Community Corner

Dispatches: Examining The Changing American Dream

Patch is kicking off a new, ongoing series examining ways people throughout the country are coping with the economy, and how their American Dream has changed. We want to hear your stories.

As the country continues to struggle to recover from its worst recession since the Great Depression, we at Patch want to know how you're doing, learn what it takes to pull put of the malaise and keep from falling back, and explore ways ordinary folks throughout the country are coping with the financial difficulties.

To that end, Patch is inaugurating a new, on-going 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 so we can better understand how our neighbors are adjusting to the challenges and opportunities that surround us.

Find out what's happening in Johnstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

There is no 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 locals who've taken these trying times as a signal to engage more, not less, in their government.

As we've reported on JohnstonPatch, the local town council recently approved an $89.56 million budget that keeps local schools level-funded for the fourth straight year.

Find out what's happening in Johnstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

While homeowners will bear a heavier tax burden, Johnston remains in good financial shape, compared with other communities in Rhode Island.

On the political front, the Johnston Tea Party has begun to raise its profile in town, hosting weekly meetings and posting blog entries on JohnstonPatch.

And, most recently, neighbors near Old Pocasset Road to a plan by Briarcliffe Manor to build a new assisted living facility on its property — posing what the neighbors say is a potentially damaging impact on the area.

"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. Key to the project is to hear directly from those still struggling, or finding ways to succeed against the odds. How are you coping with the economy? How have your lives changed since the recession hit? What is your take on the American Dream ... Is it still achievable for you?

Tell us what issues and what stories in this community go to the heart of your American Dream. Email Editor Joe Hutnak at joseph.hutnak@patch.com and let us know your thoughts.


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