“Be the People” Campaign Seeks to Unite Americans to Solve Problems

As celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence culminate on July 4, a well-financed, privately funded initiative will kick off in an effort to connect hundreds of millions of Americans with efforts to solve local problems, Thalia Beaty reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Be the People builds on research indicating that many Americans want to contribute to their communities but do not know how.

The “Be the People” campaign aims to counter the perception that the US is hopelessly divided and that individuals have little power to address issues such as poverty, addiction, violence, and stalled economic mobility.

It also seeks to motivate people to take action to solve those problems.

Brian Hooks, chairman and CEO of the nonprofit network Stand Together, said the 250th anniversary presents a unique opportunity “to show people that they matter, that they have a part to play, and that the future is unwritten—but it depends on each one of us stepping up to play our part.”

Funded by a mix of 50 philanthropic foundations and individual donors, Be the People builds on research indicating that many Americans want to contribute to their communities but do not know how.

The initiative is targeting more than $200 million for its first-year budget.

Founding members range from nonprofits—including GivingTuesday, Goodwill Industries, Habitat for Humanity, and More Perfect—to businesses such as Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment and the National Basketball Association, as well as funders like the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.