On Oct. 16 in Omaha, Civic Nebraska will honor six Nebraskans with Strengthening Democracy Awards for their efforts to build a more powerful democracy in the Cornhusker State. Before then, we’re sharing a bit more about each winner to share what makes them so special.
Civic Nebraska honors Leo Louis II with the 2025 Adam Morfeld Founder’s Award for a lifetime of community organizing, bridge-building, and civic leadership that has strengthened the social fabric of Nebraska.
Leo has devoted nearly two decades to creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and empowered. A lifelong Omahan, he has worked across various disciplines, including gang intervention, urban farming, entrepreneurship, public safety, and youth mentorship. As a former board president of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation, he integrated volunteer leadership and community engagement into the organization’s DNA. His perspective resonates deeply because it is grounded in lived experience and animated by a commitment to collective progress.
Much of Leo’s work has been about turning pain into purpose. In 2007, he co-founded Found Period, a support group for individuals transitioning away from street gangs. He later expanded this vision to community gardening and urban farming, launching the “Grown in North Omaha Project” and establishing seven community gardens that employed at-risk youth and recruited dozens of volunteers.
Over the years, he organized and managed spaces like the Creek Top Community Garden and the Sahler Street Community Garden, which became hubs of neighborhood connection. Through projects like the Dr. Betty Shabazz Community Garden, Leo coordinated hundreds of volunteers and taught dozens of families how to grow food while cultivating civic pride.
Leo’s organizing has also extended into the civic square. He has hosted countless community forums, rallies, and town halls, including the “I Am a Man Rally” and “Do We Still Care Town Hall,” which drew national attention. He was a leader in the Justice for Kids Initiative, which reduced suspension disparities for African American students and helped pass LB632 to ban suspensions of children in pre-K through second grade. And during the summer of 2020, Leo organized the Omaha in Solidarity March, which drew more than 2,000 people, and facilitated the largest peaceful demonstration ever held at the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation. He also coordinated emergency trauma classes for activists and advocates, ensuring community safety amid turbulent times.
Alongside community advocacy, he has run entrepreneurial ventures such as “Somebody With A Truck,” a moving service he co-founded in 2020. He continues to provide public safety strategies for OPS athletic events and major community gatherings, such as Juneteenth and Native Omaha Days. He shares his organizing knowledge as an adjunct faculty member with the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health, ensuring that the next generation of leaders learns from grassroots experiences.
Most recently, Leo was the main subject of MY OMAHA, a feature documentary now sparking civic healing conversations across the country. His story, woven with art, photography, and storytelling, serves as a testament to what can happen when one person commits to decades of service and refuses to give up on community.
Claire Cornetta, his nominator, describes Leo as a seasoned bridge-builder whose work reminds us that democracy is built at eye level, through relationships and accountability. His leadership demonstrates that democracy isn’t abstract, Cornetta said; it’s lived daily, in gardens, gyms, classrooms, streets, and neighborhoods.
For his dedication, his creativity in finding new ways to bring people together, and his enduring impact on Nebraska, Civic Nebraska is proud to present Leo Louis II with the Adam Morfeld Founder’s Award.
Meet Leo and his fellow honorees at Strengthening Democracy Awards on Oct. 16. RSVP today!