Telling America’s Story Together: Reflections on the Road to 250
Fifty years after the Bicentennial united communities through local celebrations, leaders gathered at the Delegation of the European Union to the United States to explore how storytelling, service, and shared experiences can bring people together again for America 250.
Recently, leaders from across sectors gathered at the Delegation of the European Union to the United States for a conversation about how America 250 can become a celebration centered on participation and shared purpose.
Attendees included leaders from:
- Global Ties U.S.
- Points of Light
- U.S. Center for SafeSport
- Gallup
- Major U.S. companies representing technology, transportation, and retail
- Cultural institutions, researchers, and civic leaders across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors
Moderated by Anthony Shop, Chairman of the National Digital Roundtable, the discussion surfaced one theme again and again: America 250 should not be a moment we simply watch. It should be a collective effort we build together, much like the Spirit of ’76.
Leaders explored several themes that could shape a more participatory celebration, including:
- strengthening local and global connections
- embracing service as a unifying expression of shared values
- using arts, culture, and sports as accessible entry points
- designing moments that bring people together across differences
- elevating community voices and lived experiences
- ensuring programming reflects the diversity of today’s America
- preparing for a multi-platform celebration across digital and in-person spaces
- understanding shifting expectations about identity, belonging, and the American Dream
These themes revealed a shared truth. People want to feel connected to one another. They want to participate in something meaningful. And they want a national moment that reflects the people who make the country what it is, not the divisions that dominate headlines.
From Broadcast to Participation
The world looks very different than it did fifty years ago. In 2026, people may engage with America 250 through phones, classrooms, VR, community spaces, performances, and formats we haven’t yet imagined. But the core remains the same.
National moments do not belong to institutions. They belong to people.
We are grateful to the Delegation of the European Union for hosting this conversation and to all the leaders who contributed their time and perspective. Their collective insight points toward a simple truth: America 250 will be strongest when we build it together.
The story of the Semiquincentennial will not be defined by one voice. It will be shaped by all of us — in moments of service, creativity, partnership, and connection.