Parent Ambassador Program
The Parent Ambassador Program is a year-long leadership and advocacy program for parents of early learners in Nebraska. The goal of this program is to develop parent leaders and support them in advocating for their children, themselves, and their communities.
Applications for the Class of 2026 are now closed, but you can still express your interest in joining a future Parent Ambassador cohort using the form below.
Elevating Parent and Provider Voices in Nebraska
When it comes to creating impactful change for Nebraska’s youngest children, parents and early childhood educators are the most authentic and most affected groups needed at the table. The Parent Ambassador program was created to support these essential voices in advocating for their children, themselves, and their communities. Each year, a cohort of up to 20 parents of young children and child care providers are selected to participate in this year-long leadership and advocacy program.
During the program, Parent Ambassadors
- Learn the ins and outs of advocacy
- Meet with community organizations
- Set personal and program goals
- Network with other Parent Ambassadors
- Receive a stipend for participation
- Attend legislative sessions
- Participate in program events & more
2022 Parent Ambassador Robin Wilkins
Parent Leader Outcomes
Evaluation Survey Results 2021 – 2022
As part of evaluating program impact, the inaugural class of Parent Ambassadors were surveyed at the beginning and end of their program year. In addition to changes in civic attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors, the majority of parents reported that, as a direct result of Parent Ambassadors, they had thought about or taken steps to make changes in their personal lives.
Mission, Vision & Values
Parent Ambassadors acquire knowledge about civic and community engagement and develop leadership skills to advocate for themselves, their families, and others to create positive change in early learning programs, schools, and communities.
All families feel empowered regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status to engage in the process of policy & decision-making at local, state, and federal levels that affect their children’s outcomes and family well-being.
Parents bring truth to public policy and are invaluable to civic discourse.
Parents are leaders in their families, programs, and communities.
Parents are not a problem to be fixed.
Parents are the drivers of solutions to societal problems.
Every parent starts in a different place and has a different trajectory.
- Karissa Blecha | Gothenburg
- Becky Boring | Lincoln
- Kamber Carlson | Ithaca
- Heather Clark | Lincoln
- Sydni Closson | Gering
- Sam Dov | Lincoln
- Janina “Nina” Fidler-Budren | Omaha
- Amber Harper | Grand Island
- Sarah Hubel | Stromsburg
- Karina Leon | Omaha
- Sylvia Lupo | Broken Bow
- Bobbi Mason | Hastings
- Hannah Mayo | Creighton
- Tammy Kresser | Kearney
- Jasmine Renchie | Omaha
- Taylor Ruzicka-Scheele | Fairbury
- Halie Thaden | Gothenburg
- Melissa Ury | Omaha
- La’Shaundra Young | Lincoln
- Alannah Van Winkle | Grand Island
- Alba Perez (Rocio Gonazalez) | Grand Island
- Alisia Quevedo | Omaha
- Brandy Price | Pierce
- Cheyenne Hoffman | Elm Creek
- China Jones | Omaha
- Chloe Hug | Omaha
- Danielle “Elle” Patocka | Omaha
- Felicia Heavican | Schuyler
- Franck Toe | Papillion
- Jada Bluford | Lincoln
- Jessica Coffey | Bennet
- Laura Juarez | Lexington
- Megan McDonough | Hazard
- Michelle Lind | Bennet
- Natasha Sukup | Gothenburg
- Rachel Lemirand | Doniphan
- Toya Sherrod | Omaha
- Sarah Videgala | Omaha
- Shawnta Penn | Omaha
- Taylor Furna | Syracuse
- Zavier Pitt | Papillion
- Apple Grandi-Avina | Omaha, NE
- April Caples | Lincoln, NE
- Bethany Gerdes | Kenesaw, NE
- Breanna Young | Omaha, NE
- Dawn Fusselman | Omaha, NE
- Glendy Vega | Grand Island, NE
- Hannah Fern | Bellevue, NE
- Holly Hoeppner | Hartington, NE
- Jodi Chapek | Weston, NE
- Jordan Wintz | Pierce, NE
- Liliana Martinez | Lincoln, NE
- Makaela Clemons | Omaha, NE
- Meghan Moore | Omaha, NE
- Nicole Tooker | Lincoln, NE
- Nisha Davis | Omaha, NE
- Shavette Giddins | Omaha, NE
- Stacie Landa | Tecumseh, NE
- Tiffani Awortwi | Omaha, NE
- Tiffany Luna | Minden, NE
- Vicki Chandler-Smith | Grant, NE
2024 Successes
Coming soon!
- Alicia Hilario | Omaha, NE
- Amber Serrano-Wiley | Waterloo, NE
- Anilu Saavedra | Bellevue, NE
- Irasema Nafarrate | Omaha, NE
- Kaycee Meister | Elkhorn, NE
- Kiarra Morgan | Omaha, NE
- Lisa Jones | Cairo, NE
- Marlen Diaz Aguilar | O’Neill, NE
- Mirian Balcazar Ruiz | Omaha, NE
- Sarah Azara | Omaha, NE
- Sarah Landell | Dannebrog, NE
- Shayna Hudson | Gering, NE
- Tiffany Weiss | Kearney, NE
- Víctor Edén Calvo Menes | O’Neill, NE
2023 Successes
Coming soon!
We welcomed our first class of Parent Ambassadors in 2022. This first group set the bar for future classes and has documented some incredible achievements throughout their ambassadorship.
- Thalia Wilson | Chadron, NE
- Madison Reiman | Fremont, NE
- Junior Sanabria | Gering, NE
- Ashley Schmit | Lincoln, NE
- Jess Parker | Lincoln, NE
- Shannon Hampson | Lincoln, NE
- Amy Boyer | Omaha, NE
- Ashley Palumbo | Omaha, NE
- Brandie Hollingsworth | Omaha, NE
- Jes Felder | Omaha, NE
- Khe’Yana Overstreet | Omaha, NE
- LaTonya Richardson Orduna | Omaha, NE
- Olivia Beasley | Omaha, NE
- Robin Wilkins | Omaha, NE
- Kelsee Sayer | Peru, NE
- Tana Eddy | Republican City, NE
- Steph Gochoel | Scottsbluff, NE
Our inaugural class of Parent Ambassadors had the opportunity to meet with several organizations and stakeholders to learn about advocacy, legislation, and important initiatives happening across Nebraska. They also had the opportunity to visit the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln to hear floor debates, meet with Senators, and learn more about the legislative process and how to contact their lawmakers.
2022 Successes
There were many exciting initiatives and events that our Parent Ambassadors took part in during their ambassadorship. Below are some of the highlights:
- Two Ambassadors attended the first National Parent Ambassador Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona.
- Spoke on a panel for the We Care for Kids Campaign
- Spoke on a panel at the Thriving Children, Families, and Communities conference
- Met with the Children’s Hospital Board to discuss the change of screening policy for parental mental health
- Participated in the Nemaha County Childcare Provider Gallery Walk, working on meeting with her senator
- Sits on the Parent Policy Council for EHS covering Box Butte, Dawes, Sheridan and Cherry Counties
- Shared her family’s story with the Omaha Reader
- Testified for LB838 and LB702
- Held a voting registration party before the Nebraska primaries
- Worked with a local nonprofit to expand resources for Hispanic families in Scotts Bluff County
- Met with Senator Dorn to share concerns, ideas, and offer solutions. Also joined the National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Program as a member of their Family Voice Committee
Frequently Asked Questions
- Parent Ambassadors commit to participating in two bi-weekly, 1.5hr Zoom calls per month.
- Additionally, we ask that PAs check their Slack app twice per week to stay up to date on any upcoming training, advocacy actions, and to interact with their PA peers.
- Quarterly, PAs are expected to participate in a full day (8hr), in person conference. Depending on your home location, additional travel time may be required.
- On an average month you can expect to set aside approximately 5-8hrs per month, during a month with a conference you can expect to set aside 15-20hrs.
- Participants must attend at least three of the four conferences within the year and at least 75% of the scheduled Zoom calls.
- Zoom calls fall on the first and third Monday of each month (if that Monday is a holiday we will reschedule to another Monday in the month), 3 of the 4 conferences fall on a Saturday and locations vary, our February conference always occurs on a weekday in February as this will be our Day at the Capitol.
No! This is an advocacy 101 and leadership development program so if you have no prior advocacy experience or knowledge that is OK!
- Nothing! We hope to cover any costs that might be a barrier for participation so in addition to a $500 participation stipend we also provide a childcare stipend for all conferences, a missed work day stipend if you miss a day of work in order to participate in a PA conference, mileage for any in person events that you travel to, we also provide meals during events and/or provide a meal per diem.
- Participation stipend is based on attendance.
Yes! Spanish interpretation is available. If other languages are needed, we will coordinate for appropriate interpretation and translation services.
