Washington, D.C. is putting young people at the heart of America’s 250th birthday. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has announced a National Youth Summit built around the theme “In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness,” inviting middle and high school students across the country to connect the nation’s past with its present and future.
The annual summit brings students together with scholars, teachers, policy experts and activists for a national conversation about the ideas that have shaped America — and the actions young people can take to shape what comes next. This year’s edition is part of the museum’s sweeping 250th programming, which also includes the new museum-wide exhibition “In Pursuit of Life, Liberty, & Happiness.”
Students can join the conversation virtually, and Smithsonian Affiliate museums are hosting regional summits in their own communities, from the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort to the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook, New York. Each regional program pairs the national theme with local stories, hands-on workshops and recognition for teen leaders.
It is a joyful, forward-looking way to mark 250 years of the nation: giving the next generation the microphone.
Photo: F Delventhal / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
