Youths feel good about life in rural Nebraska

    Greater Nebraska youths are embracing their hometowns and seeking ways to contribute to their shared future, according to Nebraska Community Foundation’s 2021 Nebraska Youth Survey.
    The NCF, in partnership with the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research and local school districts, surveyed 1,047 middle and high school students between January and May this year.
    Participating communities included Albion, Bassett, Bruning, Burwell, Byron, Cedar Rapids, Chester, Davenport, Deshler, Grant, Hebron, O’Neill, Sidney, St. Edward, Stuart, Taylor and surrounding areas.
     Students’ dream communities look a lot like where they live now.
    Sixty-four percent said their ideal community is small, like their hometown—a significant increase from 47% in 2020.
    When asked whether a stigma accompanied staying in or returning to their community, 76% said no, up from 70% last year.
    “When we began this survey, one of our central interests was uncovering the extent to which there was a stigma associated with living in small towns in Nebraska and why,” said CPAR’s Josie Gatti Schafer, Ph.D.
    “After two years of conducting the survey, the results are clear—most student respondents do not feel a stigma exists about living in the place they live now. The trend is also positive,” she said.
     Like last year, students placed considerable importance on safety, ranking it at the top of a list of important factors when imagining their ideal community.
    More than 90% of respondents said they feel safe in their hometowns, and other answers indicate they value others’ safety, too.
    Almost 80% said they were likely to act to stop unfair treatment of others, and 61% said they were likely to be an advocate for embracing diversity and inclusion in their communities.
    As one respondent wrote, they seek to “make sure everyone is treated like a human should be treated.”
     Greater Nebraska youths are also community-oriented and busy.
    They balance sports, jobs, volunteering and club activities all while attending school.
    Eighty-seven percent have jobs in their community, while 84% are involved in school activities like sports or choir.
    Young Nebraskans are also active in bettering their places, with 71% saying they join others in their town to do something positive for their community at least once a year.
    Despite these high levels of engagement, only 25% of respondents said they feel they play a role in their community, down from 49% in 2020. These students are involved and want to play a part in shaping their community.
     “Our youths seek a place to call their own, and the conditions are ripe for them to stake their claim in Greater Nebraska,” said NCF President and CEO Jeff Yost.
    “Nebraskans have long known our local quality-of-life offerings can rival those of just about any other state. Last year proved thousands of jobs can now be done from anywhere in the world, why not right here in Nebraska?” he asks.
    For the full 2021 Nebraska Youth Survey Report, email cmalek-madani@nebcom mfound.org.