Mainstream Youth Fellowship Program

October 2026 - May 2027

Mainstream is recruiting for the inaugural class of our Youth Fellowship Program! This is a paid opportunity for students and young professionals aged 18-25 to gain the skills and connections to build careers as advocates and organizers in Kansas. Fellows will walk away with a deep understanding of the Kansas political landscape and legislative process, skills in event and project planning, opportunities to collaborate with Kansas and national organizations and policy experts, and a new network of colleagues and career resources.

This Fellowship is right for you if you are already a leader in your community and want to dive deeper into advocacy for the separation of church and state. You should bring some knowledge and experience but also be excited to learn more. 

What you will receive:

  • $500 stipend per semester plus reimbursement for any travel expenses;
  • Access to state and federal organizations working on church-state separation advocacy and litigation;
  • Relationships with local leaders, including elected officials, nonprofit executives, and community organizers;
  • Experience lobbying decision makers, educating the public, and organizing your community;
  • Knowledge of First Amendment rights, Kansas legislative process, and current threats against church-state separation;
  • A network of peers ready to take their education and careers to the next level.

What you will give:

  • A commitment of 5-10 hours per month, including 1 1-hour virtual check in each month;
  • 1 full day, in-person training each semester;
  • 1 community project per semester related to church-state separation, created and led by you;
  • Participation in Mainstream events, including annual 1-day summit, advocacy training, and annual fundraiser.

How to apply:

  • Interested candidates must submit this application by the deadline of Oct 9 at 5:00 pm.
  • Fellows will begin with an orientation with Mainstream Executive Director the week of Oct 12.
  • Questions can be directed to Laurel Burchfield at [email protected].

People of color, LGBTQ+ people, religious minorities, low-income people, and others who are directly impacted by and from communities disproportionately impacted by discrimination in the name of religious privilege are especially encouraged to apply.

About Mainstream

Mainstream defends the constitutional promise of religious freedom for all by standing firmly for the separation of church and state.

Mainstream was founded in 1993 by a bipartisan coalition of legislators, faith leaders, and community activists with the primary purpose of guarding against ideological extremism and protecting the separation of church and state. For over 30 years we have fought to protect the rights, beliefs, and freedoms of all Kansans in our statehouse and at the ballot box. We advocate boldly at the Statehouse, educate and mobilize voters, and hold elected officials accountable to the Constitution. Our work responds to threats against public education, reproductive healthcare, and LGBTQ+ equality while upholding the First Amendment for everyone — not just the powerful few. 

Together, we can safeguard democracy and ensure freedom of religion for every Kansan.

Learn more at MainstreamCoalition.org