Civic Nebraska builds a more modern and robust democracy for all Nebraskans.
Democracy must be loud. As the will of the people, it cannot endure in silence. Democracy must also be clear. It compels us to hold ourselves and others accountable, especially in times of disruption and clamor.
Nebraskans count on CIVIC NEBRASKA to guide them on the path to a more modern, robust democracy, and we take on this duty by empowering connection, building understanding, and cultivating advocacy. CIVIC NEBRASKA is a potent signal amid the noise.
LOUD & CLEAR
THE WHY OF OUR WORK
Civic Nebraska’s Values
THREE PROGRAMS. ONE MISSION.
Youth Civic Leadership
“We, the people” includes our youngest Americans, too. Our Youth Civic Leadership efforts include before- and after-school programs and service-learning clubs in Lincoln, Omaha, and Greater Nebraska. Introducing youth to civic engagement helps them gain problem-solving, leadership, and civil discourse skills. Students who can think critically about – and make meaning of – societal issues are better able to navigate their individual environments. And succeed in them.
Civic Health Programs
Our communities are stronger when we own them together. Our Civic Health Programs fortify Nebraska’s civic life with training and programming for towns, cities, neighborhoods, and individuals. We support people to be connected, informed, and engaged in their communities and state. When we are more connected to one another and to institutions, we are better positioned to solve local problems.
Voting Rights Initiatives
Voting is our most cherished democratic right. Without it, there’s no prospect for change, no method to hold leaders accountable, no real way for our values and vision to be represented in our institutions. This right is never guaranteed – so it must be championed, defended, and exercised to the fullest. Our Voting Rights Initiatives lead the fight for elections to be fair, modern, and accessible. We work to defeat bad policies that threaten the right to vote. And we advocate for measures that protect our rights.
Why a honeybee?
Civic Nebraska’s mascot is the noble honeybee, one of the most commonly known and ubiquitous friendly flyers. It’s a common misperception that bee societies are monarchies; in actuality, honeybees make decisions collectively and democratically. Every year, faced with the task of choosing and traveling to a new home, they undergo a process that includes collective fact-finding, vigorous debate, and consensus-building.
We believe that what works for bees also can work for humans. Decision-making and moving forward together must include debate, shared interests, mutual respect, diverse solutions, and faith that the majority can be counted on for a wise resolution. Such prosocial aspects are what makes democracy the most powerful organizing force in human history – and like our winged friends, it’s what we seek to create and sustain at Civic Nebraska.
