Dream.org#Dream Corps JUSTICE
{{Short description|American non-profit legal organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Dream.Org
| logo = File:DreamOrg Logo Icon 3ColorVariations C-6.svg
| alt = Dream.Org Logo
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| formation = {{start date and age|2007}}
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| type = Nonprofit
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| focus = {{blist|Justice reform|Prison reform|Climate Change|Poverty}}
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| location_country = United States
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| subsidiaries = Green for All
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| website = {{URL|https://www.dream.org/}}
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Dream.org (previously known as Dream Corps) is a non-profit organization founded by Van Jones.{{cite web |last1=Martarano |first1=Steve |title=Dream.Org comes to Sacramento |url=https://sacobserver.com/2024/06/dream-org-comes-to-sacramento/ |website=The Observer |access-date=27 August 2024}} It was founded based on "reaching across political divides to bring justice, and environmental and technological change to underrepresented populations."{{cite web |last1=Martarano |first1=Steve |title=Dream.Org comes to Sacramento |url=https://sacobserver.com/2024/06/dream-org-comes-to-sacramento/ |website=The Observer |access-date=20 November 2024}} The organization works through three programs – Green, Justice and Tech — to combat climate change, disrupt mass incarceration, and create economic opportunities in overlooked communities.{{cite web |last1=Martarano |first1=Steve |title=Dream.Org comes to Sacramento |url=https://sacobserver.com/2024/06/dream-org-comes-to-sacramento/ |website=The Observer |access-date=20 November 2024}}
History
Jessica Jackson and Matt Haney met Van Jones during a chance meeting and began talking with him about criminal justice reform.{{cite news |last1=Canon |first1=Gabrielle |title=Jessica Jackson, a single mom from California, took on the prison system — and changed her life |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/11/29/single-mom-took-prison-system-changing-narrative-cut-50-kim-kardashian/4002583002/ |access-date=30 January 2021 |newspaper=USA Today |date=November 29, 2019 |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203163434/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/11/29/single-mom-took-prison-system-changing-narrative-cut-50-kim-kardashian/4002583002/ |url-status=live }} Over breakfast they scribbled ideas on a napkin which later led to the formation of #cut50.
In 2015, Jackson, Haney, and Jones joined to co-found #cut50, an organization focused on bipartisan solutions to criminal justice reform issues.{{Cite web|url=http://www.marinmagazine.com/June-2016/Jessica-Jackson-Sloan/|title=Jessica Jackson Sloan - Marin Magazine - June 2016 - Marin County, California|website=www.marinmagazine.com|date=23 May 2016 |language=en|access-date=2017-05-25|archive-date=2017-06-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605003042/http://www.marinmagazine.com/June-2016/Jessica-Jackson-Sloan/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Going local is the solution for the justice system reform|url=http://www.msnbc.com/changing-america/watch/localizing-justice-system-reform-548084291933|access-date=28 April 2017|work=MSNBC|date=October 20, 2015|archive-date=16 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916140143/http://www.msnbc.com/changing-america/watch/localizing-justice-system-reform-548084291933|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/121425/gop-governor-nathan-deal-leading-us-prison-reform|title=A Republican Governor Is Leading the Country's Most Successful Prison Reform|magazine=New Republic|access-date=2017-05-25|language=en-US|archive-date=2017-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517134836/https://newrepublic.com/article/121425/gop-governor-nathan-deal-leading-us-prison-reform|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/this-millennial-activist-believes-bipartisan-criminal-justice-reform-will-happen-even-under-trump-51377|title=This Millennial Activist Believes Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform Will Happen, Even Under Trump|last=Hecht|first=Jon|work=Bustle|access-date=2017-05-25|language=en|archive-date=2017-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419142019/https://www.bustle.com/p/this-millennial-activist-believes-bipartisan-criminal-justice-reform-will-happen-even-under-trump-51377|url-status=live}} As #cut50, Dream Corps worked alongside members of Congress, and the Trump Administration to develop and pass the First Step Act of 2018.
In 2021, Jeff Bezos reportedly gave Dream.org $100,000,000 (USD) as a donation.{{cite web | last=Kirsch | first=Noah | title=Van Jones, Bezos’ $100M Man, Pushed Out of His Own Non-Profit | website=The Daily Beast | date=2023-08-19 | url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/van-jones-jeff-bezos-dollar100m-man-pushed-out-of-his-non-profit | access-date=2024-08-28}}
Since 2021, Dream.Org Justice (formerly known as #cut50) has advocated for passage of the Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law (EQUAL) Act to eliminate sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine.{{cite web | last=Johnson | first=Carrie | title=A bill that would have impacted racial disparity in cocaine crimes died in the Senate | website=NPR | date=2023-01-09 | url=https://www.npr.org/2023/01/09/1147909174/a-bill-that-would-have-impacted-racial-disparity-in-cocaine-crimes-died-in-the-s | access-date=2024-08-28}}{{cite | last= Wood | first=Robert | title=Justice for all: It’s time to end the discrimination between crack and cocaine sentencing | date=2023-07-04 | url=http://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/4079252-justice-for-all-its-time-to-end-the-discrimination-between-crack-and-cocaine-sentencing/ | language=en-US | access-date=2024-08-28 | page=}}
On Oct 16, 2024, Dream.Org held its inaugural "We, the Dream" gala, granting awards to Sheriff Eric S. Higgins, Jessica Jackson, and Leah Thomas, and featuring appearances by Tamron Hall, Marcia Gay Harden, and Camila Cabello.{{cite web | last=amNewYork | title=Dream.Org holds inaugural gala in NYC to honor key players in environmental and justice reform | website=amNY | date=2024-10-19 | url=https://www.amny.com/entertainment/dream-org-gala-nyc/ | access-date=2024-11-20}}{{cite | last= Ravi | first=Pirashan | title=Dreamers and Changemakers: Honoring Those Fighting for a Better Tomorrow at Dream.Org’s Gala | date=2024-10-19 | url=https://theknockturnal.com/dreamers-and-changemakers-honoring-those-fighting-for-a-better-tomorrow-at-dream-orgs-gala/ | language=en-US | access-date=2024-11-20 | page=}}
Dream Corps TECH
Dream Corps TECH started as #YesWeCode in early 2015 alongside Rebuild the Dream.{{cite news |last1=Guynn |first1=Jessica |title=Program teaches low-income kids to code |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/01/19/van-jones-yes-we-code-diversity-technology/21889543/ |access-date=13 April 2021 |newspaper=USA Today |date=January 19, 2015 |archive-date=13 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413183023/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/01/19/van-jones-yes-we-code-diversity-technology/21889543/ |url-status=live }} The organization works to teach low-income kids how to code.