Lincoln, NE — On Monday, June 15, 2020, the Lincoln City Council unanimously enacted a city hate-crime ordinance, Ordinance 20-71, which creates a separate offense when a crime is committed with the intent to intimidate another person due in part or in whole to that person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, physical or mental disability, national origin, age, ancestry,… Read more →
Black Lives Matter. Nebraska needs all of us to make change.
This is a momentous time in our country’s history and a powerful time for us to take a stand with our neighbors. As a community or as a society, we cannot be whole when Black Americans are repeatedly targeted because of the color of their skin. By now we’ve all seen the inexcusable actions of law enforcement that ended George… Read more →
RELEASE: Corrections Case Decision Won’t Stop Fight for Systemic Change
***For Immediate Release*** Monday, June 8, 2020 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed O: (402) 438-8853 ext 119 C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Contact: Sam Petto Communications Director, ACLU of Nebraska O: (402) 476-8091 ext 104 spetto@aclunebraska.org Corrections Case Decision Won’t Stop Fight for Systemic Change LINCOLN, NE – In a ruling released today, U.S. District Judge Brian Buescher denied… Read more →
Seguro de salud durante la pandemia: Obtenga Cobertura. Quede Cubierto.
Ahora, más que nunca, todos en nuestro estado necesitamos seguro de salud accesible y de calidad. Durante este momento difícil, es vital que todos en Nebraska sepan las opciones de cobertura disponibles. Obteniendo Cobertura Si usted es elegible, usted puede inscribirse en el Marketplace o Medicaid. Seguro a través de Marketplace: Si pierde su cobertura, o sus ingresos del hogar… Read more →
Legislature listening session on the killing of George Floyd and James Scurlock
The Nebraska Legislature’s Judiciary Committee is holding important listening sessions early next week on the killing of George Floyd and James Scurlock, and the community’s response. These unjustified deaths serve as a stark reminder of the multi-generational injustices and indignities faced by Black communities. These sessions are an important first step for the Legislature to hear the community. State senators… Read more →
A message from our Collective Impact Lincoln: Black Lives Matter.
Dear neighbors, Collective Impact Lincoln was created in the spirit of listening to and learning from our neighbors, connecting Lincolnites to resources and power structures within our city, and helping foster resident-led change. As we mourn the death of George Floyd and, most recently, James Scurlock of Omaha, we stand with you to say Black lives matter. We know the… Read more →
Black Lives Matter. We stand with you.
The murder of an unarmed man, George Floyd, along with other unjustified deaths across our nation and state—Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and James Scurlock—serve as a stark reminder of the multi-generational injustices and indignities faced by Black communities. Nebraska Appleseed stands in solidarity with Black communities and community leaders to demand justice and fight against the systemic racism deeply embedded… Read more →
Foster Care Awareness Month: Growing Families
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 →
Foster Care Awareness Month: Building a Solid Foundation
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 →
RELEASE: Community Eligibility Provision is a major opportunity for Nebraska Schools, despite low national ranking
***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 →
Foster Care Awareness Month: Supporting youth in foster care during the pandemic
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
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 →
Take Action: Urge Congress to Support Foster Youth
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 →
Nebraskans for Expansion: Medicaid Expansion is important because it is practical, it is now law, and it is the right thing to do.
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 →
RELEASE: Nebraska Appleseed Statement on Evictions Proceeding
***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 →
Nebraska Appleseed Statement on passage of the HEROES Act
***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 →
Collective Impact Lincoln provides recommendations to the City of Lincoln that address housing adequacy and affordability
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 →
TAKE ACTION: Support the Heroes Act to Provide Critical Relief to Nebraskans
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 →
How SNAP can help Nebraskans during the pandemic
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 →
Foster Care Awareness Month: Bring Hope
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 →
#ThankAHungerHero Day is May 27
“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
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 →
Ensure no one is left behind during Omaha Gives and Give to Lincoln Day
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 →
COMUNICADO DE PRENSA: Protecciones necesarias para trabajadores de Nebraska
***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 →
RELEASE: Pandemic EBT can help feed Nebraska families during COVID-19
***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 →