Join us for an exclusive one-hour experience in the Smithsonian Castle to view and interact with American Aspirations in an educator-facilitated session. Open for only a few weeks in honor of America's 250th, this special exhibit brings together some of the Smithsonian's most treasured objects for the first time, inviting visitors to explore how founding ideals have been reinterpreted across generations. This session, featuring fast-paced, interactive storytelling methods, will invite participants to explore historical objects, personal experiences, local community stories, and national themes connected to American democracy. It will culminate in small-group synthesis connecting insights to broader civic themes and the Democracy in Dialogue Virtual Exchange. Leave with tools to analyze objects through reflective prompts, construct collaborative narratives, engage in civil discourse, and apply storytelling strategies to their own local contexts.