Builders Movement launches nationwide BBQ campaign for America’s 250th

Builders Movement is rolling out the Builders BBQ Challenge, a summer campaign designed to bring Americans together over shared meals and cross-partisan conversation. The effort kicks off ahead of the Fourth of July and centers on free starter kits, social sharing with #BiteToUnite, and events tied to America’s 250th anniversary.

Why it matters: - Builders Movement is betting that food can lower political and cultural tension at a moment when national division remains a defining concern. - The campaign ties that message to America’s 250th anniversary and the Fourth of July, when connection and civic identity are front of mind. - The effort is designed to turn everyday backyard gatherings into bridge-building events across geography, ideology and generations.

What happened: - Builders Movement launched the Builders BBQ Challenge, a nationwide, community-led campaign centered on shared meals and conversation. - The campaign is timed to America’s 250th anniversary and is built around the hashtag #BiteToUnite. - Builders is inviting its community of 5 million citizens and other Americans to host BBQs with friends, family, neighbors and people who may see the world differently. - Daniel Lubetzky, Builder Movement founder and KIND Snacks founder, framed the launch as a call to get Americans talking again ahead of the Fourth of July. - Ryan Mitchell, a pitmaster and Builders movement partner, said barbecue has always been about cooking for the neighborhood and making room for harder conversations.

The details: - Anyone can register at buildersbbq.org to claim a free Builders Starter Kit, send invitations and access campaign content. - Builders Starter Kits include exclusive recipes, snacks and activities meant to encourage a Builders Mindset. - The kits also include specialty items from Banza, Blox Snacks, GoodPop, KIND Snacks, Mavericks Snacks, Neuro Gum, SOMOS Foods, True Made Foods and Wandering Bear Coffee. - The starter kits feature custom Builders Jenga and conversation prompts designed to help guests explore similarities and differences constructively. - Recipe and content partners include José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen, chef and PBS host Pati Jinich and Ryan Mitchell. - Jinich said food is often the first bridge between people and that a meal can help people see one another as human beings before trying to solve hard problems. - Builders is also partnering with chefs around the country, starting with Mitchell and restaurateur Tim Love, to model conversations about topics such as Texas vs. North Carolina BBQ, farming practices, political differences and rival sports teams. - After each BBQ, hosts and guests are encouraged to post a photo or video using #BiteToUnite, which will feed a nationwide map of Americans choosing connection over division. - People who do not host a BBQ can still join summer gatherings and share their experience with Builders. - For more information about the Builders Movement, visit buildersmovement.org.

Between the lines: - Builders is using familiar American rituals, especially barbecue, to make political depolarization feel accessible rather than abstract. - The campaign avoids asking participants to agree on divisive issues and instead emphasizes respectful dialogue across differences. - The social media and map components suggest the movement wants visible participation to reinforce momentum and normalize cross-partisan interaction. - The planned video series, Bite To Unite: The Discussion, extends the campaign beyond one-off events into summer-long content. - The series brings together four Americans with different perspectives, including a conservative, a progressive, an independent and a first-time voter, to discuss the American Dream and identity-based cultural tensions. - Steven Olikara, the series moderator and a Builders Movement partner, said the format is meant to model dialogue rather than consensus.

What's next: - Builders will roll out supporting content throughout the summer. - More Americans are expected to register for BBQs, receive starter kits and share their gatherings online. - The campaign aims to build a visible national network of participants ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

The bottom line: - Builders Movement is turning backyard BBQs into a civic exercise, hoping that shared food and structured conversation can help Americans reconnect across deep divides.