Celebrate the spirit of America 250! Gather with the community for a viewing of the Dare to Declare short film created by the Chester County Community Foundation. Viewing will be immediately followed by a book discussion of The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter Isaacson.

The Dare to Declare film joins Chester County community members together, to read the Declaration of Independence. What do Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness mean to us today? Hear it in the voices of your Chester County neighbors as they bring the Declaration of Independence to life in a powerful new way. Together, we’ll celebrate the enduring spirit of our nation’s founding — and the people of Chester County who keep that spirit alive today. Real Voices. Timeless Words. Chester County Dares to Declare.

Celebrate America 250 with your community by participating in a book discussion about the book The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter Isaacson: “To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, Walter Isaacson takes readers on a fascinating deep dive into the creation of one of history’s most powerful sentences: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, this line lays the foundation for the American Dream and defines the common ground we share as a nation.” (from the publisher’s website)

Registration suggested. When you register for an event, we are holding a spot for you. If your schedule changes and you cannot attend, please let us know so we can open your spot to someone else.

Dare to Declare is inspired by Valley Forge National Historic Park and the Chester County Community Foundation. Partners across the region are hosting public readings of the Declaration of Independence throughout the summer of 2026, harkening back to how early Americans first heard the document—read aloud, in public gatherings, and followed by civic discourse.

The Dare to Declare program supports CC 250 and PA Forward Civic and Social Literacy.