Leadership and Administration
Adam Morfeld, JD
Executive Director and Founder
Adam Morfeld founded Civic Nebraska in 2008 with a group of politically diverse Nebraskans to create a more modern and robust democracy in the Cornhusker State. Since then, Civic Nebraska has grown to more than 100 full- and part-time staff who build youth civic leadership skills, fortify civic life in our communities, and ensure nonpartisan and modern elections.
Adam graduated from the University of Nebraska with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in economics. He graduated from U. Nebraska Law in 2012. In 2016, Adam became an alumnus of the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Education Senior Executives in State and Local Government course in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Adam was elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 2014 as the 46th Legislative District’s state senator. He was re-elected in 2018. He also is an adjunct faculty member at Doane University.
In his free time, Adam enjoys spending time with his wife Rachel, backcountry camping, traveling, running, working on his house near Nebraska U.’s East Campus, and watching Husker football.
402.904.5191 office
adam.morfeld@civicnebraska.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
Heidi Uhing
Director of Public Policy
Heidi helps determine the public policy agenda for Civic Nebraska and lobbies for voting rights and fair election laws in the Nebraska Legislature. Previously, she was director of the Legislature’s Unicameral Information Office for 10 years. 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. She’s active in Lincoln’s Woods Park neighborhood, where she lives with music librarian Scott Scholz and their backyard chickens, who are named after U.S. presidents’ daughters. You may find her reading on her porch when she’s not at the Capitol.
Education:
University of Nebraska, journalism and public relations; University of Iowa, English
Responsibilities:
Public policy
Lobbying
Media relations
Talking about Nebraska’s unique nonpartisan unicameral
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
steve.smith@civicnebraska.org
Alex Brechbill
Development Manager
Alex coordinates our grant activities, drafts initial project summaries and funding proposals, tracks grant deliverables, writes and edits grant proposals, and compiles development reports for our growing organization. A native of Aurora and alumnus of Nebraska Wesleyan U., Alex was a fellow for The Nature Conservancy of Nebraska and later was an administrative assistant to State. Sen. Tim Gragert of Creighton in the Nebraska Legislature. He and his partner Sarah live in Lincoln’s Woods Park neighborhood with their Australian shepherd, Birdie. Alex enjoys woodworking and teaches beginning and intermediate woodcarving at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha and the LUX Center for the Arts in Lincoln.
Education: Nebraska Wesleyan, political science
Responsibilities:
Manages grants
Maintains relationships with donors and funders
Conceives, writes, and edits initial development proposals
Identifies funding sources
Sharing the differences between chisels, gouges, and mallets
402.904.5191 office
alex.brechbill@civicnebraska.org
Alyssa Hogue, MS
People and Culture 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. She and her husband Reese live in Ashland, where Reese is a teacher and a coach. In her spare time, Alyssa loves joining the Bluejay faithful at Ashland-Greenwood athletic events and cheering students on. She also 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
alyssa.hogue@civicnebraska.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
emily.priefert@civicnebraska.org
Tanner Cano
Executive Assistant
Tanner, a Nebraska native, manages the executive director’s schedule and travel; assists in staffing our boards; tracks, assists, and prioritizes the executive director’s tasks; and coordinates with Civic Nebraska staff for organization-wide initiatives.
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
tanner.cano@civicnebraska.org
Youth Civic Leadership
Building the next generation of Nebraska’s civic leaders.
youth@civicnebraska.org
Michael Bandy
Director of Youth Civic Leadership
Michael has led Civic Nebraska’s largest program since 2023. As director, he is responsible for the success of the programs and projects within our youth-based efforts, including six after-school programs in Lincoln and Omaha and the Civic Circles club program at middle schools in Omaha. Michael joined Civic Nebraska in 2020 as the school community coordinator at our Lincoln Northeast High School Community Learning Center.
He previously was a volunteer coordinator at College Possible. Raised in Omaha and an alumnus of Nebraska Wesleyan, Michael backpacked through South America after college, living and working in Ecuador, Peru, and Argentina. Most recently, he was a volunteer engagement specialist with College Possible. In his free time, Michael enjoys hanging out with his dog, Mago, and being outdoors. He’s a mountain biker, has recently started doing longer, adventure-style races and triathlons, and is busily planning a wedding with his fiancee Amanda.
Education: Nebraska Wesleyan, international relations and political science
Responsibilities:
Oversees all Youth Civic Leadership operations
Member of Civic Nebraska’s Senior Directors team
Staff hiring and professional development
Developing community partnerships
Dialing in on a gnarly berm before catching air on a rad booter
402.904.5191 office
michael.bandy@civicnebraska.org
Lena Wimes, MA
Youth Civic Leadership
Programs Manager
Lena directs and coordinates programs for four of 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.
lena.wimes@civicnebraska.org
402.904.5191
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
equasha.smith@civicnebraska.org
Brianna White
Site Director, Sherman Elementary School Community Learning Center
Brianna provides daily after-school programming for over 115 Sherman Elementary students. Students are provided a meal, homework help and engaging, high-interest learning activities. A native of Omaha, Brianna worked in Georgia after graduating college before returning to her hometown and becoming involved in education. She enjoys gardening, dancing, and being involved in improving her community.
Education: Clark Atlanta University, business administration and supply-chain management
Responsibilities:
Recruitment and communication
Plan program, field trips and family nights
Staff hiring, professional development
Data collection and reporting
Develop community partnership
Posing for a photo to go next to “Woo” in the new edition of Clifton StrengthsFinder
Sherman: 531.299.2060
CLC: 402.457.6711
brianna.white@civicnebraska.org
Haroon Al Hayder
Senior School Community Coordinator, Lincoln High Community Learning Center
Haroon’s role as the head of Lincoln High’s CLC means he advocates for Link students, families, and neighborhood residents; works with the Link community to create effective programs for teens participating in the CLC; and plans, schedules and directs daily CLC activities. A native of Iraq who came to the United States in 2016, Haroon has a passion for building strong relationships with students and community partners in his work building the next generation of civic leaders. Haroon lives in Lincoln with his wife Sipan. Haroon also has family in Germany and Sweden.
Education: Minnesota State University, communications studies and business innovation
Responsibilities:
Recruitment and communication
Planning programs, field trips, and community engagement
Staff hiring and professional development
Data collection and reporting
Developing community partnerships
Making dinner on his new air fryer
Tracy White
Site Director, Lewis & Clark Middle School Community Learning Center
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. Tracy has worked in several youth programs, including Belvedere Elementary, Hope Center for Kids and others for 15-plus 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 also 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
tracy.white@civicnebraska.org
Kwame Gyamfi
School Community Coordinator,
Lincoln Northeast High Community Learning Center
Kwame leads our Rocket CLC by engaging with students, families, and neighborhood residents and works with the Northeast neighborhoods to create and sustain programs for young adults participating in the Northeast CLC. He also plans, schedules, and directs daily CLC activities.
Responsibilities:
Recruitment and communication
Planning programs and community engagement
Staff hiring and professional development
Data collection and reporting
Developing community partnerships
kwame.gyamfi@civicnebraska.org
402.904.5191
Logan Niedzielski
School Community Coordinator,
Campbell Elementary Community Learning Center
Logan is the point person at Civic Nebraska’s Campbell CLC and works with families, students, and neighborhood residents in the school’s north-central Lincoln neighborhood.
A Michigan native, Logan moved with his family to Humboldt when he was five. He has lived in Lincoln since 2017. Logan has worked with kids most of his life – his family ran an in-home daycare during his teenage years and he participated in a youth mentoring program during high school. He continues to work with children and mentors two little brothers through Big Brothers Big Sisters. Before joining Civic Nebraska, Logan directed a preschool and child care for three years and was the program coordinator of a before- and after-school program for 2 1/2 years. He is pursuing an education in psychology at Southeast Community College with plans to transfer to the University of Nebraska.
Responsibilities:
Recruitment and communication
Planning programs and community engagement
Staff hiring and professional development
Data collection and reporting
Developing community partnerships
logan.niedzielski@civicnebraska.org
HQ: 402.904.5191
Campbell: 402.304.1165
Civic Health Programs
Strengthening our state’s civic, social, and political fabric.
civic@civicnebraska.org
Nancy Petitto, MA
Director of Civic Health
Programs
Nancy Petitto is our director of Civic Nebraska’s civic health programs across the state, guiding staff, initiatives, and community partnerships to fortify Nebraska’s shared civic life. She previously served as director of Collective Impact Lincoln. Before that, Nancy worked at 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:
Direct civic health programs and staff
Develop and execute strategies from the Nebraska Civic Health Index
Build and maintain strong community partnerships across Nebraska
Lead civil discourse, media literacy, and community involvement workshops
Gourmet coffee-maker for Civic Nebraska HQ staff
402.904.5191 office
402.202.3807 cell
nancy.petitto@civicnebraska.org
Daniel Bennett
Rural Civic Health
Program Manager
Daniel supervises and builds civic health programs that affect Greater Nebraska, including the Civic Catalyst Communities Initiative and the Rural Civic Action Program. He also is a member of the team that updates the Nebraska Civic Health Index, hosts the Nebraska Civic Health Summit, and coordinates other special projects to help our towns and cities build civic health. A native of Omaha who spent five years in the Panhandle as a community planner for the Panhandle Area Development District, Daniel is based in Scottsbluff but travels regularly around the state. In his spare time, he enjoys percussion and vocal music, running, hiking, spending time with family, being involved in church, and volunteering.
Education: Iowa State University, Community and Regional Planning
Responsibilities:
Rural Civic Action Program
Civic Catalyst Communities Initiative
Developing and evaluating rural civic health programs
Research and outreach
Challenging the executive director in number of miles hiked and run per year
402.904.5191 office
daniel.bennett@civicnebraska.
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
allie.christianson@civicnebraska.org
Audrey Nance
Capitol Experience Day
Coordinator
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
audrey.nance@civicnebraska.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
sam.meierbates@civicnebraska.org
Heather Engdahl
Director of Voting Rights
Heather supervises and plans programs to expand and protect voting rights across the state of Nebraska, including our nonpartisan get-out-the-vote and election protection programs; Civic Nebraska’s voting rights investigation and litigation efforts; policy advocacy; and specialized initiatives, such as the felony voting rights restoration program. Heather guides the voting rights team to advocate and protect the right to vote on behalf of Nebraska voters. Additionally, Heather manages grant development for team programming and represents the organization with partners nationally.
Heather enjoys traveling, spending time with family, reading, and enjoying good food.
Responsibilities:
›› Ensure all eligible Nebraskans can register and vote
›› Identify opportunities for advocacy related to our elections
›› Direct Civic Nebraska’s election protection and observation program in coordination with state and national partners
›› Develop meaningful [voting rights] initiatives aligned with the values of community, learning, power, innovation, and optimism.
›› Supervise promotional and educational projects
›› Lead and manage the voting rights team
402.904.5191 office
heather.engdahl@civicnebraska.org
Mike Forsythe
Voting Rights Program Manager
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
mike.forsythe@civicnebraska.org
Chueqa Yang
Voting Rights Organizing Coordinator
An Omaha native who now calls Lincoln home, Chueqa supervises our part-time voting rights field crew and leads data management of our outreach efforts. Chueqa also helps coordinate with local and statewide get-out-the-vote campaigns and election protection.
Chueqa fell in love with relationship-building, grassroots organizing, and creative placemaking in 2020 upon joining the South of Downtown Community Development Organization. Chueqa believes intentional listening and civic engagement through art are powerful tools for engaging with communities. When not organizing, they like to discover new parks around their neighborhood with their chihuahua lab, Winston, enjoys attending local music concerts and art gallery shows, and traveling around the states. You might find them getting spontaneous tattoos, reading near the lake, or trying not to adopt all the cats in Lincoln.
Responsibilities:
Advocate outreach and communication
Policy initiatives and volunteer support
Election Protection Program recruitment and training
Lincoln- and Omaha-based voting rights initiatives
Coordinating voting rights events to engage lawmakers and elected officials
Letting stray cats “follow them home”
Office: 402.904.5191
Email: chueqa.yang@civicnebraska.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
creighton.hoefer@civicnebraska.org
Jann Rouzee
Voting Rights Organizing Coordinator