America at 250: What Young People See Ahead

America at 250: What Young People See Ahead

As America approaches its 250th anniversary next month, one question looms large: what does the future look like for the generation that will inherit it? Young Americans are living through rising costs, political polarization, and growing skepticism about institutions—but they haven’t checked out. In this episode of What If We?, Kaitlin Funaro talks with Benjamin Oh, Senior Data Director at the Alliance for Youth Action, about what young people actually think about democracy, opportunity, and civic engagement. Drawing on new research, Benjamin shares what’s driving young people’s hopes, frustrations, and priorities—and why many remain determined to help shape the future. It’s a conversation about the next 250 years, and the generation already working to define them. In This Episode: * How young people see America at its 250th anniversary and the tensions shaping their outlook * Whether the American Dream means the same thing today as it did for previous generations * What research reveals about youth participation in voting, civic engagement, and political action * How economic concerns influence the way young people think about politics and democracy * What messages are most effective at motivating young people to participate in civic life * What advocates, organizers, and institutions can learn from youth attitudes toward leadership and change * Why authenticity, accountability, and bold ideas resonate with younger generations * What gives us hope for the role young people will play in America's future

The Hidden Power of Memes

Episode Description: In this episode of What If We?, host Kaitlin Funaro sits down with internet culture writer and editor Aja Romano to explore how memes shape the way we communicate, organize, and understand the world around us. What may appear trivial or disposable on the surface often carries deep cultural meaning. From catchphrases and reaction images to political symbols and online movements, memes function as shared cultural language that evolves as people remix, reinterpret, and redistribute them across communities. Together, Kaitlin and Aja unpack how memes gain traction, why authenticity matters, and what happens when ideas lose their original context as they spread online. Drawing on examples ranging from Pepe the Frog and “Dark Brandon” to the evolution of terms like “woke” and “cancel culture,” the conversation explores how memes can both build connection and distort meaning. Aja explains why memes are difficult to engineer intentionally, why brands and institutions often struggle to participate authentically, and how marginalized communities frequently shape internet culture before their contributions are absorbed into the mainstream. In This Episode: * What gives memes their staying power while so many internet trends quickly disappear * How memes evolve as they move between communities and platforms * Examples of memes shaping political movements, public discourse, and collective identity * Why authenticity and spontaneity are essential to successful memes * How organizations and advocacy campaigns can participate in meme culture and the risks it involves * How memes change meaning as they move across different online communities and audiences * Whether memes can engage serious issues without trivializing them Tap into more online culture via fansplaining.com [http://fansplaining.com].

Wear Orange: How a Movement Begins

How does a simple color become a national symbol for change? In this episode of What If We?, host Kaitlin sits down with Nza-Ari, Founder of Project Orange Tree, and RALLY Senior Director Jason Rzepka to unpack the origins and evolution of the Wear Orange campaign. What began as a grassroots response to tragedy, honoring the life of Hadiya Pendleton, a victim of gun violence, grew into a powerful cultural movement rooted in visibility, shared humanity, and belonging. Drawing inspiration from hunting culture, where orange signals “don’t shoot,” the campaign reframed the color as a symbol for the value of human life. Together, Jason and Nza-Ari explore how Wear Orange moved beyond policy into culture and community, creating accessible ways for people to participate, connect, and take ownership of change. From local beginnings in Chicago to a decentralized national movement, this episode reveals how identity, storytelling, and collective action can shift norms over time. In This Episode: * The origin story behind the Wear Orange campaign * The goals of the campaign and the audience it set out to reach * The role of culture alongside policy in addressing gun violence * Whether the campaign was designed to shift cultural norms and perceptions * How the strategy evolved as the movement grew beyond Project Orange Tree * The signs that the campaign was gaining traction and shifting norms * Why belonging is essential to building and sustaining a movement * How people can get involved and participate today Learn More: Check out Project Orange at wearorange.org [https://wearorange.org] The 12th National Gun Violence Awareness Day will be June 5, 2026.

The Faith Gap: How Advocacy Is Missing What Matters to Gen Z

For a lot of Gen Z and Gen Alpha, faith isn’t a political signal—it’s a core part of their identity. That deep connection between spirituality and values is a major, often overlooked, opportunity for advocacy communications. In this episode, host Kaitlin Funaro sits down with Derwin Aikens to unpack how younger audiences are thinking about religious identity and the power of faith as a values framework that shapes how people see the world and their role in it. For younger audiences, spirituality can be a compelling entry point to conversations from immigration to climate justice and racial equity because it connects directly to their moral lens. This conversation is a part of our series on Youth Research: Identity, Culture & Issue Advocacy RALLY produced with Rachel Janfaza of The Up & Up. [https://www.theupandup.us/] You can check out all of our insights on our website [https://wearerally.com/gen-z-research-report/]. In this episode: * How young people connect with faith and spirituality * How faith + identity are interconnected * Why religion isn’t a partisan signifier for young people * Why the rise of the “religiously unaffiliated” (now about 29% of Americans) doesn’t necessarily mean younger generations are less spiritual. * How organizations can explore using faith-based messaging to reach younger audiences

Did Gen Z Kill Identity Politics? Good.

In this episode of What If We?, Kaitlin Funaro sits down with researcher and Gen Z expert Rachel Janfaza, author of the popular Substack The Up & Up [https://www.theupandup.us/] to unpack what young people are actually feeling right now, and why so many institutions are getting it wrong. Drawing from a series of listening sessions with 11–22-year-olds across the country, Rachel explains why Gen Z’s political identity is fluid, why “identity politics” feels outdated to many young people, and how COVID fundamentally reshaped their trust in authority. They explore the generational “bullsh*t meter,” why authenticity beats jargon every time, and what adults, educators, and institutions can do to create meaningful political dialogue instead of shutting it down. If you work in advocacy, education, communications, or simply care about the future of civic engagement, this conversation offers a reality check, and a hopeful one. In This Episode: * Why Gen Z’s political views are fluid not fixed * How COVID reshaped Gen Z’s trust in authority * Gen Z evaluates leaders based on results, not political parties. * Gen Z can quickly spot inauthentic or top-down messaging (“the sniff test”). * They prefer open debate and honest conversation over silence or rigid rules. * Frustration with politics does not mean disengagement for GenZ. Learn more: Read RALLY’s insights report Youth Research: Identity, Culture, & Issue Advocacy [https://wearerally.com/gen-z-research-report/] Check out Rachel Janfaza’s work at The Up & Up [https://www.theupandup.us/] About RALLY: RALLY is an advocacy communications firm that works with foundations, nonprofits, businesses, and campaigns to change the way people think and act around today’s biggest social and political challenges. Where you can find us: * wearerally.com [http://wearerally.com/] * Follow us on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-are-rally/] * Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wearerally] Do you have an idea for an episode or want to connect with us? Say hello at pod@wearerally.com [pod@wearerally.com].