Opportunities for Immigrant / Refugee Students
41 opportunities specifically for immigrant / refugee students.
Creighton VITA — Free Tax Preparation Clinics
Creighton University / IRS VITA
Creighton University accounting students offer free tax preparation to Omaha-area residents earning under $60,000. Walk-in only Saturday clinics run from early February through late March at the Mike and Josie Harper Center (602 N 20th St) on Creighton's campus. Virtual appointments also available by emailing vita@creighton.edu.
Closed (was March 28, 2026)
Free VITA Tax Preparation — Council Bluffs Public Library
Omaha Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition / IRS VITA
Free tax return preparation through the IRS VITA program at the Council Bluffs Public Library (400 Willow Ave). IRS-certified volunteers prepare federal and state returns for qualifying individuals and families. Appointments only — schedule by calling 211 or booking online. Returns for tax years 2022–2025 accepted.
Closed (was April 8, 2026)
National Farmworker Jobs Program: Career Service Training (2026)
U.S. Department of Labor – Employment and Training Administration
This federal program provides career services, job training, and employment assistance specifically for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families. It helps participants gain skills to find stable work in agriculture or transition into other industries. Funding goes to organizations that serve farmworker communities, which may include groups operating in Nebraska and Iowa. Farmworkers in the Omaha-Council Bluffs region may be able to access services through a local grantee.
June 20, 2026 — Due soon!
OPL Discovery Pass — Free Museum & Nature Access with Your Library Card
Omaha Public Library
The Omaha Public Library's Discovery Pass program lets you check out free admission passes to 12+ cultural and science venues in the metro — including the Kiewit Luminarium, Fontenelle Forest, the Durham Museum, Lauritzen Gardens, and the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum. Reserve a pass online at omahalibrary.org or pick one up at any of the 12 OPL branch locations. All you need is a valid Omaha Public Library card, which is free for Douglas County residents. Each pass covers multiple people per visit — check each venue's specific pass terms. A single library card unlocks free access to most of Omaha's major science and nature destinations.
Rolling / Open
Vocal Fry — Monthly Spoken Word Open Mic at The Union
Nebraska Poetry Society / The Union for Contemporary Art
Vocal Fry is a monthly spoken word and poetry open mic at The Shirley Tyree Theater inside The Union for Contemporary Art in North Omaha. Co-hosted by the Nebraska Poetry Society and The Union, it runs every third Thursday of the month — doors open at 6 PM for sign-ups, performances start at 7 PM. Poets, storytellers, and spoken word artists of all levels are invited to sign up at the door. No experience required. Some performers are regulars; others are stepping to a mic for the first time. Either way, the room is welcoming. Free to attend and perform.
Rolling / Open
Iowa Western Adult Learning Center — GED, HiSET & ESL
Iowa Western Community College
Free adult education classes at Iowa Western's Adult Learning Center in the Omni Centre, Council Bluffs. Programs include GED/HiSET exam preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL) at multiple levels, and adult basic education. Classes run Monday–Friday with extended hours. A $25 registration fee is due at enrollment and is valid through June 30.
Rolling / Open
Nebraska Enterprise Fund — Small Business Training & Micro-Loans
Nebraska Enterprise Fund
Statewide micro-lending and business development organization supporting underserved and low-income entrepreneurs. Offers a 5-week Business Acumen Training program, one-on-one business coaching, and micro-loans from $1,000–$150,000 for businesses that can't access traditional bank financing. Staff available in Omaha for in-person support.
Rolling / Open
EducationQuest FAFSA Completion Workshops
EducationQuest Foundation
Free in-person workshops across Omaha where students and families can complete the FAFSA with expert help. Available in both English and Spanish. Bring your tax documents and FSA ID — walk-ins welcome at most locations.
Rolling / Open
Omaha Public Library — Free Career & Job Search Resources
Omaha Public Library
Every OPL library card includes free access to LinkedIn Learning (thousands of online courses), LearningExpress career prep tools, DigitalLearn for computer and internet basics, Glassdoor company research, NEworks resume builder, and in-branch one-on-one technology help. No subscription fees — just a free library card.
Rolling / Open
St. Juan Diego Community Center — Immigration Legal Services & Food Pantry
Catholic Charities of Omaha
South Omaha anchor serving the immigrant community for over 40 years, located at 5211 South 31st Street. Services include immigration legal support, a food pantry providing essential groceries to low-income families, and microbusiness and asset development assistance for aspiring entrepreneurs. Part of Catholic Charities of Omaha's broader social services network. Described as "an anchor and gateway to all, serving and helping immigrants on a path to success."
Rolling / Open
IowaWORKS Council Bluffs — Career & Job Training Services
Iowa Workforce Development
The IowaWORKS office in Council Bluffs is a free American Job Center offering one-on-one career counseling, virtual resume-building workshops, labor market information, connections to paid training programs, and youth workforce services. Walk-ins welcome Monday–Friday.
Rolling / Open
Iowa Legal Aid — Council Bluffs Office
Iowa Legal Aid
Free civil legal help for low-income Iowans in Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County. Iowa Legal Aid handles housing, family law, consumer rights, employment, government benefits, and individual rights cases. Services include legal advice, limited assistance, and full representation for qualifying clients.
Rolling / Open
Karen Society of Nebraska — Refugee Community Support & Navigation
Karen Society of Nebraska
Nebraska's primary organization supporting the Karen community — refugees and immigrants from Burma (Myanmar) who now number more than 5,000 in Omaha and 8,000 statewide, making Nebraska home to the largest Karen population in the United States. Programs include social services navigation (reading mail, filling out government forms, addressing immigration questions), health promotion with translation services, home visits, and wellness sessions, an After-School Program for academic support of refugee students, and a Karen Language Literacy Program. Offices in Omaha and Lincoln.
Rolling / Open
211 Nebraska — Free 24/7 Community Resource Helpline
United Way of the Midlands
Free 24/7 helpline connecting anyone in Nebraska or Iowa to health and human services. Dial 2-1-1, text your ZIP code to 898-211, or search at ne211.org to find: food assistance, emergency shelter, healthcare, mental health services, childcare, employment programs, substance abuse support, utility assistance, legal aid, and more. Community Resource Specialists are trained to connect callers to the right local programs. Also administers Save Our Seniors, Help Me Grow Nebraska, the Military and Family Helpline, and serves as the state's Aging and Disability Resource Center.
Rolling / Open
Iowa HHS — Apply for SNAP, FIP & Medicaid in Council Bluffs
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
Iowa's free online system for applying for food assistance (SNAP/FAP), cash assistance (Family Investment Program/FIP), and health coverage (Iowa Medicaid). Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County residents are Iowa residents and must apply through Iowa's system — NOT Nebraska's. Apply online at hhsservices.iowa.gov, by mail, by fax, or in person at the Pottawattamie County HHS office. Call 1-877-347-5678 to locate your nearest Iowa HHS office and get help applying. Iowa SNAP, FIP, and Medicaid programs have separate eligibility rules from Nebraska's programs.
Rolling / Open
Legal Aid of Nebraska — Free Civil Legal Help
Legal Aid of Nebraska
Free civil legal services for low-income Nebraskans in Douglas County and across all 93 counties statewide. Legal Aid handles housing, family law (divorce, custody, protection orders), debt, income and benefits, and immigration matters. Apply online or by phone — no walk-ins. The A2J Self-Help Center at 209 S. 19th St., Suite 200, Omaha provides computers and forms for self-represented individuals.
Rolling / Open
Immigrant Legal Center — Free Immigration Legal Services
Immigrant Legal Center (ILC)
The Immigrant Legal Center (formerly Justice For Our Neighbors Nebraska) provides free, professional immigration legal services through licensed attorneys and DOJ-accredited representatives. Serves low-income immigrants in Nebraska and Southwest Iowa, including a Council Bluffs, IA office. Services include weekly consultations and monthly legal clinics at partner locations across the metro.
Rolling / Open
Creighton University Dental Clinic — Affordable & Emergency Dental Care
Creighton University School of Dentistry
Reduced-cost comprehensive dental care provided by supervised dental students at 2109 Cuming Street, Omaha. Services include oral evaluation, restorative and preventive dentistry, dental implants, and dentures. All fees are 40–60% below private practice rates. Accepts Nebraska Medicaid (ACCESSNebraska). Regular clinic: call (402) 280-5990 for adult appointments or (402) 280-2863 for pediatric. After-hours emergency clinic operates Tuesday and Thursday evenings (5:30–8:30 PM) at the same address — fees 40–60% below private rate, and the clinic's stated policy is "We never turn away anyone in pain." Emergency after-hours appointments: (402) 280-5031.
Rolling / Open
OneWorld Community Health Centers
OneWorld Community Health Centers
Federally Qualified Health Center with multiple Omaha locations offering medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, and support services on a sliding fee scale. OneWorld explicitly provides LGBTQ+ affirming care including gender-affirming hormone therapy, PrEP access, HIV and STI testing, and mental health services for LGBTQ+ patients. Accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance. Specializes in serving uninsured and underinsured patients regardless of ability to pay. Includes health insurance enrollment assistance, interpreter services, and school-based health centers.
Rolling / Open
Charles Drew Health Center — North Omaha Community Health
Charles Drew Health Center
Comprehensive, Joint Commission-accredited community health center serving North Omaha since 1983. Offers primary care, dental, behavioral health, optometry, pharmacy, STI testing, HIV counseling, and chronic disease management. Accepts Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, and offers a sliding fee scale for uninsured patients. Committed to quality care regardless of ability to pay.
Rolling / Open
Common Soil Seed Library — Free Seed Borrowing & Plant Science
Omaha Public Library
The Common Soil Seed Library at Omaha Public Library is exactly what it sounds like: a library of seeds. Borrow up to 15 seed packets per month using your free library card, choose from 150+ varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers, take them home and plant them. No need to return the seeds — grow them, save them if you want, or just enjoy the harvest. The seed library celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2025. Available at all 12 OPL locations. An accessible entry point into plant biology, sustainable food systems, and seed saving — with zero cost and zero prerequisite knowledge.
Rolling / Open
Joslyn Art Museum — Free General Admission
Joslyn Art Museum
One of the finest art museums in the Midwest, and it's free to walk in. No tickets, no membership required — just show up to 2200 Dodge Street and spend as long as you want among 11,000 works spanning ancient Egypt to 20th-century American painting to contemporary art. Free guided tours run every Friday and Saturday at 1 PM and every Sunday at 2 PM — drop in with no registration. The recently expanded Joslyn includes the 42,000-square-foot Hawks Pavilion and a sculpture garden you can wander through. The museum is on the ORBT bus line at 24th and Dodge and has free parking in the north lot.
Rolling / Open
Omaha Poetry Slam — Nebraska Writers Collective at The Local Art Plug
Nebraska Writers Collective
The Omaha Poetry Slam is a monthly open mic and competitive poetry slam, held the second Saturday of every month at The Local Art Plug gallery in South Omaha. Doors open at 6:30 PM; the event starts at 7 PM with an open mic, followed by the slam. Open mic: anyone can sign up at the door and read. Competitive slam: bring three original poems, perform for up to 3 minutes per round, and be judged by five audience members on a 0.0–10.0 scale — top scorer wins $50. No experience required for the open mic. $10 suggested donation, not required to enter. Nebraska Writers Collective is an Omaha-based nonprofit that has run youth spoken word and community writing programs for years.
Rolling / Open
Opera Omaha Poetry & Music Project — Free Annual Public Concert
Opera Omaha / Nebraska Writers Collective
The Poetry & Music Project is an annual collaboration between Opera Omaha and the Nebraska Writers Collective. Each year, students in grades K-12 from Nebraska and Iowa submit poems on a theme — 2026's theme is Memory. Professional composers select poems and set them to original music. The work is premiered in a free public concert in May 2026, open to anyone. The poets, their families, and the broader community attend. Over eight years, more than 1,000 poems have been submitted. It's a rare chance to hear original compositions built from the words of Nebraska's young writers — music that wouldn't exist without them.
Rolling / Open
Heartland Workers Center — Worker Rights & Leadership Programs
Heartland Workers Center
South Omaha organization building power with immigrant and underrepresented workers across Nebraska. Programs include the Health and Safety Training Institute (HSTI) with OSHA-focused workplace safety trainings, a Workers' Rights program developing collective action and workplace advocacy, civic engagement through the "I Vote For My Family" campaign and "Becoming a Citizen Initiative," and the Family Leadership Institute for community leadership development. Regular community gatherings (Cafecito) connect neighbors across all programs. Serves the Omaha metro as well as Columbus, Fremont, Nebraska City, Schuyler, and West Point.
Rolling / Open
ACCESSNebraska — Apply for SNAP, Medicaid & TANF Online
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Nebraska's free online portal for applying for food assistance (SNAP), health coverage (Medicaid and CHIP), and cash assistance (ADC/TANF). Apply at iServe.nebraska.gov, by mail, by phone, or in person at a Douglas County DHHS office. For Omaha-area help: Economic Assistance (SNAP/TANF) at (402) 595-1258 or statewide toll-free at (800) 383-4278. Medicaid: (402) 595-1178 or toll-free (855) 632-7633. NOTE: This is Nebraska's system. Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County residents apply through Iowa HHS — see the Iowa HHS listing on this platform.
Rolling / Open
BrainFuse HelpNow — Free Online Tutoring for Iowa Residents
BrainFuse / State Library of Iowa
Free live online tutoring available daily 2–11pm through the State Library of Iowa. Covers all K-12 subjects plus writing help and career resources. Available in multiple languages — especially relevant for multilingual families in Council Bluffs. No account required for many features. Every student in Council Bluffs has access through their Iowa residency. Also includes writing lab (essay review within 24 hours), skills building modules, and adult learning resources.
Rolling / Open
Do Space Digital Lab — Free Technology Access & Learning
Omaha Public Library
Do Space is Omaha's free technology resource center, now part of the Omaha Public Library system. Originally an independent tech library at 72nd and Dodge, Do Space merged with OPL in 2026 and equipment access was restored at the Milton R. Abrahams Branch (5111 N. 90th St, Omaha) in February 2026. A new permanent home with an expanded digital lab is being built within the Central Library, expected to open in April 2026. Do Space provides free public access to high-end computers, 3D printers, laser cutters, audio recording equipment, digital cameras, and technology classes. Classes and workshops cover coding, design, 3D printing, digital literacy, and more — all at no cost. An essential free resource for anyone learning tech skills, prototyping a product, or building a portfolio.
Rolling / Open
Learning for ALL — Free GED, ESL & Tutoring
Learning for ALL
Completely free adult education programs at the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center (6001 Dodge St, Omaha). Offers GED exam preparation, multi-level ESL classes, and 1-on-1 English tutoring with volunteer tutors. Available in-person and online. GED and ESL registration opens in early 2026.
Rolling / Open
MCC Adult Education — Free GED & ESL Classes
Metropolitan Community College
Free GED instruction and testing at multiple MCC campuses across the Omaha metro, including Fort Omaha, North Express, South Express, Applied Technology Center, and others. The program also includes ESL classes. Taught by certified educators, this program serves adults without a high school diploma who want to earn a GED or improve their English skills.
Rolling / Open
Latino Center of the Midlands — GED, ESL & Citizenship Classes
Latino Center of the Midlands
Omaha's largest Latino-serving organization offers bilingual adult education at their South location (4937 South 24th Street). Spring 2026 programs: GED preparation taught in Spanish, English Language Learning (ELL) at two levels, Pre-GED foundational coursework, U.S. citizenship interview preparation, and Basic Spanish Literacy. Classes meet twice weekly (Monday–Thursday, 2-hour sessions) or Saturdays (3-hour sessions). Spring 2026 semester runs January 20–May 16. Also serves over 3,600 individuals and families annually through mentoring, youth programs, nutrition education, home gardening, the city's largest youth internship program, and civic engagement.
Rolling / Open
CIRA — Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement
CIRA (Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement)
Formerly the Refugee Empowerment Center (renamed 2024), CIRA provides free ESL classes at four proficiency levels, employment skills training, job placement support, cultural orientation, and youth peer mentorship for refugees and immigrants in Omaha. Interpreters are available for medical and government appointments. Services available in multiple languages.
Rolling / Open
Food Bank for the Heartland — Find Food Near You
Food Bank for the Heartland
Regional food bank distributing through more than 500 partner pantries, schools, churches, and nonprofits across Nebraska and western Iowa — including Omaha and Council Bluffs. Distributed 24.4 million meals in FY2025. Use the interactive "Find Food" map at foodbankheartland.org/food-resources/find-food/ to locate the nearest food pantry, mobile pantry stop, or food distribution event by ZIP code. New warehouse facility opened at 4645 S. 84th Street, Omaha in 2025–2026. Also runs the BackPack Program (weekend food for schoolchildren) and Kids Café (after-school meals).
Rolling / Open
Heartland Hope Mission — Food Pantry & Family Essentials
Heartland Hope Mission
South Omaha food pantry and family resource center providing working families with a week's supply of groceries, diapers, formula, baby wipes, clothing, hygiene items, and household goods. Also offers SNAP enrollment assistance, community referrals, and a New Parents Program with specialized resources for new mothers. Households may visit once per month; senior (60+) or disabled households with documentation may visit twice monthly. Second location at 15555 Industrial Rd in West Omaha.
Rolling / Open
League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha
League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha
The League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha (LWV GO) is a nonpartisan civic organization that promotes informed participation in government and democracy. LWV GO hosts voter registration drives, candidate forums, ballot issue education sessions, and a monthly "Books After Dark" civic book club. They also produce "Go Vote Omaha," a local civic education TV show and YouTube series. LWV GO advocates for voting rights, government transparency, and equal access to the ballot. Membership is open to anyone who supports the mission.
Rolling / Open
Nebraska Appleseed — Public Interest Law & Civic Advocacy
Nebraska Appleseed
Nebraska Appleseed is a nonprofit public interest law organization that advocates for equity and justice in Nebraska through litigation, policy advocacy, and community education. They work on issues affecting low-income families, immigrants, and people facing economic hardship — including housing, healthcare, education, and economic stability. Appleseed hosts public events including annual Legislative Update presentations, the Good Apple Awards gala, and educational forums open to community members. A valuable resource for understanding how to navigate and influence state-level policy.
Rolling / Open
The Union for Contemporary Art — Free Gallery, Theater & Community Events
The Union for Contemporary Art
An art center in North Omaha — at 24th and Lake — built because the neighborhood deserved one. The Union hosts free gallery exhibitions, theater productions, neighborhood arts programming, a community garden (the Abundance Garden), and Family Nights that open the building to the whole neighborhood. Founded in 2011 by Brigitte McQueen to address the historical arts access gap in North Omaha, The Union operates from the belief that art strengthens communities and that Black and brown artists deserve institutions built for them. The building sits a few blocks from the Great Plains Black History Museum and Culxr House, in the heart of North Omaha's cultural corridor.
Rolling / Open
Metropolitan Community College — Free Learning & Tutoring Center
Metropolitan Community College
Free academic assistance across all subjects for enrolled MCC students. Staff includes specialists in reading, writing, math, ESL, and subject-specific support. Bilingual staff available in Spanish. Multiple campus locations across the Omaha metro. Particularly valuable for first-generation and ESL students navigating college-level coursework.
Rolling / Open
Learning for ALL — Free Adult ESL, GED & Literacy Classes
Learning for ALL Omaha
Free classes and tutoring in English as a Second Language (ESL), Adult Basic Education, and GED preparation for adults in the Omaha community. Serves adults who need literacy and language skills to advance their education, careers, and daily lives. Critical resource for immigrant and refugee families in the metro.
Rolling / Open
ESL Omaha — Free English Classes (No ID Required)
ESL Omaha
Free English as a Second Language classes at six levels — beginner through advanced — at 10845 Harney St, Omaha. Evening classes run Tuesday nights (all adults welcome). Daytime classes run Thursday mornings (women only). No paperwork, no documentation, no ID required. Limited childcare available during class. Current session runs through May 2026.
Rolling / Open
Omaha Public Library — Free Computers, Internet & Technology Access
Omaha Public Library
All 12 Omaha Public Library branches provide free public computers, high-speed internet, and printing. Do Space technology programs — formerly an independent technology library, now managed by OPL since January 1, 2026 — are housed at the Abrahams Branch with expanded services coming to the new Central Library (opening April 19, 2026). Do Space distributed free laptops, hotspots, and one year of home internet access to 945 Omaha residents as part of its Tech Pack Program. Branches also offer digital literacy classes through DigitalLearn and technology help from staff. Free Wi-Fi available at all branch locations. An Omaha Public Library card (free to all Douglas County residents) also unlocks LinkedIn Learning, LearningExpress, and other online career tools.
Rolling / Open