We are Civic Nebraska
Leadership and Administration
Kyle Cartwright, CAP®
INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Kyle became interim executive director on Aug. 2, 2024. As director of development, Kyle leads the team responsible for Civic Nebraska’s revenue streams, which allow us to achieve our mission and maximize our impact across the state. He plans and organizes fundraising activities, stewards donors, manages Civic Nebraska’s development budget, and collaborates with partners around the state and nation to raise funds.
Kyle is a Lincoln native who has served in a variety of roles during his career, including with the Lincoln Community Foundation, the Lied Center for Performing Arts, and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. He also has founded two consulting businesses focused on corporate impact, nonprofit strategy, and effective philanthropy. A 2013 graduate of the University of Nebraska, Kyle’s nonprofit career began at the Lincoln Community Foundation, where he developed his love for fundraising, philanthropy, and community engagement. From 2018-22, Kyle was executive director of the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, a unique public-private partnership.
Kyle is a staff sergeant in the Nebraska Army National Guard and plays saxophone with the 43rd Army Band. He, his wife Koren, and son Porter live in Lincoln. When he’s not working, Kyle loves cycling, listening to good podcasts, playing board games, and volunteering. He is the past president of the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters Lincoln, having served for nine years as a “Big” of a local youth.
Education: University of Nebraska, music and music education
Responsibilities:
Maintaining long-term relationships with existing major donors
Building relationships with new and prospective donors
Communicating fundraising goals throughout the organization and reporting on goal progress to senior management and the board of director
Supporting grant writing and reporting completion in partnership with program staff
Monitoring and evaluating all fundraising activities to ensure fundraising goals are being achieved
Helping co-workers understand the difference between a sax’s beak, bell, bore, and bow
Office: 402.904.5191
Nancy Petitto, MA
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS
Nancy ensures our leadership has the support, training, and supervision so our work aligns with the needs of the communities we serve, our strategic plan, our values, and our mission.
She previously served Civic Nebraska as director of civic health programs. Before that, Nancy served the University of Nebraska in academic, administrative, and research departments. Since 2022, she has served on the board of directors and is currently the board president for the Belmont Community Center. Nancy lives in Lincoln with her husband Scott, and their dogs, Frankie and Murphy.
Education: University of Nebraska, news-editorial journalism; M.A., educational administration-higher education administration
Responsibilities:
Supervises program directors
Ensures current programs have resources and support
Evaluates the impact of programs according to Civic Nebraska’s Strategic plan and mission, using data to inform decisions and practices
Creates and ensures timely execution of program and project implementation plans
Keeps programs meeting the needs of Nebraskans, our mission, values, and strategic plan, and curates new program opportunities
Gourmet coffee-maker for Civic Nebraska HQ staff
402.904.5191 office
402.202.3807 cell
na***********@ci***********.org
Sarah Walker, MA
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Sarah, a 2019 University of Nebraska graduate, works across Civic Nebraska’s programs to support our staff and growth and achieve administrative excellence. Sarah is well-versed in Civic Nebraska’s systems to manage finance, HR, and organizational processes and is a key resource for staff. Before joining Civic Nebraska, Sarah spent two years in public relations departments and community organizing roles at various Nebraska nonprofits. She loves teaching, was an instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and continues to teach English coursework at Doane University.
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, watching soccer, spending time with friends and family, and being outdoors.
Education: University of Nebraska at Omaha, Masters in English
Office: 402.904.5191
Cell: 402.802.7671
sa**********@ci***********.org
Heidi Uhing
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY
Heidi crafts the public policy agenda for Civic Nebraska and lobbies for voting rights and fair election laws in the Nebraska Legislature. Previously, she worked at the Legislature for 15 years, directing its Unicameral Information Office. There she edited the Unicameral Update, which is free to the public and reports on bills as they move through the legislative process. She also directed the Legislature’s civic education programs and is proud to have received Civic Nebraska’s Outstanding Youth Engagement Program Award in 2016. Heidi has served as the ACLU of Nebraska’s director of communications and supported research communications at the University of Nebraska.
402.770.5756 cell
402.904.5191 office
he*********@ci***********.org
Steve Smith
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Steve identifies, develops, and shares Civic Nebraska’s stories with the world. He joined Civic Nebraska in 2018 after a decade as a chief communications officer at the University of Nebraska and, before that, 15 years as a journalist in Iowa, California, and Nevada. His interest in American history – especially the era of the Revolution and the Framing – has prepared him well for writing about our democracy-building efforts. Steve is a published author (1, 2), an alumnus of Leadership Lincoln Fellows XXXII, a mentor of a local teen through Big Brothers Big Sisters Lincoln, a Civic Saturday Fellow, and a (very) amateur cyclist. A native of Rosalie, Nebraska, Steve lives in Lincoln with his wife Kathy and their very laid-back cats, Frankie and Ellie.
Education: University of Nebraska, news-editorial journalism
Responsibilities:
Media and public relations
Storytelling
Branding and marketing
Media training
Social media
- Stories about how information traveled before the Internet
402.419.4349 cell
402.904.5191 office
st*********@ci***********.org
Alyssa Hogue, MS
RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
Alyssa ensures a positive and successful work environment for Civic Nebraska staff, with an emphasis on school-based, part-time employees. A native of Wisconsin, she earned her undergraduate degree at Nebraska U. and a master’s from Texas A&M, where she managed a staff of nearly 100 part-time game-day staff to ensure Aggie ticket-holders had a great time at the stadium. In her spare time, she enjoys being outside, making music playlists for every mood, and staying active.
Education: University of Nebraska, hospitality, restaurant, and tourism management; MS, Texas A&M, sports management
Responsibilities:
Assists with hiring and onboarding
Maintains personnel files
Coordinates annual reviews for part-time staff
Reviews policies and procedures with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion
Civic Nebraska’s No. 1 Taylor Swift fan
402.904.5191 office
al**********@ci***********.org
Scott Schrage, MS
GRANT MANAGER
Scott, who joined Civic Nebraska in 2024, coordinates all grant activities, researches and evaluates potential funding sources, and ensures follow-through on Civic Nebraska’s funded projects. He works also across the organization to ensure alignment on grants-related matters.
Before joining Civic Nebraska, Scott was a communicator at the University of Nebraska for 13 years. His first focus was on the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families, and Schools, and from 2014-24 he was NU’s chief science writer. A native of Sloan, Iowa, Scott earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Iowa State University.
Scott enjoys a range of sports and movies. Or, as he puts it: “dragging friends to the Ross to see the latest independent and international films, and spending an unhealthy amount of time following the National Basketball Association.”
Education: Journalism and advertising, Iowa State University; MS, journalism, Iowa State University.
Responsibilities:
Researches prospective local and national grantmaking sources
Builds and facilitates relationships between development, finance, and program staff to generate grant proposals
Writes all narrative components of grant proposals, case statements, funding requests, executive summaries, and grant reporting materials
Maintains grant database and project management tool to ensure fidelity to the grant process
- Supports cultivation and maintenance of relationships with grantors, foundations, and donors
- Getting mistaken around Lincoln for fellow ISU alum Fred Hoiberg.
402.904.5191 office
sc***********@ci***********.org
Emily Priefert
FINANCE SPECIALIST
Emily joined Civic Nebraska as finance and operations coordinator in 2021. Emily, of Valparaiso, works across Civic Nebraska’s programs to support our staff and growth and to coordinate accounting and human resources. She also is the office and vendor coordinator. Emily is currently completing her associate of business degree from Southeast Community College, and she enjoys spending her free time with family, friends, and her dog, Roxy. She’s also recently discovered the fun of upcycling furniture.
402.904.5191 office
em************@ci***********.org
Tanner Cano
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
Tanner, a Nebraska native, develops and implements social and digital campaigns, tracks performance metrics, and identifies and engages with specific segments of our audiences to foster meaningful connections. He manages strategic media campaigns and the organization’s digital advertising presence.
Tanner grew up in Gretna and graduated from the University of Nebraska in December 2022 with a degree in advertising and public relations. Before joining Civic Nebraska, he was a communications coordinator with Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird’s 2023 re-election campaign. The experience on the campaign reaffirmed Tanner’s desire to help his community and gave him a better understanding and love for the city and Nebraska as a whole.
In his spare time, Tanner enjoys spending time with friends and family, rock climbing, board and card games, fencing, and trying new hobbies.
402.904.5191 office
ta*********@ci***********.org
Youth Civic Leadership
Building the next generation of Nebraska’s civic leaders.
Tracy White
EXTENDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES MANAGER
Making a difference in the lives of youth is Tracy’s No. 1 goal. She joined Civic Nebraska in 2017 as site director after serving five years as assistant site director at Lewis & Clark. In her current role, Tracy supervises our after-school site directors, ensures compliance with various policies and regulations, and builds relationships with schools, partners, and the community. Tracy has worked in several youth programs, including Belvedere Elementary, Hope Center for Kids, and others, for more than 15 years after transitioning from the business world. A native of St. Louis, Tracy loves a good, strong cup of coffee to get her going. She enjoys creating digital designs and has an Omaha baking and sweet-treats business with her daughters. She has instilled success principles in her daughters Kelli, Jessica, and Bre. Tracy also has been public relations director for the Nebraska First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ for 10+ years. In her spare time, Tracy loves to travel — and relax.
Education: University of Nebraska, business administration-marketing/industrial engineering
Responsibilities:
After-school Programs
Social Emotional Learning
Classroom management
Youth quality work methods
Staff sweet-treat maven
Afterschool Academy: 531-299-2405
tr*********@ci***********.org
Lena Wimes, MA
YOUTH CIVIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAM MANAGER
Lena directs and coordinates programs for our Community Learning Center before- and after-school programs, including three DHHS-licensed sites. She directly supervises school community coordinators and site leaders, facilitates coordination between programs, and partners with the Director of Youth Civic Leadership to develop and evaluate school-based programs.
le********@ci***********.org
402.904.5191
Nicole Crumbley
SITE DIRECTOR, SHERMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Nicole advocates for youth, families, and residents of Sherman’s northeast Omaha neighborhood. She oversees all aspects of our after-school experience for Sherman students and staff – including directing daily routines, activities, and educational enrichment. She also oversees direct-service programs related to after-school community programs that serve Sherman youth and families.
Nicole earned a bachelor’s degree from Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma, and the University of Nebraska Omaha. She has served in numerous public-school roles since 2007, including middle-school reading facilitator in the Read Right Program in Omaha; early childhood teacher in Kansas City; and lead Head Start teacher at Kennedy Elementary in Omaha. Nicole also was a teaching assistant with the National Youth Sports Program in 2005.
When she’s not helping raise the next generation of young civic leaders, Nicole enjoys spending time in her community. One of her favorite activities is picking apples from the apple tree in her dad’s backyard with her niece, Tulip. She also is a dedicated trivia buff and word person and enjoys playing along with contestants on Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.
Responsibilities:
Recruitment and communication
Planning programs, field trips, and community engagement
Staff hiring and professional development
Data collection and reporting
Developing community partnerships
Answering in the form of a question
ni*************@ci***********.org
Equasha Smith
SENIOR SITE DIRECTOR, LOTHROP MAGNET SCHOOL COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER
As the Site Director of Civic Nebraska at Lothrop Magnet in Omaha since 2017, Equasha has guided 14 trained and qualified staff and 150 students during program time to ensure all participants are safe and learning lifelong skills to become positive citizens. She has been working in after-school programming since 2004. Equasha has a passion for serving others and enjoys working for students and their families. She has a young daughter, who is her motivation to continue her education.
Responsibilities:
Recruitment and communication
Plan program, field trips and family nights
Staff hiring, professional development
Candle connoisseur
Lothrop: 531-299-1780
402.212.8897
eq***********@ci***********.org
Liseth Reyna-Garrido
SITE DIRECTOR, TRAILBLAZERS AFTERSCHOOL ACADEMY
Liseth Reyna Garrido is Civic Nebraska’s after-school site director at Lewis & Clark Middle School. Liseth first joined Trailblazers as a student 14 years ago, benefiting from the program’s commitment to excellence. She returned as a college student, rising through the ranks to become assistant director, where she filled some big shoes. Now, as site director, her deep understanding and passion for the Academy will continue to shape the program and inspire students, just as it did for her.
li**********@ci***********.org
Trailblazers Afterschool Academy: 531-299-2405
Civic Health Programs
Strengthening our state’s civic, social, and political fabric.
Lily Sughroue
DIRECTOR OF CIVIC HEALTH PROGRAMS
A fifth-generation Lincolnite with deep experience in the nonprofit, government, and education worlds, Lily is responsible for directing and sustaining one of our three program areas at Civic Nebraska – Civic Health Programs. She is responsible for the success of the programs and projects within the program area, which include the rural civic health initiative, civil discourse and media literacy programming, Capitol Experience Days, and Collective Impact Lincoln.
Before joining Civic Nebraska in 2024, Lily spent 14 years working in various organizations in Lincoln, including Leadership Lincoln and the Center for People, History Nebraska, and Lincoln Public Schools.
In her spare time, Lily is the director of artists and mentors for Lincoln Community Playhouse’s Penguin Project, advocates for disability rights and inclusion, and serves on the board of HopeSpoke. She also is a member of Sunrise Kiwanis and i2choir. Lily and her husband, John, live in Lincoln with their daughter, Greta, and Frank, their German shorthair pointer.
Education: Doane University, human relations
Responsibilities:
Member of senior directors team
Developing and growing existing and new civic health programs
Evaluation of program effectiveness and efficacy
Research, outreach, and working with development to increase resources for civic health initiatives
Emailing ABBA and encouraging them to sign off on ‘Mama Mia 3’
402.904.5191 office
li***********@ci***********.org
Allie Christianson
SENIOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, COLLECTIVE IMPACT LINCOLN
As Collective Impact Lincoln’s senior community organizer, Allie works with residents and stakeholders in the Near South and Everett neighborhoods to build strong and resilient communities. Allie, who previously worked with the South of Downtown CDO, is passionate about community building and uses an intersectional approach to positive social change. She elevates voices through grassroots organizing to empower communities to retake ownership of their unique futures.
Education: University of Nebraska, global studies and political science
Responsibilities:
Asset-based community development
Community partnerships
Grassroots initiatives
Housing affordability
Placemaking
Volunteer leadership development
Supplying fellow HQ staff with homemade goodies
402.904.5191 office
al****************@ci***********.org
Audrey Nance
CAPITOL EXPERIENCE DAY PROGRAM SPECIALIST
A native of Lincoln and a Lincoln High and Nebraska U. alumna, Audrey oversees one of Civic Nebraska’s flagship programs – Capitol Experience Day. Audrey is a resource for teachers and community partners across Nebraska to enhance civics education opportunities for students and constituents. Audrey comes to Civic Nebraska from Friendship Home, where she focused on child advocacy and was the lead children’s advocate at the organization.
Outside of work, Audrey takes nature walks with her partner and her big sweet dog, Jayne; visits the lake with friends; gardens and cares for her houseplants; watches science fiction and fantasy; and enjoys arts and crafts.
Education: University of Nebraska, journalism and history
Coordinates and facilitates Capitol Experience Day field trips
Builds and maintains relationships with teachers, school districts, and other community partners.
Promotes Capitol Experience Day and the usage of Civic Nebraska’s educational resources
Leverages relationships with school administrators, teachers, students, and organizational leaders to provide additional cross-programmatic opportunities to student and adult learners
Debates which is the better prequel series: Obi-Wan Kenobi or House of Dragons
402.904.5191 office
au**********@ci***********.org
Sam Meier-Bates
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, COLLECTIVE IMPACT LINCOLN
As a Collective Impact Lincoln community organizer, Sam engages with residents and stakeholders in the Hartley and University Place neighborhoods to build strong, resilient communities. A self-described human services employee, Sam is dedicated to advocacy and activism and bettering his community and its people.
Most recently, he was the community outreach housing specialist with The Hub Central Access Point for Young Adults in Lincoln. In that role, he provided case management and wraparound services to unhoused and at-risk young adults, and he helped clients with applying for rent and utility assistance.
Sam studied at Southeast Community College and is an alumnus of Lincoln Southeast High School. In his personal life, he enjoys spending time with his friends and family, longboarding, hiking, going to local events, and watching documentaries. He and his partner, Chloe, an English teacher at Lincoln High, have three cats and are new homeowners in the Near South neighborhood.
Education: Southeast Community College, human services
Responsibilities:
Asset-based community development
Community partnerships
Grassroots initiatives
Housing affordability
Placemaking
Volunteer leadership development
402.904.5191 office
sa************@ci***********.org
Voting Rights Initiatives
Protecting every Nebraskan’s right to vote.
Mike Forsythe
VOTING RIGHTS COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
Mike supervises of our full-time field organizers and is responsible for the overall management of the organizing team’s initiatives. He also coordinates and oversees our policy and voter education initiative focused on the re-enfranchisement of returning citizens following a felony conviction. He also is a key member of our get-out-the-vote campaigns and the Election Protection Program. Mike retired in 2018 from Omaha Box Co. after 39 years of service, 25 of them as a production supervisor and also was a 2018 candidate for the Nebraska Public Service Commission – an experience that reaffirmed his faith in civic engagement, civic health, and civil discourse. Mike and his wife Margo live in Omaha and have three grown children. He enjoys spending time with family, playing golf, birdwatching, listening to music, and long walks.
Responsibilities:
Advocate outreach and communication
Policy initiatives and volunteer support
Election Protection Program recruitment and training
Statewide voting rights initiatives
Coordinating voting rights events to engage lawmakers and elected officials
Jamming to live music and cheering on his favorite athletes
402.904.5191 office
402.490.4831 mobile
mi***********@ci***********.org
Jann Rouzee
VOTING RIGHTS COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
Jann, who lives in Scottsbluff, is Civic Nebraska’s voting rights field organizer for Greater Nebraska. The Broken Bow native and University of Nebraska, Kearney alumna helps coordinate Civic Nebraska’s voting rights initiatives and campaigns, with a specific focus on areas of the state outside of Lincoln and Omaha.
Jann also contributes to local and state get-out-the-vote campaigns and election protection activities in Greater Nebraska. In addition to building new networks in Nebraska communities, Jann leads direct outreach to all voters and residents.
Previously, Jann was executive director for the American Red Cross of Western Nebraska, Tech Prep Program, and Area Health Education. She was director of regional services for Regional West Medical Center and of the Primary Care Clinic for Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska. She was a regional manager for a mobility-as-a-service startup and taught mathematics at Western Nebraska Community College. In 2021, she began a home-based business, Cocoa Stones, to craft all-natural, artisanal solid-lotion bars.
In addition to being a mathematician, Jann is an artist, a die-hard Ancient Aliens fan, and the quintessential DIYer. Jann aspires to be considered a polymath easily adhering to the five-hour rule. If you can’t find her, look outside, especially if it’s sunny out, hanging with her dog, Jupiter.
ja*********@ci***********.org
Creighton Hoefer
ADVOCACY MANAGER
Creighton travels throughout Nebraska to educate voters and identify Nebraskans who can support the passage of a nonpartisan ballot initiative regarding Open Primaries. Building a strong and politically diverse grassroots infrastructure is key to Creighton’s role, which is building networks in communities around our state. Creighton seeks out politically diverse supporters and volunteers in 40 counties across Nebraska; educates and organizes Nebraskans on the benefits of the Open Primary system; recruits volunteers and signature collectors; assists with events; and elevates the voices of Nebraskans.
402.904.5191 office
cr**************@ci***********.org
Noah Rhoades
VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION COORDINATOR
Noah coordinates grassroots advocacy and activation on voting rights restoration, including recruiting and training volunteers to engage with senators and the legislative process.
As voting rights restoration coordinator, Noah is a key Voting Rights Initiatives team member. He educates Nebraskans about the history of felon disenfranchisement in Nebraska, eligibility requirements following a felony conviction and sentence, and resources for eligible voters. He also leads voter engagement campaigns for formerly incarcerated Nebraskans, works with re-entry partners, and participates in registration efforts for formerly incarcerated voters eligible to vote.
Born and raised in South Omaha, Noah has a decade of experience in canvassing and organizing political campaigns, ballot initiatives, and workers’ rights drives. Before joining Civic Nebraska, he was a patient attendant at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, where he ensured the safety of patients with a high risk for self-harm.
Noah is an alumnus of Civic Nebraska’s Trailblazer Afterschool Academy at Lewis & Clark Middle School, which he credits for kickstarting his passion for connecting with people around common causes and shared challenges. He graduated from Omaha Central High School and earned degrees from the University of Nebraska Omaha. In his spare time, Noah enjoys reading. He also writes nonfiction and short fiction and plays a half-dozen musical instruments.
Education: University of Nebraska Omaha, medical humanities and psychology
