Who is Made by Us?
Made By Us is an organization dedicated to connecting young adults (ages 18-30) with history
and civics education by providing credible, timely content and resources from a nationwide
network of cultural institutions. Their mission is to "bring history to younger generations in
innovative and meaningful ways". They aim to help young people understand "how we got here" to foster civic participation, especially as the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary.
The Youth250 Bureau
The Youth250 Bureau, a program by Made By Us, offers free consulting services to communities, institutions, and nonprofits. It consists of 100 diverse young adults (Gen Z, aged 18-30) trained in human-centered design, history, and consulting. They provide "creative, custom guidance and support" for marking the U.S. 250th anniversary, including polling, focus groups, materials review, and co-design of events and programs.
You can leverage these resources for your community or campus museum of service, which aims to share stories of service locally and inspire participation:
Utilize the Youth250 Bureau: Engage the Bureau for youth-centered design by requesting their free consulting services for polling, focus groups, or co-designing exhibitions and programs, ensuring your museum's offerings resonate with younger audiences. This helps guarantee successful outcomes by including young people in planning.
Apply the Youth250 Toolkit: Use the toolkit to better understand Gen Z's needs (e.g. "Why should I care"). Design engaging programs using the CLAP framework (Clear, Learnable, Actionable, Personal) and adapt tested program ideas like "Teen Takeover" or "History On Tap Trivia Night". The toolkit also provides resources for working intergenerationally and promoting programs effectively.
The Youth250 Bureau is a great resource to ensure your community or campus museum of service is relevant, engaging, and impactful for younger generations, especially in anticipation of the nation's upcoming Semiquincentennial.