We are excited to introduce you to one of our newest partners: Civic Nebraska, dedicated to empowering connection, building understanding, and cultivating advocacy to build a more modern and robust democracy for all Nebraskans. With the support of the Cotyledon Fund, we are collaborating with Civic Nebraska to support rural Nebraskans in talking across differences to make a positive difference in their own communities.
We kicked off our collaboration early this year with an in-person Train-the-Trainer workshop in Lincoln, Nebraska, to dive deep into the “why” behind the exercises in our Civity workshops. We spent 3.5 hours together, discussing the challenges that rural and urban Nebraskans face, what’s already working, and where relationship-building can bridge some of the gaps.
Our shared goal for this collaboration is to empower individuals to actively participate in civic affairs, bridge divides, and cultivate a sense of belonging and connection in their communities. Our long-term partnership will involve joint initiatives and workshops designed to equip community members with skills to engage meaningfully with one another, build trust, and deepen relationships.
“I knew from our first meeting that Civic Nebraska and Civity would develop a strong partnership together. Our approach is so similar – rooted in the foundations of strong relationships and civic health,” said Senior Director of Programs Nancy Petitto. “We are fortunate to do this work alongside Civity and our communities.”
Rural Civic Health Program Manager Daniel Bennett shared, “It’s easy to see a path forward using the Civity process. Fun, meaningful, not too draining, and effective at strengthening what our communities desperately need – working relationships across differences.”
Civic Nebraska is committed to integrating relationship-building practices into the core of their work to enhance civic health and create stronger communities. We want to extend a warm thank-you to Nancy and Daniel for championing this partnership, which lays the foundation for more vibrant and resilient communities in Nebraska. We are eager to continue our work together!