Preview Summary –

• The annual college basketball tournament, otherwise known as ‘March Madness’ is upon us, but there’s another ‘madness feeling’ that’s emerging with the nation in limbo and world on edge.
• With ‘America 250’ events across the country, this might be a good time for a social rebrand in America’s public image and policy portfolio in a new mindset around ‘American Essentialism’.
• We’ll rally folks around life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, go back in time when the world was on edge or nation in limbo, for real intentions and civic operations to make a difference in culture.

Signup Center –

Mission Option #1: ‘Country Road’

Mission Option #2: ‘Community Road’

Mission Option #3: ‘Family Road’

Main Content –

Let’s just put it out there…the next few weeks gonna have a kinda madness feel to it! For sports fans, it’s the expected string of exciting games once the slate of teams has been announced for the annual college basketball tournament, otherwise known as ‘March Madness’. Teams from different conferences across public and private schools, vie for reaching the Final Four Championship. There’s often the thrill of victory in moving on to the next round, which also comes with the agony of defeat at the end of the road. But there’s another ‘madness feeling’ that’s emerging with the nation in limbo and world on edge.

The current middle east conflict is causing a spike in gas prices and food costs. As economists try to predict the next few months, inflation fears have returned. But both in the case of basketball’s March Madness and the current sense of social madness, there’s some background chatter among fans, media & sports analysts as well as historians. With basketball, it’s the question of whether to expand from 68 to 76 teams that get named to the round of games in the championship. In the case of the middle east, historians are likely to re-engage the concept of American Exceptionalism.

The NCAA is yet to take a firm position on whether to expand the number of teams. Those in favor believe it opens the door to other schools on the bubble of qualifying. However, critics are concerned that the new slots would go to the power conference teams at the expense of mid-tier conference schools having a shot to be part of the ‘big dance’. With respect to public concerns on how America is being perceived around the world, the idea of American Exceptionalism seems to have lost its way. Initially, the term was meant to project America as the model of a ‘city on a hill’: strong democracy, global leadership and moral standing. But some political observers believe the current climate reflects otherwise.

As ‘America 250’ events happen across the country, this might be a good time to consider a social rebrand in America’s public image and policy portfolio. If we’re gonna have the next generation onboard, it might mean having their buy-in on a new mindset around ‘American Essentialism’. The term Essentialism basically means doing those things where there’s alignment with your core blueprint to best fulfill your assignment. It’s in how you relate the essentials of essence to existence. Moreover, this would mean that who we are as individuals or a nation would aim to reflect our best yet, not simply who we advertise ourselves to be. Now, if there isn’t alignment, then there would need to be a change, whether in process or blueprint (essence) for a better existence. It seems that’s where America is today, as American Essentialism could help us move towards a more perfect union.

But it’s also where things were in 1776. There were issues as a cornerstone of American life then but are a lightning rod of culture wars now. So, it’s important not to get distracted by daily social madness but to channel our energies towards life, liberty and happiness. Over the first 20+ years of America’s founding or the civil rights movement, there were times public grievances would rally hometown voices committed to unity of purpose. It’s how we got the Declaration of Independence. Isn’t that what ‘America 250’ is about? Plus, at other times when people felt under pressure by government affairs, similar energy brought folks together for civic ends where they acted towards a new America in style and substance by:   

1. Forming

The Constitution’s preamble says: “We the people in order to form a more perfect union.” Back then they realized it was time to form something different from what they’d come to know. That forming involved matters that were close to their ‘hearts & homes’ as in ideals and hometowns. These days it seems America has seen its ‘hearts & homes’ attitude get overwhelmed by a ‘might & mean’ attitude of others. A doctor uses the stethoscope during a health check to assess the beat of the heart for a patient. Maybe in pursuing a more perfect union for the next generation, we gotta get our heartbeat back.  

2. Breaking

In buildings there’s a box that says, “break glass in case of emergency.” That’s an option/tool in case of an emergency. It’s not something done just for fun, since steps can happen before taking that action in an emergency. While in 1776 they got to a ‘break glass’ moment in Lexington and Concord Massachusetts, in 2026 we can avoid that breaking point. It’s been said that to secure the future you want, begin with the end in mind and rewind to the present. This might also mean going back in time when the world was on edge or nation in limbo, for footsteps in the sand that show real intentions and civic operations.   

3. Educating

What else might be helpful in forming a new America for the next generation? Well, what happened in the 60’s was a ‘turn-up’ among young people when the ‘Greensboro Four’ did the first sit-in at Woolworth’s lunch counter. That ignited others to be peer influencers and next-level gamechangers. What if ‘March Madness’ wasn’t just a sports feeling among students/communities, but also a civic feeling inspiring a new level of awareness on what matters to self, others and humanity? SAIC’s ‘Coach to Coach’ teach-ins for students and ‘Civic Forums’ for communities will help us with making a difference for the culture.

4. Empowering

It seems America is going through a phase right now that feels like a ‘lost cause’. Back in time that term was used to rally folks around a new spin on the civil war fallout. While the confederacy lost the war, folks reeling from that setback came up with a message around how to turn that loss into a new mantra. Well, history also has examples of when folks turned public grievances into positive momentum by how they rallied in unity of purpose. This led to steps in organizing around civic ends and public good. These empowering moves by residents and public officials included civic resolutions and next-level solutions.   

How might we rally ‘we the people’ and public figures on a civic rebranding in American Essentialism? We can take a page from 1776, 1782 and the 1960s. That means we’ll rally around life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for a more perfect union. We’ll work on forming a new America for the next generation, as hometown voices committed to unity of purpose. We’ll organize around civic ends and public good. We’ll go back in time when the world was on edge or nation in limbo, to see real intentions and civic operations for making a difference in culture. Hey beautiful people, let’s stand up, come together and make it work!

Chime-in on impacting Democracy & Public Good, Education & Community or Entrepreneurship & American Dream, ‘Civic Mondays’ events or Civics & Community forums. Plus,you can “J.A.M. With Us” (join a movement) in civic engagement, social change and community life. Checkout the Signup Center below.

Tracks: Cynthia Erivo – Stand Up – https://youtu.be/g3HICKj-4Zs?si=bQLgje2qRe_PJ0YK

David Guetta & Sia – Beautiful People – https://youtu.be/S2fSojJqyNY?si=oguJRATkH-kHrgqw