We are Civic Nebraska
Leadership and Administration
Nancy Petitto
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
As Civic Nebraska’s top leader, Nancy guides and advises senior directors and administrative team members on development, financial, programmatic, people and culture, and policy matters. She maintains Civic Nebraska’s momentum and status as the state’s pre-eminent voting rights group while expanding and innovating our programming amid a changing democracy-building arena.
Nancy joined Civic Nebraska in 2018; her appointment to executive director in January 2025 marked her fourth role in our organization. From 2018-21, she led Collective Impact Lincoln, a local neighborhood-strengthening partnership between Civic Nebraska and Nebraska Appleseed. In 2021, Nancy was promoted to director of Civic Nebraska’s Civic Health Programs, a position she held for three years. In 2024, she became senior director of programs, overseeing Civic Nebraska’s Youth Civic Leadership, Civic Health, and Voting Rights Initiatives programs.
Nancy, a native of New York state, attended the University of Nebraska. She earned a bachelor of journalism in news-editorial and a master of arts in educational administration, focusing on higher education administration, leadership, and organizational management. Before joining Civic Nebraska, she worked in academic, administrative, and research departments at Nebraska U.
na***********@***********ka.org
Office phone: 402-904-5191
LeeAnn Pancharoen
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS
As head of programming, LeeAnn supports and supervises the director of civic health, the director of voting rights, and the youth civic leadership program managers. She ensures our program leadership team has the guidance, training, and resources they need to align our work with the needs of Nebraska communities, as well as with Civic Nebraska’s strategic plan, values, and mission.
LeeAnn worked in the nonprofit sector since 1997, starting as an AmeriCorps member dedicated to providing after-school support for young people. Over the next two decades, she steadily expanded her impact, first at Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties, and then at Planned Parenthood North Central States. There, she held numerous leadership positions across a five-state region, including managing grants, developing and implementing community-focused programs, and coaching teams of direct-service staff, managers, and directors.
Her most recent work centered on co-creating and implementing a multi-state equity strategy that built educators’ capacity to incorporate antiracist approaches into their classrooms, reflecting her passion for justice, inclusion, and systemic change.
A graduate of Lincoln Public Schools (Belmont Elementary, Goodrich Middle School, and Lincoln High), LeeAnn earned a Master of Education degree in Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education from the University of Nebraska. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and women and gender studies.
In her free time, LeeAnn enjoys knitting, crocheting, gardening, sipping a good bourbon, spending time with loved ones, and cuddling her cats Archie and Ping Ping.
Office: 402.904.5191
Kyle Cartwright
DIRECTOR OF
DEVELOPMENT
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.
Office: 402.904.5191
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.
402.904.5191 office
st*********@***********ka.org
Scott Schrage
GRANT
MANAGER
Scott coordinates all grant activities, researches and evaluates potential funding sources, and ensures follow-through on Civic Nebraska’s funded projects. He also works 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.”
402.904.5191 office
Emily Priefert
SENIOR FINANCE
SPECIALIST
Emily, a Nebraska native who grew up near Valparaiso, joined Civic Nebraska’s finance team in 2021. Before that, Emily worked as a program specialist for Civic Nebraska’s Youth Civic Leadership program. She works across Civic Nebraska’s programs to support our staff and their programs financially. Additionally, she oversees accounts payable and accounts receivable. Emily earned an associate’s degree in business from Southeast Community College, and she enjoys spending her free time with friends and family. She’s also a self-described connoisseur of documentaries.
402.904.5191 office
em************@***********ka.org
Tanner Cano
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
Tanner 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*********@***********ka.org
Peyton Savington
VOLUNTEER & INTERN
COORDINATOR
Peyton is responsible for recruitment, orientation, training, certification, scheduling, engagement, and recognition for our volunteers and part-time interns and helps interested community members find different opportunities at our organization. Peyton also builds and maintains relationships to coordinate with local colleges, universities, cultural centers, and other potential partners to provide service-learning, internship, and volunteer opportunities for students and community members. They also schedule, coordinate, and assign volunteers or interns to our various events, programs, supervisors, and in-house mentors.
A native of Papillion and a 2022 graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University, Peyton earned degrees in history and gender studies with a focus on the U.S. food industry. After their time at Wesleyan, Peyton worked for Nebraskans Against Gun Violence. There, they organized the organization’s Pride events and focused on its presence in the LGBTQ+ community. Peyton is also the founder and director of Four Lights Films, a video production company that creates both features and short films.
In Peyton’s spare time, they enjoy cooking, playing golf, and hanging out with their two cats, Parzival and Riley.
402.904.5191 office
peyton.savington(at)civicnebraska.org
Grace Laflen
PEOPLE & CULTURE
SPECIALIST
Grace supports Civic Nebraska’s administrative functions, including hiring, payroll, internal calendar management, and organization-wide culture initiatives.
Grace is originally from Springfield, Missouri, where they were heavily involved in the local activism community. That early experience in grassroots engagement sparked a lasting commitment to supporting others and creating inclusive, connected communities.
They earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska in 2023, along with a minor in Global Studies. While at Nebraska U., Grace was a member of the Clifton Builders Program and served as a Student Strengths Coach. As part of the Builders in the Community track, they contributed to the Strive to Thrive Lincoln grant project, collaborating with local nonprofits to enrich the community through strategic grantmaking.
Before joining Civic Nebraska, Grace was a client support specialist and engagement coordinator at Gallup. In that role, they strengthened their passion for organizational culture, team-building, and fostering meaningful engagement across diverse teams, which made them a perfect fit for our team.
In their free time, Grace enjoys reading science fiction, writing, and swimming, a passion they have pursued since their competitive swimming days. They also enjoy visiting their sister in St. Louis and spending time with their opinionated tortoiseshell cat, Jake.
402.904.5191 office
gr**********@***********ka.org
Rachel Gordon
DEVELOPMENT & OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
A small-town Iowa native, Rachel is a central member of Civic Nebraska’s team and is responsible for ensuring timely donor acknowledgment, managing and leveraging data, coordinating office operations, and serving as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders. She enhances operational efficiency, supports strong donor-stakeholder relationships, and ensures a smooth, welcoming experience for everyone who interacts with Civic Nebraska.
Rachel’s journey with Civic Nebraska began in 2018, when she interned with our development team as an undergraduate at the University of Nebraska. That experience sparked her passion for nonprofit work and community building — a path that led her to Boys Town, where she spent six years managing the donor stewardship program. There, Rachel oversaw donor engagement, recognition initiatives, newsletters, and large-scale data-integrity projects that strengthened the organization’s relationships and operational efficiency.
Rachel earned degrees in English and political science from Nebraska U., with a minor in human rights and humanitarian affairs. Outside of work, she enjoys rock climbing, knitting, creating art, watching football, and traveling and hiking with her partner whenever they can make time.
402.904.5191 office
ra***********@***********ka.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, Ohh My Sweetz, 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.
tr*********@***********ka.org
Juan Milan
CIVIC EDUCATION
PROGRAMS MANAGER
Juan leads our flagship initiatives that inspire and equip Nebraska’s next generation of civic leaders, including Nebraska’s Kid Governor, the New American Youth Leadership Academy (NAYLA), and the American Exchange Project. Through these and other programs, Juan connects with young people across the state to help them understand the power they hold in their communities and how they can use that power to lead, advocate, and make change.
Before joining Civic Nebraska, his work helped shape his approach to youth development and civic engagement. He has been a Spanish teacher, a communications professional, and an advocacy strategist. He also spent time in Kearney as a youth program specialist for the Department of Health and Human Services.
His passion for civic education stems from his own journey. As a young person, Juan didn’t have many opportunities to engage civically and didn’t fully grasp how systems worked until college. That realization led Juan into advocacy and sparked a desire to ensure that young people don’t have to wait as long as he did to understand their place and power in our democracy.
He enjoys live music, running, and discovering new restaurants. Juan is a fan of good barbecue (especially brisket) and loves visiting local coffee shops and museums. He shares his home with two high-energy cats.
Civic Nebraska: 402-904-5191
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**********@***********ka.org
Afterschool Academy: 531-299-2405
Ty Miller
SITE DIRECTOR, LOTHROP ELEMENTARY CLC
Lothrop: 531-299-1780
Civic Nebraska: 402-904-5191
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.
402.904.5191 office
li***********@***********ka.org
Allie Christianson
SENIOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, COLLECTIVE IMPACT LINCOLN
As Collective Impact Lincoln’s senior community organizer, Allie works alongside Everett and Near South residents to support their dreams and schemes, from fostering skill-sharing and supporting creative placemaking projects to organizing advocacy efforts to keep our neighbors safe and housed. Allie has been with the CIL initiative since 2017, where she started as a volunteer canvasser conducting the CIL survey while door-to-door and at community events. As an Everett resident, Allie loves to spend her time outside of work tending to veggies at The People’s Garden, walking around Cooper Park, and hanging out with her cats, Willow and Honey.
402.904.5191 office
al****************@***********ka.org
Audrey Nance
CAPITOL EXPERIENCE DAY PROGRAM SPECIALIST
As Civic Nebraska’s Capitol Experience Day Specialist, Audrey leads one of the organization’s flagship civic education programs. She partners with educators, community organizations, and elected officials to create immersive, hands-on learning experiences that connect Nebraskans from all walks of life to the legislative process. Audrey coordinates dozens of field trips each year, develops curriculum rooted in civic empowerment, and works to ensure all participants leave with greater knowledge, confidence, and curiosity about democracy.
Outside of work, Audrey enjoys taking long walks with her partner and their gentle giant of a dog- Jayne; spending time at the lake with friends; tending to her garden and houseplants; getting lost in sci-fi and fantasy stories; and working on creative projects.
402.904.5191 office
au**********@***********ka.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 studies at Southeast Community College and is an alumnus of Lincoln Southeast High School. In his personal life, he enjoys spending time with his partners, friends, and family, longboarding, hiking, going to local events, and watching documentaries.
402.904.5191 office
sa************@***********ka.org
Allen Chlopek
RURAL CIVIC HEALTH PROGRAM MANAGER
Allen, a native of Fullerton with a deep background in community-building and small-town advocacy, is responsible for strengthening rural and small-town civic health, social connection, confidence in institutions, community engagement, and political involvement across Nebraska. His duties include facilitating community discussions and workshops, managing leadership development programs, developing tools and resources for community leaders, and contributing to research on civic health trends in Nebraska. Allen also helps Civic Nebraska build resources, knowledge, and understanding around civic health. He manages leadership and skills development of several initiatives, including Nebraska Documenters; the Idea of America Fellowship; and Civil Discourse. He is based in Fullerton.
He and his wife, Kate, also renovated a 1914 Carnegie Library building that had been empty for several years. An alumnus of the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Allen is a TeamMate to a local student. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family pets (especially his 7-year-old German Shepherd, Ruth), woodworking, and riding his 1975 Honda CB750 motorcycle.
al***********@***********ka.org
Voting Rights Initiatives & Public Policy
Protecting every Nebraskan’s right to vote and advocating for pro-voter policies.
Clara Wilson
DIRECTOR OF VOTING RIGHTS INITIATIVES
As the leader of our Voting Rights Initiatives team, Clara strategizes and develops programs and projects that inspire action following our organization’s mission, values, and strategic plan. That includes (but isn’t limited to) directing nonpartisan election education and outreach strategies; building a leadership infrastructure to recruit and maintain a robust volunteer base of statewide voting rights advocates who are trained and ready to support Civic Nebraska’s mission; and overseeing a grassroots advocacy and political engagement infrastructure for voter contact and get-out-the-vote activities.
A native of Crete, Clara earned a bachelor’s degree in management and leadership education from Nebraska U. in 2015 and is pursuing a Master of Public Health at New York University. For a decade, she served nonprofits in Colorado, including a family resource center, a local domestic violence advocacy provider, and an intervention program addressing the social determinants of health outcomes.
Clara and her husband and their young children are delighted to be near family in Nebraska. She enjoys crocheting, reading, woodworking, and jewelry-making in her spare time.
402.904.5191 office
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.
402.904.5191 office
mi***********@***********ka.org
Sage Shadoan
ORGANIZING AND DATA SPECIALIST
Sage supervises our part-time canvassers and maintains the data for our statewide voting rights outreach initiatives. Key duties include support of nonpartisan get-out-the-vote programs, legislative advocacy outreach, and data coordination across Civic Nebraska and partners.
Sage is an Alabama native, where they received their degree in psychology and sociology from Jacksonville State University. At JSU, they mentored other undergraduate students who were on similar paths to hers. She earned a masters degree in sociology from Nebraska U., where she focused on the effects of pollution on attitudes and behaviors about the environment. Afterwards, Sage worked at the university within the Methodology Evaluation Research Core Facility as a project associate and then data specialist, for a year and a half before coming to Civic Nebraska.
Currently, Sage works in a mutual aid based community garden helping folks in Lincoln’s Near South Neighborhood get fresh produce and learn to garden.
Sage enjoys going to concerts, spending time outside with friends, horseback riding, and skating for No Coast Roller Derby of Lincoln.
402.904.5191 office
Chris Morton
CIVIC ACTION PROGRAM MANAGER
402.904.5191 office