CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons recently attended former President Barack Obama’s democracy forum to discuss the many challenges facing democracy offering creative solutions to build stronger democratic cultures.

“If we want to strengthen democracy, we also have to think about the economy,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “We need to talk about what inclusive capitalism means and how that looks in building healthy and sustainable communities that make up for past and ongoing economic injustices.”

At the forum, Simmons joined hundreds of global changemakers, tech leaders, business titans and a few surprise guests exploring solutions to expand and strengthen democracy across the state and on a global scale.

As an advocate and champion for social justice, Simmons recognizes the connection between structural racism and Illinois’ financial systems. He has fought for economic reform through increased wages for homecare workers, policy tools to reduce poverty and provide economic stimulus, and increased access to childcare to support strong, local economies. Additionally, Simmons supported the Illinois Equal Pay Act and the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act, paving the way for economic reform in economically disadvantaged communities.

“This forum renewed my sense of hope because it invited us all to reimagine our economic futures in light of very real challenges to our democracy,” said Simmons. “For democracy to exist and be in reach for every individual, we have to retool it so that everyone can participate on their own terms while reckoning and redeeming decades of economic wrongs.”