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Ending Poverty: Nebraska Leaders Seek Solutions to Lift Residents Out of Poverty

State Senator Machaela Cavanaugh and Omaha nonprofit leader Katie Daly join the discussion to explore pathways out of poverty for Nebraskans in the latest episode of Consider This.

  • published: 2025/10/22
  • contact: Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
  • email: unonews@unomaha.edu
Tent in the middle of the street.

Tent in the middle of the street. Photo: Shutterstock.

In this episode:

  • 🏛️ Machaela Cavanaugh, Nebraska State Senator and chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, outlines legislative efforts aimed at boosting economic mobility.
  • 🤝 Katie Daly, Executive Director of Omaha’s Center for Economic Opportunity, highlights community‑based programs focused on workforce development, housing stability, and financial coaching that are designed to break the cycle of poverty.
  • 🌍 Together, they discuss the systemic roots of poverty in Nebraska and the combination of policy, programmatic, and grassroots interventions needed to create sustainable progress.

📺 Watch the episode: Season 29, Episode 5 – Ending Poverty on Nebraska Public Media

💡 Why it matters: Poverty affects individuals and communities across Nebraska, with ripple effects on health, education, housing, and workforce participation. Understanding how state policy intersects with local action empowers Nebraskans to support targeted solutions, engage in advocacy, and invest in systems that promote greater equity and opportunity statewide.

🎞️ About Consider This: Consider This is a weekly half‑hour public affairs program on Nebraska Public Media, now in its 29th season. Episodes are recorded in the UNO television studio as part of a production class led by Michael Pacholski, and produced by students from UNO’s School of Communication. Hosted by Cathy Wyatt, the show convenes expert voices to help Nebraskans make sense of key issues shaping their communities.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university, committed to innovating for the public good, advancing social mobility, powering workforce development, and serving as a hub for community engagement. Nearly 15,000 Mavericks choose UNO for its hands-on education experiences, nationally ranked online and graduate programs, military-connected student support, and innovative approaches to supporting lifelong learning. UNO holds the Carnegie Research Activity “R2” designation, securing more than $40 million annually in external research funding and counts its faculty among the world’s most cited scholars. Sixteen Omaha Athletics programs compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). 

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