letter from the Executive Director

DEAR NEW AMERICAN DREAM FRIENDS AND FAMILY,

I joined the Center for a New American Dream in January. My first year at the helm was an exciting and rewarding one, to say the least. As I look back over the organization’s accomplishments, I am extremely pleased with our progress, and deeply grateful for the support you have shown us.

What stood out most for me in 2007? It’s hard to pick just one accomplishment but I was thrilled to watch as the Responsible Purchasing Network (RPN) took off in a big way. Though New American Dream formally announced its launch the year before, it was not until 2007 that RPN was officially “open for business.” Once the doors were open, however, the response was immediate and impressive. Prominent institutions rushed to join, and within a few short weeks, RPN’s recommendations and guidelines appeared in the purchasing frameworks of a number of major institutions. RPN represents a critical component of our effort to shift the marketplace toward environmentally preferable goods and services, and the leverage wielded by RPN members, representing billions of dollars of purchasing power directed towards this goal, cannot be understated. The fantastic response to the launch is really good news not only for New American Dream’s work and but also for the responsible purchasing movement overall.

On the individual side, I am heartened by the response to our Carbon Conscious Consumer (C3) campaign. Through C3, we continue a proud tradition of providing individuals with concrete steps connecting personal choices to positive environmental impacts. I am equally excited to move into the second phase in 2008, when we take our C3 campaign to the next level, engaging both citizens and governments in reducing our collective carbon footprints.

Together, we are truly engaged in the work of building a new dream, one with a strong emphasis on sustainable living and non-material values like fairness, community, nature, and fun.

At New American Dream, we envision a nation and a world in which a healthy global ecosystem anchors a just society that offers all citizens the freedom, the resources and the personal security necessary to pursue their dreams, connect with the natural world, and enjoy a high quality of life.

Thanks to all of you for sharing that vision.

Warmly,

Lisa Wise