America at 250: Reimagining Who We Are

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.

Faculty, scholars, innovators, journalists, and civic leaders come together for a half-day symposium to 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, we look 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?

Co-Hosts: UC Berkeley Law, UC Berkeley Journalism, Goldman School of Public Policy, and the Othering & Belonging Institute

For accessibility requests, please email elismart@berkeley.edu.