Made By Us

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Civic Season
Youth250
Wish Walls

Made By Us

Young people are the “founders”
of our next chapter.

We use history to inform and inspire civic participation – powered by 500 museums nationwide.

Our Work
Join Us

Gen Z are the
“founders” of
our next chapter.

We use history to inform and inspire civic participation – powered by 500 museums nationwide.

Our Work
Join Us

Our Mission

The United States will turn 250 in 2026, with Gen Z at the helm. But younger people are disengaged from our institutions and under-represented in our democracy. They are looking to understand "how we got here" as they shape our future.

Our network represents hundreds of history museums stepping up to serve as civic hubs for young adults. We pool our knowledge, stories and efforts to meet younger generations where they are with timely, relevant information from credible sources.

The United States will turn 250 in 2026, with Gen Z at the helm. But young adults are disengaged from our institutions and under-represented in our democracy. They are looking to understand "how we got here" as they shape our future.

Our network represents hundreds of history museums stepping up to serve as civic hubs for young adults. We pool our knowledge, stories and efforts to meet younger generations where they are with timely, relevant information from credible sources.

Our Goals

Our Goals

Made By Us brings history to younger generations in innovative and meaningful ways so they have more fuel to power the future.

01

Inform and Empower Gen Z: Content and programs that foster belonging and connection with our nation's story

02

Future-Proof Institutions: Increase knowledge, skill and capacity with training, research and collaboration

03

Build a culture of civic participation for America’s 250th anniversary, powered by youth and cultural institutions

By The Numbers

About Us

By The Numbers

News Alerts

New Youth250 Teen Toolkit Launches to Help Museums Engage the Next Generation

AAM

New Youth250 Teen Toolkit Launches to Help Museums Engage the Next Generation

AAM

New Youth250 Teen Toolkit Launches to Help Museums Engage the Next Generation

AAM

National History Day® and Made By Us Partner on Key Youth250 Initiatives For America’s 250th Anniversary

Press Release

National History Day® and Made By Us Partner on Key Youth250 Initiatives For America’s 250th Anniversary

Press Release

National History Day® and Made By Us Partner on Key Youth250 Initiatives For America’s 250th Anniversary

Press Release

Next Year, America Turns 250. These Gen Zers Want to Make It a Turning Point

Teen Vogue

Next Year, America Turns 250. These Gen Zers Want to Make It a Turning Point

Teen Vogue

Next Year, America Turns 250. These Gen Zers Want to Make It a Turning Point

Teen Vogue

100 Young Americans Selected for National Youth250 Bureau

Medium

100 Young Americans Selected for National Youth250 Bureau

Medium

100 Young Americans Selected for National Youth250 Bureau

Medium

Our Work

Since 2019, we’ve brought civics and history to dorm rooms, dinner tables and devices.

Made By Us brings history to younger generations in innovative and meaningful ways, so they have more fuel to power the future.

  • Youth250 Bureau: Your Gen Z Hotline

    For institutions looking to engage younger generations, get FREE direct input from 100 young adults across the United States. Fill out a form with your request and we'll match you today!

  • Civic Season: Juneteenth - July 4

    Uniting our oldest and newest federal holidays, Civic Season is an annual tradition for learning history and civic upskilling, featuring events, celebrations and conversations. We've reached 75M Americans together since 2021.

  • What's your wish for America's future?

    Made By Us, The New York Historical and museums across the country invite you to share your wish for America's 250th birthday, at OnOur250th.org and in pop-up Wish Walls at the Smithsonian and 22 other locations.

  • 60-Second History

    Only got a minute? We're bringing "the history you didn't learn in school" right to your feed on Reels and TikTok, with deeper dives in the media and public activations.

  • Youth250 Stories

    A national Content Corps of teens and young adults are putting the American story in their own words for the U.S. 250th anniversary. Join us.

  • Slice of History Pizza Parties

    With Pizza to the Polls, local, social gatherings to learn something new and meet others over pizza. Find one near you or read more in The Fulcrum.

  • What's Your Gen Z Score?

    We help institutions reach and engage younger generations. Get your score and find ways to improve in the Youth250 Toolkit.

Youth250 Bureau: Your Gen Z Hotline

For institutions looking to engage younger generations, get FREE direct input from 100 young adults across the United States. Fill out a form with your request and we'll match you today!

Youth250 Bureau: Your Gen Z Hotline

For institutions looking to engage younger generations, get FREE direct input from 100 young adults across the United States. Fill out a form with your request and we'll match you today!

Civic Season: Juneteenth - July 4

Uniting our oldest and newest federal holidays, Civic Season is an annual tradition for learning history and civic upskilling, featuring events, celebrations and conversations. We've reached 75M Americans together since 2021.

Civic Season: Juneteenth - July 4

Uniting our oldest and newest federal holidays, Civic Season is an annual tradition for learning history and civic upskilling, featuring events, celebrations and conversations. We've reached 75M Americans together since 2021.

What's your wish for America's future?

Made By Us, The New York Historical and museums across the country invite you to share your wish for America's 250th birthday, at OnOur250th.org and in pop-up Wish Walls at the Smithsonian and 22 other locations.

Host a Wish Wall for America's 250th!

What's your wish for America's future?

Made By Us, The New York Historical and museums across the country invite you to share your wish for America's 250th birthday, at OnOur250th.org and in pop-up Wish Walls at the Smithsonian and 22 other locations.

Host a Wish Wall for America's 250th!

60-Second History

Only got a minute? We're bringing "the history you didn't learn in school" right to your feed on Reels and TikTok, with deeper dives in the media and public activations.

60-Second History

Only got a minute? We're bringing "the history you didn't learn in school" right to your feed on Reels and TikTok, with deeper dives in the media and public activations.

Youth250 Stories

A national Content Corps of teens and young adults are putting the American story in their own words for the U.S. 250th anniversary. Join us.

Youth250 Stories

A national Content Corps of teens and young adults are putting the American story in their own words for the U.S. 250th anniversary. Join us.

Slice of History Pizza Parties

With Pizza to the Polls, local, social gatherings to learn something new and meet others over pizza. Find one near you or read more in The Fulcrum.

Slice of History Pizza Parties

With Pizza to the Polls, local, social gatherings to learn something new and meet others over pizza. Find one near you or read more in The Fulcrum.

What's Your Gen Z Score?

We help institutions reach and engage younger generations. Get your score and find ways to improve in the Youth250 Toolkit.

What's Your Gen Z Score?

We help institutions reach and engage younger generations. Get your score and find ways to improve in the Youth250 Toolkit.

PARTNERSHIP

Join Us!

PARTNERSHIP

Join Us!

Who's Eligible?

Nonprofit, non-partisan organizations in the United States with fact-based, credible expertise, scholarship or educational assets in history or civics

Benefits

Access to quarterly network-wide calls and consultations with team Made By Us; data, research reports and bi-annual bootcamp trainings for your staff; monthly resource memo with calls for opportunities; and access to shared materials, brand and media partnerships, and mass activations like Civic Season.

Expectations

Partner institutions designate a staff liaison; participate in quarterly all-network calls, trainings and Civic Season; commit to centering young-adult needs and embracing collaboration and co-creation across the sector; and make a one-time voluntary financial contribution upon joining.

Ready to join?

Register Here

Our Values

01

Prioritizing evolving audience needs over “the way we’ve always done it”

02

Choosing collaboration over competition

03

Humility and curiosity to invite participation and new perspectives

04

A commitment to making history accessible to all

Our Values

01

Prioritizing evolving audience needs over “the way we’ve always done it”

02

Choosing collaboration over competition

03

Humility and curiosity to invite participation and new perspectives

04

A commitment to making history accessible to all

“Civic Season calls us to remember that self-government is not a spectator sport. We at Monticello are proud to be part of this national movement that invites all Americans to take an active role in shaping our shared future. Civic Season recognizes what the founders did: that a republic depends upon the virtues of all Americans.”

Jane Kamensky, President, Thomas Jefferson Foundation

“Made By Us is paving a new path for how we understand and interact with history. Through organizing and emboldening voices of youth, and partnering with cultural and historical centers, they are making sure that we are a part of the conversation.”

Jasmine Lewis, Artist, Student, Storyteller

“Made By Us is paving a new path for how we understand and interact with history. Through organizing and emboldening voices of youth, and partnering with cultural and historical centers, they are making sure that we are a part of the conversation.”

Jasmine Lewis, Artist, Student, Storyteller

"One of my favorite parts of getting to know Made By Us is how yall talk about history. It rejects both “the U.S. has done no wrong” and “the U.S. has done no right”, and centers our choice today to decide what comes next."

Michael Ortega, Youth250 Bureau Member

“The youth of our nation are the heirs of our democracy and have in them the power to shape and strengthen it.”

Anthea Hartig, Elizabeth MacMillan Director, Smithsonian National Museum of American History

“The youth of our nation are the heirs of our democracy and have in them the power to shape and strengthen it.”

Anthea Hartig, Elizabeth MacMillan Director, Smithsonian National Museum of American History

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Made By Us © 2025

Privacy Policy
Code of Conduct
SUPPORT US
Sign up for our newsletter

Made By Us © 2025