Meet Lena Wimes, Youth Civic Leadership programs manager

Lena Wimes, a Lincolnite with more than two decades of experience in childhood education, is Civic Nebraska’s new Youth Civic Leadership Programs Manager. She is based at Civic Nebraska’s Lincoln headquarters and began her role on Sept. 11.

Lena directs and coordinates programs in four of Civic Nebraska’s six school-based Community Learning Centers, 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.

Lena joined Civic Nebraska after directing an early childhood and before- and after-school program for 22 years. She is eager to expand her work in promoting positive outcomes for youth and addressing barriers that perpetuate oppressive systems.

She earned a master’s degree in social justice and community organizing from Arizona’s Prescott College, trained with the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center in Jacksonville, Florida, is a member of Initiate Justice Action, and is a certified facilitator of The Body Project. Lena is especially interested in evaluating longitudinal efficacy in social justice-based programming and developing strategic applications to maximize outcomes.

Lena loves to adventure with her husband Ash; their four daughters Teya, Kennedy, Evia, and Alila; and their dog, Lynx (named after their favorite WNBA team). As a family, they’ve summited two 10,000-foot mountains in the Rockies – but tend to be happiest on the beach.

A lifelong learner, Lena loves reading nonfiction, studying research, watching documentaries, and listening to a variety of podcasts. She’s uniquely skilled at winning over even the most dedicated carnivores with one of her homemade plant-based dishes.

We’re happy to welcome Lena to the Civic Nebraska team! Reach her at lena.wimes@civicnebraska.org.