Be The People – a 10-year call to action that connects groups solving problems in communities across the country with millions of Americans ready to do their part – today announced that more than 50 leaders from across culture, sports, business, faith, philanthropy, community organizations, and academia have joined its National Leadership Council (NLC).
A growing, cross-sector coalition helping shape and steward Be The People, the NLC reflects the effort’s core idea: that every American has a part to play in ensuring the next 250 years are even better than the last. Each member of the NLC will play a leadership role based on the capabilities they bring to the effort and the problems they are most passionate about solving. Be The People connects Americans with the trusted organizations and opportunities to help solve problems in communities and then encourages them to share their stories to inspire others to do the same.
“Some say we’re too divided to do big things together, but that’s not what we see,” said Elena Dussaq, President of Bigger Picture US, the nonprofit that facilitates the NLC and Be The People. “Across the country, people are stepping up every day to strengthen their communities, solve problems, and create opportunities for others. The leaders joining the Be The People National Leadership Council see that reality firsthand.”
“What makes this moment so powerful is that leaders from every corner of American life are coming together under a shared belief that our country’s best days are ahead, not behind us,” Dussaq continued. “Because they are trusted voices in the places Americans live, work, learn, train, worship, and gather, Be The People NLC members have a unique ability to cut through the noise and remind people what’s possible when we come together around a shared vision for the country.”
As Be The People grows, thousands of leaders and organizations are expected to join the effort. In the weeks and months ahead, Be The People will announce tens of thousands of opportunities for Americans to get involved – from a problem-solving digital platform to connect groups in communities with people who want to help, to major cultural events, and a summer-long series of activations across the country. Many NLC members are also setting ambitious, long-term ‘moonshot’ goals for their own work – and Be The People is building tools to help them reach further, together, in each of the communities they serve.
FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
ORGANIZATIONS:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Blue Star Families
- C&S
- GivingTuesday
- Goodwill Industries International
- Habitat for Humanity
- Imagine Entertainment
- Interfaith America
- Join or Die
- Made by Us
- More Perfect
- National Basketball Association (NBA)
- National 4-H Council
- Points of Light
- Realize the Dream
- Right to Start
- Share Our Strength
- Special Olympics
- Stand Together
- The Brickyard
- The Phoenix
- U.S. Soccer Foundation
- We the Veterans and Military Families
- Welcome.US
INDIVIDUALS:
- Danielle Allen, Harvard University
- Lawson Bader, President and CEO, DonorsTrust
- Jon Batiste, Musician
- Aloe Blacc, Musician
- Emma Bloomberg, CEO, Murmuration
- Eric Braverman, Chair, Telescope Foundation, and Founder, Outcurve Capital
- John Bridgeland, Founder and CEO, More Perfect
- Arthur C. Brooks, University Professor and Bestselling Author
- John Bucher, Mythologist
- Michael Carney, President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
- Asha Curran, CEO, GivingTuesday
- Sarah Cross, SVP, Stand Together
- Demario Davis, Linebacker, New York Jets
- Heather Gerken, President, Ford Foundation
- Brian Grazer, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Imagine Entertainment
- Brian Hooks, Chairman and CEO, Stand Together
- Bishop T.D. Jakes, Faith Leader, Author, Entrepreneur
- Pati Jinich, Chef, Author, TV Host
- Martin Luther King III, Civil Rights Leader
- Arndrea Waters King, Civil Rights Leader
- Yuval Levin, American Enterprise Institute
- Eric Liu, Co‑Founder and CEO, Citizen University
- Amber Miller, President, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
- John Palfrey, CEO, MacArthur Foundation
- Todd Rose, Co-Founder and CEO, Populace
- Tim Shriver, Chairman, Special Olympics
- Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., CEO, Corporate Community Connections, Inc.
- Scott Strode, Founder and Executive Director, The Phoenix
- La Mar Taylor, Creative Director, The Weeknd
- Randi Tepper, CEO, The Tepper Foundation
BE THE PEOPLE IN ACTION
In the lead up to the launch, several members of the NLC have already teamed up to show Americans Be The People in action:
- In January, the Atlanta Hawks launched the Atlanta Changemakers campaign on Martin Luther King Day, honoring NLC members Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King – whose Realize the Dream initiative aims to facilitate 100 million hours of service by Dr. King’s 100th birthday – as the program’s first changemakers.
- In February, NLC members the NBA, Habitat for Humanity, Stand Together, and recording artist Aloe Blacc joined more than 500 volunteers in Los Angeles to help families rebuild after the 2025 wildfires as part of the NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service.
- In April, the Atlanta Hawks recognized Atlanta educator and youth advocate Mikal Driver as an Atlanta Changemaker in front of thousands of fans at State Farm Arena. Selected from more than 670 nominees, Driver was honored for his work creating pathways of opportunity for young people across the city.
- In April, GivingTuesday announced “TogetherTuesday,” a national day of community action on June 23, when Americans across the country will show up for one another through simple, meaningful acts.
- In May, NLC member Points of Light and Hands On Atlanta brought together 150 employees for a day of service in Atlanta to pack tools and materials for participants in skilled trades programs – helping lower the cost of job training for residents in one of America’s least economically mobile cities.
These are just early examples of what this coalition looks like in practice: diverse leaders doing what they do best, under a shared banner, building momentum toward a broad cultural shift that shows what’s possible when Americans come together to contribute in the lives of others.
