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 which a multitude of people are working toward.

Looking out across nearly 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.

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

When we asked, the community responded with personal tales of the American Dream. This is what Woodinville firefighter Ted Klinkenberg wrote about his father and his expectations from his children:

“Incredibly, my father was born dirt-poor in a thatch and driftwood hut on the trapping lines in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska (Territory) in the middle of winter, 1938. His family moved to Seattle when he was 4-years-old to find a better life and he boxed his way (literally, attaining an NCAA boxing title for WSU) to a college degree and started a family.

“My parents supported my college education and I am better off because of the sacrifices my father and mother made. I don't know if my children will have a better standard of living than me, but I will support them and I expect them to go to college and explore life to the fullest.”

Tell us what issues and what stories in Woodinville go to the heart of your American Dream. Send your stories to Editor Annie Archer at ann.archer@patch.com.