ACTIVISM

I believe that all of us must work actively for justice and sustainability.

I am the co-founder and president of Take Back Your Time, co-founder of the Happiness Alliance, former policy director of the Simplicity Forum and founder of the emerging organization, Make America Beautiful Again. I'm a senior advisor to Earth Economics, an ecosystem services organization, a board member of Earth Island Institute, and an advisory board member of the Donella Meadows Institute.  I was an advisor to the government of Bhutan in 2013 and to the Happiness Ministry of the United Arab Emirates in 2017. 

I have been involved in the Berkeley Free Speech Movement, Volunteers in Service to America, the University of Wisconsin anti-Vietnam War movement, Students for a Democratic Society, the Wisconsin Alliance, the Venceremos Brigade, the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Association, the New American Movement, Democratic Socialists of America, the Washington Commonwealth Federation, the Democratic Party, the Northwest Progressive Institute, the Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, Sustainable Seattle, the Balaton Sustainability Group, and many other social justice and environmental causes.

“I’d follow John de Graaf anywhere — and often have. He’s a consummate activist and human: brilliant, kind, dedicated, fair and always working on cross-cutting issues that are high-minded, full-hearted and canny politically.”
— Vicki Robin, co-author, Your Money or Your Life
Featured
Take Back Your Time seeks to challenge the epidemic of overwork, over-scheduling and time famine in the United States and Canada that threatens our health, our relationships, our communities, and our environment. We seek a renewed understanding of t

Take Back Your Time seeks to challenge the epidemic of overwork, over-scheduling and time famine in the United States and Canada that threatens our health, our relationships, our communities, and our environment. We seek a renewed understanding of the value of leisure time and the costs of time stress in our lives and workplaces.

Earth Island Institute is a non-profit, public interest, membership organization that supports people who are creating solutions to protect our shared planet.

Earth Island Institute is a non-profit, public interest, membership organization that supports people who are creating solutions to protect our shared planet.

Our mission is to improve the well-being of society by increasing understanding and appreciation of the factors that lead to life satisfaction, resilience and sustainability. 

Our mission is to improve the well-being of society by increasing understanding and appreciation of the factors that lead to life satisfaction, resilience and sustainability. 

Founded by legendary conservationist John Muir in 1892, the Sierra Club is now the nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization -- with more than two million members and supporters. Our successes range from protecting

Founded by legendary conservationist John Muir in 1892, the Sierra Club is now the nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization -- with more than two million members and supporters. Our successes range from protecting millions of acres of wilderness to helping pass the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. More recently, we've made history by leading the charge to move away from the dirty fossil fuels that cause climate disruption and toward a clean energy economy.

The Balaton Group generates new research, new action and new solutions for sustainability. We believe that through systems thinking, networking, communication and envisioning we can make a huge change for the better in global sustainability.

The Balaton Group generates new research, new action and new solutions for sustainability. We believe that through systems thinking, networking, communication and envisioning we can make a huge change for the better in global sustainability.

Sustainable Seattle is focused on long-term sustainability, equity and resilience in the Puget Sound Region. We value collaboration, stewardship, and social justice.

Sustainable Seattle is focused on long-term sustainability, equity and resilience in the Puget Sound Region. We value collaboration, stewardship, and social justice.

We all need nature. Nature is crucial to our survival - without food, clean air and water, a buffer against floods and fires, we lose our way of life. Nature is the backbone of the economy, but when is the last time you noticed it on a balance

We all need nature. Nature is crucial to our survival - without food, clean air and water, a buffer against floods and fires, we lose our way of life.

Nature is the backbone of the economy, but when is the last time you noticed it on a balance sheet? Far too often, nature is left out of the equation in accounting. 

The Work and Family Researchers Network (formerly the Sloan Work and Family Research Network), is an international membership organization of interdisciplinary work and family researchers. The WFRN also welcomes the participation of policy makers an

The Work and Family Researchers Network (formerly the Sloan Work and Family Research Network), is an international membership organization of interdisciplinary work and family researchers. The WFRN also welcomes the participation of policy makers and practitioners as it seeks to promote knowledge and understanding of work and family issues among the community of global stakeholders.

The International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies(ISQOLS) is an international society whose purpose are to promote and encourage research in the field of quality-of-life (QOL) studies.  

The International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies(ISQOLS) is an international society whose purpose are to promote and encourage research in the field of quality-of-life (QOL) studies.
 

“I’ve never hosted a more influential, thought-provoking, forward- thinking speaker than John de Graaf. He has inspired students and faculty across disciplines with his wealth of knowledge, humor and vision for a better world. His work has led the University of Central Missouri to celebrate Take Back Your Time Day every year since the event began.”
— Maureen Moffitt Wilt, Professor of Social Work University of Central Missouri