Banisters Leadership Academy Lincoln County team member Sue Twidwell speaks Tuesday during an interview at Centennial Park.
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The Banisters Leadership Academy -- a kindergarten to eighth grade program -- has shaped children's lives through equipping them with leadership skills.
The program helps young people realize that they have a voice, Lincoln County team member Sue Twidwell said.
"It teaches youth leadership, trustworthiness, honesty, citizenship, responsibility, persistence, unity, fairness, respect, integrity, care, creativity and courage," she said.
The program launched in Lincoln County in September 2021. It currently has 45 mentees.
"When it started, the program had 30 mentees enrolled," Twidwell said. "And most of them stayed in the program over the years, and some have graduated out of eighth grade."
"Among the things we are proud of is watching the mentees grow in their leadership skills and confidence," she noted.
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According to Twidwell, Banisters is the only nonprofit organization in North Platte that offers leadership building skills.
"And there are no charges for mentees to join the program, she said. "just a commitment for them to attend a couple of times a month during the school year."
From August to September, Banisters will offer Night L.I.F.E. (Leadership in Fun Environments).
Banisters will host programs from 4-8 p.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, except for holiday weekends at the Salvation Army building, 1020 N. Adams St. in North Platte.
"At Banisters we realize that people are going on vacation, and kids are in sports and other things," Twidwell said. "But we are looking for that solid 20 every time -- and we feel with the current enrollment that should not be an issue."
Twidwell noted that when mentees join the program, some are very quiet and afraid to talk in front of a crowd.
"Through the Banisters skill-building and leadership activities, you see a complete transformation at year's end," Twidwell said. "At the beginning of each program, the mentees stand and introduce themselves, and it's amazing to see the kids who were once shy gaining confidence."
Banisters receives positive feedback from parents appreciating what they do, she added.
She added that Banisters provides tutoring assistance to a few students.
Banisters also has a healthy community movement service for mentees or their families.
"One of the important things that sets Banisters apart from other nonprofit organizations in Nebraska is that it's heavily data oriented," she said. "At Banisters, the mentees get assessments at the beginning and at the end of the year to help determine how much they have learned about leadership from September through May."
Banisters also offers two mental well-being programs:
The first is the Healthy Kids Movement, a 30-minute segment in which mentees talk to health professionals about life pressures and challenges they face.
"It's not a therapy session," Twidwell said. "But it's a group discussion with activities to help them think through what they are dealing with.
"The key to that is that it relates to what the pillar of the night is. If the pillar of the night is honesty, then the provider brings that to the mental well-being."
The second program is called the Healthy Communities Movement.
"It's a grant that we are currently utilizing statewide. We contract with providers across the state to provide telehealth sessions to all residents of Nebraska," Twidwell said.
Banisters acquired the grant funding from the University of Nebraska Medical Center as part of post-COVID funds to address the mental health of all Nebraskans, she added.
"It was (Banisters founder and president) Akile Banister's vision to provide telehealth for the rural areas of Nebraska that have limited options for being able to see a provider, or in many cases there are no providers, Twidwell said.
Healthy Communities Movement contracts with statewide licensed and insured providers and bridges the gap between those who are seeking services in the rural areas of Nebraska to providers that can provide assistance.
According to Twidwell, Banisters acts as the bridge between people across the state and the contract providers through a series of activities and programs. There is no insurance requirement, just a need for services.
Banisters also does a weekly count that goes to a UNL team that puts the data together to help Banisters know what works well in their programs and what needs to change, she said.
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