America’s Stories: Live & On Stage!

Stories shaped our nation - and at Sweet Home 250, you’ll experience them brought to life on stage in engaging and unexpected ways.Throughout the next month, we will introduce some of an extraordinary lineup of acclaimed authors, historians, and storytellers who will inspire, educate, and spark meaningful conversation throughout the festival. Today, meet American Village Historian and America250 Commissioner, Val Crofts!Mr. Crofts began his teaching career in 2001 at Westosha Central High School in Paddock Lake, Wisconsin, and is currently employed as the Chief Education and Programs Officer / Chief Historian at the American Village. He previously taught at Milton High School in Milton, Wisconsin, for 17 years and worked as a teaching consultant for the Wisconsin Virtual School for nine years.He shared his passion in Wisconsin by teaching AP Government and Politics, AP Human Geography, AP Comparative Government, AP U.S. History, U.S. History, and U.S. Military History. In his current role at the American Village, he works to create an engaging curriculum to help assist teachers and students of all ages to learn about American history, America’s Founders, and the legacy that they left for future generations.In 2008, Crofts founded the Discovering Democracy program at Milton High School. Discovering Democracy immersed hundreds of students into government through public policy research and culminated with a weeklong field study in Washington D.C. His students were privileged to meet with top policy experts and national leaders such as then-Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Justice Antonin Scalia, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and former Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan.Crofts was recognized for his teaching efforts in 2013 when he received the Crystal Apple Award for Teaching Excellence. He was also selected as the Wisconsin DAR Outstanding Teacher of U.S. History in 2020.Follow this link for more info and tickets to Sweet Home 250!-> sweethome250.com/americas-stories ... See MoreSee Less

Made in Alabama Brand Partners are companies based in Alabama who make and distribute one or more products in Alabama. By including the A250AL Made in Alabama Brand Partner logo on their website, marketing materials, and packaging, they help to spread the word about America’s Semiquincentennial. Here are just a few of them!

Central Alabama Honey & Apiary, LLC @creationsgaloreandmoorellc Alabama Sawyer - Alasaw by Cliff Spencer @c_cakeandcoffee Coldwater Mountain Brewpub Freedom Friends Dixie Decorations, Inc. Stay tuned as we highlight more of these amazing partners! #America250AL #america250 #AmericanVillage_Alabama #AmericanVillage #A250AL #Semiquincentennial #americanhistory #montevallo #discovershelbyal ... See MoreSee Less