The New Dream Blog
In our blog, we feature stories, tips, and commentary from contributors around the world on topics ranging from
consumerism and parenting to how to live a fuller life with less. Enjoy!
Interested in contributing a guest post? Please review our submission guidelines.
Reflecting on the Holidays
by New Dream | January 15, 2018
Before you jump ahead to the next thing in your life, we urge you to pause and reflect on your holiday experience.
Coming Soon! New Dream's "Community in Action" Challenge
by Edna Rienzi | January 5, 2018
For 2018, we’ve created a simple plan: we’re going to issue a series of concrete action steps every few months that are designed to help you build stronger communities and better love your neighbors.
Publisher's Weekly: Consumer Groups Say 'NYT' Kids Supplement Should Be Ad-Free
by Sara Guaglione | December 28, 2017
A coalition of 10 consumer groups . . . sent a letter last week to the Times criticizing the newspaper for targeting kids with marketing.
The Benefits—and Joy—of "Making Do" With What You Have
by Bea Echeverria | December 14, 2017
After moving to the U.S. from Spain, New Dreamer Bea Echevarria realized that "making do" wasn’t a coveted value for everyone. But there are many good reasons it should be.
The Rapidian: Open the Door – The Art of Placemaking
December 14, 2017
The Center for a New American Dream envisions "... a focus on more of what really matters, such as creating a meaningful life, contributing to community and society, valuing nature, and spending time with family and friends."
NEW! Hypercapitalism: The Modern Economy, Its Values, and How to Change Them
by New Dream | December 13, 2017
Hypercapitalism is a sharp, digestible, and funny cartoon guide to how global, privatizing, market-worshipping hypercapitalism threatens well-being, social justice, and the planet.
Skip the Goody Bags and Embrace Creativity Instead
by Rinny Yourman | December 13, 2017
New Dreamer Rinny Yourman describes how her family ditched goody bags in favor of giving guests at her daughter's birthday and Bat Mitzvah parties a more meaningful experience.
Spirit of Change Magazine: 15 Tips For Commercial-Free, Fun-Filled Family Holidays
by Shara Drew | December 1, 2017
If you want to make this year’s holidays more meaningful, memorable, and rejuvenating for your family, these 15 tips will help you opt out of the commercial hype and create a truly special celebration for your kids.
Last-Minute Holiday Gifts for Everyone on Your List
November 28, 2017
In the amount of time it would have taken you to find a parking spot at the mall, you’ll get thoughtful ideas for everyone on your list.
Living an Unwasteful Life Podcast: Episode 2 – Reducing Waste in Gift-Giving with Edna Rienzi
November 24, 2017
Interview with Edna Rienzi, Program Director for New Dream who runs SoKind, an online gift registry service for people who value meaningful experiences, time with family and friends, and offerings of service and support for events and causes that matter the most.
Northwest Earth Institute: How to Enjoy the Holidays with Less Stress and Less Stuff
by Deb McNamara | November 20, 2017
Our friends at New Dream have created a variety of resources designed to help people escape the shopping, spending, and frenzied preparations that have become synonymous with the winter holidays.
How We Started a Holiday Share Faire to Build Local Resilience and Create Community
by Rani Jayakumar | November 17, 2017
Learn how one California group is boosting local resilience and strengthening community ties by sharing stuff, skills, memories, and stories.
Outside-the-Box Experiential Gift Ideas
by Kelley Dennings | November 13, 2017
Ready to give more fun, less stuff this holiday season? New Dream Fellow Kelley Dennings provides us with a list of experiential gift ideas designed to help you give a personal, unique, and fun gift to your friends and family that won’t break the bank, regardless of where you live.
Tools, Tips, and Technology for Giving and Receiving Experiential Gifts
by Kelley Dennings | November 13, 2017
This holiday season, New Dream has embarked on a pilot campaign to promote experiential gift giving and receiving as a way to increase happiness and well-being. Check out the variety of resources we've created to help make giving and receiving experiential gifts easy and fun.
Experiences Increase Happiness and Well-Being, Research Shows
by Kelley Dennings | November 12, 2017
Need some more convincing that experiences increase happiness and well-being? New Dream's Behavior and Social Change Fellow, Kelley Dennings, brings us the research to back up the claim.