New Series Explores the Changing American Dream in Farmington, Hills

We're excited to inaugurate a new series for our Patch 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 that a multitude of people are working toward. Looking out across nearly 900 Patch sites, we see businesses holding theirs breaths as they decide 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 locals who've taken these trying times as a signal to engage more, not less, in their government.

At the purely local level, we want to know where we, as Farmington and Farmington Hills neighbors, fit along these fault lines.

Nationally, there's a debate about health care and how to control costs while still providing quality medical services. Locally, recently picked up an award for doing just that.

Nationally, there's a debate about the education system, which is at the center of our dreams of a better life for our children. Locally, and this year in contract negotiations for support staff, all to keep declining revenues from affecting the quality of education students receive.

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

And, of course, we want your help: Tell us what issues and what stories in Farmington and Farmington Hills go to the heart of your American dream.