Patch Launches National Effort To Chronicle Local Economic Struggles

Today marks the beginning of a new Patch project called “Dispatches: The Changing American Dream.”

Given what we see in the dizzying, discouraging headlines everyday, these are trying times for the nation and the world: A near-record national unemployment rate. A seesawing stock market. Skyrocketing college tuitions. Mounting national and household debt. Underwater mortgages and foreclosures. U.S. soldiers dying in Afghanistan in our nation’s longest war.

“Dispatches” will chronicle how these larger events are playing out in our homes, our neighborhoods, our schools, our religious organizations, our businesses, our governments.

We don't think there's one American Dream. We all have our version that we're working toward. And today's hurdles are formidable. Looking out across nearly 900 Patch sites, we see business owners 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.

At the purely local level, we want to know where we, in North Baltimore, fit along these fault lines.

The city is still home to too much violence, struggling schools and high property taxes. Several candidates in this year's election believe they could do a better job than Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. How will any of them accomplish their promises as the federal and state government continues to cut back on funding to cities?

may be going out of business, but small boutique outfits throughout Mt. Washington, Hampden and Charles Village are opening all the time.

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

But don’t wait for us to find your story. This is a conversation. We need to hear from you. Tell us what stories in North Baltimore you know of that best capture the American dream and spirit.