The Dan Parsons Show | February 1, 2024

Educate. Inform. Entertain.

Tune in to The Dan Parsons Show every weekday afternoon from 5-6 p.m. on 1400 & 99.3 KLIN and on-demand from anywhere. Dan welcomes Kevin Koester of Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development and Kelly Ross of ECHO Collective.

1011 News | December 19, 2023

““They are family for me because they support me every time. When I need something, I just text them or I come here,” said Farhan.”

Hola Lincoln Radio Show with KZUM 89.3FM | December 17, 2023

Hola Lincoln on KZUM is a space dedicated to international music in Spanish. Here you will listen to alternative rock, ballads, pop, trova, protest and more from Spanish speaking countries. We seek to connect and share the love and passion for our community through a positive message while exploring a new way of listening to Spanish music. Listen to host, Dinorah Garcia, interview Carmen Castillo and Cecilia Vargas.

Hola Lincoln on KZUM es un espacio dedicado a la música internacional en Español. Aqui escucharas rock alternativo, baladas, pop, trova, protesta y mas de países de habla hispana. Hola Lincoln busca conectar y compartir el amor por nuestra comunidad por medio de un mensaje positivo,  mientras se explora una nueva manera de escuchar música en Español. Escuchas a Dinorah Garcia, locutora de radio, entrevista Carmen Castillo y Cecilia Vargas.

Nebraska Public Media | December 15, 2023

“ECHO Collective is made for people like me, who are from another country and we might not be able to understand everything because of the language barrier,” Castillo said. “They explain everything in terms that we can understand.”

KOLN/KGIN 1011 News | September 24, 2023

“Farhan was forced to flee her home country of Iraq back in 2010 when she was just 17. She practices Mandaeism, and since hijabs are not required in that religion, it put her life at risk. She still holds her culture close to her heart and wanted to share it with people in Lincoln.”

Ignite Lincoln | September 14, 2023

Ignite’s mission is “everyone speaks." We believe that public speaking builds confidence in individuals and that events like Ignite build community. Our goal is to make it possible for anyone, anywhere, to learn to present their ideas and their stories.

Midlands Business Journal | June 16, 2023

“We are all looking for somewhere to belong and ways to make meaning out of life…”

Nebraska News Service | April 15, 2023

“More than 300 people came to Lincoln’s first Ramadan market on March 13. The market focused on helping Muslims prepare for Ramadan and the Lincoln community to learn more about the holy month, said Saja Kinani, owner of Saja Craft and creator of the market…”

Cause Collective Radio Show with KZUM 89.3FM | January 23, 2023

With the help of KZUM Radio - 89.3 FM, Cause Collective launched their own radio show to highlight its members and educate the community at large about the great things all the nonprofits in Lincoln are doing. Listen in as Casey Karges interviews ECHO Collective’s Founder & Executive Director, Kelly Ross, and Creative Programming Manager, Sakeena Nazari.

KZUM News with KZUM 89.3FM | December 31, 2022

KZUM News is an hour dedicated to learning more about what is happening in Lincoln and the surrounding areas. Their 2022 holiday special connected with seven local nonprofits to discuss their successes of 2022 and plans for 2023. Listen in as News Director, Amantha Dickman, interviews ECHO Collective’s Founder & Executive Director, Kelly Ross, and Refinery Graduate, Carmen Castillo.

LNKTV | December 21, 2022

“Thank you for the great opportunity to study about business in the USA and for your time, patience, kindness, understand[ing], and for all of your resources.” Zhenya Vodolazskaya

L Magazine | November 22, 2022

After lessons at ECHO Collective – which included managing money and growing a business – Sein formed K’nyaw Modern Tradition, an enterprise that allows local residents to order clothing – many of Sein’s own designs. Those orders are sent to her family members in Thailand, who weave and sew the apparel, then ship them back to Nebraska customers.

“I love that I am running my own business, but also helping my auntie in Thailand, my sister, my cousins, helping my family across the world.”

Lincoln Journal Star | October 29, 2022

“ECHO Collective has proven that women can thrive and excel in every environment if provided with education and guidance.”

Lincoln Journal Star | July 24, 2022

"When I ask the women, 'What is your dream?' many of them don’t have an answer right away," Ross said. "A lot of these women have never had the space and privilege to be able to think of what they’re passionate about and their dreams."

Made Here Market on KOLN/KGIN 1011 News | July 8, 2022

“She said you can do this wood-burning like a business, and I completed a class with her for “how to start your own business,” and I started my own business,” said Saja Kinani, an Iraqi refugee.

“Like they make my dream real.”

Hola Lincoln Radio Show with KZUM 89.3FM | May 8, 2022

Hola Lincoln on KZUM is a space dedicated to international music in Spanish. Here you will listen to alternative rock, ballads, pop, trova, protest and more from Spanish speaking countries. We seek to connect and share the love and passion for our community through a positive message while exploring a new way of listening to Spanish music. Listen to host, Dinorah Garcia, interview Founder and Executive Director, Kelly Ross.

Hola Lincoln on KZUM es un espacio dedicado a la música internacional en Español. Aqui escucharas rock alternativo, baladas, pop, trova, protesta y mas de países de habla hispana. Hola Lincoln busca conectar y compartir el amor por nuestra comunidad por medio de un mensaje positivo,  mientras se explora una nueva manera de escuchar música en Español. Escuchas a Dinorah Garcia, locutora de radio, entrevista Fundadora y Directora Ejecutiva, Kelly Ross.

Cause Collective Radio Show with KZUM 89.3FM | April 11, 2022

With the help of KZUM Radio - 89.3 FM, Cause Collective launched their own radio show to highlight its members and educate the community at large about the great things all the nonprofits in Lincoln are doing. Listen in as Dinorah Garcia interviews ECHO Collective’s Founder & Executive Director, Kelly Ross.

Global 365 Annual Report | January 3, 2022

“The Refinery is a highly transformative program, not only for entrepreneurs, but for the Lincoln community,” said Jorgensen. “The students and alumni of the Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design are also transformative due to their forward-thinking abilities and contributions to the retail industry. Watching the two groups come together has been such a wonderful experience.”

Engler Entrepreneurship Program Podcast | November 15, 2021

The Engler Entrepreneurship Program exists to embolden our people on the courageous pursuit of their purpose, through the art and practice of entrepreneurship.

The PALETTE Project at Proyecto Cultural | October 2, 2021

Because the community invested in the education of our entrepreneurs, the Refinery graduates were able to re-invest in Proyecto Cultural as successful business owners through the PALETTE Project paint day and monetary donations.

Painters: Cecilia Vargas with Best Knit Co, Olga Mendez and Kathia Ortiz with Jello Artesano, and Bia Espinoza with Susa's Sweets & Balloons, Julie Grives on behalf of Lincoln Literacy, Mikki Mahar Sandin, Valerie Knapp, Gretchen Arroyo with Luxx Events & Rentals, and Anna Alcalde with Urban Legends Art Studio- classes & Offsite art, and Kelly Ross.

Perk Up Thursday with SCC Entrepreneurship Center and Focus Suites | September 30, 2021

Join our Founder, Kelly Ross, at the Focus Suites at the SCC Entrepreneurship Center for a Perk Up Thursday chat. They provide a professional and comfortable place to do business for real. Their services include office space, Focus Coaching, and networking.

KOLN/KGIN 1011 News | September 2, 2021

“The goal of ECHO Collective is to empower refugee and immigrant women,” said Kelly Ross, Founder of ECHO Collective. “We do that through our business education, connections and providing a nurturing environment where they feel safe.”

1 Million Cups | September 1, 2021

1 Million Cups is a local networking group that provides weekly opportunities for companies to present to their communities and learn how the 1 Million Cups network can help support their businesses to flourish.

GROW Nebraska Blog | August 9, 2021

“My favorite part of selling my knitted products is that thanks to this, I can make myself known with my work, and I’m able to get my products to more people. What has given me the most happiness is seeing the babies wearing my designs.” (Cecilia Vargas)

DISCUSSION WITH ARJAV RAOL OF THE NEXT TIDE | April 28, 2021

The Next Tide interviewed Kelly Ross, founder of ECHO Collective, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Discussion topics included a summary of challenges faced by immigrant communities, success stories of ECHO, the American Dream, and the ability for each American to positively impact their local communities.

UNION BANK & TRUST PODCAST WITH CAITLIN MOORE & PATRICK REESE | April 27, 2021

Founder and Executive Director, Kelly Ross, sheds light on ECHO Collective’s flagship program, The Refinery, and what it was like starting a nonprofit in Union Bank & Trust’s episode Let’s Do Launch: Starting a Business at a Young Age. Find ECHO Collective’s segment in Part II that starts at 23:30.

THE COMMONWEALTH PODCAST WITH NICK CASTNER | April 21, 2021

What do you do when you want to change the world but don't know where to start? Nick Castner, the show's host, answered that question by interviewing ECHO Collective’s Founder and Executive Director, Kelly Ross, and diving deep into how The Refinery helps refugee and immigrant women improve their lives.

INTERVIEWS FOR LINCOLN SOUTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM | April 19, 2021

Macie Yeutter, a student at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, interviewed Kelly Ross, Sakeena Nazari with Sakeena Tailoring, and Kathia Ortiz with Jello Artesano about their experiences with The Refinery program. The footage below was shared with students at Lincoln High School as part of a class on Economics. Pro tip: To speed up the casual speech of Kelly and the entrepreneurs, click on the gear icon at the bottom right of the screen and adjust the playback speed to 1.25x.

Special thanks to Erin Kelly at UNL’s College of Education & Human Sciences for editing and compiling the videos.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS WITH LEADERSHIP LINCOLN | March 5, 2021