Earlier this month, Cohort 6 of the Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy (PLA) held the second meeting of its 2024-25 program in North Platte. This day-long workshop focused on strategies to build political momentum at the local level for early childhood...
The 2024-25 class of the Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy (PLA) kicked off October 9 in Kearney with a new class of 24 citizen advocates. A program of First Five Nebraska, the PLA is the state’s premier, nonpartisan leadership initiative focused on...
First Five Nebraska’s Jodi-Renee Girón reflects on the achievements of our 2023-24 PLA graduates and why milestones mean more than finish lines.
The Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy Class 5 convened November 15 in Norfolk for their second workshop, which focused on creating policy impact at the local level, including becoming an expert on their community, the role of local government and how to affect...
The fifth class of the Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy is underway! Twenty-six citizen advocates met up for the first time in Ogallala for an orientation dinner and the first of five workshops. Representing Nebraska from the western border all the...
The Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy (PLA) is excited to announce that applications are open for Class 5! We’re looking for individuals with a passion for early childhood and pre/perinatal issues who want to be effective change agents in their communities. ...
Last week, we at First Five Nebraska were proud to recognize the fourth class of the Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy as they finished the program and graduated into the statewide network of PLA alumni. This class was exceptional in a handful of ways: They...
This year’s Policy Leadership Academy (PLA) Class 4 gathered in Hastings on November 16 for their second workshop of the 2022-2023 session. First Five Nebraska’s non-partisan PLA program trains and empowers citizen advocates to work with policymakers at all...
I had the privilege of meeting in Kearney recently with the Nebraska Association of Elementary School Principals’ (NAESP) leadership cohort. Kristine Luebbe, director of Programs & Partnerships at the Nebraska Department of Education and I have been working to...
“It’s about long-term momentum.” It takes a lot to give young children the best possible start in life. It takes cohesive, resilient families who are prepared to address children’s earliest developmental needs. It takes quality early childhood services and supports to...
Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy is accepting applications for the next class through July 22. Created by First Five Nebraska four years ago, the Policy Leadership Academy (PLA) is Nebraska’s premier, non-partisan leadership development program...
As I continue my travels around Nebraska to meet and renew friendships with alumni of the first three classes of the Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy (PLA). I made the easy drive into Grand Island to meet with Robin Dexter (PLA Class 1), associate...