Ward 4 City Council: Laura Gamboa Urrego Announces Run
Grand Island, Nebraska – Laura Gamboa Urrego announces her candidacy for city council to represent Ward 4.
Laura Gamboa Urrego moved to the US from Colombia with her family when she was 5 years old and began volunteering in Grand Island at just 11 years old. She graduated from GISH in 2016 and returned to Grand Island in 2020 after graduating from UNL with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Studies, Political Science, and Humanitarian Rights. Gamboa Urrego was a Migrant Education Facilitator with Grand Island Public Schools and has spent the last five years serving her community in various nonprofit roles.
Currently, Gamboa Urrego works as Director of Community Engagement at Stuhr Museum. For the last three years, Gamboa Urrego has been co-leading the Grand Island Welcoming Initiative–a collaboration of area organizations committed to making Grand Island a welcoming and belonging place for everyone, no matter their backgrounds. Laura serves on a variety of nonprofit boards including the Grand Island Concert Association and EPIC Children’s Museum. Since she was a child, Gamboa Urrego has wanted to be a community builder.
When asked why she is running, Gamboa Urrego stated, “As a 28-year-old, Latina, immigrant, and naturalized citizen, I bring a perspective that is missing in city council. This perspective is a large
percentage of our community. Working in the nonprofit sector has exposed me to issues like affordable housing, access to childcare, financial assistance, and expanded public transportation that can aid shift workers–all topics that impact our community. I know I can’t offer solutions to all the problems, but I have worked firsthand with people impacted by these issues, and if elected, I will carry them with me into the City Council chambers.”
Laura Gamboa Urrego was a Susan Buffet scholar at UNL and then later mentor to Susan Buffett scholarship recipients. She was one of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce’s Top 35 Under 35 in 2024, a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow - Class 37, and was recognized by Nebraska Telemundo as a leader in the Hispanic community. In 2025, Gamboa Urrego received the Community Builder Award with Civic Nebraska and YWCA of Grand Island’s Changemaker Award.
Laura is eager to meet more of her neighbors during her campaign. She invites people in Ward 4 to message her with questions or concerns via email [email protected] or on her campaign Facebook page (@Laura Gamboa Urrego - City Council).