Mission
Culture creates connection
Preserve and promote Chinese culture and heritage, raise awareness of cultural diversity, and give back to the community.
About NCA
Culture connects a community
Preserve and promote Chinese culture and heritage, raise awareness of cultural diversity, and give back to the community.
Vision
A community that understands one another
Build understanding between Chinese and American cultures through education, cultural events, and community collaboration.
Our Story
From a Shared Vision to a Community Home
- 2008Founded
- A home of our ownPurchasing our building
- 2016Became Nebraska Chinese Association
- TodayServing Nebraska
01 / A shared vision
A community takes root
Founded in 2008 to support disaster relief, serve the local community, and preserve and promote Chinese culture, NCA began as the Omaha Chinese Culture Association. In 2016, it became the Nebraska Chinese Association as its mission and reach expanded across the state.
From the beginning, volunteers believed that a strong community needed meaningful programs and activities, as well as a permanent place to gather and grow.
02 / A turning point
A Home of Our Own
Purchasing a permanent property was an ambitious undertaking for a young nonprofit. NCA’s leaders moved forward with commercial financing, believing that a permanent home would create opportunities for future generations.
Hong Zheng played a pivotal role in turning this vision into reality. Together with Linda Steele and Ping Ye, they personally guaranteed the commercial loan, putting their own credit and financial responsibility behind NCA’s future. Their commitment enabled NCA to secure a permanent home and marked a significant milestone in the organization’s growth.
Buying the building was only the first step. Meeting its monthly obligations required years of creativity, persistence, and community support. Rental income, individual and business donations, room-naming sponsorships, fundraising activities, and efforts to establish income-generating ventures all helped sustain the building.
Some efforts generated more support than others, but all reflected a shared determination to contribute, take risks, and invest in the future. With the generosity of countless donors and volunteers, NCA established the community home it has today.
03 / Looking ahead
Growing Together
The building has brought generations together through cultural celebrations, Chinese language education, music and arts programs, community gatherings, volunteer activities, and partnerships throughout Nebraska. Today, NCA continues to promote Chinese culture, encourage cultural exchange, and connect people of different backgrounds.
This story belongs to everyone who helped build it — founders, board members, donors, volunteers, teachers, performers, families, community partners, and friends. And the story continues.
The people who started it
Our founders
Linda Steele
Co-founder
Julie Verebely
Co-founder
Ping Ye
Co-founder
Hong Zheng
Co-founder
With gratitude
Major Supporters of the NCA Building
- Asian Market
- Peggy Liu
- Dr. David Steele & Mrs. Linda Steele
- Dr. Michael E Knauss & Mrs. Yan Rui Knauss
- Brian Liu
Together with contributions from many other community members, their generosity helped transform a building into a home for generations to come.
The wider community story
Chinese in Omaha: through the years
Selected milestones from Omaha Magazine place NCA within a longer local story.
- 1870
Early records
Harper’s Weekly depicts Chinese railroad workers passing through Omaha.
- 1872–1873
Putting down roots
Chinese laundries first appear in the city directory.
- 1920
A culinary landmark
Gin Chin opens King Fong Cafe.
- Mid-1980s
Community connections
The Metropolitan Omaha Chinese American Association forms.
- 2008
Coming together to help
Sichuan earthquake relief efforts lead to NCA’s predecessor being founded.
- April 2016
A community home
The Nebraska Chinese Center celebrates its grand opening.