250 & Beyond: Our American Story — Live Q&A with Sarah Botstein & Hon. Brian Baird
2026-03-12 12:00 - 13:45 (America/New_York)
Students, teachers and lifelong learners are invited to join us for an exclusive, live Q&A session with former U.S. Representative Brian Baird and acclaimed documentary filmmaker Sarah Botstein (The American Revolution).
Building on the themes from the special video presentation “250 & Beyond: Our American Story,” this interactive session will give your students the unique opportunity to ask questions directly to our speakers. The conversation will explore the founding of our constitutional democratic republic, the critical role of Congress as the “First Branch” of government, the inherent tensions between self-interest and the common good, and how the unifying spirit of everyday civic service can bridge our current divides. Students will also get a behind-the-scenes perspective from Sarah Botstein on what it takes to bring the diverse and complicated history of the American Revolution to life on screen.
How to Participate:
1. Register for the Zoom Q&A
2. Watch the Video: Prior to the live Q&A, we encourage you to screen the “250 & Beyond: Our American Story” video panel discussion available March 9th at www.250andbeyond.com/conversation.
3. Join the live Q&A: Log in with your classroom to hear Brian and Sarah answer your questions live!
Help your students discover that they are part of a larger, ongoing “great machine” of American democracy—and that they have a vital role to play in the next 250 years.
When: Thursday March 12, 2026
Video screening: 12:00pm EST – 1:00pm EST
Live Q&A: 1:00pm EST – 1:40pm EST

250 & Beyond: Our American Story - A video conversation about communities, service and democracy
2026-03-09 00:00 - 2026-03-13 00:00
As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, how can we inspire the next generation to embrace the unifying power of civic service?
We invite you and your students to watch “250 & Beyond: Our American Story,” a special video conversation presented by the National Museum and Center for Service in partnership with WETA. Hosted by former U.S. Representative Brian Baird, this engaging panel features acclaimed documentary filmmaker Sarah Botstein alongside former U.S. Representatives Bob Inglis, Donna Edwards, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Together, they explore the powerful intersection of our nation’s history, the evolution of our democracy, and the spirit of service that bridges our divides.
Engage Your Civics and History Classes
To help you bring this vital dialogue into your classroom, we invite you to utilize our free Educator Discussion Guides. Designed specifically for Middle and High School Civics, Government, and U.S. History classes, the guide is designed to spark robust, inquiry-based learning.

250 & Beyond: Honoring and inspiring service across America
2025-03-11 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual, Washington, United States
The spirit of service has always been fundamental to our national character and essential to our democracy. In 2026, America will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, providing an ideal opportunity to celebrate the American spirit of service — a spirit so powerfully expressed in the closing words of the Declaration of Independence itself.
250 & Beyond is a national initiative, led by a coalition of leading service organizations, to create inspiring, inclusive, and enduring exhibitions to honor service in ALL its forms in communities, schools, libraries, and museums all across the country. It is a call to action, honoring our past, celebrating our present and inspiring our future, helping us respect our differences and transcend our divisions. If our nation is to last another 250 years, we must renew and sustain the American spirit of service among all our people and institutions. Your organization, school, community or you as an individual can be part of this national movement.
