Presenting a webinar on the U.S. national story, July 17 (virtual, private)

The American Association for State and Local History has invited me to deliver a webinar on the battle over the American national narrative — a story I told in Union — and Nationhood Lab’s work and findings on the shared national story today. It’s a members-only, virtual event. Here’s the official description:

In an increasingly complex landscape and on the eve of the U.S. 250th anniversary, this webinar will explore new research about a defining “national narrative” for America. The notion of a shared national story—one that promotes a common sense of purpose, origins, and belonging—has long been contested in American history. A new report from the Nationhood Lab at Salve Regina University, “The Story of America: A rebooted civic national narrative for the United States,” leverages a year of research to address this debate. Based on its findings, the report offers a unifying national narrative—including core scripts and suggested language—rooted in the values of the Declaration of Independence and designed for varied audiences. In this webinar, Nationhood Lab Director Colin Woodard, in conversation with AASLH’s Vice President of Research and Engagement, John Marks, will highlight the report’s context and key findings as attendees gain a deeper understanding the history of America’s competing national narratives, why this debate matters today, and strategies for effectively communicating about our nation’s past, present, and future as 2026 fast approaches.