Dispatches: The Changing American Dream

We're 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 and businesses 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 dreams which a multitude of people are aspiring toward.

Looking out across nearly almost 900 Patch sites, we see businesses deciding whether to expand; high school students who can't get entry-level jobs because they've been displaced by laid-off workers; college graduates returning home because they can't find jobs; and senior citizens returning to the workforce because they can't pay their bills.

In Alameda County, for example, an estimated 80,000 people were out of work, as of the end of June, meaning the unemployment rate is 10.9 percent.

We also see bold new volunteer efforts, inspiring stories of local , and locals who've taken these trying times as a signal to engage more, not less, in their government. Just look at the thousands who turned out at last year's  at the Alameda County fairgrounds.

Nationally, there's a debate about the education system, which is at the center of our dreams of a better life for our children. Locally, as looming budget cuts threatened to take away extra-curricular programs.

For many in Union City, being here is part of the dream. With a large immigrant population, many settle in Union City in hopes of attaining that but a long road remains. We've seen families and individuals work hard to fight for their rights, with local agencies such as Filipino Advocates for Justice pushing for and Congregations Organizing for Renewal via the DREAM Act. 

Union City Patch intends on keeping a conversation going about the changing concept of the American Dream as it relates to Union City residents with daily stories on the topic.

We invite you to join the conversation. If you want to blog about this topic, let us know. If you just want to share a comment, email us or add it to the comment box at the bottom of this story, we encourage you to do so.