Legislative Days: Shaping Future Leaders in Nebraska

“It could have been us.” Powerful words spoken by a young advocate during Legislative Days, capturing the real-life stakes behind the bills debated at this year’s event. Designed to educate young people on the legislative and policymaking process, the event gives youth leaders a platform to push for meaningful change.

The statement came as youth leaders advocated for a bill to remove restrictions on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for individuals with prior felony convictions. One participant shared, “When my parents couldn’t pay the bills, we still knew we could eat in the dark, and it’s because of the SNAP food program.” This powerful testimony highlighted the critical role of advocacy in shaping policies that directly impact communities.

Hosted by Connected Youth Initiative (CYI), an initiative of Nebraska Children and Families Foundation (Nebraska Children), Legislative Days emphasizes civic engagement as a tool for personal growth and community betterment. For many participants, this event marks the beginning of their advocacy journey, setting them on paths to future leadership roles.

Preparing Young Advocates for Impact

Over a weekend, young leaders learned about the legislative process, receiving mentorship in public speaking, advocacy, and current bills. In small groups, they select meaningful bills, built arguments, and presented them at the Senator’s Luncheon. Through this experience, they saw firsthand their power to influence policymaking.

“The event is designed to give participants a basic understanding of the legislative process and also help them learn about bills that impact them,” Lincoln Arneal, Nebraska Children’s Assistant Vice President of Policy and Leadership shares. “They use their research and personal stories to craft their arguments, they learn how policy impacts them.”

A Weekend of Learning and Leadership

Throughout the weekend, participants sharpened their advocacy skills, deepened their understanding of legislative processes, and explored policymaking as a potential career path. The group also heard from Sarah Mitchell of Nebraska Appleseed, who transformed her passion for advocacy into a full-time career.

The young leaders visited the State Capitol following the weekend to watch the legislative process in action. They began at the Senator’s Luncheon, where they presented their research on various bills to senators, their aides and Nebraska Children partners. The group then visited the Nebraska Supreme Court and engaged in insightful discussions with Hon. William Cassel.

Later, they met with Lt. Governor Joe Kelly to discuss their legislative priorities. Governor Jim Pillen stopped by to thank the young leaders for their dedication. He expressed his gratitude to the young advocates for their impactful presentations last year, which influenced Nebraska’s decision to accept federal funds for the Summer EBT program.

Youth Advocacy in Action

The young leaders reviewed current bills before the Nebraska Legislature and made compelling presentations advocating for and against bills affecting their communities, including:

• Mental health training for caseworkers (LB217)
• Employment benefits for eligible aliens (LB299)
• Removing SNAP restrictions for individuals with past drug convictions (LB319)
• Changes to habitual truancy provisions (LB492)
• Opposing the reduction of the minimum age for charging youth as adults from 14 to 12 (LB556)

Attendees represented communities from across the state, including Omaha, Lincoln, North Platte, Grand Island, Norfolk, Kearney, Fairbury, and Beatrice.

Nebraska’s Legislative Process: A Unique Opportunity

“Nebraska’s highly accessible legislative process makes our state uniquely primed to enable young adults to experience civic engagement firsthand,” said Lincoln Arneal. Now in his 7th year of leading Legislative Days, Arneal collaborates closely with CYI’s Youth Advisory Board to empower young voices.

The event featured training sessions designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to advocate effectively. From understanding voting procedures to learning persuasive techniques, the program emphasized constructive dialogue and tangible solutions.

Leadership and Community Engagement

This year, Legislative Days welcomed three key groups of Nebraska’s young leaders:

Nebraska Children’s Youth Advisory Board

The Youth Advisory Board is comprised of emerging young leaders advocating for improvements within Nebraska’s child welfare system. Members stay informed about issues affecting transition-aged youth, collaborate with system partners, organize leadership events, and lead statewide initiatives to improve outcomes for young people transitioning from the child welfare system.

Nebraska Children’s Connected Youth Initiative Partners

The Connected Youth Initiative (CYI) connects community collaborations with resources, best practices, and evaluation to support young adults navigating independence. Many participants have personal experiences in the child welfare, juvenile justice, or homelessness systems, making their advocacy efforts deeply personal and impactful.

PALS Coaching Program

The Preparation for Adult Living Services (PALS) program provides one-on-one coaching to young people as they navigate independence. PALS specialists support participants in setting educational, employment, housing, relationships, and overall well-being goals.

Get Involved

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation is committed to strengthening communities, so all children, young people, and families thrive. Central to this mission is ensuring that those with lived experience play an active role in shaping policies and initiatives.

To support programs like Legislative Days and other youth engagement efforts, visit NebraskaChildren.org/get-involved.

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