The American Dream Project, Will Marrè, and comparison with other 'dream' projects

Here's Will Marrè.

He seems closest to what I what I go for in my visions. The others that follow are older:

CommonDreams.org:

It's been said that dreams are our roadmaps to the future. If so, where are we headed? Common Dreams is a national non-profit citizens' organization working to bring progressive Americans together to promote progressive visions for America's future. Founded in 1997, we are committed to being on the cutting-edge of using the internet as a political organizing tool - and creating new models for internet activism.

The Center for a New American Dream:

(since about 1997?) The Center for a New American Dream helps Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life, and promote social justice.

Getting more of what matters

Every day, we require a little of the planet’s resources to keep us going. How we use those resources can make a big difference in determining the health of the planet, the well-being of others, even our own happiness. Everything we do has an impact. The trick is to make that impact more positive.

The Center exists to create that positive impact. We work with individuals, institutions, communities, and businesses to conserve natural resources, counter the commercialization of our culture, and change the way goods are produced and consumed.

As for the “new” in New American Dream, we help people live the dream, but in a way that ensures a livable planet for current and future generations. Our message isn’t about deprivation. It’s about getting more of what really matters—more time, more nature, more fairness, and more fun.

• Living consciously
• Buying wisely
• Making a difference

Finally, here's The American Dream Project:

Vision

Our vision is to Change the World by changing the way we think about our world. We are a community of leaders, educators, professionals, parents and students offering research, publications, speeches, workshops, multi-media, discussion groups and teaching materials helping reignite the American Dream for the new future.

Mission

The American Dream Project inspires people to change the world through values, passion, innovation and creativity. We provide free leadership, workplace, educational and community ideas and resources through our website and events.

What I like especially are the commentaries and insights under the "American Dream Project Centers". For example under myDreamLife we have:

The American Dream Project points to a radical change in the definition of our DreamLife. Inside, our souls need Positive Emotions, Passionate Engagement and Personal Meaning. Outside, our lives have to integrate our lifestyle, relationships and career. If we neglect our inner needs we’ll feel dissatisfied…unhappy no matter what we achieve. If we don’t take conscious control of our outer life, we’ll never escape the stress of conflicting priorities. Instead we’ll have stress, working harder and harder to fill a bucket with a hole in the bottom.

Here is Will's question:

"What do you really want?" "No ... What does your soul long to accomplish?" There was no getting away from the question. He wanted an honest answer, not some made-up, leave-me-alone, you-can't-be-serious answer.

This question is at the foundation of Will's recently launched American Dream Project, an online think tank and community for change focused on reigniting the American Dream in the 21st Century. This groundbreaking action-based initiative is aimed at a new generation of leaders, professionals, and students who want to make an impact and are looking for a blueprint for a life they both value and enjoy.

Check out the group he cofounded, Redline Resistance, "aimed at reducing teenage deaths and accidents from car crashes." The person who may be the cofounder writes:

The statistics about teenage driving are appalling. Every week over 100 teenagers die and thousands more are seriously injured. Every week! This has been going on for decades. No amount of driver training or warning seems to make a difference. I decided we should try. We brought some education experts together with hundreds of young drivers and asked what would make a difference. We found two things were worth trying.

He also cofounded seacology:

Seacology is the world's premier nonprofit, nongovernmental organization with the sole and unique purpose of preserving the environments and cultures of islands throughout the globe.

Mission

Too often, islanders around the world are told that they should make financial sacrifices on behalf of the environment, and receive nothing in return. Seacology searches for "win-win" situations that not only protect the local environment, but also provide tangible benefits to the islanders. In Samoa, Seacology's first project was to build a critically needed school in the remote village of Falealupo. In exchange, the village chiefs signed a covenant protecting 30,000 acres of pristine rainforest. In Nadogo Village, Fiji, Seacology has provided funding for basic access road improvements in exchange for a protective covenant preserving a 2,000-acre rainforest. These are just a couple of our many worldwide island projects.

Our ambitions are large, yet our programs are successful because they are locally managed. Thus Seacology's motto is, "Saving the world....one island village at a time."

For another contrast, be sure to visit the American Dream Coalition.

Added by colin #442 on 2005-05-21. Last modified 2005-05-21 01:42. F0 License: Attribution
Location: World, United States
Topics: philosophy, road traffic safety, spirit, Vision