Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary Through Youth Imagination and Civic Engagement
The GIANT Room + Connecticut State Library + America 250
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, communities across the country are reflecting on the past and imagining the future. At The GIANT Room, we believe there is no better way to envision what comes next than by inviting young people into the conversation. In partnership with the Connecticut State Library, The GIANT Room brought twenty Remix Stations to seven libraries across Connecticut between November 2025 and June 2026. Together, these libraries became hubs of creativity, civic engagement, and community imagination.
These stations were designed around the theme of America’s 250th anniversary, each of them inviting children and families to think about the communities they live in: what they love about their communities, what they dislike, and how they can improve. Participants were challenged to propose new laws, dream up holidays, design community spaces, and advocate for changes that could make life better for those around them.
Across the seven participating libraries, children and families submitted more than 500 ideas. Those ideas were then transformed into 17 decks of trading cards, 12 books, 8 posters, 2 sets of postcards, a comic book, and a series of mini-posters. Each publication captures the creativity, curiosity, civic thinking, and most importantly, the community’s voice that emerged throughout the program.
![GIANT Comic Book: [BLANK] For President Cartoons](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b9580a050a54f9cd774077b/1781042523895-GZJ4AB3G3HZ3VOTNOGDQ/Thumbnail.png)
Visitors interested in exploring the physical publications created through this program can view the full collection at the Middletown Library Service Center in Connecticut or online in our digital library.
The GIANT Room also had the incredible opportunity to bring this work to life through an in-person program at one of the participating libraries. During the workshop, children and families stepped into the role of neighborhood architects and were challenged to think about what they would add to their community if they could build anything they wanted.
The ideas that emerged were joyful, thoughtful, and wonderfully imaginative. Families designed farms where chickens could do anything they wanted, elaborate playgrounds, sports centers, swimming pools, and countless other community spaces. Some creations focused on fun and recreation, while others reflected a desire for connection, belonging, and opportunities to gather together. You can explore photos from the program below, along with the remixes inspired by the participants' creations.
Check out their cards!
Check out their Neighborhood Map!
We are grateful to the Connecticut State Library and the participating libraries for helping make this program possible, and we are proud to have amplified the ideas of the next generation of civic thinkers, activists, and change-makers.
