Civic Nebraska was founded in and for Nebraska. It reflects and responds to the state’s unique civic identity: a one-house, officially nonpartisan Legislature; a mix of rural, urban, and suburban communities; a longstanding culture of volunteerism; and one of the most distinctive electoral systems in the nation. Because of this, our strategies are never one-size-fits-all. Instead, we work directly with communities to build programs that make sense for their geography, history, and needs, whether that’s hosting a Capitol Experience Day for a rural middle school or organizing voting rights efforts in Omaha.
We believe that democratic change is both a science and an art. That’s why we pair research, such as regular publication of the Nebraska Civic Health Index, with deep relationship-building. We use data to track civic trends and evaluate progress, and also center people’s stories, identities, and lived experiences. From statewide research to one-on-one organizing right where people are, Civic Nebraska operates with both precision and heart.
Civic Nebraska is proudly nonpartisan. We are committed not to short-term political outcomes, but to our state’s and nation’s democratic values. We bring people together across ideological and geographic divides and invite them into the ongoing work of democracy. We help Nebraskans disagree better, connect more meaningfully, and remember what it means to live in a shared civic home.
Civic Nebraska is strategic, hopeful, and deeply practical, building power from the ground up through education, organizing, storytelling, and care. We know that democracy isn’t something that happens to us; it’s something we build together. In communities across Nebraska, Civic Nebraska is doing just that.