What It Means to Be an American — and What It Requires of Us at This Moment

As the United States approaches its 250th year, the question is no longer what America is — but what being an American now asks of us.

In an era defined by polarization, mistrust, and rapid technological change, democracy depends less on shared opinions and more on shared civic capacity: the knowledge, habits, and dispositions that allow people to live, work, disagree, and build together.

This conversation brings together leaders at the forefront of civic renewal to explore the practical skills of democracy — what Americans must know, practice, and nurture to sustain a healthy civic culture, and how those capabilities can be strengthened from classrooms to campuses to communities. Rather than debating politics, this session focuses on the everyday work of citizenship and the institutions that help people learn how to do it well.

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