More Than 30 Nebraskans Traveled to Detroit, Michigan for the 2025 Welcoming Interactive!

We loved getting to see nearly 30 Nebraskans from all parts of Nebraska at the Welcoming Interactive national welcoming conference! People who attended the conference gained insights and strategies for building inclusive communities and formed connections with welcomers from all over the United States. 

Nebraskans not only participated but they also were highlighted speakers at some of the interactive sessions hosted during the conference! Check out some of the highlights below:

To the State of the Good Life Film Screening. To the State of the Good Life is the exploration of the American Dream through the eyes of Grand Island community leader Raúl Arcos Hawkins and his life before DACA, with DACA, and his fears if it goes away. After the film, Raúl and filmmaker Robert Steven Williams shared reflections in a discussion moderated by Christa Yoakum. You can learn more about the film here. Please reach out to us if you have any interest in screening the film in your community! 

Empowering New American Women: Building Bridges Through Entrepreneurship. ECHO Collective from Lincoln, Nebraska hosted a session on their groundbreaking program, The Refinery. Participants were able to discover how empathy-driven entrepreneurship is transforming the lives of women and strengthening communities and how the program can be replicated in their community! 

Inclusive Civic Participation for Rural Immigrant Communities. Nebraska rural rockstars Liz Rodriguez and Yareth Chavez Dimas from Centro Hispano in Columbus, and Nebraska Appleseed community organizer, Ruby Méndez López, along with Brad Christian-Sallis from Nebraska Civic Engagement Table, hosted an interactive session all on inclusive civic participation for rural immigrant communities! 

Join community members from across Nebraska who are building thriving communities of belonging!

We hope to see you at the first session of this year’s 11th-annual (virtual) statewide welcoming convening series, where we’ll share ideas and inspiration for community inclusion efforts throughout the year! 

Session 1: We Belong to Each Other – Unity Alliance & Multi-Sector  Partnerships

Wednesday, June 11th, 10 – 11:30 AM CT (9 – 10:30 AM MT)

Come learn about creative, multi-sector belonging work in rural Idaho! “We Belong to Each Other” is a powerful, interactive presentation rooted in the work of Unity Alliance of Southern Idaho, an organization committed to building compassionate, connected communities. Through inspiring stories, visuals, and small group dialogue, participants will explore how fostering belonging can transform lives and reduce division—and discover how they can take meaningful action to help everyone feel seen, valued, and supported. Join this conversation with Alejandra Hernandez, Executive Director of Unity Alliance of Southern Idaho, and Matthew Hicks, Twin Falls Police Chief.

Alejandra Hernandez
Alejandra was born and raised in Santiago, Chile where she earned a BA in Agricultural Engineering and an MA in Social Communication. When she moved to the USA in 1997, she went back to school to learn English and earned a BA in Educational Psychology and an MA in Educational Leadership from Cambridge College, Massachusetts. She is the Executive Director of Unity Alliance of Southern Idaho, a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes the understanding that ALL immigrants contribute to our region’s economy, way of life, and values. Passion is what drives everything she does in life. She is a lifelong learner and her mantra in life is “Get curious, not furious.” Currently she lives in Twin Falls with Margarito, her best PETsona!

Matthew Hicks
Just last month, Mathew Hicks was named Twin Falls Police Chief. He has been with the police department since 1993 demonstrating a commitment to high standards within the department. Matthew holds an MA in Human Resource Training and Development from Idaho State University, a degree from the FBI National Academy in Police Administration, and a BA in Political Science & Sociology from Carroll College. He also contributes to the growth and success of the community as a business co-owner. 

Hicks said his goal as Chief is to continue building the relationships Twin Falls Police has established. He also expressed his desire to form new ones with groups and communities who might feel like they lack a connection with the police force.

Save these dates! More information on these sessions to come! 

Session 2: Authentic Allyship in Community

• Wednesday, July 9th, 10 – 11:30 AM CT (9 – 10:30 AM MT)

Session 3: Wellness through Indigenous and Immigrant Wisdom

• Wednesday, August 13th, 7 – 8:30 PM CT (6 – 7:30 PM MT)(Evening Session)

Session 4:  Your Silence Hurts – Disrupting Bias

• Wednesday, September 10th, 10 – 11:30 AM CT (9 – 10:30 AM MT)

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.