Dear Midwest Park Supporters,

As we reflect on the past few months, we are proud of the progress made across our 11-state region, home to 53 national park sites. From protecting natural landscapes and waterways, to uplifting communities and protecting the stories and cultural resources held in our parks, our work continues to highlight the diversity and importance of national parks across the Midwest. Thank you for standing with us as we strengthen our advocacy and build momentum for the future.

Meet Terrius
We’re excited to welcome Terrius Harris to the Midwest team! Based in Chicago, he will oversee our cultural resource work which includes combatting attempts to erase our shared history and intentional indigenous engagement. Terrius’ passion for cultural preservation, inclusive growth, and inspiring action will better protect and uplift the region’s diverse natural and cultural landscapes. He will help deepen our presence in Chicago by supporting the Pullman Cultural Trail design and implementation, and bolster and grow our community relationships. Additionally, he will lead efforts to strengthen our collaboration with our Midwest Regional Advisory Council members, all of which will improve our collective advocacy. You can learn more about Terrius’ impressive background on our website.

NPCA Calls on Secretary Burgum to Close Parks During Government Shutdown
Congress failed to reach a funding agreement, causing the government to shut down on October 1. More than 9,000 park staff have been furloughed without pay. Many of our 433 national parks remain at least partially open without enough staff to protect them. The administration’s actions are forcing park staff to swing the gates open and hope for the best. NPCA is calling on Congress to do its job, reopen the government and fund our parks. Anything less than that could be disastrous for our parks.  NPCA has said if the federal government is closed, unfortunately so should the parks. And we still stand by that. 

For the most up-to-date information on the shutdown, what it means for parks in the Midwest and what you can do to help, monitor NPCA’s website. You can also take action and tell Secretary Burgum to protect our parks by closing them until the shutdown ends.

Your continued support helps ensure that we can hold leaders accountable and safeguard the places we all treasure.

Event Highlights
NPCA presented during the opening plenary at the Association for the Study of African American Life & History’s Annual Conference (above). We also sponsored the official welcome reception. Our discussion focused on Black labor history at Pullman National Historical Park. This engaging audience expanded beyond our traditional park circles and allowed us to center labor history, racial justice, and cultural narrative in national conversations and build visibility for our work.

At the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition Conference in Rochester, New York, Tim Koenning moderated a panel discussion on empowering young professionals to become leaders on clean water policy and advocacy. The conference brought together funders and water policy professionals who are crucial to ongoing efforts to restore the Great Lakes.

As a part of NPCA’s “Protect our Parks” days of action, where many of you joined us in-person or online to show your support for our national parks, we co-hosted a congressional briefing breakfast on the State of Our National Parks in Minnesota and Wisconsin (above). NPCA was joined by several partner groups, including National Park Friends Alliance, Friends of the Mississippi River, Mississippi Park Connection, National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation, Voyageurs Conservancy and Wild Rivers Conservancy. Craig Hansen, the Park Service superintendent at St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, provided a welcome to the group.

NPCA also met with staff from the offices of Senators Thune and Rounds and Representative Johnson in Rapid City, South Dakota as part of our “Protect our Parks” days of action. Midwest Regional Advisory Council member Cheryl Schreier led the lobby team that included Mike Pflaum, retired Park Service Superintendent at Badlands and Patty Ressler, Executive Director of the Black Hills Parks and Forests Association.

Commemorating 70 Years: Honoring Emmett Till’s Legacy Across Generations and Regions
NPCA’s Midwest and Southeast offices partnered and joined members of the Till family for Emmett Till’s 70th Commemorative Journey. Together, we honored the anniversary of Till’s murder and what would have been his 84th birthday. The journey began in Chicago with a luncheon attended by Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr. and Dr. Marvalene Parker, descendants of Ida B. Wells, Juliette Reed, author Wright Thompson, faith leaders and former Congressman Bobby Rush. After visiting several historic sites including Till’s gravesite, the team boarded a train to Greenwood, Mississippi, retracing the original path taken by Emmett Till and Rev. Parker in 1955.

In Mississippi, the multi-day experience included a community breakfast hosted by NPCA, a trip to Mound Bayou, museum tours, storytelling and a moving theatrical performance. At Mississippi Valley State University, a conference was hosted by the Till Interpretive Center and closed with a candlelight ceremony and Sunday worship. Special thanks to our NPCA colleagues Dr. Eboni Preston-Goddard, Mechelle Chane, Zana Pouncey, Joshua Jenkins, Tim Koenning and videographer Terrance Liggins for capturing the journey, and to the Parker family and Jessie Jayne Demmings for their vision and partnership. This was a powerful cross-regional moment of truth-telling, remembrance, and renewed commitment to preserving Black history.

Strong Bipartisan Support for the Great Lakes
Though the federal government is shut down and a budget has not yet passed, funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) – one of the most successful environmental programs in the nation – is expected to remain steady at $368 million this year, with strong bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. Since its inception, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has funded 250 restoration projects at national parks including Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. NPCA recently partnered with the National Park Service, Save the Dunes, Shirley Heinze Land Trust, and others to tell the story of how these restoration efforts have transformed Indiana Dunes National Park’s Great Marsh (PDF) and improved the visitor experience there.

Join Us at an Upcoming Event: Minnesota Park Champions Luncheon – October 28, 2025
The annual luncheon will gather leaders, advocates and partners from across the Midwest in Minnesota to support NPCA’s work. This year’s program will focus on the current threats facing our national parks, what NPCA is doing in response, and how supporters like you can help us face these challenges. Panelists include:

• Emily Douce, NPCA Deputy Vice President of Government Affairs 

• Donté Gibbs, Vice President of Community Partnerships at the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park and NPCA Midwest Regional Advisory Council member 

• Cheryl Schreier, Vice Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks and NPCA Midwest Regional Advisory Council member 

• Moderated by Christine Goepfert, NPCA Midwest Campaign Director

Learn more and join us in Minnesota.

Thank You!

Thank you for staying engaged with NPCA and the work we are leading across the Midwest. From defending vital water protections to advancing cultural preservation, none of this progress would be possible without your support. Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive future for our national parks and ensuring they continue to thrive for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Crystal Davis
Midwest Sr. Regional Director