Prospering together

By Amanda Barker, Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships  

One question that’s been preoccupying my mind lately is this – “What does a community look like when everyone is prospering?”  

For me, that question goes beyond my role as Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships – it's personal. As the daughter of a history professor, I see how today’s choices become tomorrow’s legacy. As a mom, providing supports for our youngest residents resonates in a new way. Having worked in housing policy, I know how foundational a safe, affordable home is for all. And connections tie it all together; building trust, belonging and a community where people show up for one another.  

That sense of possibility is what first struck me when I stepped into Lincoln’s nonprofit world, just in time for the launch of the first iteration of Prosper Lincoln. I remember being floored by the vision – what was once 2,100 ideas to address the findings of the 2014 Lincoln Vital Signs report were collected from all sectors of our city to address three areas of need: Early Childhood, Employment Skills and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.  

This was a very real moment for me of, “Wow – our community is really going to do something BIG...together!” I loved the gumption of the Prosper Lincoln initiative. 

Over the past 10 years, I’ve seen our community come together to create lasting impact –like Lincoln Littles, an organization which grew out of needs identified through the early childhood pillar of Prosper Lincoln. To this day, I carry one of the first Prosper Lincoln Early Childhood initiatives into my own home by reading to my kids for the recommended 15 minutes each night (or 2–3 times through Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site, if you measure time the same way we do in the Barker household). 

Fastforward to today, I’m still deeply inspired by the work of Prosper Lincoln. And this time I’m not just cheering on these efforts; I now have a seat at the table. I’m grateful to be seated alongside true champions of our community as we tackle the Prosper Lincoln 3.0 focus areas of Connections, Housing and Early Childhood with renewed energy and fresh ideas.  

If you’re like me and asking yourself how we can help everyone in Lincoln prosper, start small: get informed. The answers aren’t simple, but I truly believe they’re found in the everyday choices we make at work, at home and in our community. Let’s jump in and Rise, Shine and Prosper together.