Jack Hotel performs for a crowd during the Peoples Parking Lot Party at Lincoln's Center for People on Saturday.
Kenneth Ferriera
Lincoln's Center for People hosted a celebration Saturday of 20 years of community service with its first-ever People's Parking Lot Party, a music festival and fundraiser.
Started out of a house on Holdrege Street in 2003, the center's founder Beatty Brasch named it the Center for People in Need. The goal was to meet the needs of people in Lincoln who struggled with food insecurity.
On Saturday, the center has transformed to its current state: a massive building located at 3901 N. 27th St., expanding upon Brasch's sole goal of feeding families in Lincoln and adding in diaper distribution and educational programs such as English Language Learning for new Americans and job training and development opportunities. The center is also looking to expand to food education as well, with information about nutrition and meal planning for those who come to the center.
"The Center for People has not only changed its name to embrace the entirety of what it offers, but it has also freshened its brand," said Center for People Director of Fund Development Belinda Acosta in an email.
To celebrate the center's growth over the past two decades, staff and volunteers turned the building's parking lot into a food-truck-lined mini music festival with local artists Jurana, Jack Hotel, 23rd Vibration and A Ferocious Jungle Cat taking to the stage.
People dance to music by the band Jack Hotel during the Peoples Parking Lot Party at Lincoln's Center for People in Need on Saturday.
Kenneth Ferriera
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Between sets, board and staff members sang their praises of volunteers and other members of the team that had taken part in organizing not only Saturday's event, but past distribution events and day-to-day activities.Â
"I think most milestone events are cause for reflection," said Acosta in an email. "For someone like me, who's been at the Center for People for a little over a year, it's a time to reflect and appreciate what has been accomplished and what's possible."
Opposite the stage, acclaimed muralist David Manzanares led a community mural activity. Attendees painted their part of Manzanares' mural that will be hung in the Center for People once finished.
"It's always beautiful to work with community because you can always connect with somebody," said Manzanares, who began painting murals in Mexico before moving to Nebraska.
Luna Pérez-Torres paints in a section of a mural created by David Manzanares (not pictured) during the Peoples Parking Lot Party at the Center for People on Saturday.
Kenneth Ferriera
Manzanares has experience working with groups of people adding color to the murals he's outlined and said he hasn't worked with the center before but volunteered because he knows the people. This, Acosta said, was the goal of the party.
"We're in a stage where either you know or you don't know the center," Acosta said. "So we really want to build that recognition, and obviously people that do know who we are just remind them that we are still here doing good work."
Funds raised throughout the night are set to be used to support the general operating costs and food distribution program. With help from the food bank, the center has been able to distribute over 200,000 pounds of food per month.
Top Journal Star photos for August 2023
Lincoln Southwest running back Ashton Traudt (2) runs the ball under defense by Columbus defensive end Caden Kapels (81)Â during the Silver Hawks' game against Columbus on Friday at UBT Stadium at Lincoln Northwest. Southwest was leading 14-6 at halftime.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE Journal Star
Seward local Garin Metzger (left) drives his pontoon boat on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 at Branched Oak Lake in Lancaster County during the start of Labor Day weekend. Pictured with him is his wife Linda Metzger (center-right), and their friends Shanda Laflin (center-left) and Pam Spicher (right).
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
Nebraska's Mikai Gbayor (42) celebrates with teammate Brian Buschini after he limited Minnesota to a short yardage after a kickoff return on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule points to the team during the first quarter against Minnesota on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball celebrates a 3-0 victory against Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, at Memorial Stadium during Volleyball Day in Nebraska.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE Journal Star
Club team volleyball players, including Kenzie MacDonald of Omaha (left), 13, and her twin Kyra MacDonald, cheer during the final moments of the Nebraska volleyball match against Omaha on Wednesday at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Nebraska head coach John Cook (left) takes the court with his team before taking on Omaha on Wednesday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Volleyball fans do the wave during a break in the action during the match between Omaha and Nebraska on Wednesday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez (8) and Merritt Beason (13) lead the team to the court before the match against Omaha on Wednesday at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
The glare from the sun hits the court causing players to be silhouetted against the floor during the second set Wednesday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Noah Snurr of Nebraska State Education Association (left) and Molly Gross of Nebraska Parent Teacher Association deliver boxes of signatures Wednesday from the Support our Schools Nebraska petition drive to the Secretary of State's election office.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Cole Graham (center) and Scott Ryan (right) of Nebraska Sign Company set up the volleyball court at Memorial Stadium ahead of Volleyball Day in Nebraska, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Christopher Corbett Jr., 7, examines the cockpit of a T-38 Talon on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023 at the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at Lincoln Airpark.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE Journal Star
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels leave a smoke trail behind them as they perform aerial feats during the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at Lincoln Air Park on Saturday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Spectators watch and photograph the U.S. Navy Blue Angels performing aerial feats over Lincoln's Air Park during the Guardians of Freedom Airshow on Saturday. More than 340,000 people attended the two-day show.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
An F-35C long-range stealth strike fighter flies just under the sound barrier during the Guardians of Freedom Airshow at Lincoln Air Park on Saturday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Seth Avett, Scott Avett and Joe Kwon play onstage during a performance The Avett Brothers at Pinnacle Bank Arena , on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln Lutheran's Ryan Bokelmann holds the Spirit Sword high as he leads his team in celebration after the Warriors defeated Lincoln Christian on Friday at Aldrich Field.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Farrah Plate practices yoga on her paddleboard at Holmes Lake Park on Thursday. Lincoln topped 100 degrees for the fifth day in a row on Friday, when the city's excessive heat warning expired. Relief is forecast on Saturday, where along with a chance of rain, the high is expected to be in the 80s. Those temps are to continue through Wednesday.Â
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
Guests at the Duncan Aviation/Make-A-Wish Sixth Annual Charity Car Show walk through rows of cars on display at Duncan Aviation Components and Parts on Sunday near the Lincoln Airport. The event featured airplanes, firetrucks, food trucks and awards for a variety of car categories. Representatives from Duncan presented this year’s Make-A-Wish kid, 3-year-old James, with a trip to the "Cars" Suite at the Art of Animation Resort at Disney World. All event proceeds went to benefit Make-a-Wish Nebraska.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
Ta'mircle Washington (left) splashes water on Eliah Kruger as they keep cool at the Bicentennial Cascade Fountain, on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Lincoln. Starting on Saturday, the National Weather Service is forecasting five days with triple-digit heat out of the next six. If that proves correct, it will be the longest stretch of 100-degree highs in the city in more than a decade. Lincoln's forecast calls for heat indexes potentially topping 110 degrees on Saturday and Monday.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Cornhusker Marching Band flag line member Alyssa Johnson, who is a reporting intern at the Lincoln Journal Star, twirls with her team during a routine on the field at the annual exhibition concert on Aug. 18, 2023, in Memorial Stadium at University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
Lincoln Pius X's Jack Schafers celebrates after he scores a touchdown in the first quarter against Lincoln Northwest on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, at Union Bank Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lincoln Lutheran football players join hands in a pre-practice prayer before starting football practice at Lincoln Lutheran High School on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Nova Trumler (left), 3, and Paxton Netsvetayer, 4, play as they build a house at Creative Minds Early Learning Center.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Asa Wegrzyn removes practice gear from a storage container before football practice at Lincoln Christian High School on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, in Lincoln.
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Preschooler Vihaan Idara (center) participates in playtime with his teacher and fellow classmates during the first day of the semester on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023 in a new space at Standing Bear High School.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE Journal Star
Lincoln Northeast's Landon Hoff (left) takes a handoff from Jacian Brown (right)Â during football practice Wednesday at Northeast High School.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
Becca Griebel (left) and her parents Tammy and Randy Griebel help her brother, University of Nebraska-Lincoln freshman Drew (second from left), move into his dorm room at Abel Hall on Tuesday in Lincoln. Around 5,000 students are moving into residence halls this week at UNL. Classes start on Monday.
HAYDEN ROONEY, Journal Star
A hover fly sits a top a black-eyed Susan at the Sunken Gardens.
HAYDEN ROONEY, Journal Star
Bull riders ready themselves for the competition ahead during the Extreme Bull Riding Tour at the Lancaster Event Center on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Lincoln.
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Cassidy Krawczak-Kummrow pumps her fist in the air after walking across the graduation stage with hre masters degree during UNL's summer semester commencement ceremony at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Saturday.
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NATS detasslers work a seed corn field somewhere between Lincoln and Waverly, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.
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Rachel Feldhaus, a 4 year detassler, pulls tassels from corn stalks on the final day of NATS season on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023.
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Lincoln East head coach John Gingery talks tackling with a demonstration with Dash Bauman during a football practice Thursday at Seacrest Field.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Kipton Fankhauser loses his shoe as he falls off of "War Dance" during Mutton Bustin' at the Lancaster County Super Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Patrons enjoy the first weekend of the outdoor carnival during the Lancaster County Super Fair at the Lancaster Event Center on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Syllas Daniels and Kaneka Taylor (right) hold on tight as they ride the Orbiter at the carnival during the Lancaster County Super Fair at Lancaster Event Center on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
A nun peruses the animals on display at Rabbit Row during the Lancaster County Super Fair at the Lancaster Event Center on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Angelina Mojok waves to the camera as she rides the merry-go-round at the carnival during the at the Lancaster Event Center on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Cally Sullivan, Hannah Munk, Noah Schmoll and his sister Jocelyn (from left) let their rabbits hop from the starting line as they compete in a rabbit race during the Lancaster County Super Fair at the Lancaster Event Center on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Offensive lineman Yahia Marzouk and Brady Eickhoff (from left) spring out from under the chute while running a drill during a practice at Lincoln Northwest on Wednesday.
Kenneth Ferriera, Journal Star
Nebraska middle blocker Andi Jackson blocks assistant coach Jaylen Reyes during practice Tuesday at Devaney Sports Center.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lincoln Pius X's Hudson Schulz (left) tackles teammate Sebastian Morales during practice on Tuesday at Pius X High School.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A view of the Federal Legislative Summit on Tuesday at Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Nebraska's Bryce Benhart (left) and Brock Knutson practice on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, at Hawks Championship Center.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest's Zak Stark makes a throw during a football practice on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, at Lincoln Southwest.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
An excavator tears bricks off Pershing Center on Monday as demolition work begins in earnest on the former civic auditorium. Bringing down the structure is expected to take two to three weeks.
HAYDEN ROONEY, Journal Star
Young dancers spin one another as they perform a traditional dance with Wilber Czech Dancers during the annual Wilber Czech Festival on Saturday. The celebration will continue Sunday with a parade, motorcycle show, eating contest and much more.
Kenneth Ferriera photos, Journal Star
Teams shoot around in the common area as they prepare to compete against one another during the 3-on-3 Railyard Rims basketball tournament at The Railyard on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, in Lincoln. In collaboration with the Downtown Lincoln Association, the YMCA of Lincoln hosted the seventh annual Railyard Rims August 4-5. This 3-on-3 tournament takes basketball to the streets of the Railyard.
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Callum Anderson gets his first haircut from barber Dean Korensky as he sits with his mother, Courtney Anderson, on Thursday at 33 Street Hair Studio. Callum was the fifth generation of the Anderson family to get a haircut from Korensky.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Carter Worrell has a staring contest with a baby chick during the Lancaster County Super Fair at Lancaster Event Center on Aug. 3, 2023.
HAYDEN ROONEY, Journal Star
A Nowear BMX rider jumps from a high ramp while teammates watch during the Lancaster County Super Fair at Lancaster Event Center on Thursday.
HAYDEN ROONEY, Journal Star
Zack Mentzer peeks out from a trailer while he and his family unload their Hampshire cross breed pigs the day before the start of the Lancaster County Super Fair at the Lancaster Event Center on Aug. 2, 2023.
Kenneth Ferriera, Journal Star
Fair kids who show animals will set up in the stalls so they have a place to rest, the day before the start of the Lancaster County Super Fair at the Lancaster Event Center on Aug. 2, 2023.
Kenneth Ferriera, Journal Star
Jen Witherby (left) and Mary Weixelman, bought 3 Daughters, last month and just recently completed their first week as owners.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Cooper Jordan, 4, runs the spray of a soaker hose during Sprinkler Day at the Eiseley Branch Library on Monday.
Kenneth Ferriera, Journal Star
Protester Kari Wagner holds up a sign as Nebraska State Board of Education member Kirk Penner walks by in the Capitol on Monday.
HAYDEN ROONEY, Journal Star
Mack Splichal, 2, shows off his cheer moves to Nebraska cheerleaders Sidney Doty, Carly Janssen and Audrey Eckert (from left) during Nebraska Football's annual fan day at Hawks Championship Center on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
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Shoes lost by previous skydivers are hung above the exit to the runway at the Lincoln Sport Parachute Club on Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Weeping Water.
Kenneth Ferriera
Carpet Land players watch from the dugout as their team bats in the first inning during the Class A American Legion championship on Saturday at Den Hartog Field.
Kenneth Ferriera, Journal Star
Nebraska's Darian White (left) talks with teammate Callin Hake during a team practice Thursday at Hendricks Training Complex.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Ten-year-old Connor Horner plays in the sprinkler fountain at Centennial Mall across from the state Capitol on Monday, as temperatures reached the 90s and the heat index reached into triple digits. The Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department said it discourages people from playing in the Centennial Mall fountains because the water is not treated.
HAYDEN ROONEY, Journal Star
Reach the writer at 402-473-7326 or mo'brien@journalstar.com .
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