What if regular people had real power to change things?

Politics doesn't have to suck.

The system is broken, and the people in power like it that way.

Here's the crazy part: when you ask Americans about the big issues -healthcare costs, getting money out of politics - most people actually agree! It doesn't matter if they're Republican or Democrat.

Project REAL is about changing the system to focus on what is Really Enhancing American Lives.

If that sounds like a big, scary challenge, you are right. Making politics work for everyday Americans instead of big corporations, super-rich people, and power-hungry politicians is a huge job. Taking on the powerful can feel scary and impossible, especially when so many things need to change.

But here's what you need to know:

  • You're not alone. Millions of Americans feel exactly the same way. When regular people come together, we become unstoppable.

  • Every big positive change in American history happened when ordinary people decided they'd had enough.

  • The real power still belongs to us—we just need to remember how to use it.

  • We're not trying to destroy the system. We're fixing it, one step at a time, starting with the things we already agree on.

We Have a Plan That Actually Works

Here's the thing about big changes: they don't happen all at once, and they require a lot of little changes along the way. So, how do you know where to start or if your work is making a difference?

You start with something that connects it all—a set of values that most Americans actually share, no matter what party they vote for.

Take electoral reform. Most people agree: voters should choose their representatives and have real choices, not candidates picked by the hardcore base or party bosses, and not in rigged "safe" districts where your vote doesn't matter. That's REAL Electoral Reform.

Here's the power of this approach: REAL—Really Enhancing American Lives—gives you a lens to cut through all the noise. When a politician makes a promise or the news pushes a story, ask yourself:

  • How does this actually enhance American lives?

  • Is this a real solution to a real problem, or is it meant to distract us from what really matters?

  • Does this serve everyday people or the powerful?

When we frame every issue around these shared values, separate efforts become part of something bigger.

Take crime reduction—you might think that's separate from electoral reform or economic issues, but they all connect. Real crime reduction often requires fair wages so people can afford stable housing and food. Fair wages require representatives who vote for working families, not just big donors. So when you push for electoral reform, you're also working on crime. When better representatives pass fair wage laws, you get less desperation, less homelessness, stronger local businesses, and healthier communities all at once.

Healthcare. Immigration. Affordable housing. Climate change. National defense. Education. Economic prosperity. Social Security. Medicare. SNAP. You don't have to tackle everything. Pick what fires you up. Pick what fits your life. Pick what your community needs.

That's how Project REAL works: one shared framework, thousands of different efforts, unstoppable change.

Project REAL is a real grassroots effort - your skills and time can actually fix democracy.

Whatever Your Background: Don't understand politics? • Feel like politics isn't for people like you? • Never voted? • Single issue focus? • Burned out on politics? • Don't fit the "activist" stereotype? • Super engaged?

Whatever Your Political Affiliation: Conservative • Progressive • Democrat • Republican • Independent • Libertarian • Green Party • Non-partisan • Moderate • Split on issues • Politically homeless • Don't like labels • None of the above

Whatever Your Skills: Anyone can: Talk with friends • Share your story • Join conversations • Follow and share • Listen • Ask questions • Learn with others Special skills welcome: Writing • Policy research • Website/apps • Design • Video • Social media • Events • Outreach • Data analysis • Professional experience • Your unique talent

Whatever Your Time: 5 minutes when you can • Once in a while • 1 hour/month • Few hours/week • Your schedule • No commitment • No guilt if life gets busy

America Needs YOUR Contribution!

Join Us In Building Project REAL

Become a Founding Member of Project REAL

Help us build the framework, choose our first campaigns, and create a movement that puts everyday Americans first.

Who can be a founding member? Project REAL is a non-partisan effort. If you are open-minded, base your decisions on facts, and are willing to explore new ideas, we want your input.

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking that created them.

Albert Einstein