As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, a new nationwide initiative is inviting young people to do something rarely asked of them at this scale: define what America should become.

Submissions are now open at: youth250.org/letters

Washington, DC – As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Made By Us, a national coalition of hundreds of museums, historic sites, and cultural institutions, is launching a new youth-driven civic initiative inviting the next generation to define what America should become. 

Through “Letters to America,” young people ages 14 to 30 are being called on to share their vision for the country’s future through essays, videos, speeches, and art — putting forward their own declarations at a pivotal moment in the nation’s history.

Through this initiative, young people are putting forward their own declarations, reflecting on the country’s past, responding to the present moment, and imagining what the next 250 years should look like.

Selected letters will be elevated by media partners, museums, and civic organizations nationwide as part of National Youth Takeover Day on June 27, 2026, when youth voices will take center stage across platforms, public spaces, and cultural institutions.

Organizers say the initiative is designed to shift how the 250th anniversary is shaped — moving beyond official commemorations and toward a more participatory, youth-driven vision of the country’s future.

“Young people are not just inheriting the future — they are actively defining it,” said Alex Edgar, Youth Engagement Manager at Made By Us and Co-Founder of Youth250. “Letters to America is about creating space for this generation to speak for itself, in its own words, and to be heard at a national level.”

The launch builds on a growing national effort to engage young people in shaping the story of the United States at a historic milestone. Through related activations like Wish Walls, town halls, and civic programming across the country, thousands of young people are already contributing their perspectives on issues including affordability, identity, safety, climate, and belonging.

In addition to submitting letters, young people can:

• Participate in local activations and Wish Wall installations

• Share their work with media outlets, schools, and community platforms

• Partner with organizations to amplify youth voices locally

• Join the Youth250 Content Corps, a national network of 300+ young creators producing stories, videos, and commentary about the country’s past, present, and future

Organizers say the goal is about participation and visibility, ensuring that youth perspectives are reflected in the national conversation as the 250th anniversary approaches.

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

###

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.