The American Dream Isn't Dead, It's Just Changing

When Leslie Phillips and Leslie Spencer decided to open a handmade crafts boutique in Shorewood, they said it was a dream come true.

became the newest shop to line Shorewood’s business district when it opened at 4415 N. Oakland Ave. in March.

Some likely saw the move as a bit of a risk, with the state of the economy, and the business so dependent on a niche market.

But they were ready for the challenge.

The same goes for David Price and Christopher Tinker, who didn't want to move on after their pub, the Brit Inn, burned to the ground in May 2009.

Just a little more than a year later, they opened at 4515 N. Oakland Ave.

Yes, the American Dream — opening your own business, owning a home, saving for retirement or sending the kids to college — has come under fire since the economic downturn.

Those dreams haven't died, but achieving them today is more challenging than it has been in decades.

Today, Shorewood Patch is joining more than 800 Patch sites around the country is launching a new series of stories called "Dispatches: The Changing American Dream."

These stories — which will run periodically — will focus on how Shorewood residents and businesses are grappling with issues like unemployment, foreclosures, debt and more. We plan to take a look at how we and our neighbors are adjusting to the challenges and opportunities that surround us as we continue to pursue that dream.

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 the country, 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.

But 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.

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

And, of course, we want your help: Tell us what issues and what stories in Shorewood go to the heart of your American Dream. Either comment on this story, or send an e-mail to editor Adam McCoy at adam.mccoy@patch.com.