Building a More Beautiful Future: Pennsylvania’s Role in America’s 250th Anniversary Celebration

Learn about America250PA and its role in honoring the United States as it approaches a historic 250th anniversary in 2026.

In this episode of Do Beautiful Things, host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, highlights the incredible opportunity ahead as the United States approaches its 250th birthday in 2026. Jenny is joined by Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America250PA, who shares her inspiring journey from one of the nation’s youngest female mayors to leading Pennsylvania’s efforts in celebrating this historic milestone.

Together, they discuss Pennsylvania’s pivotal role in America’s story, the statewide volunteer projects transforming communities, and how the state is contributing to Keep America Beautiful’s ambitious goal of picking up 25 billion pieces of litter and beautifying 25,000 communities through a partnership with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

Cassandra highlights how public service and intergenerational engagement—from parents to children—are driving these efforts. Programs like Pennsylvania Day, community art initiatives, and the Direct Effect Innovation Challenge are connecting people of all ages to the power and purpose of beautification.

Tune in for uplifting stories, practical ways to get involved, and a behind-the-scenes look at how states are preparing for the country’s 250th anniversary—plus, discover why music, volunteerism, and local pride are at the heart of this nationwide movement.

To learn more or get involved with the Greatest American Cleanup and other America 250 initiatives, visit kab.org or america250pa.org (opens in a new tab). Don’t miss this opportunity to help build a cleaner, greener, more beautiful future—listen to the full episode today!

“This is such a historic moment in time that we need to pause, and we need to say: What is our responsibility right now? How can we learn from our history, look at where we are right now in our present? But, most importantly, how can we reimagine the future? … And how do we ultimately say to the next generation, ‘This is what you should be doing’?”

—Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America250PA