For 16 years, Sara Sullivan helped USAID tell its story around the world. She never imagined she’d have to explain it to Americans.
When the agency was dismantled in early 2025, she watched misinformation spread through the Republican and evangelical communities she grew up in. Rather than argue with strangers online, she started recording videos for the people she knew—sharing what she had seen firsthand across three continents and 16 years in global development. That’s how Average American was born.
In this episode, Sara reflects on why USAID never built public understanding at home, the human cost of the stop-work order, and why she believes foreign assistance must tell its story differently if it ever returns. She also explains why she compares USAID to a government mission trip—and yes, she once starred in a Pakistani sitcom.
