CPACS Community Engagement Programs

CPACS Community Engagement Programs

An important part of the mission of UNO and CPACS is to actively engage with the community. CPACS does this through a wide array of community and outreach programs and partnerships. Some of these are listed below, along with links to more information.

Conferences and Symposia

Aging with Passion & Purpose - A biennial conference on aging. Each conference had a different theme from exploring the impact of baby boomers retiring to gerontechnology. The 2017 conference focused on next generation services. The 2019 conference is scheduled for March 19. 

Annual Data Users Conference - A fact-filled one-day conference of information that you can use, featuring plenary sessions on Census product updates and major topics; break-out sessions, including a census overview and the annual state and local trends sessions; hands-on computer training; and lunch discussions forums. The conference is offered on site in Omaha or via webcast.

Gandhi Award & Annual Symposium - Awarded annually by the Grace Abbott School of Social Work and given to honor individuals and organizations that exemplify Mahatma Gandhi's principles of nonviolence, selfless service and social action, which are consistent with social work values.

Promoting the General Welfare Annual Conference - A one-day conference to explore how to expand the boundaries of democracy.

Special Events and Local Community Outreach

Alfonza Davis Middle School Program - Members of the Aviation Institute faculty and staff speak to all 7th grade students about careers in aviation and 8th grade students come to campus to learn more about the university, STEM fields, and get the opportunity to fly one of the flight training devices.

Aviation Career EXPO - During the first week of the fall semester the Aviation Institute hosts its annual Career EXPO. Over 25 companies representing flight training providers, internship companies, airlines, student organizations and more are represented. Students get the chance to interact with the companies and build their network for future career opportunities.

Aviation Honors Convocation - In April of each year the Aviation Institute Honors Convocation his held to highlight the accomplishments of our students and to thank all the donors and supporters from the past year. Each year the Aviation Institute award over $25,000 in scholarships to its students.

Be a Santa to a Senior - Annually the Department of Gerontology features a holiday tree from which faculty, staff, and students are welcome to select an ornament and provide a gift for a senior citizen in need.

Begin with the End in Mind - This series of monthly lectures is held in January, February, and March. All topics focus on age related issues whether you are caring for an aging parent or contemplating your own aging. Attendence is free and open to the public, including UNO faculty, staff, and students.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters Fundraiser - A bowling fundraiser and winter holiday family adoption project where Goodrich scholars contribute and connect to Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Midlands and their families through donations, gifts and other support.

Burke High School Program - Several classes are offered at Omaha Burke High School as dual enrollment, including Private Pilot Theory and Aviation History classes currently with plans to include Introduction to Aviation and Aviation Safety classes by 2016.

CPACS Alumni Award Celebration - The individuals honored with the alumni award for excellence in public service demonstrate, through both their daily deeds and greatest achievements, the finest attributes of public and community service: integrity, stewardship, volunteerism, leadership, and a commitment to social justice and human dignity.

Dr. Chuck Powell Memorial Lecture Series - This lecture series is presented by the Department of Gerontology and focuses on leadership and wisdom gained as we age. It is held in September every year and is open to university gerontology students, alumni, faculty, and the community. 

Durham Lecture Series - The Durham Lecture Series is designed to recognize individuals that have made an impact locally, regionally, nationally, or around the world in the field of aerospace. As part of the program individuals are recognized with the William F. Shea Distinguished Service for their outstanding contributions to the aerospace industry.

Exploring - The Aviation Institute hosts an Exploring Post, which is part of Boy Scouts and the Learning for Life's career education program for young men and women aged 14-20 years. The post meets once a month for seven months with the purpose exposing students to careers in aviation through tours, guest spearkers, discussions, and various hands-on learning experiences. 

Goodrich/Partnership 4 Kids Futures Fair - A collaborative event where Goodrich scholars serve as mentors of hundreds of Partnership 4 Kids 8th graders from underserved populations and immerse themselves in activities that galvanize their interests and induce them into certain educational or academic habits that would facilitate individually the educational navigation of their futures.

Intergenerational Poetry to Bridge Generations Contest - This event is open to anyone aged 12-18 years (or junior and senior high) and those over age 50 years. The participant is required to submit 2 poems. One poem reflects how the world views teenagers and the other reflects how the world views older adults. This is a collaboration with public and private schools in the Omaha area, the Nebraska Writers Collective, and the UNO Advance Placement Program and Service Learning Academy. This event is held in October every year.   

Jailhouse Scramble - An annual golf scramble held each September hosted by the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. All proceeds raised provide scholarships to students studying criminology and criminal justice on the UNO and UNL campuses. All are welcome to join in the fun.

Jet Linx Aviation Institute Golf Classic - The Jet Linx Aviation Institute Golf Classic is the largest annual fundraising program of the Aviation Institute. Each year the Institute raises money to support and expand its scholarship program. Since 2013 the Institute has teamed up with Jet Linx Aviation and since 1996 raised over $100,000.

Rural Initiatives - Service-learning excursions that enlarge Goodrich scholars' sense of place through first-hand experiences with the culturally vibrant, rural regions of their home state.

UNO Athletes and Elders: A Community of Interest - A community engagement program which connects UNO athletic team members with elders living in residential facilities.

Research Programs

Center for Public Affairs Research - A research and community outreach unit of CPACS.

Consortium for Organizational Research and Evaluation - Links faculty consultants from CPACS with governmental and nonprofit organizations.

Juvenile Justice Institute - Works collaboratively with numerous city and county government agencies across the state to address issues surrounding juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice in Nebraska using best practices.

Nebraska Center for Justice Research - Created to develop and sustain research capacity internal to the State of Nebraska to assist the Legislature in research, evaluation and policymaking to reduce recidivism, promote the use of evidence-based practices in corrections and improve public safety.

NASA Nebraska Space Grant & EPSCoR - Promotes aerospace-related research, education and public service programs across Nebraska.

Support and Training for the Evaluation of Programs - STEPs' mission is to provide participatory, utilization focused evaluation for organizations serving children, youth and families in poverty.

Training and Certificate Programs

Airline Pathway Programs - The Aviation Institute has established pathway programs with two regional air carriers, ExpressJet and Envoy Air. Students from the program can begin to apply for and interview for pilot positions within the airlines during their sophomore year. If they successfully complete the interview and meet the program criteria they are given conditional job offers.

Certificate in Emerging Nonprofit Leadership - A non-credit certificate program for supervisors or managers in a public or nonprofit agency designed to hone managerial and leadership skills.

Certificate in Fundraising Management - A non-credit certificate program that provides in-depth training in vital areas of fundraising.

Continuing Education and Professional Development: Social Work - This program is offered by the Grace Abbott School of Social Work and meets the criteria of an approved continuing education program for social work and mental health practice.

Nebraska Certified Public Manager Program - A comprehensive management development program specifically for managers in federal, state and local government and in non-profit organizations, accredited by the National CPM Consortium.

Nebraska Municipal Clerk Institute and Academy - An annual continuing education program provided for Nebraska municipal clerks, operated by the School of Public Administration, accredited by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.

Professional Development Workshops: Corrections - The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice proudly presents a series of workshops for criminal justice professionals that explore opportunities for criminal justice reforms.

State and National Support Resources

Nebraska State Data Center - U.S. Census Bureau's initiative providing easy and efficient access to data and information, offers the Annual Data Users Conference, quarterly trainings and expert assistance with data retrieval and analysis.

State Public Policy Initiative - Includes reports completed for the Nebraska Legislative Planning Committee and other policy documents.

William Brennan Institute for Labor Studies - An outreach unit of CPACS with a statewide mission to foster creative and critical thinking among labor leaders, potential leaders and interested members by providing relevant information and training in the skills needed in today's changing economy and workplace.