• a framework for bringing diverse interests together to take action that benefits the environment, economy and community life, beginning with the easiest actions and addressing more complex changes as momentum grows.
• a multi-year, grassroots campaign that can attract individuals and organizations across the political spectrum, based on enlightened self-interest and a sense of personal responsibility. By taking action at the local level, we can build political will for national and state policies in key areas such as energy and transportation; we can also restore a sense of local self-reliance and empowerment rather than dependence on centralized solutions.
• a call to simple actions that can be scaled up to make a measurable difference in energy use, environment and economic security: lighting replacements, water-efficiency campaigns, deep energy retrofits for buildings and neighborhoods, bike-friendly community plans, farmers’ markets to reduce the carbon footprint of food transportation, and more. Changing a few light bulbs may seem insignificant, but imagine living in the first community to do away with incandescent lighting completely by taking a stand and creating a plan!
• an investment in people-power, one of our most abundant renewable resources.

"We're in a new economic era. We have growing resource constraints but lots of under-employed people. If we're going to achieve a turnaround, in economy and quality of life, we have to build upon our assets, and one of the greatest assets is the power of people who want to make a difference."

-- J. Michael O’Hara, Campaign Manager, Ten Percent Challenge