The American Dream Movement will only succeed if we stand up and work TOGETHER for a new American Dream.

In July, 25,000 of us came together to share our stories and hear from others who are struggling in this economy. Together, we submitted and rated ideas to create the Contract for the American Dream. At the same time, politicians—from city councils to Congress—are focused on "cuts, cuts, cuts" instead of "jobs, jobs, jobs." All levels of government need to respond to the jobs crisis. That's why we'll take every opportunity to during the August recess to ask Congress and other elected officials: "Where are the jobs?"

We'll challenge politicians who want more budget cuts to say how the proposed cuts create jobs—and explain why they don't support making the super-rich and corporations pay their fair share instead. We'll get started with a national day of action on August 10—organizing hundreds of "Where are the Jobs?" protests at congressional offices to demand a response to the jobs crisis. We'll wear our red, white, and blue while we bring the crisis to them.

Then, we'll spend the rest of August showing up at town halls, political fundraisers, festivals—anywhere—to demand politicians give us straight answers on what they're doing to create jobs. When we can't find them, we'll get creative and organize events and actions at their offices and other public spaces to make sure they hear our message.

Take a look at the following options and decide what you'll do to build the American Dream this August. Scroll down to find resources and materials to make your August actions a success.

• Get involved locally to build a group in your community to support and grow the American Dream Movement locally.
• Organize an event to highlight the jobs crisis. Bring the American Dream message to the public and to your member of Congress by hosting one of these events.
• Help out with a local campaign or event.
• Plan a house party in September to continue to bring more people into the American Dream Movement.

1. Get involved locally

Many of you just hosted or attended an American Dream house meeting and might be asking what’s next. Well, the most important step you can take is to remain active. Here’s what that could mean:

• Schedule a meeting with local American Dream meeting hosts and attendees. This is a great first step after starting a Council, but if you'd just like to begin here—that's OK too!
• Set a date, time, and location for your meeting.
• Post the meeting here.
• At the meeting, discuss how you'd like to grow this movement locally, who can take on what commitments to do so, and how you plan to follow up with one another.
  • Here is a sample organizing meeting agenda for July. It was created as a Council meeting agenda—so, if that's not appropriate, adapt it to your group's needs.

• Click here to begin or join a local MoveOn Council:
  • If there is a Council, join it and contact the Council Coordinator for ways to get involved. If you have trouble reaching your Council Coordinator, please email dreammeeting@moveon.org and you'll be directed to the appropriate Field Organizer.
  • If there is not a Council, start one by clicking here to continue organizing actions for the American Dream Movement. A Regional or Field Organizer will be in touch shortly to help support your work.

2. Organize to highlight the jobs crisis

August 10: Organize a “Where are the Jobs?” Event

Join hundreds of others to help plan an event during the August congressional recess to let Congress know that we need jobs, not more tax cuts for the rich! The August recess is a perfect time for our movement to make our voices heard loud and clear across the country, and it's coming up soon. We'll show up in red, white, and blue, bring along the "tools of our trade" (stethoscopes, computers, shovels, etc.), ask "Where are the Jobs?" and demand that Congress " Make Them Pay!"

Find your Member of Congress, then Mobilize

It’s important that this movement is everywhere our members of Congress are. Birddogging is a great way to do this—it means showing up at public appearances of your target and asking him or her, “Where are the jobs?”. Wherever they go, we're there, putting them on the spot, insisting on a straight answer. Birddogging is a really fun tactic that your group can get involved in.

There might not be as many town hall events this August, but any politician running for office in 2012 will have plenty of campaign events this congressional recess. Congress breaks from August 8-September 5, so, be sure to begin researching where your member will be immediately. Here are a few ideas to get started: look at the campaign website, read the paper, join the campaign email list, Twitter feed and Facebook page, Google the target's name, or even call the office directly.

Can't find your Member of Congress? Get Creative

If you’re having trouble finding events with your Member of Congress, get active and creative! You’ll want to stick to the general message of Where are the jobs?, but come up with creative ways to express it so the public and your target will notice. You can use the media resources and other materials in the boxes above to help guide you in this process.

3. Help out with a local campaign or event

Are there local organizing or service opportunities - such as campaigns to stop local foreclosures or volunteering at a senior center - for the group to get involved with? Are there campaigns that we could join, or should we start our own local campaign? Is there a community service activity happening or that should happen - like cleaning up a neighborhood park or volunteering for after-school programs?

4. Plan a house party in September

In September, we'll continue to build our movement with national American Dream house parties. We'll talk with our friends and neighbors about how we got into this economic crisis and how we can organize to fix it. Then, we'll take action in the streets using the Contract for American Dream as our guide.

More details to come.