Grassroots Leaders to Unveil Nationwide Mobilization Ahead of America’s 250th Anniversary at NYC Town Hall
On Thursday, April 16, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, at Middle Collegiate Church in Manhattan, national and local leaders affiliated with the Next 250 initiative will convene a major town hall and press briefing marking the final gathering before the public launch of a nationwide mobilization tied to the 250th anniversary of the United States.
At this event, organizers will announce plans for a nationwide mass mobilization that will bring thousands of people together across the country ahead of July 4, positioning grassroots voices, cultural leaders, and impacted communities at the center of how the nation marks this milestone.
The New York City event marks the culmination of a series of town halls held across the country, including recent gatherings in Pittsburgh and Hartford, and will formally kick off the countdown to coordinated national actions.
The gathering is being organized alongside a broad coalition of New York and national organizations including Alliance for Quality Education, Arab American Association of New York, Faith for Black Lives, Justice League NYC, Malikah, MPower Change, New York Immigration Coalition, One Fair Wage, Poderistas, Reform Alliance, The Gathering for Justice, Until Freedom, and others.
Next250, a national initiative dedicated to uplifting all Americans, is grounded in a Declaration of Interdependence developed through listening sessions with more than 2,500 people across the country. The Declaration reflects a shared vision for the next 250 years centered on dignity, belonging, safety, and collective responsibility.
Organizers say the April 16 town hall will serve as both a cultural and political inflection point, bringing together artists, advocates, workers, and community leaders to define a people-centered vision for the country at a moment of deep national division and global conflict.
The gathering will also feature installation artwork on display by labor activist Wyatt Closs, titled “We Be Going” alongside musical performances and cultural programming. On the arts and visuals side, organizers are calling on local artists and activists to contribute works as part of a broader creative mobilization that will build toward nationwide July 4events and public actions tied to the Declaration of Interdependence.
The event will feature a cross-movement panel discussion, cultural performances, and opportunities for attendees to engage directly with and sign the Declaration of Interdependence.
As federal efforts tied to the anniversary take shape through top-down programming, Next250 organizers are positioning this mobilization as a parallel civic effort rooted in participation, storytelling, and collective action.
Event Details:
WHAT: Next250 New York Town Hall and National Mobilization Announcement
WHEN: Thursday, April 16, 2026; 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
WHERE: Middle Collegiate Church (50 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003)
WHO:
Linda Sarsour, Next250 organizer, former Women’s March co-chair
Carmen Pérez, Next250 organizer, former Women’s March co-chair
Saru Jayaraman, Next250 organizer, President of One Fair Wage
Representatives and leaders from a cross-movement coalition of immigrant, racial justice, faith, and worker advocacy organizations, including:
Alliance for Quality Education
Arab American Association of New York
Faith for Black Lives
Justice League NYC
Malikah
MPower Change
New York Immigration Coalition
One Fair Wage
Poderistas
Reform Alliance
The Gathering for Justice
Until Freedom
Next250
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