FeaturedThe Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats (Tenth Dems) is now accepting applications for its Summer 2018 Internship Program. The internship is a substantive program designed for high school, college, and graduate students seeking an opportunity to become deeply engaged in the political process.
Tenth Dems is a grassroots political organization that helps mobilize voters and interest groups in one of the most widely watched and intensely contested Congressional districts in the country.
This is the ideal time to complete a political internship as candidates prepare for the 2018 mid-term election. Assignments include staffing of events and issue forums, door-to-door canvassing with candidates, working in campaign offices, and conducting research. In the past, Tenth Dems interns have staffed events for candidates and elected officials up and down the ballot, including then Senator, now former President Barack Obama and Senator Dick Durbin, among others. Tenth Dems has also held events featuring Let America Vote founder Jason Kander and former Watergate prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks. Interns may also choose to complete specialized assignments in new media, IT management, and political outreach.
Internships are unpaid, educational positions; however, course credit is available from some high schools and colleges.
“This is an opportunity to learn about a grassroots political organization and to develop important skills,” said former State Representative Lauren Beth Gash, a Tenth Dems leader. “Many of our interns have gone on to law school or other graduate programs, as well as paid political positions with local campaigns, and jobs in Springfield, Washington, and with national not-for-profit organizations.”
Acceptance into the program is selective, competitive, and contingent upon an interview. Applicants do not need to reside in the 10th District; however, applicants must have an interest in electing Democrats, be able to travel to our offices, and devote a minimum of 8 hours per week to the internship during the school year, 16 during the summer. Applicants should submit a brief paragraph explaining why they would like to be part of the program, along with a resume summarizing their educational background and activities. Neither need be formal.
To apply or request more information, email us at volunteers@tenthdems.org, or call (847) 266-VOTE (8683). You can also “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@tenthdems).
By Barbara Altman
On January 15, Waukegan Township hosted its 16th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dreamers’ Breakfast at Lakehurst Banquets in Waukegan. Proud to be one of the sponsors of the event, Tenth Dems hosted three tables. Many more friends of Tenth Dems were seen at other tables throughout the crowded venue.
Food for the soul at the breakfast included both speech and music. Elected officials, clergy, artists, and others, gave inspiring speeches, including the 10th District’s own Congressman Brad Schneider. Hon. Marc Jones, Director of the Eddie Washington Center and Waukegan Park District Commissioner, spoke movingly about Dr. King’s life and legacy. Prominent Waukegan attorney Jed Stone, one of the leaders of the Tenth Dems legal team that monitors polling places every Election Day to ensure that everyone eligible to vote is allowed to vote, gave a rousing speech about inequities in our justice system.
The musical program was equally inspiring. Singers, dancers and drummers, and a gospel choir were among those who entertained. All present also stood and sang together—first “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and later, with joined hands, several verses of “We Shall Overcome.”
Waukegan Township Supervisor Patricia Jones kept the program moving, and people left the banquet hall with the sense of community and fellowship that Dr. King’s life and legacy inspire—and the renewed hope that we shall overcome someday.
On Sunday, February 25, 2018, Democratic candidates up and down the 2018 primary ballot spoke to a packed auditorium on the Grayslake campus of the College of Lake County.
Tenth Dems co-hosted the Democratic Convention with Indivisible Lindenhurst and several other grassroots groups in the area.
Democratic candidates on the primary ballot were invited to speak. Dozens attended and spoke to the enthusiastic crowd on Sunday afternoon.
Four of the six candidates for the Democratic nomination for Illinois Governor took turns speaking to the audience. They included State Senator Daniel Biss, Chris Kennedy, Robert Marshall, and J.B. Pritzker.
Several candidates seeking the nomination for Attorney General were there to address the crowd as well. They were State Representative Scott Drury, Sharon Fairley, Aaron Goldstein, State Senator Kwame Raoul, Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, and Jesse Ruiz.
Roughly 1/6 of the auditorium area Democrats filled to hear 2018 primary candidates (photo credit-Jacqueline Charak)
10th District Congressman Brad Schneider received a standing ovation after delivering remarks about the need for a better, more effective Congress than the one currently led by Republicans.
State Treasurer Mike Frerichs spoke to the crowd of 350 people.
Candidates for the Democratic nominations for the 14th and 6th Congressional Districts, two seats grassroots activists are organizing to help flip from Republican to Democratic representation in November, also made their campaign pitches to the audience.
The crowd in Lake County was able to hear from primary candidates on their ballot not just in highly-publicized contests like those for Governor, Attorney General, and Congress, but also for other races. Candidates in state legislative elections, countywide contests, and committeeperson races addressed the audience. Precinct committeepeople were recognized for their hard work.
By Kim Parson
This year’s Chicago Women’s March to the Polls was huge. It was even bigger than last year’s Women’s March, with more than 300,000 coming out to protest.
The Resistance is strong, and we will not lose heart. We boarded buses and trains and drove downtown early in the morning from all parts of the 10th Congressional District – from Libertyville, Deerfield, Lincolnshire, Gurnee, and more. The coffee shop at the Lake-Cook Metra station opened on the weekend to make sure the marchers had enough caffeine. Tenth Dems distributed beautiful signs they designed. The Chicago police, sanitation workers, and others there to keep order were all friendly.
This year’s March was just as peaceful and moving as last year’s. One of the crowd’s favorite chants was a simple but moving call and response:
“Show me what democracy looks like. This is what democracy looks like.”
We were surrounded by people of all races, genders, socio-economic classes, ages, and religions, unified by our demand for compassionate and fair representation. We were all there to send an unambiguous message to the administration and Republicans in Congress that we will not go backwards on issues like women’s rights, the right to vote, freedom of speech and of the press, freedom from religious persecution, equality for people of color, access to affordable healthcare, path to citizenship for Dreamers, LGBTQ+ rights, protection of our environment, and the many other fundamental principles upon which our country was founded.
We traveled downtown to make our voices heard and presence felt. We remain steadfast in our belief that even while our country continues to experience so much divisive and hateful rhetoric, love always wins and will prevail.
