Dispatches: The Changing American Dream

Lakewood Patch is excited to introduce a new series for Patch readers: "Dispatches: The Changing American Dream."

And we want your help. Tell us what issues and stories in Lakewood are at the heart of your American Dream.

Every day, there are stories in the media about how American families, businesses and government are adjusting in these difficult times. Changes seem to come quicker these days, and the debates about unemployment, taxes, economic principles, home ownership, regulation of businesses, religion, education and government are becoming more intense.

At Patch, we want to explore these conversations on a daily basis to better understand how our neighbors are handling the challenges they're facing.

Like most of the country, Lakewood isn't a monolith with one vision of the American Dream. We've got , some vacant storefronts and — some of them from around the world — coming into town.

Over the 900 Patch sites around the nation, we see stories of businesses trying to stay afloat, college graduates dealing with an unfriendly job market, families having to deal with new realities imposed by layoffs or job changes, and seniors trying to have all the bills paid at the end of the month.

In the midst of those challenges, we also see people ,  in their communities, and people  in what their local government is doing.

We want to know where Lakewood is on these issues.

Do you see your American Dream evolving in a new direction you didn't anticipate five or ten years ago?

Education is one of those national issues. People come to Lakewood because of the great schools, but is having to face challenges from an increasing student population, ,  and .

It seems everywhere you look around town there's a new development.  in Lakewood. The branch campus of the , set to open this fall, is attracting some attention. Restaurants and retailers are popping up left and right. 

Are you worried that big regional and national businesses are going to crowd out Lakewood's small businesses and small-town charm?

"Dispatches" will be built upon the stories big and small, and the conversations that spring up from them.

With your help, of course.