America at 250: Reimagining Who We Are
About this Event
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As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, UC Berkeley invites the campus and the broader community to reflect on a defining question: What vision will guide America’s next 250 years?
For two and a half centuries, the United States has been shaped by the aspirations of its founding and by continual debates over identity, belonging, rights, responsibilities, and democratic ideals. Yet many of the institutions that define public life were created for a very different country—demographically, economically, technologically, and culturally.
Bringing together students, scholars, innovators, journalists, and civic leaders, America at 250 will explore how the United States can renew its democratic promise and foster a stronger sense of belonging and common purpose in an increasingly diverse and interconnected society.
Rather than simply commemorating the past, the summit looks ahead: How can we build and sustain a country that truly secures life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all—and how can each of us help shape the next chapter of the American experiment?
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Co-hosted by Goldman School of Public Policy, Berkeley Journalism, Berkeley Law, and the Othering and Belonging Institute.
For disability-related accommodations, please contact the access coordinator in advance of the event: Bella Lopez, [email protected]
Agenda
🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Light Breakfast
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:10 AM
Welcome
🕑: 10:10 AM - 10:30 AM
Keynote: The American Experiment at 250
Host: Erwin Chemerinsky (Dean of Berkeley Law)
Info: For 250 years, the United States has wrestled with the promises and contradictions of self-government. What enduring principles have animated the American experiment, and what responsibilities come with sustaining it for future generations?
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Renewing Democratic Institutions
Host: Eric Schickler (Institute of Governmental Studies)
Info: As the United States enters its next 250 years, many of the institutions and processes that shape public life face growing questions about legitimacy and public trust. How well are our democratic institutions serving a changing nation? Where are they adapting successfully, and where are they falling short? What would make them more resilient and what reforms or innovations are needed to strengthen American democracy for the generations ahead?
🕑: 11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
Lunch
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:10 PM
Voices of the Next 250: Ideas Shaping America’s Future
Host: Bertrall Ross (Berkeley Law)
Info: Five short talks exploring the ideas, institutions, and communities that will shape America’s democratic future.
🕑: 01:10 PM - 02:25 PM
Belonging and Identity in a Changing America
Host: Lisa García Bedolla (Vice Provost for Graduate Studies)
Info: How have ideas of belonging shaped the American experiment, and how should they shape its future? This conversation will examine how institutions, communities, and cultural narratives influence our understanding of belonging and participation in American life. Drawing on perspectives from Indigenous sovereignty, migration, identity, and civic engagement, panelists will explore how a changing nation can foster a stronger sense of shared purpose while honoring its diverse histories and experiences.
🕑: 02:25 PM - 02:45 PM
Keynote: The Next American Story
Host: Michael D. Bolden (Dean of Berkeley Journalism)
Info: Throughout the day, we have explored America’s past, the transformations reshaping its present, and the possibilities for the future. What comes next? How do the stories we tell through journalism, education, culture, and civic discourse shape our understanding of one another and our capacity to imagine a shared future? As the United States begins its next 250 years, what responsibility do each of us have in writing the next chapter of the American experiment?
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
