The American Dream Isn't Dead...But It's Changing

When Laura McCarthy opened up a new business in Sussex in the middle of the worst economy since the Great Depression, there undoubtedly were those who questioned her decision.

But McCarthy, owner of the store on Executive Drive,  opened her doors in March and is going strong.

She's pursuing the American Dream.

So is Jim Jones, a restaurateur who is opening the new on Main Street.

Jones, who started his first Boneyard in Mukwonago in 2007 and planned to open a second shortly thereafter, had his dreams derailed because of the bad economy. But he's back...and the new Sussex restaurant is set to open this fall.

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

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

Today, Sussex 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 Sussex 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 Sussex go to the heart of your American Dream. Either comment on this story, or send an e-mail to editor Mark Maley at mark.maley@patch.com.