KEVIN FONG

We recently asked Mikva Challenge Alumnus, Kevin Fong, to share a few things about his experiences at Mikva Challenge, and here is what he had to say:

I attended my first Mikva Challenge event, a candidate forum for the Cook County State's Attorney, at National Louis University in Chicago in the fall of 2008. On that Saturday morning, several Mikva students and I grilled then candidates Tony Peraica and Anita Alvarez on some hot button issues like corruption and violence prevention. This was my introduction to the world of politics and it was then that my passion for politics developed. Since then, I participated in many Mikva programs.

I went on a weekend Mikva trip to South Bend, IN to campaign for the 2009 Presidential Election.  This experience was the first time I was able to say that I made a political difference because I was able to convince others to support my candidate. My time campaigning in Indiana also showed me some of the behind the scenes players of the candidates, and shed light on what campaigning is really like.

At the end of the election season, I had one of highest number of volunteer hours, which earned me a ticket to attend the 2009 Presidential Inauguration for our 44th President Barack Obama in Washington D.C. on January 21, 2009. 25 Mikva students and I woke up that morning before sunrise to be a part of United States History in the making.

In the summer 2009, I was selected to participate in Mikva Challenge’s Summer Government Leadership Institute, where I worked as an intern for Illinois 5th District State Representative Ken Dunkin. It was this experience that really opened my eyes to the political process and what it meant to be an elected official for the United States. At the end of my internship, I was offered a part-time position in Dunkin’s office.

I was a senior at Thomas Kelly High School when I was introduced to Mikva Challenge, and like most, I was going back and forth, struggling to figure out what I wanted to study in college – Mikva cleared things up for me. Before Mikva, I had no intention of pursuing a career in public service. Now, I am finishing up my second semester as an undergraduate political science student at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and I continue to work part-time at Rep. Dunkin’s office.

Looking back on my time with Mikva and seeing where I am now, I know that Mikva Challenge played a significant role on my life. Mikva Challenge has helped me mature into a young adult. It was through Mikva Challenge that I learned what politics is all about, and that it is more than just corrupt politicians.

At Mikva Challenge, our mission is to train life-long civic leaders, and our alums, like Kevin, and students affirm our success in getting young people to become today and tomorrow's leaders.