Building Community and

Promoting Health

El Centro de las Américas is more than just an organization; it is a symbol of hope and resilience for Lincoln's Latino community.

By providing essential services and support, El Centro works to improve Latino health and wellbeing through programs that promote cancer screening, breastfeeding, and mental health support.

El Centro also works to promote multicultural understanding and appreciation in our community through family friendly events like the upcoming Latino Festival, on Sept. 14, from 2 - 7pm.

Visitors to the festival will enjoy music, dance, food, and fun activities like piñatas, and face painting. Read more.

Garden Fresh Taste of Good Health

Two of Lincoln's nonprofits, Nebraska Extension and Community Crops share a mission to fight food insecurity and improve health - and gardens are a part of that strategy.

Extensions' Growing Together Nebraska is a project where volunteers spend thousands of hours building and managing donation gardens. Since 2016, more than 255,000 lbs. of produce from the gardens have been donated to those in need.

Besides managing community gardens throughout the city where people can have plots, Community Crops provides training, technical assistance, and land access to beginning, immigrant and limited-resource farmers to help them create sustainable farm businesses to feed their families and their community.

Read more in our latest Health and the City. Co-written with LNKTV Health.

Matt Talbot Offers Bold Hope

The mission of Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach is to relieve hunger, overcome homelessness, address addiction, and provide outreach and advocacy.

Matt Talbot is helping more guests every year and the needs are growing. Last year Matt Talbot provided over 250,000 meals and 50,000 homeless prevention services.

You can be a part of of meeting these critical needs by volunteering to accept monetary donations on behalf of Matt Talbot in 1.5-hour time slots before the Husker football game on Friday, Sept. 20th, or at grocery stores throughout Lincoln from Sept. 19 – 21. 

Read more about volunteer opportunities and other programs to improve access to healthy food in Matt Talbot's September partner highlight.

The latest COVID vaccine, due out in early fall, is tailored to the newest strains. Because immunity wanes over time, it's important to get the updated vaccine if you haven't received one in the last 12 months, especially for the medically vulnerable.

People over 55, those diabetes, asthma, COPD, autoimmune diseases, or high blood pressure, anyone going through chemo or is a cancer survivor, etc., are still at high risk of hospitalization and death. The federal government no longer covers the cost of the vaccines, but most people with Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance will not have to pay out of pocket for the shot.

For those who are not medically vulnerable, updated vaccination still prevents serious illness, shortens days off from work and/or school, and lowers the risk of long COVID. Learn more.

Fall and Winter Youth Sports

Registration is open for several sports. Find details about current program offerings including program descriptions, days, times, and costs here.

The NESC is offering a limited number of wellness consultations for members and non-members that include a one-hour meeting, “Lunch and Learn” sessions, health screenings, health coaching, and mental or emotional health resources.  Email or call 402-483-2511 ext. 103 to learn more.

September Urban Grower Classes

Native Plants 101 9/7/24, 10am - 12pm. Learn about different native plants for pollinator support and drought tolerant landscaping.

Clover Cropping for Healthy Soils, 9/21/24, 1 - 3pm. Overview of clover cropping, how to use it for soil management and weed control. Learn more or register.

The Asian Community and Cultural Center invites the community to join them on Sept. 22 for the Harvest Moon Festival. Learn more.

NeighborWorks Lincoln

NeighborWorks Lincoln's annual benefit, Opening Doors is Sept. 26, at the Lincoln Children's Zoo.

The event will include the 4th annual Spirit of Lincoln Neighborhood Awards, honoring those who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing affordable housing and strengthening neighborhoods. Guest will enjoy dinner, drinks, yard games, animal encounters, and a meaningful program.

Learn more/get tickets.

Nebraska Sports Council

Registration is now open for the 2024 annual youth Pumpkin Run, a one mile fun run, the largest of it's kind on the nation. Register by October 1 for a free t-shirt.

Learn more or sign up.

Wild Fall Festival

Explore all things wild at the free Pioneer Park Nature Center Wild Fall festival on Sat., Sept. 28, from 1 - 4pm at the Prairie Building.

Learn about plants, animals and the environment from local experts and educators. Center will give away 250 fall trees in conjunction with the festival. Check out fall activities.

To sign up 5th - 7th graders for Salvation Army Small Fry basketball, email Matthew Drommond.