ABOUT US:

OUR STORY: DIVERSE STRATEGIES, ONE BIG GOAL

Since 1988, Community Connections has worked to create positive change with a direct and lasting impact in our community — change that inspires others to work towards a better tomorrow for youth and families, change that develops leaders who care, and change that creates positive role models.

OUR MISSION: CONNECT PEOPLE, ENHANCE LIVES

We build connections between community agencies, businesses, neighborhoods, schools, families, and individuals to coordinate activities, services, and programs that enhance the quality of life in Lincoln County. We create change and inspire others to work together toward a better tomorrow for youth and families.

Our History & Our Future

In 1988, we proudly created and named Connections, an interagency youth and family action network, a significant milestone we all share in our community's history. Over the next few years, we initiated the Strategic Planning Days. This pivotal moment significantly shaped our future initiatives and collaborations, underscoring their importance in our organizational history.

In the 1990s, we began collaborating with the North Platte School District. We were pivotal in forming support groups for various populations, establishing improved communication between agencies to facilitate the best care for kids, and establishing 20 interagency agreements. A significant stride in community development occurred with the creation of Unified Pride. This platform brought the community together and fostered a sense of belonging. We also expanded the tax base, contributing to our community's financial growth and stability. We then moved on to secure the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation grant funding, hired a Director, created Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation, and later achieved our 501(C)3 status. Closing the decade, Community Connections claimed a national Award for Excellence in Community Collaboration for Children and Youth, and the High Expectations Mentoring program transferred from Health and Human Services to Community Connections.

In the 2000s, we introduced the concept of Community Grant Writing. This pioneering approach allowed us to secure funding for our initiatives. This concept marked a new phase in our efforts to empower the youth and the community. A monthly prescription drug collection became a part of the services coordinated by Community Connections and, fifteen years later, is still going strong, taking place every third Saturday at Bomgaars in North Platte, NE. Our annual fundraiser, Doggy Dash, was also born around this time, beginning in September 2011, and expanded to join the Platte River Fitness Series three years later.

In 2018, we found our permanent home in the Nebraskland Bank building in beautiful downtown North Platte, and we were blessed to celebrate our 35th anniversary as an organization. A partnership with HOPE Esperanza was developed in 2022 from a shared mission to enhance quality of life issues for our ever-changing and growing community. We continue to look for new ways to grow, collaborate, and meet the needs of our community.

Our Staff:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Jayna
Schaaf  

SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION SYSTEM

Position OPen, 
Coordinator

Our MEMBERS:

Community Connections Board of Directors

Substance Abuse prevention system coalition

• Kendall Allison

• Shane Belgum

• Wayne Connell

• Moriah Eickhoff

• Brian Flanders

• Angela Franz

• Jeremiah Johnson

• Jerome Kramer

• Nickie Kroon

• Sandee Kroon

• Linda Logsdon

• Kevin Mills

• Dan Newton

• Sara Ningen

• Dan O’Neill

• Ted Pucylowski

• Kim Riley

• Jayna Schaaf

• Jennifer Schlager

• Brett Schmidt

• Shannon Sell

• Morgan Simpson

• Meghan Trevino

• Elizabeth Woods

Tobacco Free Lincoln County Coalition

Mentoring Advisory council