Search for "Design"
Off the Pedestal: Creating a New Vision of Economic Growth
Blog | by James Gustave Speth | June 3, 2011
A longtime environmental leader argues it’s time for the U.S. to reinvent its economy into one that focuses on sustaining communities, family life, and the natural world.
How Two Women Followed Their Passions and Became "Green Bag Ladies"
Blog | by Pamela Lamp | June 6, 2018
Since the founding of this nonprofit group in 2008, volunteer “bagettes” have cut, sewn, and given away more than 46,000 reusable cloth shopping bags.
Mindfulness and Meditation for Kids
Blog | by Margaret Swink | August 12, 2015
Mindfulness facilitator and mom Laurie Cousins shares some tips for New Dreamers on how to be more mindful.
New Dream Staff Picks: Books We Love
Blog | by Lisa Mastny | April 11, 2012
New Dream staff share their picks for the most inspirational books they've read on topics of consumerism, parenting, and work-life balance.
Excerpt: The Art of Frugal Hedonism
Blog | by New Dream | March 5, 2018
Looking for a way to save money (and the world), inoculate yourself against many of the ills of modern life, and enjoy everything more? Try "frugal hedonism."
Great Summer Reads: Recommendations from New Dream's Board
Blog | by New Dream | June 18, 2013
We asked our Board members for their favorite recent books on consumerism, community, and more. Check out their diverse and inspiring picks.
Leaving My Dream Job to Find Space to Grow
Blog | by Edna Rienzi | June 11, 2018
Edna Rienzi explains her decision to leave New Dream to pursue personal growth and to further her efforts to give back to her community.
Want to Encourage Gifts That Really Matter? Plan an Alternative Gift Fair!
Blog | by Jennifer Oehme Knepper | May 4, 2017
It's never too early to start planning an alternative gift fair. Here's one story about getting it done.
Spirit of Change Magazine: 15 Tips For Commercial-Free, Fun-Filled Family Holidays
Blog | 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.
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.
TIPS: 15 Tips for Commercial-Free, Fun-Filled Family Holidays
Resources | November 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.
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?
5 Action Steps to Change Kids’ Screen Time
Blog | by Shara Drew | May 15, 2018
Here are five steps you can take to help make childhood what it should be for kids: filled with play, quality time with caring adults, and exploration in the natural world.
Starting a Tool Library: Inspiration and Insights from Baltimore’s Station North
Blog | by John Shea and Piper Watson | March 8, 2013
An innovative new tool library is opening its doors in an urban neighborhood that's ripe for a renaissance. Here's the story of how it came about.