Celebrating Culture & Community: Lincoln’s Diverse Cultural Centers

by Sriyani Tidball • photos by Tom Tidball

In the middle of America’s heartland, Lincoln, Nebraska, has become an unlikely — but shining — example of a small city embracing cultural diversity. Over the past

few decades, Lincoln has evolved into a diverse community of people from around the world. What began as a quiet Midwestern capital is now home to vibrant neighborhoods, ethnic eateries, and community centers that serve as lifelines — and launching pads — for immigrant and refugee communities.

This growing diversity is not accidental. Since the 1980s, Lincoln has seen a steady influx of refugees from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and more recently, Afghanistan and Ukraine. Today, Nebraska ranks fifth nationally in refugee resettlement per capita. Half of the state’s refugees call Lincoln home, making the city an ever-evolving cultural hub.

Cultural Centers as Cornerstones

Lincoln’s many cultural centers are more than community spaces — they are essential bridges for newcomers and long-standing residents alike. These centers offer social services, language classes, after-school programs, and cultural festivals, helping families integrate while preserving their heritage.

Indian Center, Inc.

Founded in 1969, the Indian Center has been a pillar of support for Nebraska’s Native American population and other marginalized communities. It provides food assistance, housing support, youth programs, and language preservation initiatives, such as Lakota language classes. One of its most celebrated events is the annual summer pow-wow — a colorful gathering that honors tradition while welcoming newcomers. Volunteers play a vital role in helping individuals find employment and achieve stability. The center is a true symbol of resilience and generosity in the city.

Clyde Malone Community Center

Since 1955, the Clyde Malone Community Center has championed civil rights and community support for African Americans in Lincoln’s Malone, Clinton, and Hartley neighborhoods. Its programs range from early childhood education to after-school tutoring, as well as transportation services and substance abuse prevention. The Malone Center also hosts a massive Thanksgiving food drive, serving over 1,700 families annually. It is both a historical monument and a forward-thinking institution nurturing the next generation of leaders.

El Centro de las Américas

Established in 1982, El Centro began in a small home and has grown into a vital resource for Lincoln’s Hispanic and Latino residents. It offers a range of services, including emergency food and clothing, mental health outreach, bilingual education, and job placement. The center also runs a lively Hispanic Heritage Festival every September, celebrating Latin American cultures with food, music, and dance. El Centro remains a place of welcome, empowerment, and community building.

Asian Community and Cultural Center

Officially opened in 1994, the Asian Community and Cultural Center (ACCC) serves both long-established Asian American residents and newly arrived refugees. Programs like the Fusion Project promote self-sufficiency while celebrating culture. The center offers Tai Chi classes, Japanese festivals, traditional Lion Dances, and citizenship support. Over the years, it has grown into a multicultural haven that now serves immigrants from all backgrounds. The ACCC is a living testament to unity in diversity.

Yazidi Cultural Center

Located at 300 N. 27th Street, the Yazidi Cultural Center is part of the larger Yazda organization and supports Lincoln’s growing Yazidi population — the largest outside the Middle East. The center offers English and Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish) language classes, as well as citizenship preparation. For many Yazidi families fleeing persecution, this center is both a sanctuary and a springboard.

Multicultural Education and Cross-Cultural Hubs

Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center at UNL

Situated next to the Nebraska Student Union, the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center is a modern space promoting diversity and inclusion on campus and beyond. It hosts cross-cultural events, study spaces, tutoring, and support for student-led organizations. Events like the LGBTQA+ BIPOC Social foster a safe space for underrepresented students, making the center a model of intersectional inclusivity.

Good Neighbor Community Center

Originally started as a faith-based mission, the Good Neighbor Community Center has expanded its mission to serve all individuals, regardless of background. It provides food, clothing, and essential services while also prioritizing support for refugees and immigrants. Located at 2617 Y Street, GNCC is where compassion meets practicality, helping newcomers become part of the community.

Languages, Learning, and Living

With over 30 languages spoken in Lincoln Public Schools, the city’s classrooms reflect its international makeup. Whether learning Spanish at El Centro, Lakota at the Indian Center, or Mandarin at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, residents have access to an astonishing variety of language and cultural learning opportunities. At any given time, a stroll through a Lincoln supermarket or local park might surround you with the sounds of Vietnamese, Arabic, Russian, or French.

This diversity has permeated the local economy. Ethnic groceries, bubble tea shops, and international restaurants are now staples across the city. Whether it’s a bowl of pho, a plate of biryani from The Oven, or spicy papaya salad from Blue Orchid, Lincoln’s palate has expanded dramatically. Cultural flavor, it seems, is good for both the taste buds and the economy.

Building Bridges, Not Walls

Several organizations work specifically to connect these communities. The Cultural Centers of Lincoln Collaborative (culturalcentersoflincolncollaborative.com/) brings together leaders from different centers to collaborate on events, advocacy, and shared services. It is a model of how diverse groups can unite for mutual progress.

A City of Many Stories

Lincoln’s story is no longer just one of prairies and pioneers — it’s also about people from every corner of the globe finding home and hope here. The city’s cultural centers serve not only as support systems but as launching points for dreams, ideas, and friendships that redefine what it means to be American in the 21st century.

From pow-wows to pan dulce, Lincoln’s cultural richness is a gift to explore. Whether you’re a lifelong resident or a recent arrival, there’s always a new tradition to learn, a new flavor to taste, and a new neighbor to meet.