Dispatches - The Changing American Dream

Today, 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, 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 think there's one 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 citizens who've taken these trying times as a signal to engage more, not less, with their government.

Locally, we are in a unique situation. Our neighbors in Greenville were recently recognized by several national media outlets for their success story in the face of trying economic times. Mauldin, too has its share of good news, as recent developments regarding upgrades to the Cultural Center and Route 276 suggest. Still, unemployment is above the national average.

So, we want to know where we, as Mauldin neighbors, fit along these fault lines.

We'd like to hear about individuals who have been forced to adapt to uncertainty. We'd like to hear about businesses that have met the uncertainty head on. And we'd also like to hear from folks who have dealt with their new reality in a creative way.

"Dispatches" will be built upon the compelling vignettes and snapshots we unearth across all of our Patch sites.

We can't wait to tell your story.