Cultural Centers of Lincoln Collaborative Launching public phase of capital campaign
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA (October 1, 2025) – The Cultural Centers of Lincoln Collaborative (CCLC) in Lincoln, Nebraska announces today it has received $15 million in public and private commitments to its capital campaign, focused on building a new 62,000-square- foot shared facility at 21st and Vine Streets in Lincoln.
CCLC is a collaboration among Asian Community & Cultural Center, El Centro de las Américas, Good Neighbor Community Center, and Malone Community Center. CCLC’s mission is to promote cultural empowerment through collaboration, education, and advocacy.
Together, CCLC organizations have nearly 200 years of specialized experience serving the community and support more than 15,000 individuals every year through programs focused on basic needs, healthy food distribution, health and wellness, housing, education, cultural celebration, and community connection.
The long-vacant, former Cushman site where the facility will be built is owned by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is being developed through a long-term land lease led by partners WRK, LLC and Woodbury Corporation. The total site is 16 acres, and the Cultural Centers will sublease two acres as part of the broader development.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Cultural Centers of Lincoln Collaborative to bring this site to life in ways that celebrate benefit the entire community,” said Will Scott, Principal of WRK. “This creative and forward-thinking use is exciting and positions the Cultural Centers to grow capacity and serve even more people in Lincoln.
We’re happy to be a part of it.”
The building will serve as the new organizational home for staff and programs of the Asian Center and El Centro. It will also house the Good Neighbor Community Center’s Healthy Food Distribution Program and Malone Center’s Early Achiever’s Academy early childhood program. In addition, the facility will offer community event and office space for rental and use by other nonprofits.
Many generous donors have already committed to the effort, bringing the Cultural Centers more than 65% of the way toward completing the campaign. A $1 million commitment from Duncan Aviation Family Trust in the project’s early stages got fundraising off to a solid start. Together with other major donor commitments, the Duncan gift has propelled the project forward while investing in one of Lincoln’s core neighborhoods where data shows poverty is highest. The project is a holistic response to the most pressing needs in the heart of Lincoln.
“This project reflects so many of the values of the Duncan Aviation Family Trust. We care about education, opportunity, and a stronger future for our community,” said Connie Duncan. “The Cultural Centers will not only celebrate the richness of Lincoln’s people and traditions but also create pathways for economic and workforce development that align with our priorities. We’re proud to support a project that will inspire collaboration and
belonging for generations to come.”
She added, “Katie Duncan, my daughter-in-law, will be taking on an important role with the Trust in the years ahead, and I know her vision and dedication will ensure that our commitment to community continues to support more projects like this one.”
Other major donors to the project include the NEBCO, Inc. / Abel Foundation, Acklie Charitable Foundation, Cintani Family Foundation, Community Health Endowment, D F Dillon Foundation, The Sherwood Foundation, and Union Bank & Trust. In addition to private funding, Lancaster County is also supporting the project through American Rescue Plan Act dollars.
The total project cost including design, construction, project management, and a long- term land lease is $22.7 million. Today, CCLC is asking the community to join the effort by supporting the project to raise an additional $7.7 million to cross the finish line.
“We are so grateful to the Duncan Aviation Family Trust and other lead donors who have stepped up to partner with us on this campaign,” said Tom Randa, Chair of the Cultural Centers of Lincoln and Executive Director of the Good Neighbor Community Center. “Today we ask the Lincoln community to join with these leaders by giving to the project— we need your financial support to make it happen.”