It’s tempting to measure the past year by the constant churn of national headlines – the daily drama, the sharp divides, the sense that everything “important” happens somewhere far away. But here in Nebraska, we know democracy lives in our neighborhoods, classrooms, and community spaces. We know it thrives on relationships, on trust built over time, and on people choosing, again and again, to show up for one another.
That belief sits at the heart of Civic Nebraska’s work. And in 2025, with your support, we put it into practice across the state.
Confronting threats to voting rights
As the state’s preeminent voting-rights advocates, Civic Nebraska defended the fundamental structures that allow Nebraskans’ voices to be heard. In addition to our daily work in the statehouse, we helped stop yet another partisan attempt to dismantle Nebraska’s unique split Electoral College system. Fair-minded Nebraskans understand that “The Split” better reflects the principle of One Person, One Vote and honors the geographic diversity of our state. As hard-liners push to impose winner-take-all on the 2026 ballot, we remain ready to protect a system that gives every Congressional district a clear voice.
We also stepped up so Lincoln and Omaha voters had clear, trustworthy information during each city’s 2025 municipal elections. Civic Nebraska led nonpartisan voter education and get-out-the-vote efforts in both cities, including the launch of Ballot Builder. The first-of-its-kind mobile tool helped voters research candidates and issues and approach their local ballots with confidence.
Behind the scenes, we focused on collective strength. In August, more than 30 statewide partners joined us for Mapping Our Vote, a daylong strategy session to share resources, identify threats, and coordinate efforts to protect voting rights. And in December, we launched The Apiary, a year-long fellowship that brings together advocates, organizers, and community builders from across Nebraska to deepen skills, relationships, and democratic participation.
Building civic resilience across communities
Civic health is the everyday work of democracy. You can find it in the trust, connection, and shared action that help communities solve problems together. In 2025, we invested deeply in that work.
We convened the second and third cohorts of the Idea of America Fellowship in Northeast Nebraska and the Tri-Cities, respectively, bringing Nebraskans together to read, reflect, and wrestle with our shared democratic story. Participants practiced candid dialogue, built trust across differences, and explored what it means to live and lead in a diverse, self-governing society.
In Lincoln, we co-led a successful citizen-driven campaign to secure source-of-income housing protections. After gathering more than 15,000 signatures, voters approved the measure by a two-to-one margin in May. The campaign was a powerful demonstration of local organizing and the ability to secure meaningful change.
Our Capitol Experience Day program brought 1,533 young Nebraskans to the State Capitol, including 26 Lincoln Public Schools classes and 11 community groups. Students met state leaders, learned how laws are made, and practiced the habits of civic engagement firsthand.
Most importantly, we published the 2025 Nebraska Civic Health Index, which provides a statewide snapshot of how Nebraskans connect, participate, and trust one another. We then discussed the findings in virtual gatherings led by partners from the Panhandle to Plattsmouth. The work continues in May 2026, when we’ll host the State of Civic Health Conference at the Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln.
Renewing democracy through youth leadership
In 2025, Civic Nebraska’s Youth Civic Leadership programs gave thousands of students the space and support to practice habits of good citizenship. This fall, we launched the Nebraska’s Kid Governor® program, a civics curriculum and statewide election for fifth-graders. Students researched issues, built platforms, and cast hundreds of ballots. Charlie Couch of Ralston, running on a platform to support children and adults affected by cancer, won the inaugural election among seven exceptional finalists. Charlie and her six-member cabinet of fellow fifth graders will be sworn in at the Capitol on Jan. 13.
The New Americans Youth Leadership Academy expanded and empowered new American students through civic engagement, leadership, storytelling, and service. One highlight among many was Baskets for Sudan, a student-led fundraiser that combined sports, culture, and community to support humanitarian relief.
In Omaha, our after-school programs at Lothrop, Sherman, and Lewis & Clark served hundreds of students daily, building collaboration and critical-thinking skills. Students even began planning an intergenerational spring 2026 “Senior Prom” for retirees, proof that civic connection can span generations.
Gratitude as a pivotal year closes
None of this work happens without you. Your support made it possible for us all to defend voting rights, strengthen civic health, and invest in young leaders as part of a long-term commitment to a stronger, more connected Nebraska.
As we close out 2025, we’re asking you to help carry this work forward. Through Dec. 31, every gift to Civic Nebraska’s $25,000 Democracy Challenge will be doubled, thanks to a group of generous donors. That means your support goes twice as far in building the local connections and collective power that democracy depends on.
Thank you for standing with us – this year, and well into the future.
