Introducing Dispatches: The Changing American Dream

We're excited to announce a new series for our Patch Readers: "Dispatches: The Changing American Dream."

We hear every day how American families, businesses and neighbors are adjusting to these difficult economic times.

It's dizzying: national debates about unemployment, home foreclosures, the national debt, and the proper role of government all touch on the fundamental ways in which we see ourselves and our communities.

At Patch, we want to explore that conversation on a daily basis in order to better understand how our neighbors are adjusting to the challenges and opportunities that surround us.

We don't think there's one American Dream, but a multitude of American Dreams in our country today. Looking out across nearly 900 Patch sites, we see business owners evaluating their decision to hire new workers; college graduates returning home because they can't find jobs; and senior citizens bringing boarders into their homes to help pay their bills. We also see bold new volunteer efforts, inspiring stories of local businesses that succeed because they innovated, and locals who've taken these trying times as a signal to engage more, not less, in their government.

"Dispatches" will be built upon the compelling vignettes and snapshots we unearth across all of our Patch sites.

At the local level, we want to know where Elk Grovians fit into the national patchwork quilt. And, of course, we want your help: Send us your story ideas, and tell us what you are doing to reach your version of the American Dream.