Summer is Here!

We are off to the races with our Summer Fun and Omaha Public School’s Next Level Learning partnership . The CFY team is already planning for the upcoming school year and excited for what the future holds. Please enjoy our newsletter to see what we have been up to.

Statewide Youth Development Coalition-

Collective for Youth joined forces with MENTOR Nebraska and Beyond School Bells to host the first-ever Statewide Youth Development Coalition Action Planning Summit in Lincoln.

For two powerful days in late April, 34 leaders from 26 afterschool and mentoring programs across Nebraska came together to build connections, align priorities, and create a bold action plan for the future of youth development programs. We’re creating a stronger, more connected future for youth and making sure policymakers, funders, and decision-makers invest in the programs and opportunities young people need to thrive.

The next legislative session begins January 2027—but the work starts now. Ready to be part of the movement? Contact Nicole Everingham at neveringham@collectiveforyouth.org to learn more and join the coalition.

CFY NETWORK Celebration-

On May 13, 2026, the Collective for Youth (CFY) network gathered at Blue Sky Patio & Pickleball to celebrate the conclusion of the 2025-2026 school year.

The event served as a vital touchpoint for the afterschool community, offering partners and staff a space to reflect on a year of dedicated service to Omaha’s youth. Against the vibrant backdrop of the pickleball courts, attendees transitioned from the rigors of the semester to a late morning of team-building and professional networking.

The celebration highlighted the network’s collective impact, reinforcing the partnerships that drive Collective for Youth’s mission. As the event concluded, the mood was one of renewed commitment, marking a successful close to another school year of providing high quality programming to the youth in our programs.

We’d like to give an extra shout out to the Scott Scholars from UNO for helping to organize this event! It was a huge success and a great time was had by all.

Two in Five Nebraska Children Whose Parents Want Structured Summer Learning Programs For Them Are Missing Out. Parents Who are Enrolled Give Programs High Marks.

A new study commissioned by the Afterschool Alliance reveals a stark gap between the demand and availability of summer learning opportunities for families in Omaha. The Summer Struggle for Omaha Families report highlights that the parents of 46,045 Omaha children want to enroll in summer programs, yet 17,449 of those children are currently missing out. Working families in the metro area face significant hurdles, with cost, location or transportation, and a lack of clear program information cited as the primary barriers preventing enrollment. Click HERE to view the press release.

This unmet need leaves many parents in a difficult position as they try to balance work obligations by finding safe, affordable, and enriching environments for their children during the summer months.
Despite these challenges, local support for summer programming remains overwhelmingly positive. An impressive 95% of Omaha parents whose children are enrolled report being satisfied with their programs, and 94% of local parents favor public funding to support these summer learning opportunities.

Responding to the findings, Megan Addison, Executive Director of Collective for Youth, noted that while Omaha has made a real commitment to building strong, remarkable youth programs, there is still substantial work to do. To address this gap, Collective for Youth is collaborating with Beyond School Bells and MENTOR Nebraska to convene a statewide coalition of experts dedicated to ensuring that no child in Omaha or across Nebraska is left out due to cost or location.

Click HERE to read the national news release.

Click HERE to watch a recording of the Afterschool Alliance webinar.

From Nature to NASA: Pine Elementary’s Biomimicry STEM Pilot Takes Flight

Pine Elementary recently piloted an exciting new STEM experience that brought biomimicry to life for students through a unique partnership with Nebraska Space Grant, funded by NASA. Led by Site Director Addie Sanchez, the program engaged 21 students in hands-on lessons that connected real-world NASA science with the natural world. From exploring how animals inspire innovation to actively participating in interactive activities, students were fully engaged and eager to learn, often without even realizing how much they were absorbing. Addie’s leadership and willingness to pilot something new made this opportunity possible, and it’s clear the impact on students was both meaningful and lasting. The overall experience was a strong success! It was one that left students asking for more and staff already thinking about how to carry these strategies forward into future programming.

We’re incredibly grateful to Nebraska Space Grant for their partnership and investment in bringing this innovative, NASA-connected learning opportunity to our sites. And a special shoutout to Addie Sanchez for embracing the pilot with confidence and enthusiasm, as your leadership truly made a difference. If your site is interested in exploring similar STEM opportunities or piloting new experiences, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

-Save the Dates-

GetConnected 2026 Nebraska Afterschool Conference
March 14-17, 2027 National Afterschool Association Conference
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