10 Great Books to Teach Your Kids About Consumerism

Blog   |   by New Dream   |   February 6, 2018

Shara Drew, the director of New Dream's Kids & Commercialism campaign, reviews two recent children’s books that deal with the topic of consumerism in a way that's impactful and fun, and also suggests eight more oldies but goodies.

Why I Stopped Combing Through Chemicals and Took My Hair Care Into My Own Hands

Blog   |   by Jasmine Curtis   |   February 18, 2020

Many of the hair and beauty products marketed to Black women—from dyes and relaxers to lipsticks and makeup—pose serious health and environmental risks. Jasmine Curtis wants to change that.

Freecycling: Don’t Throw It Away, Give It Away

Blog   |   by Dale S. Brown   |   August 13, 2012

How can you assure that your unwanted items get to people who would find them helpful? Try Freecycling.

Simplify the Holidays

Campaigns   |   May 31, 2017

What Happened to Self-Reliance and the Do-It-Yourself Ethic? (Part 1 of 2)

Blog   |   by Addison Del Mastro   |   June 13, 2012

Fixing things ourselves can help relieve the money stress that many of us feel—but only if we're able to actually do the work.

Christmas Is About Presence, Not Presents

Blog   |   by Sarah Allison   |   November 9, 2018

New Dream Youth Fellow Sarah Allison shares her experience and faith-based values around keeping the Christmas holiday focused on transformation and healing.

Why I Decided to Share—and Eventually Sell—My Car

Blog   |   by Amanda Eaken   |   February 16, 2015

A San Francisco resident and mom is about to give up her family car in pursuit of a more sustainable, simple lifestyle. Here, she tells her tale.

Films Explore High-Consumption Lifestyles, Sustainable Solutions

Blog   |   by Mark Valentine   |   March 13, 2012

The recent SF Green Film Festival showcased more than 40 new films on sustainability themes.

Question Consumption (and Go Lighter on the Planet) This Halloween

Blog   |   by New Dream   |   October 22, 2019

Halloween is big business. It also requires a bit of cultural and environmental sensitivity, so we can be sure we're really embracing the spirit of good old fashioned fun.

Beyond the Lion’s Den: Mapping a More Meaningful Family Holiday

Blog   |   by Shara Drew   |   October 12, 2017

New Dream's Shara Drew describes her quest to create a different kind of holiday tradition for her family—one that has nothing to do with "stuff."

Challenge Toolkit: Play!

Custom Pages   |   March 19, 2018

Have More, Waste Less, and Build Community with a Library of Things

Blog   |   by Gene Homicki   |   July 18, 2018

Through a growing "libraries" movement, people can gain access to power tools, musical instruments, and just about any other product.

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.

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. 

Need Help or a Way to Help Out? SoKind Provides Meaningful Support Post-Disaster

Blog   |   by Edna Rienzi   |   September 20, 2017

SoKind Registry can be used as a centralized tool to coordinate meaningful hurricane relief for yourself or for friends and family.