an interview with be the people
Across the country, growing division is making it more challenging for Americans to rise above their differences and solve problems together. Be The People is a national initiative that aims to give Americans—and communities across the country—an opportunity to combat this narrative.
The organization uplifts grassroots activations that create moments for neighbors to connect with one another and engage in ways that not only strengthen their local community, but provide the building blocks for overcoming some of the challenges we face as a country. We spoke with the team at Be The People to learn more about their mission and how they are creating opportunities for people to show up for each other.
For those unfamiliar with Be The People, how would you explain the mission?
Be The People is a 10-year call to action that connects community problem solvers with millions of Americans who are ready to do their part. We bring together leaders and organizations from civic life, culture, business, and communities nationwide on a shared platform, and we tell the stories of people who are already doing this work to inspire others to join in. The goal is to make visible the best of who we are as Americans, solving problems side by side in our own communities.
Rather than a short-term campaign, your initiative is framed as a multi-year effort. Why is this long-term commitment necessary for the work Be The People aims to achieve?
This past July marked America's 250th anniversary, a time when many Americans were reflecting on the state of our union and what it means to be American. Be The People launched at that moment, connecting community problem solvers with millions of Americans ready to do their part, so the next 250 years are even better than the last. That kind of change doesn't happen in a single news cycle. It takes sustained effort, and as more Americans step up, more stories emerge—those stories show the rest of the country what's possible.
Welcome.US is proud to be on the Be The People National Leadership Council. One project we collaborated on this past June was the launch of your original single, "Gotta Be Us (Be The People)." Can you explain why you chose music as an entry point for audiences to engage with this movement? What has the response from your audience been?
We're grateful to have Welcome.US on our National Leadership Council, a growing coalition of leaders helping shape and steward this work. "Gotta Be Us" went live in June, produced by five-time Grammy-nominated producer Jason Boyd (Poo Bear), featuring Momo Boyd, Trevor Jackson, Smino, Sadie Rose Van, Luke Borchelt, and the VCU Black Awakening Choir.
The song lifts up the millions of Americans who strengthen their communities by showing up for others every day, and invites millions more to join them. It's built around the idea in the lyric "we're the proof" — the belief that real progress is built by everyday people who do the hard work to contribute to the communities where they live. Music was the right entry point because people already believe this; the song gives them a way to rally around it together. The response has been strong: the song has already been streamed more than a million times, and people have been sharing their own stories of showing up for their communities.
From nonprofits to athletic organizations, business and cultural leaders, Be The People has captured a diverse coalition of organizations and people to support this movement. Why is that important?
Because the problems people face don't come from one sector, so the fix can't either. Our National Leadership Council, which Welcome.US was a founding member of, launched with more than 50 leaders across culture, sports, business, faith, philanthropy, and community organizations — each one seeing a different piece of the problem, and bringing a different tool to help solve it. Our National Leadership Council members are trusted voices throughout American communities and have a unique ability to remind people what’s possible when we come together around a shared vision for the country.
At Be The People Fest in Nashville, you organized a local festival featuring nonprofits offering opportunities for people to get involved in their communities and live music performances. How do regional events like this one bring communities together to take action?
We've held two Be The People Fests so far, one in Nashville and one in Austin, and both drew strong turnout. These events bring cities together through music and civic action. At the center of each Fest is what we call a “Join Fair,” where attendees meet dozens of local organizations and find a real way to get involved close to home. We were thrilled to have Welcome.US play a critical role in making our first Join Fair a success, engaging hundreds of attendees in a citizenship exam game to demonstrate first-hand why more volunteers are needed to support aspiring Americans. Events like this give organizations a chance to highlight the work underway, help attendees see the scale of what their neighbors were already doing, and identify ways to join in.
These Fests are Be The People in action: a shared opportunity for problem solvers and everyday Americans to show up, connect with their neighbors, and demonstrate the scale of contributions happening every day across the country.
Why is community involvement, like volunteering, a solution for division within America?
Americans are being told that they are divided and incapable of solving problems. But the experience of groups at the local level solving problems every day doesn’t match the national narrative. Seventy percent of Americans say they want to contribute to their communities and make a difference in the lives of others. When people work alongside their neighbors to solve a real problem, that shared effort uniquely builds trust and brings people together.
How can Welcomers get involved and learn more about Be The People?
The easiest way “in” is to follow Be The People on Instagram @bethepeople—that's where we share the stories, the people, and the moments that make this real, and it's the best place to get inspired, connect, and find your own way to get involved. From there, BeThePeople.org has more on how to share your own story or find a project close to home.
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