How Has Your American Dream Changed?

Norristown Patch is launching a new series for our readers: "Dispatches: The Changing American Dream."

Every day, the media is full of stories about how American families, businesses and neighborhoods are adjusting to these trying times. Our world is changing so fast, it's dizzying—national debates about unemployment, foreclosures, debt, immigration, crime, religion, government and private enterprise fill the airwaves, and those issues all have impacts here in Norristown.

At Norristown Patch, we want to be part of that conversation so we can better understand how our neighbors are adjusting to the challenges and opportunities of our changing nation.

We don't think there's one American Dream, but a multitude of dreams that a multitude of people are working toward. Looking out across our national network of Patch sites (closing in on 1,000), we see businesses holding their breath deciding whether to expand. We see college graduates returning home because they can't find jobs. We see 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.

Here in Norristown, we want to know where we are. How does Norristown fit into these conversations?

Nationally, the immigration debate has waged for years, but we here in Norristown are living it in real time. With new members to our community come new issues—new crime, new costs, but also new opportunities and new business.

Nationally, the struggling housing market makes headlines almost daily. Locally, we know Norristown struggles to transform itself into a community of homeowners instead of landlords and tennants. We're one of the most affordable places to buy a home in this area, and that's brought new life to our community as young professionals and families are drawn to Norristown by affordable housing and easy access to public transportation.

Our "Dispatches" feature will be built on the compelling stories and snapshots we find across all of our Patch sites, but we want to hear from Norristown. Tell us what issues and what stories go to the heart of your American Dream.

So let's start the conversation. What do you think the American Dream is these days? How is it different in Norristown? You can tell us in our Comment section or if it's too big a dream for such a small space, send us an email, and we'll find a way to make your dream fit into Norristown Patch.