(upbeat music)
- So I'm really excited
to be here on Capitol Hill
for Museums Advocacy Day.
- I'm here today to advocate
on behalf of the critical role
that science centers and museums play
across our communities.
- Museums matter because they teach us.
They teach us empathy.
They teach us about our cultural heritage.
And they teach us how we and others relate
to the world in an
infinite number of ways.
- So Museums Advocacy Day
is first and foremost,
a chance for museums to
make their voices heard,
and exercise their right to
petition their legislators
on Capitol Hill.
- Museums are really- they
are our cultural stewards,
and they are the tellers of our stories.
So I feel it's really important
for us to tell their stories
to our law makers.
- The American Alliance of
Museums does such a great job
making us all feel very prepared,
giving us all the information we need
to be confident, powerful
advocates going forward
to these visits today on the hill.
- You can always call
upon your colleagues,
they're there to help you.
- I was a bit nervous at
the first meeting we had,
but it went really well.
- It's really about legislators being able
to put that face with a name,
and making sure that
museums are at the table
so that we're not on the table.
- These funds come to us
because there is someone here
that is asking and sharing the
importance of what we can do
with the funds.
- Being a part of AAM means
you're a part of a bigger family
that has a bigger voice,
especially with the advocacy piece,
and Museums Advocacy Day.
- It feels like you're
taking your own destiny
into your hands,
and you're taking the time to
talk about what's important.
- We've got to meet with
folk on local levels to say,
"The work that we do matters!"
- It's moving to me, it's humbling,
because our advocates are so dedicated.
You know, to think about
people taking that time.
- It is just incredible.
(upbeat music)
