A Message from FSC Leadership
As a co-founder of the Free Society Coalition, I am pleased to introduce this inaugural issue of The Free Society Coalition Dispatch, a new platform designed to provide consistent updates on the Coalition's work and to highlight the programs, achievements, and collaborative initiatives of our partners.
The Coalition continues to expand its engagement with educators, civic leaders, and institutional partners committed to advancing civic learning and thoughtful dialogue. We are pleased to welcome Craig Kreinbihl as Managing Director, partnering closely with the Coalition to advance strategic engagement, organizational visibility, and collaborative relationships nationwide.

Jay Lapeyre
Governing Board Member, Free Society Coalition
In recent years, many Americans have expressed concern about the tone of public discourse and the depth of civic understanding. Working with business and academic colleagues, we founded the Free Society Coalition to bring people together across backgrounds and beliefs and to use the nation's 250th anniversary as a catalyst for civic education, principled dialogue, and renewed engagement with the principles that united our nation and helped shape a freer world. These principles, including the dignity of the individual, liberty, and personal responsibility, remain central to the belief widely shared across the country that a free society depends upon both rights and responsibilities.
This Dispatch will provide regular insight into our progress, highlight the work of our partners, and contribute thoughtfully to the civic conversation during America250 and well beyond it.
Thank you for your partnership. We look forward to the work ahead.
Why Civil Discourse Matters

Civil discourse is not defined by the absence of disagreement, but by the presence of mutual respect. A free society depends upon citizens who are willing to listen carefully, engage thoughtfully, and remain open to persuasion.
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, renewing this commitment is both timely and necessary. The ability to exchange ideas with seriousness and goodwill strengthens civic trust, supports meaningful learning, and helps ensure that the principles of liberty endure for future generations.
From the Declaration
"We hold these truths to be self-evident..."
Few phrases in American history have carried greater moral clarity or enduring influence.
Engaging the principles of the Declaration invites reflection not only on the nation's founding, but on the responsibilities of citizenship in every generation.
Coalition Update

As preparations for the nation's 250th anniversary accelerate, the Free Society Coalition is expanding its work to convene partners, support educational efforts, and encourage thoughtful civic engagement across the country.
Growing interest from educators and institutional leaders reflects a shared desire for resources that elevate the principles at the heart of the American experiment while fostering constructive dialogue.
Partner Spotlight:
Jack Miller Center

The Jack Miller Center works with faculty and institutions nationwide to strengthen the teaching of America's founding principles. As part of this effort, the Center has begun incorporating Free Society Coalition discussion questions into select campus programs, encouraging structured, text-based dialogue grounded in the Declaration of Independence.
This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to elevating civic learning and fostering thoughtful conversation in academic settings. Learn more about how the Jack Miller Center is partnering with college faculty on lectures, debates, and reading groups focused on the Declaration of Independence through its campus programs supporting America's 250th anniversary.
Learn More About JMC Campus ProgramsThe Center also serves as a leading national convener in civics education, including through its National Summit on Civics Education, which brings together scholars, educators, and institutional leaders to advance the teaching of America's founding ideas.
Learn More About the National SummitHappy Birthday, Freedom!

In 2026, Americans will mark the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding. This is a milestone that invites both celebration and reflection. Historic anniversaries offer a rare opportunity to consider not only how far a country has come, but what is required to sustain the freedoms it enjoys.
The Coalition's Happy Birthday, Freedom! brochure was created to support communities, educators, and institutions in commemorating this moment with thoughtfulness and purpose, encouraging engagement with the principles that continue to shape our civic life.
Looking Ahead
While the approaching anniversary provides an important focal point, the Coalition's broader mission remains rooted in fostering dialogue, supporting education, and encouraging engagement that will endure well beyond this historic year.
In the Civic Landscape
- Civic Learning Week and National Forum — March 9-13, 2026 (Philadelphia, PA and various events)
- The Fund for American Studies Annual Conference: Developing Courageous Citizens — March 11-12, 2026 (Washington, D.C.)
- The Jack Miller Center's National Summit on Civic Education — May 18-19, 2026 (Philadelphia, PA)

For Liberty and Responsibility
Originally published here → The Free Society Coalition Dispatch, Volume I Issue 1