On the road to Philadelphia 250 (PHL250), an initiative to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026, a new group has emerged to ensure that Germantown gets the proper credit it deserves.

Named Germantown 250 (GTOWN250), taking after the original initiative, this movement hopes to accurately tell the neighborhood’s story, make the neighborhood a “gateway,” and spotlight the history of where organizers say the story starts… here.

“2026 is coming up fast, and we need to [ensure] Germantown is recognized as a vital touchpoint in the city’s history,” says one of four core organizers and founder of GAD Philly, Kristen S. Clark. 

This movement has three pillars: historical preservation, community-driven arts, and strategic partnerships. Core organizer and founder of Philly Experiences Chrissy Watts says this is important because “the work is never about one event;” it’s about building sustainability beyond 2026.

Community collaboration is an essential focus of GTOWN250, ensuring residents, business owners, and local artists are invited “to the table,” as local artist and organizer NOMAD states. He says that far too often, things happen in communities, and the primary stakeholders of those communities are excluded.

He continues: “So when I heard about this, this is something I wanted to be [a part of]. I wanted to be part of the decision-making, or at least just be in the room.”

Community collaboration also means highlighting the stories of the youth, which Watts says she feels doesn’t always get shine. She elaborates: “No one is discussing the youth in any of these celebrations, nor do they ask them.” 

“Our young people have to be included,” Clark states.

Another core organizer and owner of Our House Culture Center, Courtney Childs, says including youth is vital when thinking past this celebration. 

“When we’re celebrating the 275th, we can’t forget that it’s going to be them in our shoes, being responsible for keeping this legacy of Germantown alive. So we want them feeling empowered now.”

And in a historically Black neighborhood, organizers also want to ensure Germantown’s Black cultural roots are preserved. As a North Philly native, Watts has seen the damage and displacement that gentrification has had on that section of the city and wants to ensure that the tourism 2026 may bring doesn’t affect Germantowners.

“I’ve been in Germantown, on and off, for ten years. I care about how Black it is,” she shares. “And watching the erasure happen here the same way it did in North Philly is frustrating. And the mission and the goal is to maintain this Blackness and help the people that are here from the community level up, from residential level up, and then the businesses.”

Watts laughs with seriousness, “I have no interest in Germantown becoming Center City.”

As 2026 approaches, with only a year between now and then, the GTOWN250 team wants to help prepare the neighborhood for crowds of visitors. Part of that is the infrastructure aspect, says Clark.

“Business owners are not prepared or equipped for tourism,” she says. “So, we need to make sure there are resources, [like] step-by-step guides that help us prepare for that level of tourism.” 

She says there will be an influx of folks coming into the city, trying to see it in its entirety, and it’s important that the neighborhood builds its inventory and diversifies its options to ensure success.

“We got to take care of home,” Clark says.

One of the team’s most important goals is ensuring diversity among neighborhood stories. When speaking with the organizers, they all brought up similar and different stories from the neighborhood’s history, like the first written protest against slavery, which they all say can’t be excluded from telling Philadelphia’s whole story.

“One of the main points is always to control the narrative,” Watts shares, arguing that it’s always better for people in a community to tell their stories rather than allow outsiders to do it for them.

As the nation, including the city of Philadelphia and the gem we call Germantown, moves towards the semiquincentennial, the organizers are steadfast on building sustainability. 

While this initiative is to discuss the last 250 years, Clark says, “It’s also the beginning point for the story for the next 250 years.” NOMAD calls it a “springboard” of everything happening currently and everything to come.

Their message is clear: “The Story Starts Here.”

The first public meet-up to engage neighbors already happened on September 27. While no new events are scheduled yet, organizers are planning initiatives to engage residents leading up to 2026 — and beyond.

To learn more about GTOWN250, visit germantown250.com and follow @germantown250 on Instagram.