Waukegan, IL (May 15, 2013) — The Tenth Congressional District Democrats (“Tenth Dems”) will host its 3rd annual poetry and prose competition on Thursday, May 16th. Hundreds of high school students entered the competition to win prizes and to have the chance to present their work before a live audience at the Ramada Inn Waukegan. The competition encourages student authors to write and speak on a chosen topic, and the 2013 theme is “Dreaming.” The competition was open to area high school students residing in Benton, northern Shields (North Chicago), Warren, Waukegan, and Zion Townships.

Cash prizes will be awarded to winners in the categories of poetry and prose. There will be a $100 prize for the best poem and prose entries, $75 for second place in both categories, and $50 for third place.

What: “The Dream Slam”, the Tenth Dems’ 3rd Annual Poetry and Prose Slam and Awards Ceremony

When: Thursday, May 16th. Doors open at 6:00 pm, program starts at 6:30 pm

Where: Ramada Inn Waukegan
200 N. Green Bay Road, Waukegan, IL

Contact: RSVP online at http://tenthdems.org/slam
Email info@tenthdems.org or call (847) 266-VOTE (8683)

Why have a slam competition? “The Tenth Dems motto holds that politics should be about more than just elections; it should be about working together to make our world a better place,” said Tenth Dems Community Connection Executive Director Laura Tomsky. “This competition gives young people the chance to express themselves in a fun and creative way while being recognized by the community.”

This year, applicants were asked to write about the theme of Dreaming. Their challenge is described below:

What is Dreaming? The dictionary tells us it can be a succession of images, thoughts or emotions passing through the mind during sleep or while awake. A dream can be an involuntary vision or an indulgent getaway. The act of dreaming is thinking or conceiving of something in a remote way.

Throughout history dreams have inspired, alarmed and challenged us to become more than what we are; to act for change; and to make the world a more beautiful place. What are your dreams, where do they come from and where will they take you.

The Tenth Dems Community Connection Office is located in downtown Waukegan. The office is open for outreach to many programs in the 10th District. Programs include job interview training, voter registration drives, and much more.

For more information, please visit the website at http://tenthdems.org/slam, email info@tenthdems.org, or call (847) 266-VOTE (8683).

The Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats (“Tenth Dems”) is pleased to begin accepting applications for their Summer 2013 Internship Program.

This substantive, intensive internship program—available for course credit—is designed for young people deeply interested and engaged in the political process. Tenth Dems is a grassroots political organization that helps to mobilize voters and interest groups in one of the most hotly contested congressional districts in the nation. Our internship program offers participants the opportunity to develop specific, marketable skills in numerous fields of study. Many former interns have gone on to law school or other graduate programs, paid political positions in local campaigns, Springfield or Washington, or national not-for-profit organizations.

Tenth Dems interns and volunteers with Illinois Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon and Attorney General Lisa Madigan at the Illinois State Democratic Convention, August 2012

This is the perfect time to complete a political internship as Democrats prepare for the critical 2014 midterm elections. General assignments include staffing of events and issue forums, door-to-door canvassing with candidates, work in campaign offices, and research. Tenth Dems interns have staffed events featuring then-state senator and now U.S. President Barack Obama, the late George McGovern, South Dakota Senator and 1972 presidential candidate, Vermont Governor and presidential candidate Howard Dean, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Mark Begich of Alaska, and our own Dick Durbin, as well as numerous other Illinois state and local elected officials. Tenth Dems has also hosted frequent MSNBC commentators John Nichols and Karen Finney, and other prominent national figures. Interns may also choose to complete specialized assignments in new media, IT management, and political outreach. The internship is really what you make of it.

Course credit is available with cooperating high schools and colleges. Internships are unpaid educational volunteer positions, and our summer interns are expected to commit 16 hours per week. Acceptance into the internship program is selective, competitive, and contingent upon an interview. Applicants should submit a brief paragraph explaining why they would like to complete the program, along with a resume summarizing their educational background and activities. Neither need be formal. Send completed applications to volunteers@tenthdems.org.

Illinois’ 10th Congressional District contains portions of both Cook and Lake Counties, stretching from Winnetka in the south up to the Wisconsin border along the lake. The district includes all or part of the following towns: Arlington Heights, Bannockburn, Beach Park, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Fort Sheridan, Fox Lake, Glencoe, Glenview, Grayslake, Great Lakes, Green Oaks, Gurnee, Hainesville, Highland Park, Highwood, Indian Creek, Ingleside, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Lake Villa, Lake Zurich, Lakemoor, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Lindenhurst, Long Grove, McHenry, Mettawa, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Mundelein, Niles, North Chicago, Northbrook, Park City, Park Ridge, Prairie View, Prospect Heights, Riverwoods, Round Lake, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Heights, Round Lake Park, Spring Grove, Third Lake, Vernon Hills, Volo, Wadsworth, Waukegan, Wheeling, Winnetka, Winthrop Harbor, and Zion. Applicants need not reside in the 10th District but must have an interest in electing a Democrat and be able to travel to here. The district was named by The Washington Post as one of the “10 Most Likely to Flip” in the November 2012 election, and was one of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s (DCCC’s) 35 national “races to watch.” Democratic Representative Brad Schneider defeated incumbent Republican Robert Dold in November.

To apply, request more information, or for any questions about the program, please contact Marissa Bohrer, Internship Coordinator, or State Central Committeewoman and former State Representative Lauren Beth Gash, Chair. Email volunteers@tenthdems.org or call (847) 266-VOTE (8683).

Dear Friends,

We mourn the loss of Dawn Clark Netsch, an icon in Illinois government and Democratic politics. As you may know, she passed away yesterday at the age of 86.

Dawn’s reputation as a “straight shooter” helped her break barriers throughout her career. Over the course of her nearly 60 years of public service, she served as State Senator and State Comptroller—one of the first women elected to the State Senate and the very first woman elected to an Illinois statewide office. During my first years as a state legislator in Springfield, I had the privilege of working with her when she was State Comptroller, and I am grateful for her in-district help in my campaigns.

In 1994, Dawn became the first woman from either major party to win the primary nomination for governor in Illinois. As a public servant and as a law professor at Northwestern University Law School, where she taught State and Local Government (in fact, she was actually my professor for State and Local Government there before I served in the state legislature), she inspired countless people to be involved in their communities.

She remained active in politics and non-profit work during the last years of her life. She was an early and influential advocate for marriage equality, common sense laws to prevent gun violence, and ethical and campaign reforms in politics and government.

Dawn very recently renewed her membership with the Tenth Congressional District Democrats, and we have been honored to count her as a member of our Tenth Dems family.

She will be missed by those who knew of her and her work. She was a trailblazer for women, and an inspiration to all. Dawn Clark Netsch was a true Illinois hero.

Lauren Beth Gash

PS: Services will be private, followed by a public memorial. Details to be announced.