About Panhandle Equality Panhandle Equality is a non-profit organization located in the Nebraska Panhandle committed to full equality for residents of the Nebraska Panhandle region by advancing LGBTQ+ rights through advocacy, education and community service. Panhandle Equality is a tax-exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN #83-1807379. All gifts to Panhandle Equality are tax deductible to the extent allowed by the law. LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. | Our Mission Panhandle Equality is committed to full equality for residents of the Nebraska Panhandle region by advancing LGBTQ+ rights through advocacy, education and community service. Our Vision Inclusiveness and equality for all. |
Our Board of Directors
Ladessa Heimbouch, ASPresident
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Gering, NE
Ladessa is a Trainer at Faneuil, Inc. and President of Panhandle Equality. She was born and raised in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. After earning her Associate of Science degree from Western Nebraska Community College in 2007, she moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. In 2014, after 7 wonderful years of experiences, Ladessa decided to move back to the Panhandle to be closer to her family and friends, and to contemplate her next chapter in life. Shortly after moving back, she took a part-time job tutoring Math for the Veterans Upward Bound program where she fell in love with teaching. She then secured a training position at Faneuil where she applies her teaching and writing skills to the fullest. In 2015, she met her wife, Hailey, in 2016 they bought a house in Gering, Nebraska, and got married at their new home. When she’s not writing training manuals, organizing online resources, or developing miraculous spreadsheets, Ladessa loves to sing karaoke, jam on her guitar and ride her motorcycle.
Ladessa is fully committed to help make this community a more inclusive, accepting and safe place to live for other LGBTQ+ individuals. Ladessa has brought a lot of structure and organization to Panhandle Equality’s operation, and she is confident that she and her fellow board members will continue to grow the organization and make a positive impact in the community.
Megan Koppenhafer, BS
Vice-PresidentPreferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Iowa City, IA
Megan recently moved to Scottsbluff Nebraska for her first job out of college, a regional planner for the Panhandle Area Development District. She has been committed to human rights from a young age. Growing up in Iowa and watching the evolution of LGBTQ+ rights in the state cemented her passion from an early age. In college at Iowa State University, Megan studied environmental science and community and regional planning in order to strengthen her skill set for work in the field of environmental justice. After graduating in Fall of 2017, Megan worked as an AmeriCorps service member serving with an environmental education group called Water Rocks! This position allowed her to combine her love of the environment with her love of singing and working with students but it kept her from her passion for human rights so near the end of her term she began looking for jobs where she could work with communities.
The position in Scottsbluff would allow her to work in rural areas, which she is passionate about because of her history growing up on a farm, as well as work with communities to make them better for those who live there. She is very honored to serve as vice president of Panhandle Equality, which she sees as an amazing opportunity to do the work of creating inclusive communities. Megan enjoys singing, acting, hiking, and a good community meeting in her spare time!
Vacant Position
SecretaryPreferred Pronouns:
Hometown:
Treasurer
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Sidney, NE
Jolene has been a Panhandle resident since ’99. She currently works as a trainer and IT Project Coordinator for Magnet Solutions. She has also served as a part-time substitute teacher for the Scottsbluff Public Schools since 2016. After earning a BA in Psychology in 2019, Jolene is preparing to begin work on an MA in the fall of 2020. Life isn’t all work, though, Jolene also sings in WNCC’s Big Cat Combo, a rock group that tours high schools in the tri-state area playing music and offering WNCC scholarships to students for their involvement in band and choir.
This board position allows Jolene to work towards a more welcoming and inclusive Panhandle in the hopes that the LGBTQIA+ community members will be able to present themselves without fear. Jolene is very proud to work towards a better and brighter Nebraska.
Vacant Position
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Sidney, NE
Jolene has been a Panhandle resident since ’99. She currently works as a trainer and IT Project Coordinator for Magnet Solutions. She has also served as a part-time substitute teacher for the Scottsbluff Public Schools since 2016. After earning a BA in Psychology in 2019, Jolene is preparing to begin work on an MA in the fall of 2020. Life isn’t all work, though, Jolene also sings in WNCC’s Big Cat Combo, a rock group that tours high schools in the tri-state area playing music and offering WNCC scholarships to students for their involvement in band and choir.
This board position allows Jolene to work towards a more welcoming and inclusive Panhandle in the hopes that the LGBTQIA+ community members will be able to present themselves without fear. Jolene is very proud to work towards a better and brighter Nebraska.
Board Member
Preferred Pronouns:
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Our Constitution & Bylaws
