By Theodore Ball, News Intern Nebraska Public Media

April 21, 2026, 1:21 p.m. · 3 min read

Meet Jeremy Bouman, Founder of RISE in Omaha 👋. Today, RISE operates in seven Nebraska prisons with a 90% graduate employment rate and a recidivism rate a third of the state average. And Jeremy has spent the last decade building a leadership team, a sabbatical policy, and a succession plan designed to outlast him.

In this episode, he breaks down exactly how, including the internal leadership academy, the innovation program open to every employee, and their newly approved sabbatical policy.

Plus: the story of a man serving a life sentence who donated $500 so someone else could take the same program that changed his life.

A powerful reentry success story: how Ross moved from housing instability to a home of his own, and what “coming home” really means after incarceration.

While leadership transitions are inevitable, there are too many organizations that aren’t prepared for this eventuality.  In this episode, I’ve got Jeremy Bouman with me to explore how nonprofit leadership development and intentional succession planning can protect your mission and ensure your organization continues to thrive long after a founder or executive leader steps away.

After nearly seven years as RISE’s Volunteer Relations Manager, Chantal Wentz is transitioning into a new role as Prison Program Coordinator at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women (NCCW).

See how a RISE reentry simulation at Nebraska Wesleyan University helps students and faculty understand reentry challenges and build empathy for returning citizens.

"I believe the work that I do impacts not only our program participants, but the community as a whole because we are building confidence in people who feel like they have been forgotten," reflected Drew.

"Everyone likes a comeback story, and we are just the trainers and cheerleaders."

Kristi and Jeremy explore the economics of incarceration, Nebraska’s prison overcrowding crisis, the ripple effects on families, and the life-changing power of belonging.

Learn how Giving Tuesday began and why it’s critical for Nebraska nonprofits. See how RISE uses this global day to support reentry, families, and second chances.

Discover how RISE is transforming lives inside and outside prisons in Nebraska through programs that promote personal growth, family connection, and reentry success. Learn how community-based initiatives like the Men’s and Women’s Wellness Coffee Hours are helping justice-impacted individuals find healing, purpose, and belonging after incarceration.

Securing housing after incarceration poses significant barriers. In addition to a shortage of affordable places to live, people returning to the community typically have few options beyond low-income communities lacking in resources.

Give to Lincoln Day is Thursday, May 29th and your support can go even further.

On May 29th, 2025 every donation made to RISE through Give to Lincoln helps amplify our mission to break the generational cycles of incarceration.

‘I draw the line at withholding food from someone as a form of consequence.’

Yesterday, Governor Pillen vetoed LB319, Senator Victor Rountree’s priority bill to end Nebraska’s lifetime Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) ban for people with certain drug felony convictions.

Today, May 14th, 2025, the Nebraska Legislature voted to pass LB319, by and large ending the lifetime ban on SNAP benefits for people with one set of felony convictions.

Jasmine Harris on Criminal Justice Reform with Tony Bock.

Leadership takes many forms—whether it’s driving change within a Fortune 500 company or transforming lives through second chances.

“I am an abuse survivor.” Keith is reading the words written on the picture of a blank face off the crumbled up piece of paper he just picked up off the floor.

21 men are sitting in a circle in the big room at Sozo Coffeehouse in downtown Omaha where Randall leads a monthly men’s wellness coffee.

Congratulations to the first cohort of the RISE Leadership Academy!

Background barriers to employment, whether direct or indirect, can significantly impact an individual's ability to secure and maintain a job.