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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.