OUR MISSION
City Impact is a faith-based, youth development non-profit in Lincoln, Nebraska. We mentor, teach, and empower under-resourced kids, growing them into leaders who break the cycle of poverty.
We live and serve where our community needs it most. Our space is full of energetic kids with hopes and dreams. We work with them to remove emotional, physical, and spiritual barriers, allowing them
to flourish.
We don’t just hand kids a Bible but walk through life with them, equipping them to empower others. When kids believe they can become leaders, they achieve it.
Mentor. Teach. Empower. Transform. That’s how we beat the cycle of poverty.
Meet Our Staff
Kristy Goodwin
Executive Director
Kristy is originally from Chicago, Illinois. She holds multiple degrees, including a Master of Education in Instructional Leadership, Masters in Management, and Master of Theological Studies. Kristy brings a life-long faith in Christ, and a passion for mentoring, leadership, and community development to her role at City Impact.
She loves City Impact’s focus on long-term relationships to cultivate rising leaders. Her dream is for City Impact alumni to run our organization one day, dedicated to growing the ripple of empowerment throughout Lincoln and Nebraska at large.
Outside of work, Kristy is a life-long learner constantly seeking new ways to grow. She loves music and culinary adventures. She is passionate about equity and inclusion for women in all areas of life.
Cheech Sorilla
Operations Director
Cheech has lived in several places around the US, but always finds his way back to Lincoln. Prior to joining the City Impact team, he worked at Ameritas in their training department. The Sorilla family has been part of City Impact programs since 2014, experiencing the ripple of empowerment first-hand.
He appreciates City Impact’s focus on building deep relationships with youth to help young people discover and cultivate their gifts. His hope is that every youth connected with City Impact would know and feel deeply their amazing worth as an individual delighted in by their Creator.
Outside of work Cheech enjoys running, hiking, reading, traveling, and discovering food adventures. He also loves to support his children by exploring their interests and hobbies.
Dustin Oltman
Program Director
Dustin moved to Lincoln from Kansas City, MO as a kid. He was raised in a single-parent household and has lived in our core neighborhoods most of his time in Lincoln.
Dustin’s favorite thing about City Impact is mentoring, which first brought him here as a volunteer SFL mentor. His passion for mentoring has remained constant in his journey at City Impact.
When he is not at City Impact, he enjoys spending time with his 5 children, working out, music, watching sports, and traveling.
Nancey Bernhardson
Development Director
Nancey lived in five different states before settling in Lincoln in 2006. She loves a challenge, and her wide variety of interests constantly push her to develop and sharpen new skill sets. Nancey has been an educator, a fundraiser, and a house-flipper.
She is excited and humbled to support City Impact’s commitment to mentor, teach, empower, and transform. It brings her joy to do meaningful work with a dedicated team.
Outside City Impact, Nancey is an avid reader and life-long learner who is devoted to family and good friends. She is personally committed to living a life of gratitude!
Lisa Guill
Communications Director
Lisa is originally from Kearney, Nebraska. Prior to joining the team at City Impact she worked for Union Bank & Trust for over nine years, helped run the Lincoln VITA Coalition, and served on the Board of Directors for El Centro de las Américas.
Lisa loves the purpose driven mission of City Impact, investing long-term in our neighborhood and sharing Jesus’ love throughout the community. She is motivated by connecting with others through a common purpose.
Outside City Impact, Lisa currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Asian Community & Cultural Center. She loves to spend time with her family, host gatherings with friends, travel, and feed her people!
Jon Banks
CI Success Coordinator
Jon is originally from East Moline, Illinois but has called Lincoln home for 10 years. He believes in the power of our youth to change and grow our community.
His favorite thing at City Impact is making connections with youth, mentoring, and learning from them. Jon’s hope is to guide youth to achieve beyond what they imagine.
Jon is a devoted husband and father who loves making memories with his wife and kids. He’s also an avid sports fan, whether watching or playing. He has even played football professionally!
Tessa Contreras
Development Associate
Tessa grew up in Lincoln and attended UNL, earning a degree in psychology. She loves encountering people and learning new things. She loves City Impact’s faith-based holistic accompaniment, care, and reverence of everyone involved – kids, staff, volunteers, and donors alike.
Her hope is that the practical, hands-on, interpersonal work of City Impact will radiate Christ’s Love from within, enabling His Love to ripple throughout the community and beyond.
In her free time, Tessa enjoys being outdoors, hanging out with her dog (Chewie), and spending time in prayer. She also loves learning through reading, podcasts, and webinars.
Lisa Gustafson
Program Assistant
Lisa lived in several different states before landing in Nebraska. She feels blessed and proud to call Lincoln home. Lisa has a BS in Education from UNL and has worked in a variety of sectors, but her heart is to work with kids.
Lisa wholeheartedly believes in the pulse of City Impact – to love God and love people, living out exactly what Jesus tells us to do! She is humbled to be a part of God advancing His purposes through City Impact’s mission of investing in and loving the youth of our community.
When not at work, you will most likely find Lisa in her studio creating, out on a hike, traveling, or simply living life with family and friends.
Ashley Larson
City Impact Reading Director
Ashley is from Lincoln and attended Nebraska Wesleyan. She originally joined the City Impact team in 2008 teaching and leading throughout our programs until 2012, when she took the opportunity to stay at home with her children. Now she has returned as City Impact Reading Director and we’re thrilled to have her!
Ashley is inspired by City Impact’s steadfast commitment to the community and holistic gospel focus. Her dream is for City Impact’s work to open doors for Lincoln youth that will create lasting change in our kids, their families, and our community.
When she’s not at City Impact, Ashley loves running outdoors, reading, enjoying great food, and delighting in her kids and family.
Sonia Miller
Gifts of Love Director
Reneé Meyer
City Impact Kids Director
Reneé is from Houston, TX but has happily called Lincoln home since 2005. Before joining the City Impact team, Reneé worked in Women’s and College Ministry for almost 20 years, first at Texas A&M and then at Lincoln Berean Church.
Reneé’s favorite thing about City Impact is our focus on long term relationships: She loves connecting with the community, program families, and especially our City Impact kids. Her greatest hope is that every student who walks through our doors would know they are loved by God and have the opportunity to grow into all God made them to be.
Reneé loves language, different cultures, and traveling the world. When she’s at home, you’ll find her reading, writing, or enjoying time with her husband and three sons.
Seth Roepke
CI Youth & Leadership Director
Seth was born in Norfolk, Nebraska but grew up in Lincoln. His degree from UNL is in Communications Studies and Psychology. Prior to City Impact, Seth worked for seven years with Campus Life at Lincoln High and in various other LPS schools.
Seth loves City Impact’s focus on wholisitic community change starting with the spiritual life of youth. He is passionate about grounded spiritual transformation and the strengths-based approach of our mission. His desire is that every young person who walks through our doors will know their own value and the hope of the Gospel.
In his free time, Seth enjoys spending time with his wife, Hannah, playing with their dogs (Bowe and Fin), and watching The Office on Netflix. Basketball is a way of life for him, from cheering on LeBron James to shooting hoops with friends. The obsession is real!
Stephanie Vadnais
Reading Program Coordinator
Stephanie grew up in Aurora, Nebraska but has called Lincoln home since 2005. She is passionate about books, reading, and cultivating community. Over the years, Stephanie has pushed into personal and professional opportunities to grow skills in those areas.
Her favorite thing about City Impact is our growth mindset, reminding kids (and ourselves) that we can do hard things and our minds can always grow. Stephanie’s dream is that CI Reading would spark more and more curious readers who become outstanding leaders in our community.
Outside of work, Stephanie spends lots of time with her husband Jesse and their two sons. She also loves to read, write, and sew.
Rebekah Wenz
Facility Manager
Rebekah is from Crete, Nebraska. She’s a student at Nebraska Wesleyan University studying Organizational Leadership & Communication.
She loves City Impact’s devotion to supporting the community, including Lincoln’s recovery community. She’s excited to be part of City Impact’s work to grow and create young, impactful leaders in Lincoln.
Outside of work, Rebekah enjoys spending time with her financé, Jordan, her godson, Maddix, and her dogs Whiskey and Bandit. She also loves to travel and experience different cultures!
Our Board of Directors
CHAIR
Craig Ames
Retired COO, Bryan Health
VICE-CHAIR
Brad Roth
Executive Director, NU Tech Ventures
SECRETARY
Sandra Hilsabeck Hastings
Owner, SandraLee Enterprises and Sandra Hilsabeck Books
TREASURER
Philip Rihanek
Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
Board Members
Trisha Berry
Leadership & Employee Development Specialist, Olsson
Brad Bryan
City Impact Co-Founder
Financial Advisor, PlanA Wealth Management
Helen Fagan
Professor of Practice – Leadership Engagement,
University of Nebraska Lincoln
Lucas Hains
Director of Business Development, RentVision
Brenna Grasz
Attorney, Keating O’Gara Law
Ed Osborn
Retired Owner & CEO, GT Exhaust, Inc.
Clint Runge
Managing Director, Archrival
Cindy Tinkham
First Vice President of Compliance & Risk, Union Bank & Trust
CITY IMPACT STAFF
Kristy Goodwin
Executive Director
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