About this Project

Americans have been facing tough times: your friends, your neighbors, yourself. The last few years have been some of the most difficult years in our recent collective economic history. And while it looks like we may have turned a corner, there is still a long road ahead.

We each have a story and there are lessons to be learned from our shared experiences. That’s why we decided to set out and travel across the country – to help tell your stories of uncertainty, hope, and the true American spirit. We started in May 2009, when Americans were really starting to feel the effects of unemployment, a crumbling Wall Street, and the housing crisis. And while we are no longer on the road, we believe the stories are still relevant today.

Along the way, we felt we built a community here at TheHardestYear.com where you followed along and offered encouragement, not only to us but to those who so bravely trusted us to tell their stories. We are grateful to each and every one of you.