1st Place
"Sister Get-Together": Community for a Refugee Family from Sudan
By Marissa Lindemann
Since July 2021, 14 Sudanese refugee women in Lincoln, Nebraska, have been gathering in one another’s homes every two weeks to celebrate their culture and their bonds of female friendship. They eat Sudanese food, care for each other’s children, and help one another feel at home. Aisha Ibrahim, 30, spent her Saturday preparing to host the group while caring for her family. Sudanese Refugees are the fourth largest refugee population in Nebraska, according to data from the Nebraska Refugee Health Report in 2020. Aisha and her husband are busy people: they must juggle the responsibilities of being students, parents, and employees- but they prioritize the community they’ve formed.
2nd Place
Signs of Community
Maddy Wells
In the Lincoln community, there exists a smaller group bound by the shared struggle of homelessness. Within this group, connections form—moments of solidarity that offer hope and help in the fight for survival. But as the day ends, these connections often fade, leaving individuals to face the world alone once again. The homeless community comes together for support, finding strength in one another as they navigate each day.
3rd Place
BockFest: Brewing Tradition
By Leah Bryan
When President Lincoln signed the Homestead Act of 1862 attracting European settlers, German immigrants nested in the Lincoln area, founding neighborhoods like the North Bottoms along Salt Creek, which are still in use today. Lincoln has around 200 cultural events a year, including BockFest, a winter German beer festival, catered to share German heritage, culture, food and games. The festival is presented by Bierhaus Maisschäler and organized by co-owner Cody Schmick, who says he shares the German culture in this way because “around Nebraska, almost everybody has some German in them, so it's a really good way to celebrate that old world culture that maybe we don't get a lot as Americans.”
4th Place
An Inside Look at the Heart of Gateway Vista: The Final Community
By Jazlynn Sanders
We are shaped by the communities we belong to throughout our lives – family, friends, work. For Therese (Tess) Koehler and her fellow residents, Gateway Vista Senior Living Facility is their last; a final destination after lives fully lived. Built on unwavering love, compassion and care, it is more than a residence; it's a home. As we age, a support system is essential as one navigates life transitions such as retirement or losing a loved one. Gateway in Lincoln, Neb. is a community filled with comfort, connection and the gentle beauty of lives finding their rest.
5th Place
Just Feed One: Community in Congregation
Ruth Bailey
The community of Lincoln, Nebraska embodies a spirit of unity where residents from all walks of life come together to support those in need. Matt Talbot’s Kitchen and Outreach serves as a cornerstone of this communal care, providing two hot meals a day and a place where people can gather. Dozens of people of all ages and backgrounds gather around shared tables during mealtimes. Different groups of people, including long-time members of St. Johns, Community Corrections staff and groups of friends, come together to help those experiencing homelessness. The city’s collective response to hardship, especially during the deadly cold, demonstrates how Lincoln’s diverse population forms a blanket of mutual support and understanding for one another.
