The Snow-Redfern Foundation is proud to announce the participants selected for its 2026 Root2Rise and Young Men Rising Youth Leadership cohorts.
These statewide virtual leadership learning labs bring together young people from across Nebraska to explore leadership, personal growth, meaningful connection, and community impact while building relationships with peers from diverse backgrounds and communities.
Each cohort includes six youth selected through a competitive application process. Participants will engage in a series of virtual leadership sessions throughout the fall focused on reflection, communication, confidence-building, leadership development, and collaborative learning. Students who successfully complete the program will receive a $2,000 scholarship award in honor of Snow-Redfern Foundation founder, Arvilla Snow-Redfern.
Root2Rise is a young women’s leadership program focused on empowering participants through connection, mentorship, and exploration of leadership pathways, particularly in Trades, Agriculture, and STEM-related fields. The program is facilitated by Dr. Maya Chilese of Blue Agate Collaborative, LLC.
The 2026 Root2Rise cohort includes:
Amelia Wade, Alliance
Young Men Rising is designed to support young men in exploring leadership, identity, resilience, and community impact through authentic conversation, reflection, and peer connection. The program is facilitated by Jesse Davy.
The 2026 Young Men Rising cohort includes:
Austin Benda, Hemingford
Joshua Miller, Hemingford
Together, the two cohorts represent communities across western, central, and eastern Nebraska and reflect the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to youth voice, collaborative learning, and leadership development.
“These programs are about creating space for young people to recognize their strengths, build meaningful relationships, and understand the impact they can have within their communities,” said Sara Wilcox. “We continue to be inspired by the thoughtfulness, courage, and potential reflected in the applications we receive each year.”
The Snow-Redfern Foundation’s youth leadership initiatives are rooted in participatory practices and emphasize the importance of empowering young people as leaders, changemakers, and contributors within their schools and communities.