Application Guide
How to Apply for Democracy Champions
at Kentuckians For The Commonwealth
🏢 About Kentuckians For The Commonwealth
Kentuckians For The Commonwealth (KFTC) is a member-led grassroots organization fighting for racial, social, and economic justice across Kentucky. What makes KFTC unique is its deep commitment to building power among everyday Kentuckians, especially those directly impacted by injustice, and its focus on transforming democracy from the ground up. Working here means joining a community of organizers who believe in collective action and healing.
About This Role
As a Democracy Champion, you'll lead the campaign to restore voting rights for Kentuckians with felonies in their past by directly engaging impacted individuals and inviting them into the movement. This part-time role involves practicing leadership skills like storytelling, event planning, and voter mobilization, all aimed at building a more inclusive democracy. Your work will directly help restore the voice of thousands of Kentuckians.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve making phone calls to people with felonies to invite them to a local meeting, tabling at a community event to register voters, or meeting one-on-one with a potential campaign leader to share your story. You'll also help plan a small event or phone bank, and check in with your team to track progress on outreach goals.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Kentuckians For The Commonwealth Is Looking For
- A Kentuckian with a felony conviction (voting rights restored or not) who is passionate about second chances and democracy.
- Committed to racial justice and equity, with experience working in diverse communities and a willingness to listen deeply.
- Self-motivated and organized, able to work independently on outreach tasks like tabling, phone banking, and 1:1 conversations.
- Eager to learn and coachable, excited about public outreach and building relationships with impacted voters.
📝 Tips for Applying to Kentuckians For The Commonwealth
In your application, explicitly state that you are a Kentuckian with a felony in your past—this is a non-negotiable requirement.
Highlight any prior experience with grassroots organizing, voter registration, or campaigns, even if informal (e.g., helping neighbors vote).
Show your commitment to racial justice by mentioning specific experiences working across lines of race, class, or background.
Demonstrate self-motivation by describing a time you organized an event or project independently.
Tailor your cover letter to KFTC's values: mention their focus on healing justice and honest democracy, not just voting rights.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Emphasize your personal connection to the issue: your own felony experience and why restoring voting rights matters to you.', 'Highlight your commitment to racial justice and equity, and give a concrete example of working with diverse communities.', 'Show your excitement for public outreach and deep listening—mention a time you connected with someone one-on-one to make change.', "Express your willingness to learn and be coached, and tie it to KFTC's member-led model."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read KFTC's website to understand their mission, especially their work on racial justice and democracy.
- → Look up Kentucky's current felony voting rights laws and recent legislative efforts to change them.
- → Learn about KFTC's other campaigns (e.g., environmental justice, economic justice) to see how this role fits into broader work.
- → Review KFTC's member-led structure and how they train leaders—this role is about building leadership, not just completing tasks.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't downplay or hide your felony conviction—it's a requirement and an asset, not a liability.
- Avoid generic statements about 'helping people' without connecting to KFTC's specific focus on systemic change and racial justice.
- Don't apply if you're not genuinely committed to racial equity or working with diverse communities—this will be obvious in interviews.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Kentuckians For The Commonwealth!