My Week in Springfield: A Tenth Dems Intern’s View

 

By Matthew Sprenger

Over this past week, Tenth Dem interns were given a chance to take a field trip to our state capital, Springfield. (NOTE: To apply or request more information on becoming an intern, email us at info@tenthdems.org.) During the trip, we visited the Abraham Lincoln Library, as well as the Abraham Lincoln Museum. As we walked around these locations, interns were able to learn more about the history of our country during the Civil War and the personal life of one of our great leaders.

We were also able to tour the Illinois State Capitol building, including the Illinois House Chamber and a hearing room that once served as the Old Supreme Court. In the evening, interns attended numerous events around Springfield at which we met many Illinois elected officials, including Illinois Speaker of the House Chris Welch and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.

In the morning, interns got an early start to help staff the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association (IDCCA) Annual Brunch with 1,500 people in attendance. Interns checked people in, guided guests to their seats, and had the opportunity to hear from numerous prominent elected officials, including Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, and from Illinois, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, and Governor JB Pritzker.

After the brunch, we attended the Governor’s Day picnic at the Illinois State Fair, where we had a remarkable opportunity to actually meet and briefly speak with Governor Pritzker.

Thank you to our volunteer tour guides who came with us to Springfield (though all of our interns who traveled were over 18) and to the other Lake Dems volunteers and elected officials who joined us. With so many of us in attendance, we presented a sea of our Lake Dems blue shirts* all over Springfield.

*Tenth Dems interns were wearing Lake Dems shirts because they volunteered at the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association (IDCCA) Annual Brunch.

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