As Civic Nebraska steps into the new year, we do so with a clear sense of who we are, why we’re here, and what this moment asks of all of us.
From our founding, Civic Nebraska has believed that democracy is not something we inherit once and for all. It’s something we continually practice together. It lives in elections and in relationships; in institutions and in imagination. The year ahead will test that belief – and also affirm it – as we continue to resist democratic erosion, persist in community-centered work, and renew trust in our shared civic life.
Protecting the freedom to participate
In 2026, with midterm elections on the horizon, our Voting Rights Initiatives and Public Policy teams will anchor Civic Nebraska’s work. We will reinforce our nonpartisan election observation efforts across the state, strengthen our get-out-the-vote work, and defend Nebraskans’ freedom to participate fully and fairly in our democracy.
At the same time, we’ll work to protect the stated will of Nebraska voters. Civic Nebraska is an active member of the Respect Nebraska Voters coalition, standing with partners and everyday Nebraskans to safeguard citizen-led ballot initiatives from legislative interference. When people organize, gather signatures, and vote, those decisions should mean something. Protecting that promise is essential to democratic legitimacy.
This year will also mark a significant expansion of our civic infrastructure. We will coordinate the first-ever statewide cohort of The Apiary, bringing together emerging leaders committed to strengthening democracy in their communities. At the same time, we will organize and connect our election-protecting volunteers across Nebraska into a more formal Civic Action Network – a durable, people-powered force rooted in vigilance, care, and shared responsibility.
Strengthening civic health statewide
Democracy depends on trust, connection, and a sense of shared purpose. That’s why our Civic Health Programs will take on renewed urgency in 2026.
On May 19, Civic Nebraska will host the first State of Civic Health Conference, bringing Nebraskans together to explore what the data tells us about our civic life (and what it doesn’t). This gathering will move beyond diagnosis to possibility, centering on local insight, lived experience, and practical strategies to strengthen civic culture across communities.
Alongside this work, we will continue to grow democratic spaces that invite reflection and renewal, including the Idea of America Fellowship, Capitol Experience Days, and Civic Saturdays. These are not passive programs. They are living practices — opportunities to listen deeply, grapple honestly, and remember that pluralism is not a weakness, but a civic strength.
Investing in the next generation
A healthy democratic future depends on young people who are encouraged not just to care, but to lead. In 2026, our Youth Civic Leadership efforts will continue to provide opportunities for young Nebraskans to do just that.
We will support the first full year of Nebraska’s Kid Governor®, giving elementary students an early, joyful introduction to leadership, representation, and service. We will enhance the reach and impact of the New Americans Youth Leadership Academy, cultivating confidence and civic agency among immigrant and refugee youth. And we’ll continue delivering meaningful civic learning through after-school programs in Omaha, helping students connect democratic values to their own lives and communities.
These experiences are antidotes to apathy. They teach young people how to resist cynicism, persist through challenge, and renew our democratic future with imagination and courage.
As the new year begins, Civic Nebraska is grounded in what has always guided us: community, innovation, learning, optimism, and power. Power that is shared; power that is practiced; power that grows when people come together with purpose.
Here’s to 2026, and to the work of building a democracy worthy of us all.
