Kansas Coalition for Common Sense

I’m heartbroken. I’m stunned. And like many of you, I’m worried about the future of our state and our nation. The results of this election were not what we wanted or expected. It will take time, reflection, and research to understand what happened. But one thing we do know is that the vast majority of Kansans share our values. When times get tough, we do what it takes to support our family. We trust our hard work will pay off so the next generation of Kansans will have opportunities beyond our wildest dreams. We lean on our communities - and into our faith. And we never lose sight of what Kansas has been when it is at its best. Now, more than ever, we must stand strong together and hold our leaders accountable. Whatever comes, we must have the courage to stand up for what we believe and defend the rights of our neighbors. We believe in strong public schools, tax cuts for working people, safe communities, affordable healthcare and childcare, equality, and reproductive freedom. Kansans deserve leaders who listen and respect our rights. In this election, misinformation was rampant. That means we must work even harder to get the truth out. While we are sad, disappointed, and scared, we cannot give up. We pick ourselves up and we get ready for the fight ahead. We still have the power to hold politicians accountable and make our voices heard. Together, we will keep pushing for policies that meet the needs of working Kansans and guarantee that our families get the care and support they deserve. Your support is more critical than ever. Together we can speak truth to power in the Legislature. Whether it’s advocating for policy changes, mobilizing voters, or training advocates and storytellers, we can’t do it without you. Will you stand with us and continue fighting for Kansas? The coming years will be tough and require grit and determination. It won’t be easy, but I will not give up on Kansas. Please, join me in the fight ahead. In Solidarity, Ashley All President Kansas Coalition for Common Sense

We’re hiring! Are you interested in advocacy work? Want to learn how to communicate effectively to make change? To make Kansas better? Apply today to be our next Operations Coordinator or Partnership Director. https://lnkd.in/gRqEhuKu

We're #hiring! We are looking for the perfect candidate to fill our Communications Specialist position. Are you interested in advocacy work? Want to learn how to communicate effectively to make change? To make Kansas better? To work with a great team of motivated advocates? Join us. Apply today.

We're growing! Join our team. We're looking for a Digital Communications Coordinator. The ideal candidate is someone who is proactive, interested in learning about communications, passionate about advocacy work, and ready to hit the ground running. https://lnkd.in/gFxuC7bc

Last week, I had the honor of participating in a panel to discuss Communication Challenges in a Post-Truth Era. It was part of Columbia University School of Professional Studies' ‘Awaken Our Democracy: Dialogue Across Difference Initiative.’ I participated alongside one of my #ColumbiaStratComm mentors, Kristine Billmyer, and colleagues Clarence D. Coaxum from Negotiation and Conflict Resolution and Danielle Spencer of Narrative Medicine. It was surreal to be on stage with such exceptional scholars, authors, and academics. ? It was exciting to share my experience working on ballot campaigns defending reproductive rights post-Roe in my home state of #Kansas - and across the country. ? My priority as a strategic communication practitioner in public policy and advocacy is to take incredibly complex issues, discover shared values among voters, and bring diverse audiences together to make change. To accomplish this, there must be near-constant engagement and feedback between our strategy, messages, target audiences, and stakeholders. ? The key to this approach – and to all productive communication - is active listening. Listening even if it makes you uncomfortable. Listening even when you disagree. Listening even when you think you already know the answer. Gathering the information we need to understand the audience’s perspective, keep the conversation going, persuade, course correct if necessary, and achieve our goal. ? We are living through a complicated and polarized time. The temptation in political communications these days is to simply rally the base and speak only to the folks who already agree with you. That’s definitely easier – and it might work in some places, sometimes. But the stark reality is that no matter where we live, we must bridge differences and find common ground to make change - especially today. ? Regardless whether we are dealing with corporate, cultural, political, organizational, or interpersonal communication challenges, the strategic communication process can provide a structure and guide as we try to solve some of the most difficult and divisive issues today. ?

We're #hiring! We are looking for the perfect candidate to fill our Communications Specialist position. Are you interested in advocacy work? Want to learn how to communicate effectively to make change? To make Kansas better? To work with a great team of motivated advocates? Join us. Apply today.

The newly formed Kansas Coalition for Common Sense is a progressive, nonpartisan communication hub.?So, what do we do? Our team develops research-based messages to empower Kansas voters, advocates, and leaders in their fight to advance common sense Kansas values. We work with progressive organizations throughout Kansas to support their efforts and offer critical communication services, training, and capacity to grow and cultivate new leaders in every corner of the state. Stay up-to-date with us -- follow our page!