska Appleseed. Alex immigrated with his family to the United States from Guatemala at the age of 10. Alex submitted the following testimony to the Legislature’s Education Committee Monday, February 7 in opposition to LB 657, which would repeal Nebraska’s in-state tuition law. Dear… Read more →
Senate Republicans on Wednesday were unsuccessful in their attempt to repeal the recently enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The repeal measure failed to receive the 60 votes it needed to pass, ultimately being defeated, 51 to 47. Repealing health reform – and its vital consumer protections – would have a devastating effect on the thousands of Nebraskans who… Read more →
While working as a summer law clerk at Nebraska Appleseed I have had the opportunity to be exposed to a wide range of public interest issues, as well as a number of strategies for addressing those issues. Every situation is unique, requiring creative thinking and hard work to reach the best solutions. For example, certain complex legal problems necessitate combing… Read more →
I came to Nebraska Appleseed knowing that many of the policies I would advocate would be under attack. I was right, and the common complaints were all present. If a benefits program wasn’t too expensive, it was creating incentives for illegal activity. It is easy for groups to attract support simply by shouting others down, but the quiet, untiring work… Read more →
Re-printed by permission of the writer, of Omaha, who is director of government relations for Nebraska at the American Cancer Society. First published as an OpEd in the Omaha World-Herald August 25, 2010. While undertaking a laudable effort to address the concerns of small businesses, U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns has jeopardized one of the key provisions of the Patient Protection… Read more →
For a number of reasons, my clerkship at Appleseed has been a wonderful experience. First, the work environment is great. Appleseed has a teamwork-oriented atmosphere where a law clerk’s work and input is encouraged, trusted, and valued. Feedback on assignments from staff is always constructive and forward-looking. Second, because of the latitude of responsibility given to the clerks, my research… Read more →
I cannot think of a better culmination to my summer work at Appleseed than being a part of the Concert for Equality on July 30. (Please see earlier blog posts to learn about this awesome event started by Nebraskan Conor Oberst.) I arrived early that afternoon, a bit intimidated to be part of the “stop and dial” crew. People began… Read more →
Ever since I decided to go to law school I have been interested in public interest law. So, when I began searching for a job to keep me busy between my 1L and 2L years of law school, I was excited to come across Nebraska Appleseed. While I wanted to work in an area of law that I was interested… Read more →
johnc@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs The Center for Rural Affairs was established in 1973 as an unaffiliated nonprofit corporation under IRS code 501(c)3. The Center for Rural Affairs was formed by rural Nebraskans concerned about family farms and rural communities, and we work to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities. I’m fortunate to live in a… Read more →
Today we have a “guest blogger†Alessia Satterfield, a fantastic University of Nebraska-Lincoln Student Intern at Nebraska Appleseed. Take a look to see Nebraska Appleseed from an Intern’s perspective! When I stepped through the doors of Nebraska Appleseed I had no idea what to expect. I had done my research and had perused the website in order be as knowledgeable… Read more →
When I started as a law clerk for the Health Care Program at Nebraska Appleseed, I saw the summer as an opportunity to delve into what was sure to be an interesting, if somewhat technical, debate over health care reform. I did not expect those outside of the health care or political fields to become particularly engaged in the issue,… Read more →
It goes without saying that meaningful health care reform is essential to provide coverage for the tens of millions currently uninsured. But what do the reform bills currently moving through Congress do for the far greater number of people who already have insurance? Insured Americans are already bearing a huge burden of out-of-pocket costs that are growing much faster than… Read more →
As the Fourth of July weekend recedes into the distance, I am happily left with thoughts of picnics, Nebraska summer days, and what makes us great as a country. A couple of weeks ago we reported on Nebraska Is Home events that were scheduled to take place in three different Nebraska towns. In the days before the holiday, Fremont, Crete,… Read more →
A not so famous, but entirely important psychologist, Alfred Adler once said, “Trust movement. Life happens at the level of events, not words. Trust movement.” I was reminded of these words as I stood on top of Upper Senate Park last week and looked over the thousands of people standing in the blistering sun rallying for health care. Admittedly, I… Read more →
Nebraskans come from many different cultures and walks of life where hopes and values unite people in a common search for a stronger community. This is exactly what “Nebraska is Home” groups will be celebrating this weekend in Crete, Fremont, and Grand Island. On Saturday, June 27th, “Nebraska Is Home Grand Island” will participate in the Unity Walk during the… Read more →
If home is where the heart is, then Fremont definitely had mine this past weekend. Last Saturday, Fremont community members gathered together to launch “Nebraska Is Home Fremont,” a local campaign to promote unity through conversations, education and community building. More than 50 teachers, pastors, friends, business owners, parents and children stood together under a colorful new billboard depicting families… Read more →
