DeKALB | As a child, Kevin Chambliss had a dream unlike most of his peers.

When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, his immediate response would be, “I want to be the first black president.”

His family was active in politics. He can remember holidays and listening in on political discussions while CNN was playing in the background.

“It’s like I was being trained without even knowing,” he said.

Chambliss, vice president of the College Democrats, has been chosen to travel to Washington D.C. this summer to attend the 2007 Model Congress.

The Model Congress gives students the chance to simulate Congress and meet with political organizations and figures in the area. He will have an opportunity to transform what he’s been doing throughout his educational career and begin building a political one.

“That’s what this really is about; we’re going to D.C. to sell ourselves,” he said.

Chambliss was one of the first to apply for the position at the national convention for College Democrats in St. Louis. Those closely involved in the different party structures were allowed to apply before applications were being accepted. Chambliss will be representing his home district in Mississippi.

Chambliss has spent his academic career involved in organizations such as the Black Student Union and the NAACP to try to bring minorities into American politics. Analysis of political behavior is a skill Chambliss is honing while at NIU. It allows him to understand why people do or do not get involved, and why parties may not want the people to get involved, he said.

“When I first started in the College Democrats, there weren’t any black people in it,” he said. “It’s important for me to be involved so we not only have a voice, but a face. One of the things you’ll learn is that if you aren’t there, you won’t be represented.”

Making the mission of such organizations and other minorities valid in electoral politics is one of his personal goals as he furthers his political career, he said.

“As college-educated leaders in the black community, it’s our responsibility to represent our community when it comes to the leadership in the country, in the world actually,” he said.

Derrick Smith, academic counselor for the Center for Black Studies, said Chambliss is very deserving of the opportunity with the Model Congress.

“It’s rare when you get a student that’s as politically involved as he is and also knowledgeable of the political agenda,” he said.

Smith said Chambliss is always encouraging other students’ involvement and informs them of what’s going on with current politics.

“When he was in class he would let students know what was going on politically,” Smith said.

After learning and becoming more involved with politics, Chambliss’ dream has shifted away from obtaining political office. His focus now resides within his community and being the representative able to voice their concerns.

“My individual aspirations are to advance the community,” he said. “It’s my lifelong ambition.”