About Us

American Tributaries, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation (EIN: 92-2328699) formed in New York and founded by Michael J. Whidden. He is advised by a Board of Advisors, representing a variety of skill sets and backgrounds.

American Tributaries is dedicated to promoting experiential education travel within the United States for U.S. high schoolers through bridge-building itineraries. Our trips emphasize learning from and about fellow Americans in different regions and communities through on the ground face-to-face engagement.

We extend to everyone – regardless of background, belief, profession or any other categorization – the four core virtues of civil civic engagement: curiosity, respect, compassion and humility.

While we will explore many different aspects of history, tradition and culture, the most prominent theme in our trips will be food because of its connective nature. Its production connects us to the earth. Its distribution relies on interconnections and interdependence between various regions, communities and professions. The collective experience of a meal in the same physical space promotes conversation, understanding and fellowship.

We cultivate the agile intellects and emotions which future leaders will need to navigate, manage, lead and inspire the disparate people and communities of 21st century America, being able to better understand the world simultaneously through their own viewpoint and others’.

Oh...and one other thing...if at all practicable, we will journey to our destinations via train. We love trains! We love that they are the most green-conscious mode of transportation! We love how they allow us to appreciate the vast distances and evolving landscapes between communities. We love the extra legroom and elbow space. We love the quick, seamless embarkation and debarkation. We love the extra time our entourage enjoys to bond and prepare for their journey ahead.

American Tributaries was established in the Cobble Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn NY. Our trips focus on taking travelers to regions and communities in the United States that are different from their own. In our early stages of operation, we anticipate a substantial portion of travelers will come from the New York City area. Our inaugural destination for recurring tours is South Carolina, with an important stop in Washington DC. Additional destinations are always being considered.

American Tributaries started planning in March 2022 and was legally formed on June 14, 2022. We conducted a pilot trip July-August 2022. In January 2023, the organization converted to a New York not-for-profit corporation. In May 2023, we received our tax exempt registration under Sec. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Our first official trip will be July 11-21, 2024.

American Tributaries was founded in response to our country’s recent discord. Reflexive blame goes to media, technology, politicians and special interests – and they certainly have a part to play – but the fact is that we Americans have been losing touch with each other for more than a generation.

Whether it’s due to economic globalization, cultural elitism, the education divide, wealth disparity, political siloing, racism and/or dying local news (among many other problematic developments), the solution is simple: we must each take responsibility for becoming a unifying force by being persistently proactive in getting to know fellow Americans again in physical, face-to-face interactions practicing the four core virtues of civil, civic engagement: curiosity, respect, compassion and humility.

Our objective is to remind fellow Americans that we are all part of – and contributing to – the same interconnected American tributary system (whether as metaphorical creeks, streams, minor rivers or major rivers) and to encourage folks to understand each other in our respective settings, recognize and celebrate our various strengths and commonalities, respect and better accommodate our differences, develop compassion for others’ challenges and proceed with the humility that our perceptions and knowledge of the world is accutely limited and fallible.

In accomplishing those objectives, we will promote a greater sense of unity and fellowship and optimize our collective ability to overcome the very serious challenges of today and tomorrow.