150,000 Reasons to Celebrate: Youth Advocacy at Nebraska Children and Families Foundation’s Legislative Days

In a remarkable turn of events, the voices of Nebraska’s youth have proven to be a force to be reckoned with, as their impassioned advocacy successfully swayed Governor Jim Pillen to reverse his stance on crucial legislation impacting the food security of children across Nebraska.

Against a backdrop of uncertainty and skepticism, these resilient young Nebraskans demonstrated the transformative power of youth advocacy and the profound impact of amplifying voices that are not often heard—leaving an undeniable impact on the lives of over 150,000 children throughout the state.  

Welcome to Legislative Days

Legislative Days, a three-day summit, provides a platform for young Nebraskans to learn about the complexities of the legislative process and advocate for change.

Representing diverse communities from Fairbury to Omaha, Kearney to Lincoln, the participating youth brought a rich tapestry of perspectives to the table. The event this year included young people from Nebraska Children’s Connected Youth Initiative (CYI). CYI exists to support transition-aged youth and young adults, ages 14 to 26, in Nebraska, who are living without the support of family and have life experiences that can make transitioning to adulthood feel overwhelming. As an organization that values lived experience, support includes providing young people with these leadership opportunities. Lincoln Arneal, Nebraska Children’s Assistant Vice President of Policy and Leadership, is in his 11^th year of leading the event along with CYI’s Youth Advisory Board.

The event started with comprehensive training sessions aimed to equip participants with the necessary tools for effective advocacy. From voting procedures to advocacy techniques, attendees were empowered to share their concerns on issues close to their hearts with an emphasis on fostering constructive dialogue aimed at driving tangible solutions.

Young leaders are given the opportunity to come together and review current legislative bills. Then, after deciding which bills they felt most strongly about, they broke into groups, researched their viewpoints, and practiced their presentation skills.

Bills Selected for Advocacy:

Collaborating across advocacy groups, young leaders identified key bills for deliberation. Among those were:

LB929—Provide for Coordination of the 911 Service System and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Advocates of this bill highlighted the need to streamline access to mental health resources by integrating 911 and 988 crisis lifelines. The importance of immediate assistance was stressed, highlighting the potential life-saving impact of this legislation.

LB1029—Change Provisions Related to Compulsory School Attendance Regarding Illness

This bill addresses the holistic well-being of students by proposing expanded sick leave provisions to include both mental and physical illnesses. Advocates underscored the interconnectedness of mental and physical health, advocating for a supportive environment that prioritizes students’ overall wellness.

LB1282—Provide for Youth Renewal Centers for High-Risk Youth

Championing a rehabilitative approach to juvenile justice, this bill calls for alternatives to traditional detention facilities for high-risk youth. Advocates emphasized the importance of preventative measures and community-based interventions in fostering positive outcomes for at-risk youth.

LB952—Require the Department of Health and Human Services to Implement the Federal Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer Program

Highlighting the importance of addressing food insecurity among children, this bill seeks to expand access to nutritious meals during the summer months. Advocates stressed the long-term benefits of nutritional support, citing improved health outcomes, and reduced healthcare costs.

Many participants had direct experiences with the legislation chosen, stemming from their involvement with the child welfare system and/or juvenile justice system. Their lived experiences lent weight to their advocacy efforts, amplifying the urgency for legislative action.

When asked why he decided to participate in the event, Matthew Floyd representing Project Everlast and one of the event’s emcees, explained “It’s not often that you get an opportunity like where you can affect a lot of people.”

First Round of Advocacy

^{Nebraska Children’s President and CEO, Mary Jo Pankoke, joins Legislative Days participants at the Senator’s Luncheon.}

Once the research was complete, and the presentations practiced, the young adults were given the opportunity to present their viewpoints at a luncheon for state senators and staff.

Among the senators and aids in attendance included Sen. Rick Holdcroft, Sen. Christy Armendariz, Sen. John Cavanaugh, Sen. Barry DeKay, Sen. Myron Dorn, Sen. Loren Lippincott, Sen. Carolyn Bosn, Sen. John Fredrickson, Sen. John Lowe, Sen. Mike McDonnell, Sen. Fred Meyer. Aides from Sen. Rita Sanders and Sen. Dave Murman also attended. Partners from the Department of Health and Human Services, Nebraska Department of Education, the Court Improvement Program, and Nebraska Children and Families Foundation were also in attendance.

Each group of young leaders stepped up to the plate to advocate for the legislation that was important to them, even if it didn’t come naturally. However, it was clear that participants understood the opportunity in front of them.

Concluding the Senator’s luncheon, Floyd expressed, “We put a lot of thought and work into it over the weekend. It was very stressful for some of us as it doesn’t always come naturally. But I can promise every word and thought put into this was from the heart.”

The advocacy did not stop there. After the luncheon, there was one more opportunity to make their voices heard. A meeting with Governor Jim Pillen.

And Their Voices Were Heard

Advocacy worked. The following Monday, Governor Jim Pillen announced that Nebraska would participate in the federal program to provide summer food aid. Specifically saying that his mind was changed after hearing directly from the young adults throughout the state who rely on the program.

Pillen had previously declined the program based on his preference for a separate federal initiative, the Summer Food Service Program, which reimburses operators who serve free, healthy meals and snacks to children and teens at summer sites in low-income communities.

Now, $18 million in food aid would be coming to Nebraska to feed children during the summer vacation months with food of their choice, that fits their dietary restrictions.

In his announcement, Pillen stated, “I just can’t tell you how proud I am of those young people (and) how proud I am of their voice and making sure their voice was heard.”

^{Governor Pillen listening to the voices of young adults from across Nebraska as they presented on bills that are important to them.}

Arneal praised all of the young advocates for their exceptional representation and compelling arguments in support of their chosen bills.

“The young people did a wonderful job representing themselves and making their case for the bills that they chose,” Arneal explained. “They had a great conversation with the governor and shared real-life experiences that stuck with him and played a part in him deciding to enroll in the Summer EBT program.”

Not only did the group of five young adults who presented on the food program see success, but the state of Nebraska will also feel the impact of the young adults who participated in the event and understood the significance of their voices in advocacy work.

The impact will send ripples across Nebraska and beyond, emphasizing the profound influence of youth advocacy in shaping policy decisions. Nebraska’s youth are not only driving change but actively shaping their communities for the better.

As the reverberations of Youth Legislative Days echo throughout the state, one truth stands clear: the power of youth advocacy is limitless.

In the News:

Learn more about the impact youth advocacy had on Governor Jim Pillen’s decision on the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer Program:

• Meet the Young Nebraskans Who Changed Gov. Pillen’s Mind on Summer EBT (Lincoln Journal Star)
• ‘It’s motivated me’: Young Adults Convince Governor Pillen to Opt Into Summer EBT Program (KETV)

More About Nebraska Children and Families Foundation Connected Youth Initiative (CYI):

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation Connected Youth Initiative – or CYI – is a statewide system change network to improve outcomes for unconnected youth and young adults in Nebraska. At the population level, this is achieved through a collective impact approach that brings together policymakers, community leaders, providers, and young people that co-create an environment that values, prioritizes, and actively supports intervention and prevention. At the individual level, Connected Youth Initiative also includes evidence-supported services and best practices aimed to increase youth and young adults’ protective and promotive factors so that they have the relationships, resources, and equitable opportunities for themselves and their child(ren) to thrive. 

More about Nebraska Children and Families Foundation:

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation aims to strengthen communities so all children, young people, and families thrive. An important component to achieving this reality is to ensure parents/caregivers and young people with personal experience have the opportunity to be a part of community growth. This is done by making a commitment to co-creating empowering spaces with and for young people to engage and lead in our organization and across Nebraska.

To support projects like Legislative Days and our other initiatives, visit NebraskaChildren.org/get-involved.