Opportunity is a crucial word for Nebraska Appleseed. It is central to our mission for the Low-Income Self-Sufficiency Program. Part of our fundamental purpose is to grow the vision of opportunity for all in Nebraska and to work towards opening the doors to basic needs, education, and job opportunity in our state. This summer, we […]
Op`por*tu”ni*ty, noun; pl. Opportunities Read More »
In the next few months, it will be my job to tell people about a recent Nebraska Appleseed “win.” This year, Nebraska Appleseed, along with Senator Harms from Scottsbluff and numerous advocates and supporters, worked to pass LB 458, legislation that allows families that participate in the Aid to Dependent Children (ADC) program to pursue
“The arc of history is long, but it bends towards justice.” MLK Jr. Read More »
Nebraska newspapers recently reported that our state has the lowest unemployment rate in the nation at 4.4%. Certainly, this is a positive sign for Nebraska’s economy – and it’s good that we are not seeing the record breaking unemployment rates of over 10% in Nevada, Oregon, Michigan, and California. However, in our role as an
Hidden Heartache in Nebraska’s Unemployment Numbers Read More »
What does a good public assistance program look like? From the Appleseed point of view, basic principles would apply: Folks would have all the information they need to make good decisions, clients would have opportunities for choice and self-determination, and all people would be treated with dignity and respect. Our legal and public policy reform efforts continually
Visionary. Strategic. Innovative. These are a few of the words I would use to describe the folks that attended our Town Hall meeting in Scottsbluff, Nebraska http://www.wehavejobs.net/ last week. Scottsbluff may be considered a small community by some, but the leaders I spoke with had big ideas for their community and for the state. The
I Left My Heart in Scottsbluff County Read More »
One in ten Nebraska adults does not have a High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED). Startling, isn’t it? In our evolving, knowledge-based, technology-driving economy, the lack of basic skills is a real barrier – not only for workers in need of jobs that pay family supporting wages, but also for employers in need
This apparently simple question is deceptively complicated. Families everywhere grapple with “the dinner question” on a daily basis. What’s in the fridge? When is Mom getting home from work? Can the vegetable hating seven-year-old be convinced to eat something with tomato sauce? And, increasingly, is there enough money in the checking account to stop at
What’s for dinner? Read More »
Summertime in Nebraska brings with it some pretty wonderful things: corn on the cob, road trips down I-80 to lakes and campgrounds, and baby farm animals getting big enough to run and play. I don’t care if talking about how much I love this wholesome Nebraska summertime stuff makes me sound like your Grandma. The
Nebraska Values: Community, Work Ethic and – Hope? Read More »
Just over six months ago, Nebraska voters, by a smaller margin than was anticipated, passed a constitutional amendment to prohibit laws and policies that help those who have traditionally and to this date, been denied equal access to a wide range of opportunities. As part of that debate, and recently at the national level with
The State of Opportunity in Nebraska Read More »
The next time you are at a t-ball game, or a parade, or at the local pool, take a good look around. One in four working families in Nebraska is low-income, meaning that they have difficulty meeting their basic needs and struggle to get ahead. Maybe it’s the high school janitor, whose kid plays third
Who is your “One in Four”? Read More »