Introducing Dispatches: The Changing American Dream

Today, University Place Patch is excited to inaugurate a new series for our Patch Readers: "Dispatches: The Changing American Dream." 

Every day, the national media is full of stories about how American families, businesses and neighbors are adjusting to these trying times. There are so many changes happening so fast that it's dizzying: national debates about unemployment, foreclosures, debt, religion, government and private enterprise all touch on fundamental ways in which we see ourselves and our communities. At Patch, we want to explore that conversation on a daily basis so we can 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 which a multitude of people are working toward. Looking out across nearly almost 900 Patch sites, we see businesses holding their breath deciding whether to expand; 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.

At the purely local level, we want to know where we, as University Place neighbors, fit along these fault lines.

We've seen government jobs cut during the economic downturn, everything from teachers to bus drivers. We've seen businesses, both big and small, close their doors or not even open them. One of our most prominent bloggers tells us that families need to begin planning to care for loved ones, especially those who decide to take in aging parents or other seniors who can’t afford to live on their own.

But there are also stories that remind us how fulfilling the American Dream is still possible. Patch shared how some local businesses are determined to persevere and survive the economic storm. We told you how one University Place man, after having to step away from baseball as a professional career, is using his . And we’ve showed how the community has responded to cuts in government-funded services by supporting programs such as UP’s , and the .

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

And, of course, we want your help: Tell us what issues and what stories in University Place go to the heart of your American Dream.