Speaker Bios
Session 1 Option - Immigration: Nebr Alliance for Thriving Communities
Session 1 Option - Immigration: Nebr Alliance for Thriving Communities
Session 1 Option - Immigration: Nebr Alliance for Thriving Communities
Speaker 1
Hunter Traynor
Executive Vice President, Legislation & Policy, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Hunter serves as Government Affairs Manager and Associate General Counsel, providing policy research and analysis along with state and federal government affairs and internal legal work.
A native of Elkhorn, Hunter previously practiced law at Rembolt Ludtke LLP in Lincoln where his practice areas included business services, estate planning and administration, real estate, and government.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln before graduating with highest distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Law.
Session 1 Option - Immigration: Nebr Alliance for Thriving Communities
Session 1 Option - Immigration: Nebr Alliance for Thriving Communities
Session 1 Option - Immigration: Nebr Alliance for Thriving Communities
Speaker 2
Darcy Tromanhauser
Director, Immigrants & Communities Program of Nebraska Appleseed
Bio not yet available.
Session 1 Option - Mental Health
Session 1 Option - Immigration: Nebr Alliance for Thriving Communities
Session 1 Option - Faith & Community Organizing: Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance
Patrick Kreifels, MSW, LICSW
Regional Administrator Region 5
Systems
Patrick Kreifels is the Regional Administrator for Region V Systems, a behavioral health administrative organization that supports a recovery-oriented system of care in Southeast Nebraska and owner of a private practice with over 28 years’ experience.
Obtaining a master’s degree in clinical social work and a licensed independent mental health practitioner in Nebraska & California, Patrick works with children, families, and seniors experiencing distress. Patrick has extensive experience working with all organizational levels of systems of care and non-profit agencies, creating, promoting, and delivering consultation, accreditation, outcomes, and training designed to support the best possible outcome for person served.
Patrick’s greatest motivations are his marriage, daughter, granddaughter, and instilling hope, knowledge, and healing as a service to humanity.
Session 1 Option - Faith & Community Organizing: Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance
Session 1 Option - Faith & Community Organizing: Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance
Session 1 Option - Faith & Community Organizing: Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance
Bishop K. Jevon Chambers
Senior Servant Leader of Mount Calvary
Community Church, Co-Chair of the IMA
Political Action Committee
K. Jevon Chambers Senior Pastor at Mount Calvary Community Church in Omaha, a spiritual church where the community is in our heart.
With two decades of dedicated service since 2005, I have established myself as a seasoned expert in grant reviewing. With a keen eye for detail and a comprehensive understanding of funding priorities. We have evaluated hundreds of grant applications across various sectors, including healthcare, education, and social services.
I am experienced in identifying high-impact projects and their commitment to fairness and thoroughness have significantly contributed to the successful allocation of millions of dollars in funding.
Session 2 Option - Faith & Community Organizing: Urban Abbey
Session 1 Option - Faith & Community Organizing: Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance
Session 2 Option - Faith & Community Organizing: Urban Abbey
Speaker 1
Rev. Debra McKnight
Founding Pastor of Urban Abbey United Methodist Church
Rev. Debra McKnight, MEd, MDiv, is the founding pastor of Urban Abbey.
Rev. Debra is passionate about connecting with the people and helping them grow in their faith. An advocate for social justice, women’s rights, and the LGBTQ+ community, she seeks to heal the wounds created by conservative Christianity. Her vivacious, warm personality fuels her ability to influence people in positive and healthy ways.
Before attending seminary, Rev. Debra lived and worked in Germany as an education counselor for active duty military personnel. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska, a Master of Education degree from Doane College, and in 2008 she received a Master of Divinity degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.
While serving as an Associate Pastor at First United Methodist Church of Omaha, Rev. Debra created a spiritual gathering for young adults called Wesley Pub. Participants brought beverages of their choice and discussed spirituality, social justice, and more. Wesley Pub was so successful, she decided to expand the gatherings into a venue for all ages … and the idea for the Urban Abbey coffee shop/bookstore/church was born.
Session 2 Option - Faith & Community Organizing: Urban Abbey
Session 1 Option - Faith & Community Organizing: Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance
Session 2 Option - Faith & Community Organizing: Urban Abbey
Speaker 2
Gab Rima
Gab is the Campus & Community Engagement Coordinator and has been with the Abbey since June 2021. They have a history of both latte-making, with 5+ years of barista experience, and social justice. As the co-founder and education lead at Strongly Worded Letters, they are tuned into local politics, and are passionate about incorporating that into their work at the Abbey. Their former work includes organizing around voter turnout with the Progressive Turnout Project, serving on the City of Omaha LGBTQ+ Advisory Board, creating educational content with Fandom Forward, and slinging lattes around Omaha. In their role at the Abbey, they can be found behind the coffee bar, at the Capitol, or teaching classes about social justice.
Session 2 Option -Sustainability: Why Nebraska Needs a Green Amendment to Protect the Good Life
Session 2 Option -Sustainability: Why Nebraska Needs a Green Amendment to Protect the Good Life
Session 2 Option -Sustainability: Why Nebraska Needs a Green Amendment to Protect the Good Life
Ken Winston
Chapter Director, Nebraska Sierra Club
Ken Winston is a man of many hats in the world of environmental leadership. He is currently the Chapter Director for the Nebraska Sierra Club. Previously he was the Executive Director of Nebraska Interfaith Power & Light from 2017 to 2025 and a community organizer for the Nebraska Sierra Club from 2020 to 2025. He also represented the Nebraska Sierra Club as a policy advocate before the Legislature for 14 years and led their successful opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline, both as an attorney and policy advocate.
Recently he has been engaged in efforts to encourage our public power districts to move away from fossil fuels, increase investments in renewable energy and help people reduce their energy bills. He has led activities opposing factory farms, supporting regenerative agriculture and local food. He has coordinated the Nebraska Youth Climate Summit since 2017.
He is the parent of three adult children and grandparent of two adorable grandchildren. He loves to dance, play guitar, sing in the church choir and go for walks with his dog JoJo.
Session 2 Option - Proposed Legislation - Possible affects to LGBTQ+ Nebraskans
Session 2 Option -Sustainability: Why Nebraska Needs a Green Amendment to Protect the Good Life
Session 2 Option -Sustainability: Why Nebraska Needs a Green Amendment to Protect the Good Life
Jessie Lee Ann McGrath
Deputy District Attorney, Retired
Spent over 37 years protecting the citizens of Los Angeles County. During her career she gained expertise in street crimes, major narcotics, juvenile justice, asset forfeiture, consumer protection and cyber-crimes.
Prior to moving to California in 1987, Jessie obtained both her bachelor’s and law degree from the University of Nebraska. While in college Ms. McGrath worked as a legislative aide to a state senator, worked as a staffer for a Congresswoman in Washington DC, and interned for a U.S. Senator and the Governor of Nebraska.
Jessie is the proud parent of 5 kids, three of whom have followed somewhat in her footsteps by obtaining legal degrees. In her spare time Jessie serves as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of APLA Health (formerly AIDS Project Los Angeles) a Federally Qualified Health Center that serves of 18,000 clients.
Session 2 Option -Sustainability: Why Nebraska Needs a Green Amendment to Protect the Good Life
Referendum Process in Nebraska
Referendum Process in Nebraska
Adam Morfeld
Former State Senator
He is an attorney that specializes in non-profit administration and development, donor advising, governmental affairs, election law, ballot initiatives, and policy advocacy. He served as a Nebraska state senator for eight years until being term limited. He graduated from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln with an undergraduate degree in Political Science and from the University of Nebraska College of Law.
Before serving in the Legislature Adam managed a grocery store stockroom for several years and worked part-time for his local newspaper while attending community college. He then worked his way through college and law school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.In 2008 Adam founded a non-profit that employs over 100 staff across the state in three offices that works to instill civic leadership skills in young Nebraskans, build civic health in our communities, and ensures our democracy is accessible to working Nebraskans, families and seniors.
He now advises major donors and helps build pro democracy infrastructure across Nebraska. In addition to his day job he serves as the president of the Equality Legal Action Fund which is a national non-profit that fights extremism and disinformation.
Breaking News
Referendum Process in Nebraska
Breaking News
Rachel Gibson
Vice President of Action
League of Women Voters of Nebraska.
She will highlight major bills that entered the Unicameral after this program was set. She also an overview of Nebraska Legislature's process and the necessary steps for a bill to become law. Rachel has spoken to this group each of the past 3 years.