UNO Center for Public Affairs Research

See below for a free event this week about civic learning, action, and engagement!

National Women’s History Month honors the successes and sacrifices of U.S. women. It dates to March 8, 1857, when hundreds of women from New York City garment and textile factories rallied to protest harsh working conditions. In 1909, New York City became the site of the nation’s first Women’s Day celebration, a year after 15,000 women there marched to demand shorter working hours, better pay, an end to child labor, and the right to vote. More than seven decades later in 1981, Congress set aside the second week of March as National Women’s History Week. Six years later, Congress expanded the week to a month. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we reflect upon the advances women have made, including educational attainment and business ownership. Teachers may download fun facts for use in their classroom here ?? https://lnkd.in/gykR99-9 The following facts are possible thanks to the invaluable responses to U.S. Census Bureau surveys. We appreciate the public’s cooperation as we measure America’s people, places and economy. #unocpar #NebraskaByTheNumbers #CensusData #EducationData #FemaleOwnedBusinesses

Saturday, March 1 was Nebraska's 158th Anniversary of Statehood! Explore U.S. Census Bureau data about Nebraska using interactive data tools ?? https://lnkd.in/gSKhGgsE Teachers - explore the State Facts for Students tool to learn more about Nebraska with interactive trivia games ?? https://lnkd.in/g3YZGDud #unocpar #NebraskaByTheNumbers #CensusData #NebraskaData

CPAR is happy to provide research to support big things in Omaha like working with the Greater Omaha Chamber on Tax Increment Financing (TIF). During a press conference this week, they released our comprehensive report which highlights TIF's impact on the state of Nebraska. Read the full report ?? https://lnkd.in/g4nbS3Zp Read the Greater Omaha Chamber news release ?? https://lnkd.in/gQYbA3KV Read recent media articles about Omaha’s use of TIF: ?? First Alert 6: https://lnkd.in/gh3B8wbj ?? Nebraska Examiner: https://lnkd.in/g3jA4iUR ??? Omaha World-Herald: https://lnkd.in/gSygpmcP #unocpar #NebraskaByTheNumbers #TIF #OmahaTIF #TaxIncrementFinancing

CPAR Assistant Director Morgan Vogel (right) was part of the NU 2 Foundations Grant Session panel today with UNO Office of Research and Creative Activity (ORCA). The session helped faculty and staff learn how best to position themselves to receive private foundation funding to support their research, scholarship, or creative endeavors. #unocpar #unoorca #foundationfunding #researchfunding

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! The 36th Annual CPAR Data and Research Series for Community Impact is back, and this year we're diving into two distinct themes. ? PART ONE: EXPLORING OMAHA METRO DATA ?? Wednesday, May 7, 2025 from 9 A.M.-12 P.M. ?? In-person only (limited to 90 attendees - no virtual or recorded option) ? PART TWO: UPDATES ON STATEWIDE DATA ?? September 2025 ?? In-person and virtual options available This professional development series is perfect for anyone looking to use data to drive change in our communities — whether you're a seasoned pro or just getting started. ? Stay tuned for agenda details and registration information coming soon! In the meantime, check our website https://lnkd.in/gyZQFjHJ for the option to purchase the 2024 Series recordings. #unocpar #NebraskaByTheNumbers #DataandResearchSeries #NebraskaData #OmahaMetroData #CensusData

CPAR is excited to be an Ignite Sponsor at the the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Midwest Chapter Conference in Omaha April 23-25, 2025! CPAR Director Josie Gatti Schafer will also be presenting "Data to Action: Building Influence Through Collaboration" on Wednesday, April 23, at 2:30 P.M. The IAP2 Midwest Chapter Conference is the perfect opportunity for public participation (P2) and engagement professionals to connect, learn, and share with peers from across the region. Whether you're a government planner, community organizer, nonprofit leader, or consultant, this is your chance to gain fresh insights, exchange ideas, and be inspired by the successes and challenges of others in the field. Learn more and register ?? https://lnkd.in/gBzC_yfa #unocpar #NebraskaByTheNumbers #IAP2Midwest #PublicEngagement #P2 #CommunityEngagement #ProfessionalDevelopment

As we celebrate Presidents Day (or Washington's Birthday), let’s take a look at where each U.S. President was born using this U.S. Census Bureau map showing each president’s state of birth (or colony before 1776). The table lists the presidents by their inauguration date. A little history about Presidents Day: Washington's Birthday was celebrated on February 22nd until well into the 20th century. However, in 1968 Congress passed the Monday Holiday Law to 'provide uniform annual observances of certain legal public holidays on Mondays.' By creating more 3-day weekends, Congress hoped to 'bring substantial benefits to both the spiritual and economic life of the Nation.' One of the provisions of this act changed the observance of Washington's Birthday from February 22nd to the third Monday in February. Ironically, this guaranteed that the holiday would never be celebrated on Washington's actual birthday, as the third Monday in February cannot fall any later than February 21. Contrary to popular belief, neither Congress nor the President has ever stipulated that the name of the holiday observed as Washington's Birthday be changed to ‘Presidents Day.’ View a larger image ?? https://lnkd.in/gu5UNpG5 #unocpar #NebraskaByTheNumbers #CensusData #PresidentsDay

February 14 is a day Americans celebrate love and friendship by exchanging cards, flowers, candy, and more. The origins of Valentine’s Day are murky, but this data about those who are married is not. Flip through some data about how Nebraska stacks up against the United States for those that are married by gender and by same sex households. The U.S. Census Bureau created some fun facts about Valentine’s Day that teachers can use in their classrooms ?? https://lnkd.in/gT_eu3nP You can also view an interactive dashboard of the U.S. marriage and divorce rates for women by state in the form of a bar graph, a map, and a ranking table for 2021 compared to 2011 ?? https://lnkd.in/gU2C5W8f The following facts are possible thanks to the invaluable responses to U.S. Census Bureau surveys that measure America’s people, places, and economy. As the State Data Center for the U.S. Census Bureau, CPAR has access to, and knowledge of how to analyze, a multitude of datasets for you. Leave a comment to let us know what type of data you are most interested in seeing in future posts. #unocpar #CensusBureau #ValentinesDay #MarriedData #SameSexHouseholds

CPAR Director Josie Gatti Schafer was quoted yesterday in The Washington Post article "An ICE raid gutted a town in Trump’s first term. Now, fear of a repeat." A snippet of the article with Schafer's quote: Tiny O’Neill — population 3,500 — sits among corn and soybean farms and cattle ranches in a remote part of northeastern Nebraska not far from the South Dakota border. It’s a quiet, three-stoplight town, founded by Irish settlers, with shamrocks dotting its landscape and blooming on sidewalks, dumpsters and a large green-and-white mural on the south side of town. Another, even bigger shamrock decorates the middle of the main intersection that is a frequent meeting spot. The surrounding county’s Latino population increased to 5 percent between 2012 and 2022, with both documented and undocumented migrants arriving to pick tomatoes, plant potatoes and feed hogs. The newcomers have been “a small but consistent part of growth in a state that doesn’t have a lot of growth,” said Josie Schafer, director of the University of Nebraska’s Center for Public Affairs Research. More than half the state’s foreign-born residents are from Latin American countries. About 13,000 settled in Nebraska last year. Read the full article ?? https://lnkd.in/grsW8NRz or read a PDF of the article ?? https://lnkd.in/gdHZuaUB #unocpar #NebraskaByTheNumbers #PopulationData