First Five Nebraska Director Becomes the First Nebraskan Chosen for Esteemed Fellowship

Elizabeth Everett Selected as Colorado Fellow to Enhance Early Childhood Education

In a significant achievement for Nebraska, Elizabeth Everett, the deputy director and public policy manager at First Five Nebraska, has been chosen as one of the 2024 Aspen Institute’s Ascend Fellows. This prestigious fellowship is known for selecting individuals in influential roles who demonstrate a deep commitment to improving the lives of children, and Everett is one of only 23 fellows selected nationwide from a vast pool of applicants.

The Ascend Fellowship is designed to empower leaders who are poised to make impactful changes in public policy, especially in the realm of early childhood education. The fellows focus on developing innovative approaches to expand accessible, quality early childhood offerings for all families. This initiative is particularly pertinent as families continue to face challenges in securing affordable childcare, a crisis that has only intensified in recent years.

Lori Severens, director of leadership programs for the Aspen Institute’s Ascend Initiative, expressed enthusiasm about Everett’s selection. “We’re thrilled to welcome Elizabeth, our first Nebraska-based Fellow, into the 2024 Class of Aspen Institute Ascend Fellows,” Severens stated in an email. “Her bold ideas for building a clear pathway to child care licensure in Nebraska show promise, and we anticipate her projects will flourish during the fellowship and beyond.”

For Everett, the journey to this honor has been both exhilarating and humbling. She initially hesitated to apply for the fellowship, concerned about competing with a myriad of high-profile leaders, including governors, senators, and CEOs, who have previously held this esteemed title. However, upon receiving the notification of her acceptance in early June, she described her reaction as being “pretty stoked.” “I was not only thrilled to enter into this remarkable program but also excited about representing Nebraska and shedding light on our unique challenges,” she shared.

A pivotal component of the fellowship involves developing and pitching an action plan. Everett’s focus centers on harnessing the potential of Nebraska’s immigrant and refugee community in the childcare sector. Through her work with First Five Nebraska, she recognized that several individuals within these communities aspire to become entrepreneurs but often face formidable barriers—such as language barriers, limited access to capital, and scarcity of resources. At the same time, many of these families struggle to find quality and affordable childcare for their children.

“By empowering immigrants and refugees to establish their own childcare centers, we can simultaneously cultivate small business owners and ensure that these families have the necessary childcare access,” Everett explained. “Creating this supportive community will not only allow these entrepreneurs to thrive but also address the childcare needs in their neighborhoods.”

The Ascend Fellows program involves a commitment of in-person sessions over 18 months, launching in September. These gatherings will allow participants to collaborate, share insights, and inspire each other as they work on their initiatives. For Everett, this fellowship represents a unique opportunity to elevate her work at First Five and bring much-needed attention to essential yet often overlooked aspects of childcare.

“This is a chance for me to shift my perspective from feeling overwhelmed by the ongoing childcare crisis to one of proactive optimism,” Everett stated. “I’m eager to set ambitious goals and envision a path forward that can create a sustainable future for our community.”

As the landscape of childcare continues to evolve, initiatives like those proposed by Everett are vital for instilling hope and fostering resilience among families in Nebraska. With her newfound platform as an Ascend Fellow, Everett is poised to drive meaningful change, all while encouraging local engagement and entrepreneurship in her community.

By spotlighting the needs and potential of Nebraska’s immigrant and refugee populations, Everett embodies the spirit of the Ascend Fellowship—a commitment to transformative leadership that aims to build a brighter future for all children. Through her work, she exemplifies how local advocacy can pave the way for systemic change, creating a ripple effect that could benefit families far and wide.

It’s an inspiring reminder that with determination and innovative thinking, the future of childcare—and the well-being of countless families—can be significantly improved.