America 250 Guilford offers $50 potluck micro‑grants, free Carolina Theatre screenings and a time capsule

Sarah Lance, chair of America 250 Guilford County, told FYI Weekly that the national America 250 initiative is being implemented at the state and local level and that Guilford County is focusing on community‑based celebrations that build on existing July 4 events.

Lance said America 250 Guilford is promoting 'America's Potluck' for July 2 and offering a $50 micro‑grant to help neighborhoods buy basic supplies such as plates and cups: "We're promoting it for July 2nd because most people are going to be off on July 3rd." She added the program is intentionally community focused and can accommodate diverse cultural food traditions.

Lance also announced a new partnership with the Carolina Theatre to host free movie screenings — The Patriot on June 30 and 1776 on July 1 — and said tickets and more information will be available on the America's Guilford website. She described an ongoing time capsule project that will be stored in climate‑controlled conditions (not buried) and opened on July 4, 2076, inviting residents to submit Guilford County artifacts relating to local history, civil rights, industry and other county connections.

Lance said America 250 Guilford will support smaller towns across the county with event planning and promotion, noting events in Oak Ridge, Jamestown, Whitsett and Pleasant Garden and encouraging organizers to add events to the america250guilford.com calendar.