Growing up in a family dedicated to civic duty, IVCC Geology Instructor Mile Phillips was immersed in the world of local politics at a young age.
“From the time I was like, I don’t know, 10, I was doing at least minor campaign work at the courthouse on election night, watching the returns come in, so I’ve just always pretty much always been doing it,” Phillips said.
Phillip’s dad held office in Will County, so he was introduced the basics of elections at an early age.
Phillips has helped foster an interest in politics in IVCC students, as adviser of the IVCC College Democrats club.
Phillips said, “One of the things I want students to see is how their participation matters, and it doesn’t matter to me which party they participate in because the more young people that are involved in the system, the more likely politicians on either side of the aisle — no matter what their stripe is — are going to be paying more attention if young people are involved.”
Phillips’ work in education and his lifelong experience in local politics would combine when he became involved in the College Democrat Club.
Phillips’ goals of inspiring the next generation to make their voices heard has succeeded not only in the IVCC student body, but also also in the aspirations of his children.
Phillips’ daughter Morgan is now running for state representative in District 105.
“He encouraged me and my brother to know what’s going on and be involved.
“He gave me a strong ethic on civic engagement,”Morgan Phillips said.
“I was thinking about what kind of student organization I could sponsor,” he said. “I’ve always been really interested in getting students more involved sooner
“What happens is young people are not very politically engaged,” he added. “It’s a pretty low percentage for 18 to 24 year olds, but you get up to people in their 50s and 60s, it’s a pretty high percentage and you can see the impact of that on things like funding.”
On her shared views with her father, Morgan Phillips said, “People should be able to be themselves and have freedom of choice and be able to live their life, to have good opportunities in life. That freedom is my central value. I feel like to be a good professor [like my dad], you must care.”