About Rebuild the Dream
The present economy has left 99% of Americans behind. We want our economy to work for 100% of Americans, not just the top 1%.
Rebuild the Dream is a platform for bottom-up, people-powered innovations to help fix the U.S. economy. Using 21st-century digital technology, we advance highly inventive solutions that are designed to protect and expand the middle class, while creating pathways to prosperity for those who are locked out of it. Our goal is to put America back to work—and pull America back together.
Our Impact
Through organizing, teach-ins, online petitions, rallies, creative events, viral digital projects, and traditional media, we are amplifying key demands—for student debt relief, an honest reckoning with Wall Street Banks, protection for public service employees—while presenting innovative new ways to solve our nation's problems.
Since our official launch in June 2011, we have worked with more than 70 partners and allies to build an active grassroots network in all 435 Congressional Districts. We have more than 600,000 members who take action online and in their communities.
In partnership with Campaign for America's Future, we held an October 2011 "Take Back the American Dream" conference that was attended by 2,000 activists representing 200 organizations. The Contract for the American Dream, which we "crowd-sourced" in collaboration with more than 131,000 Americans, has been endorsed by more than 300,000 people. The Contract forms the basis and framework for our ongoing work for economic renewal in America.
Our Projects
Some of our early successes and ongoing projects:
Campaigns:
We're building grassroots action through online petitions, viral new media projects, email campaigns, and new digital organizing platforms.
Our campaigns have added momentum to key issues:
- An online petition we sent gathered 65,000 signatures on a holiday weekend and helped stop the unfair eviction of a church in MLK's old neighborhood.
- Our "Move Your Money" campaign drew pledges to close over 80,000 accounts at multinational banks.
- On our National Teach-In Day on November 9, over 375 local leaders hosted 4,000 participants using our curriculum, "How the 1% Crashed the Economy (And What the 99% Can Do About It)."
- We're currently developing plans to free college graduates from the crushing burden of student loans, which can be almost impossible to repay under present economic conditions.
The Contract for the American Dream:
In July of 2011, more than 130,000 Americans came together, online and in person, to write and rate 25,904 solutions for our economy and our democracy. Together, we identified the 10 most critical steps to get our economy back on track, and we released the Contract for the American Dream (read it here). Since its launch, more than 300,000 people have endorsed the Contract.
The Contract became the basis of legislation that the Progressive Congressional Caucus introduced into Congress: RESTORE the American Dream for the 99% Act.
What does it mean to join Rebuild the Dream?
Our members join the movement, online and in their communities, to amplify important issues and take action to improve the economic situation in America. When you sign up to join Rebuild the Dream, we'll send you an email whenever an important issue needs your support (such as a petition to reverse the devastating Citizens United ruling).
You'll also be able to use the online tools we're rolling out every month that let you organize locally to advance your own cause with others in your community.
If you received Rebuild the Dream emails in 2011, you may have noticed the emails came from MoveOn.org Civic Action. When we first started, MoveOn helped to power many of our online capabilities while we built up our own capacity. We couldn't be more grateful to MoveOn for its incredible support and uncommon generosity in backing the launch of this new organization. Rebuild the Dream and MoveOn continue to be close strategic allies and partners.
As of January 1, 2012, thanks to MoveOn's help, Rebuild the Dream is running as a separate and independent organization.
Enter your name, email, and zip code below to join Rebuild the Dream:
Other ways to get involved:
- Stay updated on our latest activities and news on our blog; while you're at it, check out our videos, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook.
- Donate $5. Your online contribution will help us push for student loan debt relief, help for foreclosure victims, justice for Wall Street banks, and a stronger, fairer country.
Partners in the movement to rebuild the American Dream
Rebuild the Dream helps to anchor a movement of organizations, activists, and everyday Americans fighting for economic justice and opportunity. If you are interested in having your organization become part of our movement to rebuild the American Dream, please email [email protected].