Commonwealth of Virginia Announces Key Live Experiences for 400th Anniversary of Historic Event

The three AVirginia’s 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution has announced a series of signature events and legacy projects. American Evolution will mark the 400th anniversary of the major historical events that took place in Virginia in 1619 that continue to influence American democracy, diversity and opportunity.

Global brand experience agency, Jack Morton Worldwide, is appointed to produce and create content for three signature events, which will lead the commemoration program. The American Evolution programming will take place through 2019 and will be supported by an integrated marketing campaign.

The commemoration is designed to inspire local, national and international participants to engage in the themes of democracy, diversity and opportunity and to reflect Virginia’s role as a global leader in education, economic development and tourism. It will promote authentic, meaningful conversation around how the study of the events of 400 years ago, together with current events, creates a lens through which we can view our world today and help inform the world we are creating for tomorrow.

The programming will highlight the events of 1619 that shaped America’s beginnings: the first legislative assembly in the New World, the arrival of the first Africans to English North America, the recruitment of English women, the first official English Thanksgiving in North America, and the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurialism that kept the colony thriving.            

Kathy Spangler, executive director of the 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution said, “In order for ‘American Evolution’ to have the impact it deserves for our world’s future success, we need to connect emotionally with our audience.  There’s no better way to create an emotional connection than through great storytelling. That’s why we’ve chosen to create a program of events, which have the power to convey the incredible story of Virginia’s role in the creation of the United States.”

 American Evolution signature events Jack Morton will produce are the Global Emerging Leaders Summit, the International Forum on the Future of Representative Democracy and the Women’s Achieve Summit.

The Emerging Leaders Summit will bring together representatives from 50 countries across political, governmental, business and civic sectors to engage with leading academics and government figures to reflect on the challenges of leadership, governance and civic engagement.

The International Forum on the Future of Representative Democracy, attended by heads of state and representatives of democracies around the world, will address the historic impact of democracy on the American nation and its impact on the world.

The Women’s Achieve Summit, which will feature celebrity keynotes and the dedication of a new Women’s Monument on the grounds of the Virginia Capitol in Richmond, will examine how the legacy of women’s achievement can be used to help America move forward.

“Influential moments in history require an extraordinary experience to harness their meaning and bring them to life in a way which resonates today. We’re excited to be creating such an experience for this important program, ‘American Evolution’,” said Josh McCall, Chairman & CEO, Jack Morton Worldwide.