The Latino Center of the Midland’s Siembra Nebraska program serves Omaha’s youth, particularly those from low- to moderate-income families in South Omaha. This paid internship program has been a spark for more than 200 young people in the past three years, connecting them to career opportunities and equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to succeed.
The program’s comprehensive approach includes a work-readiness orientation, career conferences, and carefully selected internship placements that align with the participants’ interests. The partnership with Project Houseworks, a nonprofit organization that refurbishes housing for low-income residents, has been particularly impactful, offering interns practical experience in the high-demand construction industry.
Since its inception, Siembra Nebraska has seen remarkable growth and impact. The program’s success is evident with a 92% completion rate in 2023, exceeding its initial goal of 80%. Participants have gained hands-on experience in fields such as marketing, healthcare, urban agriculture, and construction, setting them on paths to promising futures.
For Fatima, the program opened new doors. “Before this internship, I never thought of education as a career, but now I am interested in becoming a teacher.”
Ashley, who plans to pursue a career in medicine, shared this: “The internship provided me with career enrichment and helped me explore careers I have not been exposed to and helped me understand that in order to understand health, you must understand the social determinants of health. When I am a doctor, I have to think about the outside factors that affect individuals such as food scarcity, genetics, and where they live.”
A recent survey found that 49% of former interns are currently enrolled in college, 10% are still in high school, and 36% are working either part-time or full-time. These results underscore the long-term impact of Siembra Nebraska on the lives of its interns.
This program received support from the City of Omaha ARPA Community Grant Program. In 2023, the ARPA program awarded $148,832 to Siembra Nebraska, enabling it to expand its capacity and impact. This funding is part of a larger $9.6 million awarded to 35 nonprofit organizations in Omaha, with a focus on areas such as crisis intervention, violence prevention, and workforce development.
This financial support has allowed Siembra Nebraska to grow not only in size but also in sustainability. The program has increased its number of partnering worksites from about 20 to 34, broadening the range of career interests interns can explore. The creation of the Siembra ERG Committee, an all-volunteer group of mentors from Latino, Latina, or Hispanic employee resource groups at major Omaha-area employers, has further strengthened the program’s ability to connect interns with meaningful career opportunities.
As Siembra Nebraska looks to the future, the program is committed to continuing its mission of empowering Omaha’s youth. With a goal of serving more than 100 interns each year, Siembra Nebraska is poised to make an even greater impact in the years to come, helping to build a brighter future for the entire community.
ABOUT THIS STORY
The City of Omaha partnered with the Omaha Community Foundation to administer the ARPA Community Grant Program because of the foundation’s work with local nonprofits and awareness of community needs. The grant program focused on providing funding to expand or enhance existing programs in areas of Crisis Intervention & Violence Prevention, and Workforce Development.
The City of Omaha ARPA Community Grant Program awarded $9.6 million to 35 nonprofit organizations. Eligible programs included youth programs such as mentoring, gang prevention and intervention, mental health, crisis response, and assistance to unemployed workers including workforce readiness training, certification, and employment services.
See all City of Omaha ARPA Community Grant Program grant recipients.
This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP0230 awarded to the City of Omaha by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.