Kansas Leadership Center

05/28/2026

The secretary of state has seen an increase of filings so far in this election cycle, according to spokesman Thomas Treacy.

The uptick might mean that more candidates have filed sooner in this cycle compared with recent ones, not necessarily that more candidates will seek election. The office will have that number after the deadline.

✍️ Jerry LaMartina

Kansans wanting to run for office must file by noon Monday. Any voter wanting to change their party affiliation from Republican to Democrat or vice versa must act as well.

05/27/2026

What does the American Dream mean in 2026?

More than 50 people gathered at Roxy’s Downtown last night for Testing the American Dream, a live storytelling event from the Wichita Journalism Collaborative and The Journal at KLC.

Through personal stories & community discussion, participants reflected on opportunity, legacy, belonging and what we hope to leave for future generations.

Thank you to storytellers Julian Azcary Montes, Hugo Phan, Prophet N. Anyanwu Cox and Dalton Glasscock, emcee Jessie Gray, discussion facilitator Chris Green and our sponsors, League of Women Voters of Wichita Metro and The SHOUT.

Events like this support the Wichita Journalism Collaborative’s work, including opportunities for emerging journalists like new WJC intern Zach Ruth.

05/26/2026

Wabaunsee County and Riley County are neighbors. But recent news shows contrasts in their law enforcement philosophies.

Learn more in the latest edition of Connecting Threads, a column that provides updates on Journal stories from the recent and distant past.

✍️ Bruce Janssen

he latest edition of the Connecting Threads column, by The Journal’s top copy editor, looks back on stories from the recent and distant past.

05/23/2026

Every story needs someone to help guide the room.

Jessie Gray, emcee & founder of Flying Pig Improv, will help shape the evening as stories of the American Dream unfold.

Join us for Testing the American Dream, a live storytelling event from the Wichita Journalism Collaborative.

📅 May 26 | 6–7 p.m.
📍 Roxy’s Downtown | Wichita

Register: bit.ly/TestingAmericanDream

05/22/2026

🚀 Looking for meaningful, mission-driven work?

KLC is hiring for several onsite roles in Wichita, including new openings on our Finance & Operations and Programs teams.

✨ Chief Financial Officer
✨ Accounting Operations Manager
✨ Program Associates (2 positions)

If you’re energized by work that strengthens organizations, communities and civic life, we’d love to hear from you.

Learn more + apply: www.KansasLeadershipCenter.org/join-the-klc-team/

Send a cover letter and résumé to [email protected]. Applications reviewed until positions are filled.

05/22/2026

Celebrating three years of Beka! 🎉

For the last three years, Beka Starkey Keasling has helped strengthen connection and impact across KLC as director of learning networks. One of the values she sees lived out every day at KLC is connection: “Our people show up for each other every day and genuinely care” — and anyone who’s worked with Beka knows she brings that same spirit into everything she does.

Her favorite part of the work is getting to “be a part of moments that create ripples of impact — not only in the lives of individuals, but in their families, organizations and communities,” and we’re grateful for the ripple effect she’s created at KLC over the last three years.

When she’s not working, you can find Beka traveling with her family, snuggling with her cat, or training for her next marathon (because apparently running 26.2 miles for fun is a thing). 🏃‍♀️🐈

Thanks for three amazing years, Beka!

05/21/2026

What's behind the story of someone's American Dream?

Hear from three of the storytellers who will be presenting Tuesday at Roxy's Downtown in Wichita.

Each event speaker is being asked to talk about a time when their faith in the American Dream was tested and how they responded.

05/21/2026

Mold, sleep deprivation & toxic exposure aren’t just firefighter problems. They’re public safety problems. Wichita’s station crisis raises a bigger question: what would it look like to truly design fire stations around firefighter health?

✏️ Jacinda Hall
📸 Selena Favela

Wichita can look to places such as Salt Lake City who’ve been able to prioritize improving firefighter health through design innovations.

05/20/2026

“Sentenced” was directed by Connor Martin and Mark Allen Johnson, who went about the country to try to define the problem in a way that people could absorb.

“The challenge with literacy, early child literacy in particular, is it’s very hard to document the problem,” said Tony Kriz, executive producer. “Because we don’t really know what a child’s future is gonna be.”

✍️ Jacinda Hall

The real-life effects of illiteracy are shown in a documentary discussed earlier this month at Exploration Place in Wichita.

05/20/2026

A new chapter for civic reporting at The Journal starts this summer.

Jessica Pearce will join The Journal in July through a partnership with Report for America as a Wichita-based reporter covering civics in Kansas.

Selected from more than 1,600 applicants nationwide, Jessica recently graduated from Oklahoma State University with degrees in journalism and political science. Her reporting will include video, fact briefs and text stories focused on helping Kansans, especially younger voters, better understand elections, civic life and public affairs.

Jessica is one of 78 incoming Report for America corps members joining local newsrooms across the country this year.

Learn more about Jessica: www.reportforamerica.org/members/jessica-pearce/