Today on May 18th, we recognize International Museum Day. For me, this is not just a moment to celebrate culture, it is a reminder of the role museums play in driving economic growth, strengthening communities, and shaping the future of Illinois.As Chair of the Illinois House

Museums, Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Committee, I have spent time listening to museum leaders, educators, artists, tourism officials, and community organizations across our state. One message has come through clearly: museums are not simply cultural institutions. They are economic infrastructure.

I have spent my career in public service focused on who gets access and who is too often left out. When it comes to our democracy, the most alarming exclusion today is not a lack of interest from young people. It is the lack of opportunity we give them to participate.

Following the Chicago region’s third straight wettest May on record, communities are grappling with how to address increasingly frequent and costly urban flooding. From private property owners to state leadership, the reality is that everyone can and must play a role. That’s why in May the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) updated an ordinance that enables an innovative new tool to help manage stormwater in Cook County while benefiting property owners and encouraging economic development.