About

Forward Kansas is the forward thinking blog for the state of Kansas. Our aim is foremost to ensure everyday Kansans are well informed about the politics of Kansas. Similarly, Forward Kansas intends to hold elected officials accountable, demand higher standards for government, and mandating a more open, transparent, and accessible government.

Staff

Colin Curtis

Colin is a contributing editor here at Forward Kansas. He was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas. He currently attends Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas and is extremely active in politics. He names it as his number one priority, noting that even Aristotle said, “Man is by nature a political animal.” He currently serves in multiple leadership roles for the Kansas Young Democrats, the College Democrats of Kansas and the Young Democrats of America.

Chad Manspeaker

Chad cut his teeth as an activist and community organizer in college, where he focused mainly on free trade issues. Being a child of the labor movement, he was taught at an early age that organized groups of people can make real change. With that in mind, once he finished college he went off to live the life of a union organizer with the Teamsters out of Washington D.C. Chad joined Nancy Boyda’s congressional office January of 2007 and was her campaign manager in 2008. He is now the Political Affairs Director at Laborers’ Local 1290.

Kelly Jacobsen

Kelly is the daughter of two journalists, and has always had a great interest in writing. During her senior year of high school, Kelly worked as a staff reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal, frequently covering political issues from a youth perspective. After writing a column about The College Cost Reduction Act, she was invited to speak on the steps of the US Capitol by Former U.S. Congresswoman Nancy Boyda. After working on Rep. Boyda?s 2008 Congressional campaign (KS-02), she took a position with the Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy as an advocate for responsible energy policy. Currently, Kelly is spending six months in Washington DC while interning with the League of Conservation Voters.

Ally Klimkoski

Ally was raised in the south before escaping to Kansan heartland. Having worked as staff in numerous campaigns from presidential campaigns to city council races, she says she likes the smaller campaigns the best. Stemming from her strongly held beliefs and devout faith, Ally’s concerns include global human rights and the ever increasing wage disparity in the US.

Daniel Benson

Father, Jew, Geek, Slacktivist and hesitant blogger, Daniel Benson was born and raised to Topeka, KS. Instead of running from his humble beginnings he decided to return and try and make a difference, one neighbor at a time. Daniel is a member of Temple Beth Sholom and a Board Member of the Topeka Center for Peace and Justice.

Sarah Burris

Sarah has worked with campaigns across the country but prefers the red-states because they’re more of a challenge. In 2007 she worked for Skyline Public Works where she was finally able to contribute to the youth movement in a meaningful way.

It was there she began writing for Future Majority about youth politics and policy. In 2008 Sarah was named one of the five Rock the Vote Rock the Trail Reporters and traveled the country during the 2008 Elections covering the campaign from the youth perspective. Sarah was also named by the New Leader’s Council as one of the 40 Emerging Leaders Under 40. She was a founding blogger at Everyday Citizen, a long time writer and researcher for Wiretap Magazine, and a new partner at Mixed Media.

Levi Henry

A K-State and Washburn Law grad, Levi is a decade-long veteran campaign manager, organizer and political professional for progressive causes throughout Kansas and the Midwest.  The son of a high school teacher, Levi focuses heavily on education, organized labor, and the environment.  Levi currently resides in the city of his birth, Wichita, after spending his early years in the Topeka area.  You can reach Levi by e-mail or Twitter.