The local communities hoping America’s 250th birthday will help bridge divides

Key Concepts

• US at 250 Initiative: A project led by New America aimed at fostering national pride, reckoning with historical failures, and building future aspirations.
• Grassroots Patriotism: The shift from top-down, government-led national celebrations to community-driven, local engagement.
• Civic Health Club: A methodology used by organizations like "Warm Cookies of the Revolution" to engage citizens through arts, culture, and entertainment rather than traditional political discourse.
• Semi-quincentennial: The 250th anniversary of the United States.
• Polarization: The current political divide that complicates national-level celebrations and necessitates localized, non-partisan civic engagement.

1. The Shift Toward Grassroots Civic Engagement

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, there is a notable transition in how the country celebrates its history. While grand, high-profile events (such as IndyCar races or White House events) are planned, there is a growing emphasis on local, community-based celebrations. Theodore Johnson, a senior advisor at New America, notes that the national political climate—particularly the 2024 election cycle—has made large-scale national efforts feel overly politicized. Consequently, the "US at 250" initiative has pivoted to support local efforts that focus on three pillars: pride, reckoning, and aspiration.

2. Case Studies in Community Building

• The Battle of Bound Brook (New Jersey): This annual re-enactment of a 1777 Revolutionary War battle serves as a focal point for local identity. Participants and attendees view the event as a way to connect with the nation’s founding ideals of liberty and equality. Despite the "L" (loss) for the Patriots in the historical narrative, the event fosters a sense of shared history that transcends modern political divides.
• Warm Cookies of the Revolution (Denver, Colorado): This organization operates as a "civic health club." During a Tax Day carnival, they utilized Lucha Libre wrestling, circus performers, and free food to attract a diverse crowd. The goal is to bypass traditional, often hostile, political debates by using "fun" as a vehicle to bring people together, eventually introducing civic concepts in a non-threatening environment.

3. Methodologies for Civic Connection

The "Warm Cookies" model highlights a specific framework for civic engagement:

1. Lead with Engagement: Use arts, culture, and entertainment (e.g., mariachi, food, games) to draw in a cross-section of the community.
2. Create Neutral Space: By avoiding traditional political forums, the organization creates space for people with differing views to interact in a social setting.
3. Reimagine Civics: Projects like "Future Town" encourage rural and suburban residents to reimagine their communities, moving away from the "us vs. them" dynamic of partisan politics.

4. Perspectives on National Identity

• Theodore Johnson: Argues that the best future for the country lies in local communities rather than Washington, D.C. He emphasizes that the 250th anniversary should be a moment to celebrate progress while simultaneously "reckoning with the things the country has gotten and is still getting wrong."
• John Dwyer: A veteran of the 1976 Bicentennial, Dwyer notes that while the 250th anniversary has revived patriotic interest, it is more challenging to draw the massive crowds seen in the 1970s, suggesting a change in how modern citizens engage with public history.
• Maria Monclova: An immigration attorney who views the 250th anniversary as a vital opportunity to celebrate the diversity and immigrant roots that define the American experience.

5. Notable Quotes

• Theodore Johnson: "We wanted this to be a moment that Americans could take intense pride in the progress of the country. We also wanted it to be a moment where Americans could reckon with the things the country has gotten and is still getting wrong."
• Rob Schulte: "There's a lot of division in our country, but if there's one thing that we all have in common that we can all agree upon, it is the ideals of our founding, our ideas of liberty and equality."
• Adrian Molina: "We are a civic health club, and for us, it's all about bringing people together, people who may not normally come together at the same place at the same time."

6. Synthesis and Conclusion

The 250th anniversary of the United States is being utilized as a "bookmark" in history—a moment to reflect on the past while acknowledging that the next chapters of the nation are yet to be written. The primary takeaway is that in an era of intense political polarization, the most effective path toward national unity is not through top-down, government-mandated patriotism, but through grassroots efforts that prioritize community, shared cultural experiences, and the reimagining of civic participation at the local level. By focusing on "civic health" rather than political debate, these initiatives hope to bridge divides and foster a more inclusive vision of the American future.