As the nation prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, Northwood University is announcing Freedom Lights the Future, a series of public events planned throughout 2026 that will invite residents from Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region and beyond to celebrate 250 years of the American spirit.
Freedom Lights the Future will feature free, public programming that blends history, education, and community engagement. A signature highlight will take place on Friday, March 20, when Northwood will host a Freedom Lights the Future Festival on its Midland campus.
“America’s founding ideals did more than create a nation — they sparked the promise within every individual,” said Northwood University President Kent MacDonald. “These ideals affirm that people, not governments, are the true engines of progress, and that freedom is the foundation of innovation, enterprise, and opportunity. As America’s Free Enterprise University, Northwood proudly maintains the link between the Declaration of Independence and the development of the world’s most productive free enterprise economy. Through Freedom Lights the Future, we invite our community to celebrate the ideas of liberty, responsibility, and voluntary exchange that built America and continue to illuminate the path ahead.”
Students, families, schools, alumni, and the broader Great Lakes Bay Region community are invited to join Northwood in commemorating this once-in-a-generation moment in our nation’s history. All Freedom Lights the Future events are designed to be community-wide, nonpartisan observances for people of all ages and backgrounds.
“Freedom Lights the Future will blend immersive learning experiences, historical interpretation, student-led projects, and community celebration, all connected to The Northwood Idea, Northwood’s institutional philosophy centered on the importance of free enterprise, personal responsibility, moral law, and earned success,” said Freedom Lights the Future co-chair Dr. Lisa Fairbairn. “Together, these events will highlight how the principles articulated in the Declaration of Independence laid the foundation for American innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic freedom — values that remain central to Northwood’s mission to create ethical free-enterprise leaders who drive global social and economic progress.”
Dr. Fairbairn, assistant vice president and dean of the DeVos Graduate School of Management, is co-chairing the Freedom Lights the Future initiative with Kate Hessling, executive director of communications and public relations. Faculty leaders include Dr. Gabriel Benzecry, the David E. Fry Professor of Free Market Economics at Northwood University, and History Professor Dr. Dale Moler, who leads Northwood’s Honors Program.
The March 20 Freedom Lights the Future Festival will be a free event for families, schools, and community members, featuring:
- Historical reenactments
- Interactive exhibits and student showcases
- A faculty-led panel exploring 250 years of American innovation
- A free concert featuring popular Michigan classic rock cover band Jedi Mind Trip
Freedom Lights the Future events will continue throughout the summer and fall of 2026, with additional educational experiences and community gatherings planned in observance of America’s 250th anniversary.
The Freedom Lights the Future Concert featuring Jedi Mind Trip will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 20, in the Hach Student Life Center. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis through Northwood University’s event registration form. Walk-ins will be accepted as space allows, and adult beverages will be available for purchase.
Additional details, including event schedules and opportunities for community participation, will be announced in the months ahead. To support Freedom Lights the Future programming, email or call 989-837-4356 to be connected to an Advancement Officer, or visit the Advancement page.
