Posted: August 11, 2010

Stephen Ark

Not many teenagers can qualify as political organizers, but 18-year-old Stephen Ark can and does.

A Gurnee native, Ark first headed for Chicago’s North Shore in 2008 to work on the Obama campaign for president and soon became involved in local electioneering. Last summer he interned with Tenth Dems, doing research, canvassing, and marching in parades, working out of the Moraine Township Democratic Organization (MTDO) office in Highland Park.  This summer he returned to manage the internship program — a staff position. Along the way, he redesigned the web sites of MTDO and Tenth Dems.

“I wanted something I could learn from—not like slinging subs at Quiznos,” Ark explains. “I’m glad I did it.”

“All of our interns are impressive,” says Democratic State Central Committeewoman Lauren Beth Gash, who chairs MTDO, “but Stephen stood out from the very beginning as a true leader. Stephen can oversee projects from vision to completion, excels at every step, and can motivate, garner respect, and cultivate friendship from not only the rest of the interns, but the adult volunteers with whom he works as well. He is an important part of the Tenth Dems Team.”

Ark, a May 2010 graduate of Carmel Catholic High School, has never formally studied either politics or web design—he learned by doing. That may change now that he is off to Macalester College in St. Paul, where he plans to study political science and economics and perhaps go on to law school. Eventually, he hopes to return to Illinois, which he likes for its diverse landscape and ethnic mix. In particular, he appreciates the North Shore and its people, who are politically aware and involved and take their politics seriously.

His friends and colleagues at MTDO and Tenth Dems wish Stephen success in this new phase of his life.  We are glad that he will be only a phone call or email message away!