Exploring The American Dream in Eagle Rock

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

Just about every day, the national media has stories about how American families, businesses and neighbors are adjusting to these difficult economic times. There’s so much happening—so fast—that the changes are dizzying.

National debates about unemployment, foreclosures, debt, religion, government and private enterprise all impact on the fundamental ways in which we see ourselves and our communities.

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

We don't think there's one American Dream—we believe there’s a multitude.

Looking out across nearly 900 Patch sites nationwide, we see businesses holding their breath, deciding whether to expand; college graduates returning home because they can't find jobs; senior citizens so desperate to pay their bills that they bring boarders into their homes.

Working toward our individual American Dream appears to have never been harder.

At the same time, we also see bold new volunteer efforts; inspiring stories of local businesses that succeed because they innovated; 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 Eagle Rock neighbors, fit along these fault lines.

"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 Eagle Rock go to the heart of your American Dream. Please contact editor Ajay Singh at ajay.singh@patch.com

This is a unique moment in the history of our country, and Patch is uniquely positioned to explore and amplify the stories that capture that moment.