Discover the goodness of greater Nebraska communities
We believe every Nebraska community has stories to tell, unique gifts to offer, and possibilities waiting to be uncovered. Through our experiences as Hometown Interns with our local Nebraska Community Foundation affiliated funds, we have learned that Greater Nebraska’s greatest asset is its people. When we take the time to listen, build relationships, and recognize what is already here, we uncover the goodness that exists in every community.
Seeing our hometowns through a lens of abundance has transformed the way we view the places we call home.
That perspective is rooted in asset-based community development (ABCD). Too often, communities begin by asking what is missing. ABCD invites us to ask a different question: What is already here?
The answers are not found by checking off to-do lists. They are uncovered through relationships. As we spend time with our neighbors, listen to their stories, and ask thoughtful questions, we begin to see their passions, talents, and hopes for the future. We stop seeing communities as collections of needs and start seeing them as networks of people who care deeply and are eager to contribute.
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That is the invitation of Hometown Interns: to slow down, build relationships, and discover the strengths already present in every community.
We spend time getting to know people. We sit around kitchen tables, visit local businesses, attend community events, and ask questions. Through those conversations, we discover the incredible gifts, experiences, and ideas people bring to the places they call home. Together, those strengths help shape the future of our communities.
This summer, we stepped into new roles as ABCD Fellows while continuing our work with Hometown Interns. As two self-proclaimed Type A high achievers, it took us a little while to embrace one of NCF’s favorite phrases: “tear up the to-do list.”
At first, it felt counterintuitive. Were we not supposed to accomplish as much as possible during a ten-week internship?
Then we realized the most meaningful work could not be measured by a list of accomplishments. It came through relationships: listening to people’s stories, recognizing their strengths, and reflecting that goodness back at them. When we see and appreciate the gifts around us, we create the kinds of connections that make us proud to be part of Greater Nebraska.
And that feeling is contagious.
As we spend time with this year’s cohort of Hometown Interns through one-on-one conversations and shared learning experiences, we watch something remarkable happen. Week by week, our fellow young Nebraskans find their voices. They share ideas during video calls, raise their hands during gatherings, and step into leadership in their hometowns.
Watching that unfold teaches us something we will carry long after this summer: belonging is not something we create for people. It grows when people know their contributions matter and have opportunities to share what they bring.
As ABCD Fellows, we have the privilege of traveling across Nebraska to visit interns in their communities. Every visit reminds us that every place has goodness waiting to be uncovered. Sometimes it takes fresh eyes. Sometimes it takes a thoughtful question. More often, it simply takes a conversation.
And the interns continue to amaze us.
They are writing children’s books about returning home. They are planning community celebrations. They are hosting “Needle Nights” at their local libraries where older and younger generations crochet, knit, and simply spend time together. None of these ideas begin with a checklist. They begin with curiosity, relationships, and a willingness to listen.
The result is stronger connections, new opportunities, and communities shaped by the people who know and love them best.
We have also been challenged to put these ideas into practice in our own hometowns.
Natalie founded the 308 Run Club, where community members gather every Monday evening to run or walk together before heading to the local Mexican restaurant, where everyone’s first drink is free. What started as a simple invitation has become a growing community of familiar faces, new friendships, and meaningful connections.
Hannah recently helped plan and lead Shickley’s first Youth Engagement Camp, bringing together students entering first through eighth grade to explore the community that has helped shape them. While these projects look different, they share the same purpose: creating spaces where people connect, contribute, and discover they have something valuable to offer.
Who would have thought two girls from different corners of Nebraska would one day spend their summer traveling across the state, cheering on leaders of all ages and falling even more in love with the places that make Nebraska special?
Somewhere between the miles driven, the conversations shared, and the stories heard around kitchen tables, we realized Nebraska is not just where we are from. It is where we want to build our lives and make a difference.
Every hometown has a story worth telling, and we are grateful to play a small part in writing its next chapter.
