Dispatches: The Changing American Dream

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 communities are adjusting to unemployment, foreclosures, debt and more. At Patch, we want to explore that conversation on a daily basis to better understand how our neighbors are adjusting to the challenges and opportunities that surround us.

We see businesses holding their breath deciding whether to expand; college graduates moving back in with their parents because they can't find jobs; senior citizens bringing boarders into their homes to help pay the bills. We also see bold new volunteer efforts, inspiring stories of local businesses that succeed because of innovation and individuals who've taken these trying times as a signal to engage more, not less, in their government.

At a purely local level, how is Beverly Hills affected by our changing nation?

All across America, there's debate about the education system. Locally, we know that our community is striving like never before to to continue to give our children a quality education.

Another national trend is the closing of small businesses, which we see here in Beverly Hills. Just look at all the vacancies in the of town.

So what issues concern you, the resident, most? What stories go to the heart of your American Dream?

If you want to blog about this topic, contact mariec@patch.com. If you want to share your opinion, add it to the comment box at the bottom of this story.

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