Natalie Wiebelhaus can summarize her passion for public service in a single word.
“People, most definitely it’s the people,” Wiebelhaus said. “There are these brilliant moments when I get to do direct service and work one-to-one with people. There is so much joy in those moments, knowing you are helping others, building community and doing something that truly matters.”
Wiebelhaus, a 2017 University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumna who majored in English and Global Studies, is director of programs for Lincoln’s Asian Community and Cultural Center. The organization, which benefits from the UNL Combined Campaign for Health and Human Services, supports refugees and immigrants in the area through various programs. It also promotes understanding of Asian and other cultural heritages within the local community.
“It says ‘Asian culture’ on the front door, but this is a place open to everyone,” Wiebelhaus said. “Our work is focused on making an impact on the lives of all immigrants and refugees in Lincoln. We want them to know that they can come to us for assistance and to find community.”
From intern to leader
As a student at Nebraska U, Wiebelhaus’ exploration into future career paths led her to the Asian center. After seeing the importance of the role in summer camps and after-school programs, she applied for and was hired as a grant writing intern.
“It was something that I was definitely interested in and wanted to know more about,” Wiebelhaus said. “It felt like a skill that would be helpful.”
Lessons learned in the internship led to work in a similar role at the Lied Center for Performing Arts and (after graduation) full-time with the College of Education and Human Sciences’ Indigenous Roots program. However, a growing desire to work directly with members of the community led her back to the Asian Center.
“I was looking at the various agencies in town, jobs in human services and working with refugees,” Wiebelhaus said. “And I came across a job as a youth coordinator with the Asian Center. It seemed like a great opportunity.”
Hired in the role in 2018, Wiebelhaus worked directly with middle and high school students, creating and guiding programs. Much of the program was homework help and career mentoring of students from refugee families. She also helped support Untold Migrant Stories, an after-school club that encouraged youth to record and share their life stories while learning about digital storytelling/media.
The work led to her being named the Asian Center’s programs manager two years ago.
“It has been a big switch from what I was doing,” Wiebelhaus said. “My focus is more on the qualitative side — making sure we are meeting the goals of our programs, helping with strategic planning, and helping manage grants.
“We’ve grown a lot in recent years and have been focused on building capacity. That includes making certain that we are offering sustainable programs that meet the need of our community.”
Giving back
From engagement in high school and on campus to working at the Asian Center, supporting Lincoln’s international community has long driven Wiebelhaus. And she’s excited to see how support from her alma mater can elevate her impacts.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to make positive impacts on these organizations and the individuals they serve,” Wiebelhaus said. “It means a lot to me knowing that UNL faculty and staff are participating and helping grow Lincoln’s reputation as a welcoming community.
“It’s inspiring to me to see these impacts of Huskers helping Huskers.”
The annual UNL Combined Campaign for Health and Human Services continues through Nov. 22. Giving supports more than 145 local organizations that serve Lincoln, Lancaster County and beyond.
A variety of giving options are offered through the campaign.
To help generate enthusiasm toward the fundraising campaign, the university will award prizes to random faculty and staff who participate. Weekly prizes include tickets to Husker volleyball and football, as well as Lied Center for Performing Arts performances.
Pledge forms and additional details are available on the university’s 2024-25 Combined Campaign website. The site includes promotional assets and a list of frequently asked questions.
For more information about the campaign, send email to ksorensen5@unl.edu.
