Who we are

The MainStream Education Foundation (MEF) is the non-partisan, 501C3 arm of the MainStream Coalition. The goal of the organization is to educate and engage individuals, officials, and candidates on the ramifications of current and proposed legislation, the connection between community engagement and positive societal outcomes, and the importance of voting to that process.

What we do

In the summer of 2016, MEF launched its Be A Voter project, with the aim to create a culture of voting in northeast Kansas. We hired dozens of interns who spent their time canvassing, calling, tabling and engaging voters in the importance of voting. But after that election cycle, we began rethinking our traditional voter contact methods. We know persuasion is more effective when you are approached by people you know. What if we empowered a vast network of volunteers willing to talk to their own friends about voting? What if they knew which of their colleagues, classmates or cousins didn’t normally vote, and targeted their efforts there?

Relational organizing isn’t a new concept. What is new is taking a relational model to scale to impact voter turnout, and then equipping advocates with powerful, public voter data. So with that goal in mind, MEF rolled out the Voter to Voter project in 2018. We developed a new, online tool that allows our volunteer “ambassadors” to see the voting history of their friends, track the conversations they have with them about the election, and ultimately know if they were successful in persuading them to cast a ballot.

We are only a few months in to this pilot, but our results are turning heads. In the August primary election, the voters we talked to as a part of this project turned out to vote at a whopping 60%, compared to 27% statewide. The numbers from the November general election aren’t finalized, but at first glance, they look equally impressive.

Where you fit in: Youth Engagement Coordinator

We know that if someone hasn’t voted by the time they reach 30 years old, there’s a 90% likelihood they never will. That’s why we need to create the habit early! As the Youth Engagement Coordinator, you’ll be responsible for helping create, implement and design a program to to drive up voter turnout in high schools and among young adults.

This is an amazing opportunity for the right individual to create something new, with long-term impacts, beyond registration drives and canvassing. You will have the freedom to innovate, within the guidelines of the program, to foster a culture of voting for Kansas’ newest voters.

The primary focus of the position will center around community organizing via relational advocacy and communications development and implementation.

Your duties will include:

• Taking ownership of program growth and identifying opportunities for new partners
• Traveling to meet with potential partners around the state and guiding them through the election process
• Recruiting and supporting team leaders and volunteer ambassadors, and providing general administrative and technical support
• Planning events to mobilize volunteers and celebrate successes
• Connecting with community leaders, advocates, officials, businesses and grassroots organizations
• Developing and implementing strategies to expand the current base and engage new and diverse constituencies

Communications:

• Work with the Communications staff to develop a social media plan around youth voter engagement
• Expand current presence across additional platforms
• Ensure content aligns with brand and position statements
• Assist with production of creative content, including copy, images and video, for social media

Successful candidate will have:

• Understanding and commitment to the mission of the MainStream Coalition
• Knowledge of Kansas political dynamics, understanding of the legislative process and citizen engagement
• Ability to engage politically in a nonpartisan framework
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and relationship management skills
• Strong written and oral communications skills
• Solid organization skills and an ability to meet deadlines while paying attention to details
• Know how to work within a team environment, be highly motivated and able to work independently with limited day-to-day supervision
• Willingness to learn and a commitment to data-driven results
• Ability to work some nights and weekends, and willingness to travel
• Grassroots organizing or political campaign experience - preferred, but not required
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field is preferred, but not required
• Fluency in Spanish - preferred but not required
• Your own vehicle – mileage out of the area will be reimbursed
• A passion for elections and democracy

Compensation

Salary commensurate with experience. $26-$31K.

Flexible schedule, retirement match, QSEHRA program to cover a portion of health insurance costs.

This is a full time position, with funding for 2019 and the potential to continue through 2020.

Application Process
Submit a letter of interest, resume, three professional references and a writing sample.
Attn. Lindsay Behgam, Voter Engagement Director
[email protected]

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MainStream Coalition is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, and any other protected class.