Friends,
In response to rapidly growing concerns about the spread and effects of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in our state, Civic Nebraska has taken several actions to protect our staff, students, families, and communities for the duration of this public health crisis:
- We have suspended all Youth Civic Leadership activities.
- We have closed our Lincoln, Omaha, and Grand Island headquarters.
- We are continuing our democracy-building work remotely.
Details regarding each step are spelled out in more detail below.
Suspension of Youth Civic Leadership programs:
– This includes all before- and after-school programs at our school-based sites in Lincoln and Omaha, our outside-of-school clubs, and all other related activities.Â
– Civic Nebraska serves more than 1,500 children daily in Omaha, Lincoln, and Greater Nebraska. While closure is proven to slow the spread of disease, we also acknowledge that it can cause significant economic and social disruption for the children and families we serve. Our physical spaces may be temporarily closed, but we will continue to support our communities with compassion and empathy however we can during this unprecedented time.Â
– If you have questions or concerns, please contact your individual after-school program’s site director. Their individual contact information is listed here.
Closure of Civic Nebraska offices:
– Based on guidance from health officials and to protect our full- and part-time staff who work from one of our three headquarters around the state, those offices – at 1111 Lincoln Mall in Lincoln; at 6400 University Drive in Omaha; and at 203 N. Locust St. in Grand Island – have been temporarily closed. In addition, our Nebraska Counts office at 1210 Nance Ave. in Lincoln has been temporarily closed.
– Our work, however, continues. Employees who work from one (or more) of these HQs are now carrying out their duties remotely.
Voting Rights Initiatives, Census, and Civic Health Programs:Â
– With staff working remotely, our voting rights and civic health efforts are proceeding. This includes our Nebraska Counts get-out-the-count canvassing, which is now being conducted digitally and via phone for the time being. If you have questions or concerns about an event or activity related to our voting rights or civic health programs, we encourage you to get in touch via email:
Amanda Barker, director of Civic Health Programs
John Cartier, director of Voting Rights Initiatives
Thank you for your understanding, patience, and, most of all, your dedication to our democracy. Times like these summon us to care for one another and to step into larger roles as engaged, informed, and responsible members of our community. This is a fast-moving situation that is creating no shortage of anxiety, but we are confident that as Nebraskans, we will get through this together.
Sincerely,
Adam Morfeld, J.D.
Executive Director
Civic Nebraska
