Civic Season Slice of History
Every summer, between Juneteenth and July 4th, communities across the country come together for Civic Season® – an annual tradition developed by museums and young people to shape our future. Held between our newest and oldest federal holidays, Civic Season® kicks off the year ahead with events, activities, and celebrations.
The State Archives held its first Civic Season event, a “Slice of History” pizza party, in July 2025. Interns at the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources engaged with primary sources in the State Archives and State Library and interacted with different departmental resources. The event ended with a pizza party where interns could get to know each other and other staff in their fields.
Youth 250 NC
Youth 250 NC: Your Voice. Your Future. Your NC.
The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and NC Child invited high school–age youth to downtown Raleigh for an inspiring day of civic engagement, leadership, and hands-on learning as part of the state’s America 250 NC commemoration. Youth 250 NC participants explored the ideals of our democracy, engaged with history, and discussed what it means to be an American today. The program empowered young people to participate actively in civic life during America’s 250th anniversary and to lead their generation forward.
K-12 Programming
As the educator for the America 250 NC initiative, I created and led a cross-divisional collaborative group that centered programming on Latino, English Second Language (ESL), and youth groups. We visited elementary, middle, and high schools and community centers to actively engage local communities with NC history. We served over 500 students and adults in our first year alone!
Foundations of American Democracy
How do we teach the foundations of American democracy to the next generation?
Recorded live at the State Archives of North Carolina, this America 250 NC panel brings together leading UNC-Chapel Hill historians to discuss their new book, Foundations of American Democracy: A Critical Documents Reader (UNC Press). The conversation explores how key documents—from the Declaration of Independence and North Carolina’s 1776 Constitution to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address—continue to shape the ideals of liberty, order, and citizenship.
Presented by:
North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
America 250 NC
UNC College of Arts and Sciences, Department of History
Moderator:
Dr. Darin J. Waters, Deputy Secretary for Archives and History
Panelists:
Dr. Kathleen DuVal, Karl W. Ernst Distinguished Professor of History
Dr. W. Fitzhugh Brundage, William Umstead Distinguished Professor of History
Dr. Joseph T. Glatthaar, Stephenson Distinguished Professor of History
Recorded: October 1, 2025
Location: State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC
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