Introduction to the SoKind Celebration Series

Blog   |   by Edna Rienzi   |   June 1, 2015

Welcome to the first installment of the SoKind Celebration Guide, which we will bring to you as a weekly blog series. This series is designed to serve as a resource for you regardless of whether you’re planning a wedding, a baby shower, a birthday party, a holiday celebration, a graduation picnic, or a backyard barbecue. Although we have focused on weddings, baby showers, and birthday parties throughout the series, most of the ideas and tips can be easily adapted for any type of celebration.

Consumption, Gentrification, and You

Blog   |   by Josmar Torres   |   September 12, 2018

New Dream Youth Fellow Josmar Torres explains why gentrification is a perfect example of how consumption and capitalism can combine to undermine communities. 

The Atlantic: The Joy of No-Gift Christmas

Blog   |   by Joe Pinsker   |   December 13, 2018

Raagini Appadurai, a 26-year-old educator and social-justice advocate living in Toronto, told me that her family—her two sisters, her parents, and herself—made a no-gifts pact this year. “When we remove material purchasing and consumption from the table, we are forced to question what we are bringing to [the holiday] instead—individually and collectively,” she said. 

Is It Wrong to Want to Give Your Children What You Never Had?

Blog   |   by Kelley Dennings   |   December 16, 2019

A strong advocate of experiences over gifts, Kelley talks about her own struggles with trying to make holiday memories less about what’s under the tree and more about spending time together. 

What We See and What We Know (Or, Why We Need to Question Overabundance)

Blog   |   by Kate Parker   |   February 18, 2020

What is lost when we're confronted with a constant state of overabundance? What are the hidden systems that prop up these manifestations of largesse? And who are they good for?

Real Celebration: Guinevere's Potluck Baby Shower and Mother Blessing

Blog   |   by Edna Rienzi   |   May 19, 2015

In the Real Celebrations series, SoKind asks registry users to share a bit about their celebrations. Read about how Guinevere's friends and family came together for a potluck baby shower and mother blessing where the main event was the sharing of heartfelt blessings and advice.

"The Struggle in Rural Kentucky, Being a Black Producer, Is Real"

Blog   |   May 10, 2019

New Dream speaks with Tiffany Bellfield about the challenges she's faced as a business woman of color, and her contributions to her community as a holistic farmer, producer of botanical products, wellness practitioner, convener of women’s retreats, and mom.

Family, Food, and Climate: An Interview with Activist and Producer Laurie David

Blog   |   by Wendy Philleo   |   July 25, 2012

New Dream caught up with producer and environmental activist Laurie David to talk about her recent projects, including her popular book The Family Dinner.

Josef Beery: Connecting Community Through Art and Books

Blog   |   by Lisa Mastny   |   December 11, 2012

Beery talks with us about his efforts to broaden the dialogue around sharing, simplicity, and community connection.

You Don’t Have to Bake Your Own Matzo: Tips for an Environmentally Friendly Passover

Blog   |   by Evonne Marzouk   |   March 17, 2017

If you’ve been wondering how to do Passover in a more environmentally friendly way, here are six ideas that might help.

Hundred Dollar Holiday: The Case for a More Joyful Christmas

Resources   |   by Bill McKibben   |   April 14, 2017

Author and environmentalist Bill McKibben discusses the "Hundred Dollar Holiday" program he started through local churches in the late-1990s, and why we need to reclaim the true joy of Christmas in our lives.

Living the Dream: Part-timer Sarah Lakeman

Blog   |   by Edna Rienzi   |   October 9, 2017

By cutting back her work hours, Sarah was able to make more time for her family and community—and to live true to her values.

Making Responsible Business a Reality: An Interview with Etsy’s Matt Stinchcomb

Blog   |   by Lisa Mastny   |   April 17, 2013

Stinchcomb talks about his efforts to make the company — and business overall — more ecologically, socially, and economically responsible.

Signs of Hope from 2019

Blog   |   by New Dream   |   December 18, 2019

As we looked back on this year, 2019 seemed to offer it all: moments of deep concern and persistent challenges to our safety and well-being, alongside meaningful signs of hope that are taking us into 2020. 

The Case for Well-Being

Custom Pages   |   December 21, 2017