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In the Hands of the People Claiming America’s Story @250
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding, partisan divisions run deep, and many everyday Americans feel sidelined. What stories of America can invite us to dream together and build together now?

Our why, explained. possible. Stories show us what’s
They shape our sense of identity, agency, and belonging. And when woven into a cultural strategy, they become the engine for lasting change.

ALL the People. The People. The stories of this moment are the stories of US.

Download the Narrative Guide to Claiming America’s Story. the people supposed to be in charge.
Deceptively simple, yet profound. Familiar and fundamental. A tested narrative frame that allows us to celebrate our progress while being honest about the work we have left to do.

Discover how this idea moves people — and how we can bring it to life together. are In America,

to tell. yours The stories are

And, yes, we are far from polished, far from pristine, but that doesn’t mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect.

We are striving to forge our union with purpose.

To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man.

And so we lift our gaze, not to what stands between us, but what stands before us. - Amanda Gorman, "The Hill We Climb" Explore the Gallery to see this idea in action. the people supposed to be in charge.
It’s a frame that’s faded from how many people see their own lives and their role in shaping their communities and country.

But it’s hardly new — its heartbeat runs through the poetry, songs, and speeches that have always told our nation’s story. And its elements are alive today in dinner table conversations, TikTok videos, art, and social movements that call us to imagine something greater together.
are In America,

Across generations, collective struggles to protect and expand rights, broaden opportunity, and make real the promise of democracy have drawn strength from patriotic stories of American values — stories powerful enough to bridge geography, ideology, race, age, gender, and other divides.

And a long line of artists, entertainers, athletes and other culture makers have used their talents to bring these ideals to life, giving the American story its rhythm, its voice, its soul. What would this country be without the musicians, storytellers, faith leaders, and community builders who have dared to sing both our shortcomings and our promise — and, in doing so, reminded us what America can be?

And yet. As we approach the country’s 250th anniversary, a narrow, exclusionary story of patriotism threatens to dominate the conversation, steering national discourse and policy toward extremism and division.

We find ourselves in a moment of both moral urgency and strategic necessity. We need transformative, broadly-resonant stories that can rise to the challenge. Stories that elevate an honest, inclusive, and hopeful expression of love of country. Stories that both celebrate our progress toward our founding ideals of equality, freedom, and opportunity AND inspire us to keep striving for an America that fully lives up to them.

A year ago, narrative strategists, researchers, and funders — guided by leading thinkers and changemakers — came together to meet this challenge. Over the past year, we analyzed the current debates and discussions shaping the public conversation, studied the latest polling numbers, and, most importantly, listened closely to almost 5,000 Americans across the country.

Our year long inquiry brought forward a narrative frame that meets the moment: the people In America, are supposed to be in charge. Read more about the idea and how to bring it to life in the narrative guide. It’s a simple yet profound idea — one that resonates across class, race, faith, and geography. It feels both familiar and foundational, though it’s largely absent from today’s public conversation about who we are and what we owe each other.
When reawakened, it invites people to tell their own stories of what it means to be American — to celebrate our progress, confront our shortcomings, and imagine a more just future.
this project? Why

Questions? Contact us: team@thinkbigalliance.org With deep appreciation for the brilliance and dedication of our advisors and working group members: Andy Bernstein, Angela Peoples, Dee Davis, Eric Ward, Gabe Rose, Gabriella Cazares-Kelly, Jessica Depies, Luis Avila, Sarah Jaynes, Shayna Rose Triebwasser, Steve Moore, and Will Carter. The Think Big Alliance is a nonprofit organization that fills a gap in the progressive narrative ecosystem by focusing on the battle for big, cross-cutting ideas. Think Big provides strategic, high-level analysis to connect and make meaning of existing, disparate efforts, including public opinion research, narrative trends, case studies, campaigns, and organizing efforts. We work alongside communities of practice to co-create, refine, deploy and share examples of these strategies in action. Topos Partnership: When social issues organizations hit a wall, they come to Topos. For more than two decades we've been at the forefront of identifying the widely shared ideas that help or hinder progress. We lay the foundation for real, lasting change by focusing on the level of the Cultural Common Sense: the deeply held understandings that are pervasive and unquestioned — the simple “truths” that people share in daily conversations. These ideas sound like simple common sense but they have the power to direct people’s views and behavior. This is the level at which we win and lose. The US@250 Narrative Project: The stories we tell about our national identity and responsibilities matter. They shape our agenda, influence elections, guide civic participation, and either unite or divide us. As we approach the 250th, we need narratives that honor our ideals, hold us accountable, and inspire Americans to build a better, more just future. Over the past year, we mapped the narrative landscape, brought together a diverse group of advisors and stakeholders, and combined their insights with rigorous research and original data. We deeply listened to what Americans are thinking and feeling — and from that, lifted up authentic, resonant narratives of who we are and who we aspire to be. us About