Heinz History Center is part of national collaboration for 'Made By Us' initiative

When Senator John Heinz History Center learned about the chance to collaborate with other museums to present U.S. history — geared to the younger generation, giving them a platform to express their thoughts — the center’s president and CEO, Andy Masich, jumped at the opportunity.

The history center has teamed with Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, National Archives, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, New-York Historical Society, Japanese American National Museum, Atlanta History Center, HistoryMiami Museum, and the Missouri Historical Society for “Made By Us.” It is a national coalition that presents history in relevant, provocative and innovative ways.

“This initiative is big time right now,” Masich said. “Americans need to know the basics of history to make plans for the future. There is a social justice revolution and a pandemic and an economic crisis, and understanding how we got here is important than ever before. We need to understand it all before we move forward as a people.”

Such a collaboration hasn’t been done before, said Caroline Klibanoff, program manager for “Made By Us.” She said there was no way to predict the pandemic but it became the way to connect digitally and this initiative fits perfectly.

“It’s a way the museums are saying, ‘Let’s lean into this and roll up our sleeves and get to work,’ ” she said. “It’s important and it takes participation from everyone. These iconic institutions have history at the heart of what they do. They’ve been reaching out and engaging young people. Everything has a history and young people are civically engaged. They do have a voice and what they say is useful.”

“Made By Us” is described as a way to bring history out of the textbooks and into the digital and social space.

The history center’s involvement in the “Made By Us” coalition is an extension of its civics initiative, America 101, which engages the public to learn American history through public programs, special exhibitions, digital learning tools, and educational curriculum.

What do we want the future of the United States to look like?

Take the first step and share your vision: https://t.co/IAKh2fVBwX pic.twitter.com/KbaEydOBNL

— Made By Us (@historymadebyus) June 25, 2020

Aimed at young people, “Made By Us” began with the “My Wish For U.S.,” where more than 1,000 people responded with many perspectives of what they wish for the country. Through “My Wish For U.S.,” Americans are invited to share their wishes on social media and explore the many ways their ideas overlap and diverge. Contributors can send their wishes directly to their local government representatives, with the end goal of bringing many voices together to make actionable change, Masich said.

Wish U.S.

All of this is important because it will help the country celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2026 with a clearer focus, Masich said.

“It’s time to take stake as a nation in what we want to be when we grow up,” Masich said. “As our nation approaches its 250th birthday in 2026, Americans continue to grapple with issues related to race and inequality that are rooted in our shared history. As we collectively work toward a better future, it is critical for us to understand what we carry forward from the past.”

He said he plans to use the information to help develop future programs by listening to what young people say while also keeping them connected.

The silver lining of the covid-19 cloud is it has accelerated the museum’s ability to use online tools, Masich said. Using more technology was in a long-range forecast, which has become a five-month plan because of the pandemic.

“We still want people to come to the museum because there is something about being in the presence of the real tangible object of the past that makes it real,” Masich said. “That is something the virtual world can’t offer – that feeling of being there.”