Raising Justice

Host Juliet Summers is joined by Eric Savaiano of Nebraska Appleseed and Josh Shirk, research coordinator at Voices for Children in Nebraska, to dig into the findings of the latest Kids Count in Nebraska Report. A focused conversation on food insecurity, this episode explores the power of combining research and advocacy to drive change, and what the 2025 Kids Count data mean for improving well-being for Nebraska’s kids and families.

In this mid-session check-in, host Juliet Summers is joined by Eric Reiter, advocacy and community collaborations coordinator at Voices for Children in Nebraska, for a grounded look at what’s moving in the 2026 Nebraska Legislative Session. Eric sheds light on how lawmakers, advocates, and community members often bring very different ideas about what’s best for child well-being—and how those perspectives shape the debates unfolding in the Unicameral. Together, they walk through key bills impacting kids and families, highlight emerging trends, and share what to watch as the session heads into its second half.

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.

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.

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!