On March 6, 2025, inside the historic Warner Chamber of the Nebraska State Capitol, Civic Nebraska joined Gov. Jim Pillen to recognize the importance of civic education in our state. With our Youth Civic Leadership team by her side, Executive Director Nancy Petitto delivered remarks in celebration of Civic Learning Week, officially proclaimed in Nebraska for March 10-14.
Good morning, everyone. Thank you, Governor Pillen, for recognizing the importance of civic learning in Nebraska and proclaiming March 10-14 as Civic Learning Week. I’m Nancy Petitto, the executive director at Civic Nebraska. It’s an honor to celebrate this occasion on behalf of our organization and all who work in this space.
Civic Learning Week highlights the essential role of civic education in preparing the next generation of engaged citizens. It’s about every young person having the knowledge, skills, and confidence to participate in American democracy — as future voters and as leaders and problem-solvers.
Real civic education is about practice and participation. Civic Nebraska’s Youth Civic Leadership programs help young Nebraskans develop systems literacy, engage in civil discourse, collaborate, compromise, and tackle real-world challenges together. These are the essential skills that make democracy work.
And we do this by listening. We expect our programs to be built by and for the students we serve. Every day, in schools and communities across Nebraska, our team works alongside educators and young people to create spaces where they can lead, question, and engage.
This work takes dedication. It takes patience. And it takes people who believe deeply in the power of young people to strengthen our democracy. Today, I want to recognize and thank the dozens of full- and part-time Civic Nebraska staff who show up every day to support Nebraska’s students.
And I also want to take a moment to sincerely thank every educator in our state – in Nebraska classrooms, after-school programs, and beyond – who are dedicated to cultivating the next generation of strong Nebraska citizens. Your work is democracy in action, and we are so very grateful for you.
Civic education is about mastering what we all do, together. It’s about understanding that character combined with civic power equals true citizenship. And when we equip young people with the tools to lead, listen, and engage, our communities, our state, and our democracy all benefit.
Thank you, again, and happy Civic Learning Week in Nebraska!
