Our Declaration Convenes 60+ Young Leaders to Reimagine the Nation’s Next 250 Years Through Intergenerational Dialogue and Creative Expression

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Contact: y250press@teamdsb.com 

Watch the event coverage on C-SPAN here

Philadelphia, PA – On February 17, more than 60 young adults from across the country gathered at the National Constitution Center to draft and sign a youth-written “Our Declaration” outlining their commitments and vision for America’s next 250 years.

Held steps away from where the Constitution was adopted, Youth250: Our Declaration positioned Generation Z not only as observers of history, but as co-authors of what comes next. The event, part of the national Youth250 initiative led by Made By Us, was broadcast in part on C-SPAN and marked a defining civic moment in the lead-up to the nation’s semiquincentennial.

Through facilitated workshops, intergenerational dialogue, and creative performance, participants reflected on what it means to inherit American democracy at a milestone anniversary. The day culminated in the signing of a large-scale Declaration scroll, visualized live (see attached photos). The physical document will now travel to museums and institutions nationwide, amplifying youth voices in the months leading to July 4, 2026.

Alex Edgar, Youth Engagement Manager at Made By Us and Co-Founder of Youth250, said, “Young people came to Philadelphia to write, sign, and claim ownership over a new Declaration that reflects the country we intend to build, and to be clear about who has been included and who has been excluded from the American story. Youth250 is about turning reflection into action and ensuring this generation is not just observing the 250th anniversary, but actively defining a future where more people see themselves in it.”

Panels explored the generational forces shaping Gen Z and featured a “Founder Mindset” spark talk by PolicyLink President and CEO Michael McAfee, who encouraged participants to see themselves as founders of the nation’s future. The program also included a response panel of national leaders who engaged directly with youth calls for accountability, imagination, and civic responsibility.

Youth250 is a first-of-its-kind national effort that includes a Bureau of 100 paid, trained youth advisors coaching hundreds of institutions nationwide, a science-backed Gen Z Scorecard taken by more than 400 organizations, and a broader campaign activating storytelling and public commitments across industries. The initiative continues through July 4, 2026 and includes Civic Season, the nationwide engagement period between Juneteenth and Independence Day.

More information about the effort and Our Declaration is available here.

Youth250 is led by Made By Us and made possible through generous support from PolicyLink, the Hearthland Foundation, the Bezos Family Foundation, and the National Constitution Center. The February 17 gathering was hosted at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, steps from where the Constitution was adopted.

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About Youth 250: Youth250 is a first-of-its-kind national effort placing young people at the center of America’s 250th anniversary. Through a Bureau of 100 paid, trained youth advisors, a science-backed Gen Z Scorecard adopted by more than 400 organizations, and nationwide creative activations, young leaders are advising institutions and co-creating how the Semiquincentennial is commemorated. At a moment of deep polarization, Youth250 offers a forward-looking counterpoint, with a youth-written Declaration that reframes what the next 250 years should stand for and will travel to museums and institutions nationwide ahead of July 4, 2026.