We’re All In for Lived Expertise on Local Boards!
Friday, August 9th from 10:00-11:30 am CT (9:00-10:30 am MT) on Zoom
We are excited to see you Friday for Session 3 of the (Virtual) Statewide Welcoming Convening!
For the third and final session of the annual Nebraska summer welcoming convening we will welcome three Nebraska voices to the table. What will be the table discussion?…everything about lived expertise on local boards! Learn more about the work being done in Columbus with Karina Perez (Centro Hispano), in Omaha with Mohammed Sahil (Nebraska Afghan Community Center), and in South Sioux city with Stephanie Rodriquez (board member, Unity in Action). They will provide a personal lens into what it truly means to bring all of our lived experiences to the table – and how to do so effectively – when serving the community.
Join us to learn more about lived expertise and to connect with welcoming leaders across the state on August 9th starting at 10am CT (9AM MT)!
Meet the people at the table:
Karina Perez was born in Los Angeles, California, she and her family migrated to Nebraska in 1999 seeking work opportunities in the Midwest. Her parents are immigrants from El Salvador who found Columbus to be their forever home. She is the Executive Director for Centro Hispano in Columbus, Nebraska and focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion in rural Nebraska through storytelling and shared experiences. Karina serves as a board member to CASA Connections in Columbus, Center for Rural Affairs, Nebraska Community Foundation, and is an Ex-Officio board member to the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.
Mohammad Sahil is the founder and executive director of Nebraska Afghan Community Center. Mohammad served with the U.S. military for nearly a decade in Afghanistan. He and his wife immigrated to the United States through the Special Immigrant Visa program. He has almost nine years of experience working with refugee and immigrant populations in various roles with nonprofit organizations and Omaha Public Schools. Mohammad currently serves on the Great Plains IDeA-CTR Community Action Board and is the chair of the Omaha Refugee Task Force which consists of over 200 organizations and individuals dedicated to the successful resettlement and inclusion of refugees in the Omaha area.
Stephanie Rodriguez grew up in South Sioux City and recently relocated to Columbus, Nebraska. She is a Mortgage Loan Officer at BankFirst with nearly a decade of experience in the banking industry. Her parents are from the beautiful state of Chihuahua, Mexico and she is very proud of her Mexican heritage. In her spare time, she enjoys cheering on her two little ones at their sporting events and being their biggest supporter. She has served on the Centro Hispano board and is currently serving on the board of Unity in Action.
During this session, you will have the opportunity to hear and learn from experienced local leaders and network with peers, all with the aim of enhancing our collective knowledge and skills. Hope to see you on Friday!
It’s not too late to register!
Please let us know what you need to be able to participate!
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that allow all participants to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Christa Yoakum (402-438-8853 x114, cyoakum@neappleseed.org) or Eric Garcia-Mendez (402-438-8853 x113, egarciamendez@neappleseed.org). We will try our best to accommodate requests.