Interested in a career that makes a difference? Ever thought about working in the nonprofit and advocacy sector? Do you want to know more about the current employment trends and learn some best practices to gain entry into this rewarding field? If so, join us and our panel of nonprofit professionals.
Global Studies is pleased to present a special panel with three recent global studies graduates currently working in the nonprofit sector right here in Lincoln. The panelists will talk about their current positions and their experiences while in college that led them towards their current career path. They will also discuss different opportunities for current students to get involved and gain experiences necessary to launch your own nonprofit and advocacy career. All UNL students (regardless of major) are invited to join us for this important and interesting panel.
We're so pleased to welcome back following global studies alumni:
Ted Blessing, a San Diego native, received his Bachelor of Arts in Sciences in Global Studies and Political Science (respectively) from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. After graduating from the program, he began his role as Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator with Lutheran Family Services in their Refugee Resettlement and Support Services program. Since entering the position, Mr. Blessing has had the opportunity to travel to cities across Nebraska helping to educate and inform various organizations on the programming Lutheran Family Services offers to refugees, asylees, SIVs, victims of human trafficking, and immigrants. He also works to build various support networks for immigrant and refugee families in both the Lincoln and Grand Island area.
José Lemus is a community organizer in the Hartley and University Place neighborhoods of Lincoln, Nebraska. He works with neighborhood residents and stakeholders to build strong and resilient communities, focusing on the implementation of grassroots tactics that elevate individual voices and democratize decision-making processes. José is interested in the way that social institutions, technology, and civic engagement can be used to activate underrepresented populations. José is an avid soccer fan and can be found most weekends sampling Lincoln's vibrant food scene. While at UNL, José double majored in Global Studies and Economics with a minor in Mathematics.
Isabel Salas currently serves as a Community Organizer for the South of Downtown Community Development Organization. Isabel helps strengthen and build community in Near South and Everett neighborhoods with the primary focus on the neighborhood experts: residents themselves. Isabel and the rest of the CDO team work to connect all levels of community. From city officials to neighborhood residents and school parents to community organizations, Isabel makes sure to emphasize the importance of communication and collaboration to build holistic, inclusive community. Working in neighborhoods with a shortage of shared space, Isabel is passionate about maximizing the spaces in which community can be built, whether that be on porches, at Cooper Park, or along the tree-lined streets of the Everett and Near South neighborhoods. Isabel's studies in Political Science, Women's and Gender Studies, and Global Studies informed her worldview of how all levels of community involvement and civic engagement are necessary to reclaim power and achieve equity and inclusivity. Isabel is fluently bilingual in English and Spanish, serves on Lincoln's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and in 2019 received the Women's Foundation of Lincoln and Lancaster County's Sojourner Truth Award for Young Professionals. You can find Isabel spending quality time with her cats, playing Scrabble at Cooper Park, or singing karaoke in her free time.