The Center for a New American Dream helps Americans to reduce and shift their consumption to improve quality of life, protect the environment, and promote social justice.

The Future We Are Creating

Since its founding in 1997, New Dream has raised awareness of the negative impact of a hyper-consumer culture. Our focus on the connections between consumption, quality of life, and the environment has made New Dream unique among environmental and progressive groups.

We want to cultivate a new American dream—one that emphasizes community, ecological sustainability, and a celebration of non-material values, while upholding the spirit of the traditional American dream of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

How We Are Creating It

New Dream works with individuals, institutions, businesses, and communities to conserve natural resources, counter the commercialization of our culture, support community engagement, and promote positive changes in the way goods are produced and consumed. New Dream seeks to change social norms around consumption and consumerism and to support the local movement of individuals and communities pursuing lifestyle and community action.

We have 3 program areas:
Redefining the Dream
Beyond Consumerism
Collaborative Communities

Most recently, our projects include the viral video The High Price of Materialism (with 270,000+ views) and the New Dream Community Action Kit's Guide to Sharing.

Our Story & Why You Should Support Us

Through our programs, we help Americans across the country (and people around the world) gain access to the tools and resources needed to strengthen their communities and improve quality of life. Our next project, the Guide to Going Local, will focus on tips and strategies for supporting local business, fighting big box invasion, and promoting community resilience. Just like the Guide to Sharing, it will be free to download and will offer practical, how-to advice on how people can implement specific projects and actions in their communities.

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