PBS Wisconsin, Wisconsin Public Radio and partners are proud to host America@250, a statewide initiative designed to help Wisconsin communities connect and reflect on themes from the American Revolution era – freedom, democracy and service – that still resonate today.

This bold initiative features national PBS programs, such as THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, and locally produced content from PBS Wisconsin, including educational resources as well as community events and grants designed to bring communities together to connect and reflect on our shared history and the future of democracy.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, is a new six-part documentary series that explores the country’s founding struggle and its eight-year War for Independence, premiering 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, on PBS Wisconsin.

Community Conversation Grants

Through the America@250 Initiative, PBS Wisconsin and partners will provide $500 grants, discussion guides with questions and video clips from THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, and other resources for intentionally inclusive Community Conversations. All America@250 resources are free and available to the public.

PBS Wisconsin and partners will also provide facilitation training and other guidance to promote safe, inclusive and fruitful Community Conversations across the state.

The deadline to apply for a $500 Community Conversation grant is Dec. 17, 2025. Wisconsin residents age 18 or older can apply. Grant recipients will be announced Jan. 19, 2026, and Community Conversations will happen across the state in the run up to and beyond July 4, 2026.

“As we approach our country’s 250th anniversary, PBS Wisconsin is bringing Wisconsinites together through the power of storytelling with THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION,” said Jon Miskowski, PBS Wisconsin’s Director of Television. “Our hope is that this film and the America@250 Initiative spark conversation about not just what happened 250 years ago, but what it means to be American today — and what kind of country we want to build for the next 250 years.”

Educator Resources from PBS Wisconsin Education

PBS Wisconsin Education will also share resources inspired by THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, including two Revolutionary era episodes of The Look Back history series for grades 4-9, civics resources for educators and a two-day educator professional learning institute Aug. 5-6, 2026, designed to expand teachers’ knowledge of the Revolutionary War era and share strategies for implementing historical thinking and civics skills with learners.

Coming 2026: My America@250

PBS Wisconsin and community partners will also invite Wisconsinites to share their unique perspectives in video recording sessions for the My America@250 social media campaign. These videos will be shared from PBS Wisconsin’s social media channels throughout 2026.

Learn how you can add your voice to this statewide conversation at pbswisconsin.org/a250.

PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio are proud to partner with the Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum on the America@250 Initiative.

About THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Corporate funding for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine with the Crimson Lion Foundation; and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Major funding was also provided by David M. Rubenstein; The Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Family Foundation; Lilly Endowment Inc.; and the following Better Angels Society members: Eric and Wendy Schmidt; Stephen A. Schwarzman; and Kenneth C. Griffin with Griffin Catalyst.

Additional support for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by: The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling; Park Foundation; and the following Better Angels Society members: Gilchrist and Amy Berg; Perry and Donna Golkin; The Michelson Foundation; Jacqueline B. Mars; Kissick Family Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; John H. N. Fisher and Jennifer Caldwell; John and Catherine Debs; The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Philip I. Kent; Gail Elden; Deborah and Jon Dawson; David and Susan Kreisman; The McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Becky and Jim Morgan; Carol and Ned Spieker; Mark A. Tracy; and Paul and Shelley Whyte.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was made possible, in part, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.