Asset Builder Spotlight

August - 2007
A good work ethic at a young age, the support of a caring community, and adults giving him a chance, are what brought Luke Stemmer to the position he holds now. He is the fire chief for the City of St Louis Park, a man with character and conviction, and someone who appreciates the 40 developmental assets that worked in him throughout his life.

Luke’s story isn’t one you might expect of a fire chief. As a recovering alcoholic who abused alcohol and drugs as a young man, he knows that life could have been very different for him.

“We all have to be responsible for the choices we make in life. That means being held accountable for poor decisions and good ones,” said Luke referring to asset #30, Responsibility: a young person accepts and takes personal responsibility. Making poor decisions had consequences that Luke learned from at a young age. He then made a decision to find his purpose in life.

“Do you know what the world did when I made that decision? It held me responsible for my past and present choices,” Luke explained.

A man that knew the change of character Luke had committed to, saw his potential and gave him a chance at being a volunteer firefighter for the City of Wayzata at age 21. Luke had found his sense of purpose in life (#39: young person reports that “my life has a purpose”). Luke decided to attend school for his goal of finding employment as a firefighter. Luke had asset #21 working in his life, Achievement Motivation, young person is motivated to do well in school. It was, again, up to another man seeing Luke’s potential, that landed him in the position of a full time firefighter for the City of St Louis Park five years after he started as a volunteer firefighter.

“Working a job to the best of my ability has been what I have always believed in, and I have carried that through out my life,” said Luke. “When I was first a firefighter I cleaned toilets, washed floors, dishes or what ever the task was that needed to be done at the time”. The firefighters that work for the City of St Louis Park have a position in the community that influences and reflects positive role modeling for youth.

The firefighters are not necessarily in a program specifically for teaching children, it is just part of the job.

Firefighters play a role in assets #4, Caring Neighborhood and #7, Community Values Youth. “Children’s eyes just light up when the firefighters take the time to show them the fire station and fire trucks. The guys go on medical calls and run into everyday life situations that require compassion and patience,” Luke said.

Luke himself has held the riveted attention of students at the alternative high school. He has shared with them his story. Luke feels it’s important for them to see a life that may have similarities to theirs, but to know that the outcome may be dramatically different than they might expect.

Luke Stemmer has allowed life to teach him from his past mistakes, committed to a life decision of excellence in his job and has many examples of how the 40 development assets has positively worked in his youth. Filling the role of a caring adult in the community is something Luke is honored to do.

Written by Julie Meintsma.