Raising Justice

Voices for Children in Nebraska
  • 5.0 (9)
  • NON-PROFIT

If you are passionate about issues that impact Nebraska children and families, this podcast is for you! At Voices for Children in Nebraska, we work to ensure every child in our state has the opportunity to thrive, and we believe education and advocacy are key to making that happen.

Episodes

  1. JAN 2

    Preparing for the 2026 Legislative Session: What’s at Stake for Nebraska’s Kids

    As Nebraska lawmakers head into a budget-heavy legislative session, critical decisions about children and families are on the line. In this episode of Raising Justice, host Juliet Summers sits down with Anahí Salazar, Director of Economic Stability, Education, & Health Policy at Voices for Children in Nebraska, to unpack key anticipated carry-over priorities from 2025, what to expect during a short session, and why funding decisions around programs like the child care subsidy matter.

    20 min

  2. 12/02/2025

    Nebraska Youth Perspectives: Understanding Food Security

    In this episode of Raising Justice, host Juliet Summers sits down with two members of Voices for Children in Nebraska’s Youth Leadership Council, Ta’Miyah Wright and Tay’Viana Robinson, to explore food security from their perspective. Join us for an honest conversation about what hunger looks like in their schools and communities, potential solutions, and what gives young people hope for the future.

    34 min

  3. 10/16/2025

    Early Childhood Matters: Building Strong Foundations for Nebraska’s Kids

    Host Juliet Summers sits down with Anne Thompson Brandt, Executive Director of Lincoln Littles, to discuss why early childhood care and education are critical for kids, families, and communities as a whole. They explore barriers like cost and workforce shortages, and how policy and community solutions can build a stronger future for Nebraska’s children.

    43 min

  4. 07/24/2025

    Political Determinants of Health: The Policy Roots of Well-Being

    What truly determines a child’s health? In this episode of Raising Justice, host Juliet Summers is joined by Dr. Ali Khan, Dean of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health, to explore the powerful role that policy plays in shaping community health. Together, they unpack the social and political determinants of health—from housing and education to legislation and systems of power—and examine how these forces impact children and families across Nebraska.

    31 min

  5. 06/17/2025

    Pride and Policy: Advocating for LGBTQ+ Youth

    What does it mean to truly support all children? In this Pride Month episode of Raising Justice, host Juliet Summers is joined by Eric Reiter, Social Media and Community Engagement Associate at Voices for Children in Nebraska. Listen as Eric shares their personal perspective, the power of visibility, and how LGBTQ+ youth advocacy and visibility can help build a Nebraska where every child can thrive. Whether you’re an advocate, policymaker, or ally, this conversation offers insight on how to show up for LGBTQ+ kids—not just during Pride Month, but all year long.

    31 min

  6. 05/27/2025

    The Original Advocate: A Conversation with Kathy Bigsby Moore

    In this episode of Raising Justice, host Juliet Summers, current executive director of Voices for Children in Nebraska, sits down with founding director, Kathy Bigsby Moore. Kathy reflects on the early days of the organization, the bold vision that sparked its creation, and the enduring values that continue to shape its advocacy today. Together, Juliet and Kathy explore the evolution of child-focused policy work in Nebraska, the challenges and victories along the way, and what it means to build lasting systems change. This episode is both a celebration of the past and a call to action for the future, reminding us that raising justice starts with raising our voices.

    36 min

  7. 05/02/2025

    Episode 4 - Kids Count in Nebraska - Why Data Matters for Change

    In this episode of Raising Justice, host Juliet Summers is joined by Dr. Josh Shirk, research coordinator at Voices for Children in Nebraska, to discuss how data can drive better policies and outcomes for kids. Together, they explore why it’s critical to measure what matters, how the data is used to inform state leaders and community advocates, and what this year’s findings reveal about the challenges and opportunities facing Nebraska’s children. Whether you're a policymaker, parent, advocate, or educator, this episode will help you understand why data isn't just about counting kids—it's about making every kid count.

    40 min

  8. 03/24/2025

    Episode 3 - Juvenile Justice: Why detention is rarely the answer

    For many youth, time spent in juvenile detention doesn’t lead to rehabilitation—it leads to deeper harm and lasting consequences. In this episode of Raising Justice, host Juliet Summers sits down with Nia Williams, Youth and Family Engagement Coordinator at Voices for Children in Nebraska, to discuss juvenile justice in our state. Joining the conversation is local artist Johnny Chatmon, who shares his firsthand experience of being detained as a youth and perspective on how we can better help young people in need of development. Together, they explore the failures of the system, the need for alternatives, and what a more just future could look like for Nebraska’s kids.

    39 min

  9. 01/30/2025

    Episode 2 - Who knew tax credits could be so exciting?

    Juliet and Voices for Children policy coordinator Katie Nungesser dive into one of our advocacy pillars—economic stability. Listen in as Katie shares her experience navigating poverty as a single mom, how it has influenced her career path and work with Voices, and ways you can get involved with current bills at the Nebraska state legislature that will help families make ends meet.

    31 min

  10. 01/05/2025

    Episode 1 - Introducing Raising Justice

    Welcome to the very first episode of Raising Justice! In this inaugural episode, meet Juliet Summers, Executive Director of Voices for Children in Nebraska, and Anahí Salazar, Policy Coordinator. Juliet and Anahí share their personal journeys—how a former public defender and a former public school teacher came together to advocate for children across Nebraska. They dive into what drives their passion for this work and outline the critical issues Voices for Children will champion in the 109th Nebraska Legislative session. From tackling child hunger through expanded access to universal school meals to advocating for transformative changes in juvenile justice, Juliet and Anahí set the stage for the vital advocacy efforts ahead. Join us as we kick off Raising Justice and explore how we can build a Nebraska where every child has the opportunity to thrive. Listen now and raise your voice for Nebraska’s kids!

    27 min
  • 10 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

If you are passionate about issues that impact Nebraska children and families, this podcast is for you! At Voices for Children in Nebraska, we work to ensure every child in our state has the opportunity to thrive, and we believe education and advocacy are key to making that happen.

Information

  • Creator
    Voices for Children in Nebraska
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Voices for Children in Nebraska
  • Show Website
    Raising Justice