Homegrown is working toward at least 15 home-based readings across Nebraska's three congressional districts during the spring and summer of 2025 and 2026, with particular attention to District 3, Nebraska's largest and most rural region, where arts access is often limited. Local teachers, librarians, and community organizers help guide site selection, and their knowledge of their communities has made all the difference.

 

These are relaxed, all-ages gatherings. Along the way, Jewel collects participant reflections, photos, and short video clips, building an informal picture of how Nebraskans relate to poetry and what accessibility actually looks like across the state. The project also fulfills her State Poet requirement to develop and lead an original statewide outreach initiative during her term.

 

Homegrown additionally lays the groundwork for five large-scale public showcases planned across Nebraska's three congressional districts, each featuring local Nebraska poets. The warmth and trust built in these living rooms is already carrying that work forward, growing a community of people across the state who are genuinely excited about what comes next.