July 4th commemorates the moment a new nation was born, based on ideals that each generation since has worked to bring to life: freedom, equality, justice, and opportunity. Juneteenth, celebrated just a few weeks earlier, reminds us of the struggles and hard-won victories in our ongoing journey to form a “more perfect union.” Civic Season unites our oldest federal holiday with our newest, mobilizing a movement to understand our past and shape our future.
Made By Us is a coalition of 150+ museums, historic sites and historical societies joining forces to serve the next generation – meeting curiosity with credibility. Civic Season is one way we roll out the welcome mat for the future inheritors of the United States, putting history in their hands as a tool for informed, inspired civic participation.
Anchored by two dates that highlight the gap between our nation’s promises and practices, Civic Season is a new tradition to rewind, reflect and re-imagine our story – and it’s shaped by all who participate.
Civic Season is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Mellon Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, The Coca-Cola Company, AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate, Airbnb, Jacqueline B. Mars and Marcia Carlucci. Want to support Civic Season? Consider a gift to help us grow or get in touch about formal sponsorship, grants or corporate support.
The 2023 Civic Season is co-designed by 9 Fellows ages 18-30 from across the United States and territories.
Lex Stewart
Mayva Anyango
Alex Edgar
Laura Dale
Justice Brown
Cat Graham
Cielo Muñoz Perez
Ponce de Leon Tidwell, III
Katy Ronkin
Made By Us and the Civic Season benefit from the collective leadership of its Steering Committee.
A small and mighty team from Made By Us is behind Civic Season.
Nia Mosby
Cameron Katz
Kate Doak-Keszler
Caroline Klibanoff
Kaz Brecher
Claire Haley
Valerie Donati
These organizations elevate and grow Civic Season within their respective fields and communities.
More than 300 organizations have included events and resources in the 2022 Civic Season. Find one near you to keep exploring all year.
Check out how we’re making headlines.
If you’re participating in the Civic Season, look no further for shareable materials and resources.
This graphic represents the themes for the first Civic Season that were generated through a series of Socratic Dialogues. These guided conversations with students, historians and civic practitioners raised key questions and ideas around independence, celebration, and interdependence, forming a foundation for this emerging new tradition.
We began Civic Season in 2021 to build a movement to shape the ways in which we understand and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. Our story is complex and ever-evolving. How might we use a new holiday tradition as a springboard to face our past and shape our future?
