Nebraska Organizing Project (NOP) is a Norfolk, Nebraska-based rural advocacy organization made up of local chapters in the state of Nebraska. The purpose of NOP is to bring “diverse” Nebraskans together “to organize for power, action and justice” at the state and local level. ¹

NOP is a project of Western Organization of Resource Councils, a Billings, Montana-based lobbying and advocacy coalition of left-leaning political activist groups that says that it is guided by the left-of-center principle of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). ^{2 3}

History and Activities

Nebraska Organizing Project is an advocacy organization made up of a coalition of rural Nebraska local chapters. Nebraska Organizing Project is focused on bringing “diverse” Nebraskans together “to organize for power, action and justice.” The purpose of the organization is to develop members at a local level in to advocate for policy issues at the state and local level.  ¹

Nebraska Organizing Project is a project of Western Organization of Resource Councils, a Billings, Montana-based lobbying and advocacy coalition of left-leaning political activist groups that opposes oil and gas energy development and support farming and trade policies in favor of its member’s farming and ranching operations. Western Organization of Resource Councils says that it is guided by the left-of-center principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). ^{4 2 3}

NOP’s Norfolk Chapter claims credit for the Norfolk City Council adopting a language access plan to improve translation and interpretation services for emergency response services. NOP claims it is 53-member Norfolk chapter presented the plan to the city council, which adopted the measure unanimously.  ¹

In 2024, a self-described active member in the Nebraska Organizing Project named Melissa Temple announced that she was running for District 19 in the Nebraska state legislature. ⁵ She was defeated in the primary election. ⁶

Parent Organization

Nebraska Organizing Project was founded by Western Organization of Resource Councils in 2020. Other groups associated with Western Organization of Resource Councils include the Dakota Resource Council; Dakota Rural Action, a left-of-center organizing and advocacy group; the Idaho Organization of Resource Councils; North Dakota Native Vote, a Native American activist organization founded in response to Norh Dakota voter identification laws; Northern Plains; Oregon Rural Action; Powder River Basin Resource Council; Western Colorado Alliance for Community Action; and Western Native Voice, an advocacy organization that conducts voter registration initiatives and advocacy training for Native Americans. ⁷

Leadership

The director of the Nebraska Organizing Project is Anneka Ramirez, who describes herself as focused on “building a more just an inclusive Nebraska.” Ramirez was previously the associate director of the Nebraska Organizing Project; a patron services provider at the Norfolk Public Library in Nebraska; the director the Three Rivers Library System in Omaha, Nebraska; and a service center specialist at Northeast Community College. ^{2 8}

Grant DeFor is the organizer of the Norfolk chapter of NOP. On his LinkedIn page, DeFor describes himself as a part-time community organizer with Western Organization of Resource Councils. ^{2 9}

Mo Bailey is an advisor for NOP and a leadership and capacity organizing worker for Western Organization of Resource Councils. ²

1. “Nebraska Organizing Project.” Nebraska Organizing Project. Accessed February 22, 2025. https://www.nebraskaorganizingproject.org/
2. “Who We Are.” Nebraska Organizing Project. Accessed February 22, 2025. https://www.nebraskaorganizingproject.org/about.
3. “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” WORC. Accessed February 22, 2025. https://www.worc.org/equity-statement/.
4. “Support Our Work.” Nebraska Organizing Project. Accessed February 22, 2025. https://www.nebraskaorganizingproject.org/donate.
5. “Melissa Temple of Norfolk joins race for District 19 Seat.” KOLN-KGIN. February 26, 2024. Accessed February 22, 2025. https://www.1011now.com/2024/02/26/melissa-temple-norfolk-joins-race-district-19-seat/.
6. “Melissa Temple.” Ballotpedia. Accessed March 4, 2025. https://ballotpedia.org/Melissa_Temple
7.  “Nebraska Organizing Project.” WORC. Accessed February 22, 2025. https://www.worc.org/member/15437/.
8. “Anneka Ramirez.” LinkedIn. Accessed February 22, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/annekaramirez/.
9. “Grant DeFor.” LinkedIn. Accessed February 22, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-defor-87b5612a0/.