Diverse, young and focused

Diverse, young and focused: Why Caroline Kemp is a shining star for Americans for Informed Democracy

by Shannon C. Lynch, George Mason University
Outstanding Student Leaders Digest (published by AIDemocracy.org)
January 17, 2006

Americans for Informed Democracy chose 8 students for the prestigious “Outstanding Student Leaders Award” and Caroline Kemp is one of them. From organizing townhalls to editing a multicultural magazine, Caroline Kemp is a force to be reckoned with.

Caroline Kemp, 19 an English and History major at Northwestern, is the president of Northwestern’s chapter of Americans for Informed Democracy. Kemp was the Director of Partnerships for Americans for Informed Democracy during the summer of 2005 as well.

Kemp’s passion for international affairs was exemplified during this time as she helped Americans for Informed Democracy acquire important relationships with NGOs. On November 12th and 13th of 2005, Northwestern held a conference called “Entrepreneurship in a Globalized World.” This was an amazing opportunity for students to interact with leading globalization scholars and top business executives. Kemp took advantage of this opportunity as she discussed how business executives as well as young entrepreneurs can guarantee socially conscious businesses in the future. At the conference Kemp furthered her knowledge on the methods of getting voices heard and turning an idea into a successful project for her fellow students.

Kemp believes that the passion she has for standing up for important issues came from her time in high school. She attended boarding school, which introduced her to all different cultures and people from across the globe. As a high school student she worked for a multicultural magazine and began taking on leadership roles at an early age. “I spent six years in Asia,” and when she began to see poverty and injustice first hand Kemp says, “It stopped becoming an issue and started to become personal.”

Every time Kemp has attended conferences, video conferences, and town hall meetings she has taken what she learns and brings it back to her Northwestern community. For example, she organized a town hall at Northwestern as part of “Hope Not Hate,” and when I asked her why she thought she was so driven her immediate response gave credit to her parents. “I lived in a globally conscious household,” Kemp says, which is why she is such a positive influence and student leader at Northwestern.

We began talking about AID chapter, which she is president of at Northwestern; “When I came to Northwestern I found a lot of groups were opinionated on one side of an issue or the other,” but AID was a different story for Kemp. Kemp enjoys working with AID because of the non-partisan base, and AID’s desire to acquire all the facts without distortion. “Everyone is interconnected,” Kemp says; as we talk about her many achievements with AID this past year as well as Kemp’s belief in unity, tolerance and understanding of the world.

Kemp’s down-to-earth nature became even more apparent when I asked her why she began organizing events for AID. “I was lucky to have Sarah Bush help build the Northwestern chapter of AID up, so I watched how she took it to the next level, and started from there.” Kemp is modest when I read her long list of achievements for AID.

When Kemp attended “Entrepreneurship in a Globalized World” conference, she enjoyed talking with everyone and making new and important contacts. After the conference Kemp had a better understanding of the different ways businesses work. At only 19, she is wise beyond her years. She knows the importance of working one-on- one with other countries. Kemp at times admits she enjoys working for AID more than sitting in a lecture class.

Forging relationships with NGOs is anything but a walk in the park- Kemp accomplished this with ease. She took her creativity and used different approaches which helped to form a strong relationship with new anti-proliferation NGOs. “Focus on what organizations have in common,” Kemp proclaims, “Learn how to delegate.” She believes that people from all over the globe can work together without politics getting in the way.

Kemp feels this way about AID because she says AID sends the right message. “We may not all agree on every issue around the world but acquiring facts, and coming together for a common cause is what is most important.” Kemp goes on to talk with me about how our society is becoming too negative about the future in general; but as long as there are people in this world like Americans for Informed Democracy willing to make a difference and make society aware of injustices it helps to show other nations that “we are not separate from each other,” and working together is a must.

Caroline Kemp is a powerful entity at Northwestern. Kemp has already begun to think of other events, town halls and conferences she can do at Northwestern next quarter and is making plans for them already. Kemp admits that it is difficult to balance academics, extra curricular activities and maintain a social life, but she does it- gracefully. Kemp is only 19; imagine what she will be doing after she graduates. Her goal is to work for a non-profit organization, preferably in South Asia.