Civic Nebraska

Rising Stars Breakfast 2022
2022-10-28 08:00 - 09:00 (America/Chicago)
We’re celebrating our programs, our partners, and all of the people who make our after-school programs great. We invite you to a free breakfast at 8 am on Oct. 28 at Sherman Elementary School in Omaha. The 2022 Rising Stars Breakfast will hold community with our amazing educators, administrators, students, and supporters of our Youth Civic Leadership programs and school-based Community Learning Centers.
This event is free and open to the public – RSVP now to save your seat!
In addition to treating our guests to breakfast from Big Mama’s Kitchen, we also will be sharing the Civic Nebraska philosophy behind the outside-of-school space. We administer after-school programs because they are important in fortifying the skills and experiences students need to be good citizens in our democracy. They create a sense of community and belonging, improve social skills, provide academic support, build confidence, and make learning fun – all while being a safe and healthy environment for young people.

(Virtual) Election Observer Training
2022-10-29 10:00 - 23:30
We have added two online training dates to increase the opportunities for volunteers to receive the necessary training to participate in nonpartisan poll observation for Nov. 8.
If you’d like to volunteer but were unable to attend a training in October, please register for one of these virtual trainings on Zoom:
›› Saturday, Oct. 29
10 am CDT (9 am MDT)
Click to register
›› Saturday, Nov. 5
10am CDT (9am MDT)
Click to register
Civic Nebraska organizes the largest nonpartisan election observation program in our state. Observers across Nebraska visit polling places to assess the physical accessibility of the polling place and accessibility of the ballot itself. Learn more about our Election Protection Program here.

Lincoln GOTV town hall
2022-11-02 19:00 - 20:00
Join us for the third of three get-out-the-vote town halls. On Nov. 2, we will gather at the Nebraska Union on the University of Nebraska campus to focus on “decoding” the Nov. 8 general election ballot.

Youth Voting Power: Decoding The Ballot
2022-11-03 18:00 - 20:00
ATTENTION YOUNG PEOPLE! Join us and our partners for a good meal and good conversation, and leave knowing how to use your voice to elevate your voting power.
Representatives from Civic Nebraska, League of Women Voters, Douglas County Election Commissioner’s Office, and Elevate Omaha will be discussing ways to engage with the local election coming up on Nov. 8.
We need YOUR voice in this upcoming election. Can’t wait to see you there!

(Virtual) Election Observation Training
2022-11-05 10:00 - 11:30

Election Hero Day 2022
2022-11-07
Join Civic Nebraska on Nov. 7, when we recognize the immense importance and work of election administration teams, poll workers, and more across the nation. On this day, nonprofits, business leaders, brands, public officials, and many more will celebrate the tremendous contributions election administration teams are making to ensure a safe, secure voting experience for all. A day before the midterm election, Election Hero Day celebrates all election staff that ensures a safe, secure, and accessible Election Day.
More

2022-11-07 08:00 - 17:00
Learn about a career in the trades with IBEW Local 265, Civic Nebraska, and Lincoln Community Learning Centers! Trade specialties highlighted include electrical, telecommunications and low-voltage, plumbing and pipefitting, sheet metal and iron working, locksmithing, and more.
Those who attend are eligible for prizes including a Nintendo Switch, Beats by Dre headphones, and 8Bitdo gaming controllers.
Here’s more information about the Trade Fair. Enter through Door 35 to the common area!

Campbell Elementary Wellness Fair
2022-11-11 17:00 - 19:00

Let's Talk Turkey
2022-11-24 08:00 - 17:00
Nebraska, it’s time to talk turkey. Did you know one in six Americans stopped talking to a family member or close friend after the 2016 election? This November, Civic Nebraska challenges you to change the story and host a politically diverse group in your community to talk through differences. We’re giving five applicants $50 each to create a space for civil discourse this holiday season.

Lewis & Clark Trailblazer Afterschool Academy Family Night
2022-12-15 18:30 - 20:00
Lewis & Clark CLC families are invited to drop by for holiday food and fun and to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Join us from 6:30 to 8 pm on Thursday, Dec. 15 for Family Night!

Sherman CLC Family Night
2022-12-16 16:30 - 18:00
Sherman Elementary CLC families are invited to our next Family Night at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 16. Get ready to learn about bullying in a special presentation from Sunny Gee and DJ Breezy Bri. Our program begins promptly at 4:30 – don’t be late!

Holiday Cards for Housing
2022-12-20 17:30 - 19:30
Get creative with Collective Impact Lincoln! We’re gathering at the Civic Nebraska HQ, 530 S. 13th St. Suite 100, to create holiday cards that advocate for affordable housing in Lincoln.

Join us at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, Dec. 20, and enjoy some delicious cocoa and tea, along with some burritos from Pepe’s Bistro! Collective Impact Lincoln will provide the creative materials, construction paper, and optional prompts for creating the cards.

Cards created by attendees and residents will be submitted to the Lincoln City Council to center resident experiences with source-of-income discrimination and affordable, safe, and quality housing. These cards will also demonstrate what it would mean to institute a source of income anti-discrimination ordinance at the city level for Lincolnites.

Nebraska Legislature: First day of 2023 session
2023-01-04
Jan. 4 marks the start of the 108th Nebraska Legislature, which meets at the State Capitol in Lincoln. It is the first year of the 2023-24 biennium, meaning it is a “long session,” or 90 legislative days. Senators are expected to be in session until early June.
With 49 members, the Nebraska Legislature is the smallest of any U.S. state. Unlike the legislatures of the other 49 states and the U.S. Congress, the Nebraska Legislature is a unicameral legislature, thus not separated into two houses. It is also nonpartisan and does not officially recognize its members’ political party affiliations.
Resources:
›› Information about the legislative process, the history of the Nebraska Legislature, general information about unicameralism, and an in-depth explanation of the budget process.
›› The Nebraska Legislature’s ADA Notice, tips on testifying at hearings, the rules of the Legislature, legislative district maps, photos of the Capitol, and a glossary.
›› The Unicameral Update is an online news source produced by the Clerk of the Legislature and maintained throughout the session.
›› Planning to visit? Here’s information about visiting the State Capitol.

Collective Impact Lincoln New Year's Celebration
2023-01-04 17:30 - 19:30
We hope to see some of your friendly faces at our New Year’s Celebration on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Belmont Community Center! We’ll have some fun activities, good tunes, and goodies. Let’s celebrate together!

It’s an open house, so join us any time between 5:30 and 7:30 pm. Children are welcome, and while it would help us out if you can let us know if you plan to attend, you do not need to rsvp to join the fun!

Explore Japan with Mariko
2023-01-16 15:15 - 16:15
Our Lincoln High School CLC is bringing a new program to promote an understanding of Japan’s culture, school system, and language. We’ll also be learning about Japanese calligraphy. Mariko Nagai is originally from Fukuoka city, Japan. She works at the University of Nebraska as a Japan Outreach Initiative coordinator.

This five-week program will start Jan. 16 and will be every Monday from 3:15 to 4:15 pm until Feb. 13. Join us in Room 102 at LHS!
Students can enroll in the program using LHS jump code PLR1. Please contact LHS School Community Coordinator Haroon Al Hayder at ha*************@*ps.org or 218-790-6962.

Legislative hearing: LB225 (civic education)
2023-01-23 13:30 - 17:00
LB225, a civic education bill from State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, will receive a public hearing at 1:30 pm CST on Jan. 23 in room 1525 of the Nebraska State Capitol. The bill would add a student representative to each Nebraska school district’s Committee on American Civics, which ensures that social studies curriculum provides foundational civic knowledge and aligns with state standards.
Each district committee is required to hold at least two public meetings annually and ensure that the district’s social studies curriculum is accessible to the public. It also assesses the district’s alignment with state social studies standards and teaches knowledge in “civics, history, economics, financial literacy, and geography.”
In addition, LB225 would enable students to meet high school civic education requirements by serving as a poll worker. This new option would join a series of existing standards and activities, including taking a written test, attending and participating in public meetings, and writing papers and making presentations about what they have learned.
Civic Nebraska supports this legislation and encourages those in support to submit written testimony or to testify in person.

A Housing Advocate's Guide to the Legislative Session
2023-01-24 17:30 - 18:30
Speak up for housing rights! Join us virtually from 5:30 to 6:30 pm on Tuesday, Jan. 24, to learn more about our housing bill priorities introduced in this legislative session and how we can advocate for them at the state level.
We will discuss:
›› Which housing bills we’re keeping track of;
›› How these housing bills would impact our community;
›› A timeline of when to advocate for these bills to make your voice heard;
›› How to contact your senators;
›› How to testify in person; and
›› How to share the load with fellow neighbors.
No prior experience or special knowledge is required – come as you are!
REGISTER FOR THIS VIRTUAL EVENT

Lincoln High: Eighth Grade Open House
2023-01-24 18:30 - 20:00
Eighth Grade Open House at Lincoln High School is 6:30 to 8 pm on Tuesday, Jan. 24. Families will start in the theater and then move to the cafeteria and surrounding hallways from 7 to 8 pm. This is where you can find representatives from many of our Lincoln High CLC clubs! Learn more about what after-school at Lincoln High has to offer.

Eighth Grade Information Night: Lincoln Northeast
2023-01-25 18:00 - 20:00
Our CLC and clubs will be participating in Lincoln Northeast’s annual Eighth Grade Information Night. Look for us after the main program to learn about what after-school at Northeast has to offer.

Legislative hearing: LB535 (voter ID)
2023-02-01 13:30 - 18:00
The Nebraska Legislature’s Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee will hold a public hearing for LB535 – State Sen. Julie Slama’s voter ID bill – at 1:30 pm CST on Wednesday, Feb. 1, in Room 1507 of the State Capitol. As Nebraska’s “Second House,” your voice is needed so that committee members fully understand the ramifications of such a measure.
We must all remind our elected officials that when Nebraskans voted in November to amend the state Constitution, they put their trust in the lawmakers to craft the details, including the assurance that barriers to the ballot will remain minimal. We all must also express clearly that any bill making it harder for Nebraskans to vote must include voter-friendly accommodations so the ability and opportunity to vote are not diminished, no one is turned away from casting their ballot, and our civil rights are protected.
To assist advocates who plan to testify in person before the committee, Civic Nebraska is hosting a virtual strategy and training session from 6 to 7:30 pm CST on Jan. 31 on Zoom. RSVP here. We’ll go over a few basic testimony pointers and, if necessary, provide space for one-on-one practice sessions.
If you won’t be able to make the hearing on LB535 on Feb. 1, we strongly encourage you to send the committee an email before Jan. 31 explaining why preserving free access to the ballot is so vitally important, and why any and all voter ID legislation must keep the welfare of voters in mind.

Black Political Summit
2023-02-04 09:00 - 14:00
The Omaha Black Political Summit will take place from 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday, Feb. 4, at The Venue, 2120 N. 30th St. in Omaha. This event will focus on creating a 2023 action plan to create political power in Omaha. The Summit is focused on increasing voter participation, specifically in the Black community. Jointly, we will recognize the problem, seek input for collaborative solutions, and develop a comprehensive short- and long-term plan of action.
REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT

Civic Saturday: IN GOOD FAITH
2023-02-18 11:00 - 12:15
In a time of deep anxiety, disconnectedness, and political polarization, people need a place to come together in civic community — face-to-face or virtually — to reflect on and rededicate ourselves to the values and practices of being a contributing member in civic life within the United States. Civic Saturday began in Seattle and is now in more than 100 cities across the country.

Join us Feb. 18 for a very special Civic Saturday in conjunction with the Nebraska History Museum’s new exhibition, Democracy In America: A Great Leap of Faith. Civic Saturday gathers friends and strangers together to nurture a spirit of shared purpose. At each gathering, we connect around the values and practices of being an active citizen, reckon with and reflect on our nation’s creed, and build relationships that create new civic traditions that are joyful and communal.
Learn more about Civic Saturdays: bitly.com/CivSatNeb

LB20 Testimony Prep Workshop
2023-02-20 18:00 - 19:00
We have an opportunity to support Nebraskans previously convicted of a felony by passing Legislative Bill 20. LB20 will restore voting rights to Nebraskans previously convicted of a felony upon the completion of their sentence, allowing them to become civically re-engaged. Make your voice heard by testifying in support of LB20 at 1:30 pm CST on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, in Room 1507 of the Nebraska State Capitol.
›› Contact us if you need transportation from Omaha.
As an everyday Nebraskan, your participation in this process is critical to ensure that the bill passes. With Civic Nebraska by your side, we can deliver a powerful and persuasive testimony that will make an impact. Let’s work together to make LB20 a reality!
Join us from 6 to 7 pm CST on Monday, Feb. 20, via Zoom to workshop your testimony and get tips on how to testify.
Register for our virtual workshop here.

Committee Hearing: LB20 (Voting Rights Restoration)
2023-02-22 13:30 - 17:00
The Nebraska Legislature’s Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee will hear public testimony on LB20, which would restore voting rights for nearly 20,000 Nebraskans who have completed their felony sentences, including probation and/or parole.
1:30 pm CST – Wednesday, Feb. 22 – Room 1507 – Nebraska State Capitol, 1445 K St.
Nebraska is one of the few states to withhold voting rights beyond the completion of a sentence for a felony conviction. In Nebraska, people previously convicted of a felony must wait an additional two years past the completion of their sentence – including probation and parole – to vote. While some argue that the waiting period gives people previously convicted of a felony a chance to prove that they are reformed, waiting periods like these can cause those with previous convictions to feel excluded from their communities and impact their ability to reintegrate into society.
Can’t make the hearing? Submit a comment online for the official record. This must be done before NOON CST on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

Government Committee hearing prep (virtual)
2023-02-26 18:00 - 2023-02-28 19:00
The Nebraska Legislature’s Government Committee will hear testimony on three voter ID bills on Wednesday, March 1. In preparation, we will host a virtual informational session at 6 pm Sunday, Feb. 26. Join us on Zoom to learn what to expect during the hearing, to get help writing your testimony, and then, if you wish, to practice your oral presentation.
Register for this virtual session.

CLC Walk Together 2023
2023-03-03 17:30 - 19:00
Students in several CLC programs have been learning about sustainability. The students have built on these lessons to create a community showcase/celebration of art, slam poetry/spoken word, textiles, and other
projects focused on the theme of sustainability.

Exhibits and performances
1: LUX Center for the Arts, 2601 N. 48th St.
Brownell Elementary School Clinton Elementary School Huntington Elementary School Norwood Park Elementary School Pershing Elementary School
Big Bad Birdhouse Project
(Spring Creek Prairie / multiple schools)
2: Urban Legends, 2632 N. 48th St.
Culler Middle School Riley Elementary School
3: Spirit Wind Tai Chi, 2634 N. 48th St.
Mickle Middle School
Hartley Elementary School
Northeast HS Step Team 5:45 pm and 6:00 pm Northeast HS Rap Group 6:45 pm
4: Mo Java Cafe, 2649 N. 48th St.
Northeast HS Spoken Word – 6:30 pm
(A Night of Music – Dingman Guitar Studio will also perform 6-8 pm)

For more information, contact Ron Kellogg III.

Nebraska Advocacy Education in Action kickoff
2023-03-04 11:00 - 12:00
The Nebraska Poor People’s Campaign, Civic Nebraska, Nebraska Appleseed, and Nebraska Interfaith Power and Light are co-hosting this event to equip and excite people new to advocacy to take the first steps in engaging in legislative advocacy.
The organizations aim to ground everyone, regardless of experience level, in the reasons we take action for a more just and sustainable Nebraska.
To join the Zoom event, register at this link.

Voting Rights: a Community Conversation
2023-03-13 19:00 - 20:00
Join Civic Nebraska and the Karen Society of Nebraska for a virtual session full of helpful information about voting in the upcoming Lincoln municipal elections (April 4 and May 2), basic information about local candidates, and ask Voting Rights Community Organizer Chueqa Yang questions you may have.

WATCH LIVE ON FACEBOOK
WATCH LIVE ON ZOOM:
Meeting ID is 818 6376 1407

Housing Affordability and Justice Lobby Day
2023-03-14 08:30 - 12:00
Join our coalition at the Nebraska State Capitol on March 14 to advocate for housing affordability and justice. This day will raise awareness about the need for affordable housing, tenant protections, and homeownership equity across Nebraska and shine a light on a number of housing-related bills currently under consideration in the Legislature.

REGISTER HERE

Schedule:
8:30 am – Breakfast and Lobbying 101 Training (Lincoln Community Foundation, 215 Centennial Mall South)
10 am – Observe floor proceedings and talk with senators (Nebraska State Capitol, Rotunda/Gallery)
11:30 am – Housing Affordability and Justice Press Conference and Rally (Nebraska State Capitol, Rotunda)

Testimony for LB355, LB604 & LB742
2023-03-16 13:30 - 18:00
The Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee of the Nebraska Legislature will hold a public hearing on three pro-voter bills introduced in 2023.

They are:

›› LB365, which permits all counties to conduct elections by mail;
›› LB604, which adds accommodations for those voting by mail; and
›› LB742, which authorizes Automatic Voter Registration (AVR).

Civic Nebraska supports all three bills. Learn more at our Bill Tracker page.
