One Small Step toward a stronger America

One Small Step toward a stronger America

At the Great American State Fair, Americans for Prosperity empowered visitors to take practical, personal steps toward civic engagement.

Americans for Prosperity celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence at its exhibit at the Great American State Fair.

Many people wonder, “What can I do as an individual to make a difference?” At the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, Americans for Prosperity invited visitors to take One Small Step to do just that — by reflecting on America’s founding principles and then acting on them in simple, personal ways. As AFP’s campaign celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, One Small Step asks people to do more than just remember the Declaration of Independence; it asks them to read it, share it, and then connect America’s founding ideals to their everyday lives.

A volunteer in colonial-era costume at Americans for Prosperity's exhibit at the Great American State Fair.

Visitors of all ages stepped into it at AFP’s exhibit, reading (and signing) the Declaration alongside a volunteer in colonial-era costume and engaging with the ideas of freedom, opportunity, and civic participation.

An Americans for Prosperity staffer talks with a visitor to the Great American State Fair.

Some of the most memorable moments grew out of conversations between staff and visitors. These exchanges made civics feel more tangible and personal and gave people a chance to ask questions, share perspectives, and consider what their own next step could look like. 

“We always talk to our kids about the Declaration, but it’s also, ‘How do we engage in our communities and with our work?’” said one fairgoer. “It’s important we’re not just having a moment where we connect, but that it goes further than that. We can be ambassadors, other people can be ambassadors, our friends can talk to their friends.”

Visitors read and sign the Declaration of Independence at Americans for Prosperity's exhibit at the Great American State Fair.

The interactive nature of the One Small Step booth inspired hands-on participation. Visitors were especially moved after reading and signing the Declaration of Independence.

“The booth was really engaging, especially with the signing of the faux Declaration of Independence, which our founders undertook with great peril,” said one visitor. “I think it is trying to get across a message for all Americans that this is our heritage, this is what we represent, and we need to learn more about it.”

Visitors shoot a basketball at American for Prosperity's exhibit at the Great American State Fair.

Taking a break to shoot hoops added to the positive energy among attendees and turned the family-friendly space into a point of curiosity, conversation, and connection. Visitors were pleasantly surprised by the opportunity to engage with American history while also interacting with each other.

“This was fun,” said one attendee who spent time at the exhibit. “We loved it!”

Volunteers dressed to represent different eras of American history read the Declaration of Independence at Americans for Prosperity's exhibit at the Great American State Fair.

The idea that every citizen has a role to play in helping America live up to its founding principles extended beyond the One Small Step booth and onto the fair’s main stage. Volunteers dressed to represent different eras of American history recited the Declaration, reinforcing the idea that its words still belong to every generation.

Daniel Bassali, vice president of public affairs at Americans for Prosperity, and Katelyn Bledsoe, vice president of external affairs at AFP, speak at the group's exhibit at the Great American State Fair.

Remarks from Daniel Bassali, vice president of public affairs at AFP, and Katelyn Bledsoe, vice president of external affairs at AFP, connected the booth experience to the broader purpose of the campaign.

“America’s 250th anniversary has often gotten polarizing and political: ‘My team versus their team,’” said Bassali. “I’m hoping that our effort can help shine a light [that shows] we are one team. We are all Americans. We base our values on the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution that have held this country up for the last 250 years. We need to recommit ourselves to those values.” 

In conclusion, Bledsoe noted, “The question the Declaration puts to every generation is the same: ‘What are you going to do with your freedom?’ We have a role to play. Not someday. Definitely today. And your one small step starts here.”

Americans for Prosperity employees pose for a group photo at the organization's exhibit at the Great American State Fair.

As the day came to a close, visitors left with more than patriotic mementos in hand. They also came away inspired to act on and amplify the new ideas they’d been exposed to, by applying them in their homes, communities, and daily life. 

At the Great American State Fair, One Small Step showed how a public event can become a doorway into deeper civic participation. By giving people simple, concrete ways to engage the Declaration and reflect on America’s founding principles, AFP created a space that was both commemorative and forward-looking. Along with entertaining and enlightening memories from the fair, visitors carried with them an invitation to take the next step in keeping our country’s cherished principles alive. 

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