Welcome to 2026! I don’t know about you, but stepping into this new year feels a bit like taking a deep breath after a fast and wild 50-yard dash. Because let’s be honest, 2025 was a lot.
Between the shut down, major executive orders, shifting federal priorities, and legislation flying at record speed, the public workforce system had to stay on its toes. We saw everything from restructuring of federal workforce programs to new national pushes around skilled trades, innovation, and AI readiness. While these policy waves started in D.C., they absolutely made ripples that reached every one of our local communities.
Some days it felt like every time we turned around, something new was happening, a new executive order, a new guidance memo, and new legislation. Change wasn’t just happening; it was happening quickly.
And when that kind of shift hits, we really have two choices:
1. Get stuck in uncertainty or
2. Take a breath, roll up our sleeves, and figure out how to meet the moment.
At MUS, we chose door number two.
Last year, we didn’t wait for things to settle; we got proactive. Our participation in Workforce Works! helped ensure the voices of our members were part of national conversations, not reacting to them from the sidelines. We joined our fiscal colleagues, in a MUS learning lab presented by Jose Mota, Controller, of Chicago Cook County Partnership. He shared a new and useful demonstration of a stress test that he created. Watching folks from different member organizations come together, share openly, and learn with each other reminded me exactly why our network is so special.
These moments of connection matter. They make us stronger, not just as individual agencies, but as one collective voice.
That brings me to this year. as Membership Director, when I think about “new beginnings,” I’m thinking about intention. Last year we planted seeds. This year, I want to help them grow.
I want even more of your staff to feel connected to MUS not just the CEOs or directors, but program people, communications folks, frontline staff, youth teams, fiscal teams… everyone! I want us to build more communities of practice, more spaces to swap ideas and frustrations and solutions. We started that momentum with our Communications Work Group, and I see so much room to expand. We need your leadership to make this happen. We invite you to invite all your staff to find a place to fit into our shared community.
It’s where breakthroughs happen. It’s where innovation starts. It’s where we remember we’re not in this work alone. Because truthfully, connecting people is my favorite kind of MUS magic.
So, here’s to 2026, new energy, new ideas, and a whole lot of collaboration.
Happy New Year from your MUS Membership Director. Let’s make it count.
