Community members unite to address future of youth in Central Nebraska

KEARNEY, NEB. - Community members across Central Nebraska came together Wednesday for a united conversation about the needs and future opportunities for youth in the surrounding areas.

The event was hosted by the Buffalo County Community Partners and it gave both local youth and adults the chance to connect and share experiences.

They also highlighted what's working and what still needs more attention as far as youth programming in the area.

Mental health support, better access to alternative education and job training were top concerns discussed.

Organizers say Buffalo County stands out for its strong community engagement and data-driven approach to supporting youth.

"I was thrilled with how many people we got to come today. I'm always excited to see how much the Buffalo County community cares," said Buffalo County Community Partners Program Manager Ellery Butterfield.

"We have 27 members on our Buffalo County Youth Advisory Board, and we put out this invite to the community asking people to come, but it's not like anybody's obligated to be here. So the fact that we had, I think 29 community RSVPs and then it looked like close 45 people here is encouraging to me. It shows that we have a community that cares about their young people and a community that wants to connect around these issues and find solutions," said Butterfield. 

Officials also said there's room to grow, especially in giving students more support outside school hours.

The Buffalo County Community Partners, along with the Youth Advisory Board, plans to continue its work throughout the summer with various events, recruitment drives and legislative advocacy.