Introducing 'Dispatches: The Changing American Dream'

Patch is excited to inaugurate a new series for our 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 believe there is a single 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 Odenton neighbors, fit along these fault lines.

As we look ahead to the 2012 Presidential Election, we will be taking a look at whether efforts to reduce the national debt will impact the thousands of local residents who are employed by the federal government.

We’ll also examine how budget tightening will impact the The planned growth has the potential to bring prosperity to the community, the slow economy and shrinking local budget is proving to be a drag. While new workers move into Fort Meade each day, there has been to accommodate the growth.

On the development side, the business community is working hard to bring to life the . Construction projects are coming out of the ground, but developers have had to spend their own money for key upgrades to water and sewer service, and builders are finding that

We will be looking closely at how the slow economy will impact education in our community. We just got done reporting on a and there are rumblings that the next budget battle could be even uglier. Locally, , but schools and teacher rolls are not. And while the school system has worked to maintain quality in the midst of budget tightness, we’ve seen cuts to everything from language classes to high school gymnastics programs.

"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 Odenton go to the heart of your American Dream.