Miami Herald’s new economic mobility reporter has one thing to say.

Dear readers,

Let’s start here: Thank you. If you’re reading this, it means you care about the Miami Herald and you may even have donated to help fund my position.

I’m the Miami Herald’s newest Report for America corps member. For the next year, I’ll be working with a team of reporters to bring you stories about economic mobility in Miami.

Here’s some of what that means. If you’re renting in Miami, you know the challenge. Our metro area is among the most expensive in the U.S. for those who don’t own a home. These days, when our parents and grandparents say “back in my day,” the younger generation actually leans in, because fewer young people today are earning more than their parents.

There is so much inequality in the Miami metro area that on an economic level, it’s on par with some Latin American countries.

We want to report on this issue not only by pointing out problems, but by identifying solutions. What’s working? Where are people doing things right? Who is moving the needle to ensure that Miami is not just a place that we all love, but one that also loves us all back?

There is so much to unpack, such as who is benefiting from the development that continues to sprout in some of the city’s oldest neighborhoods? Who is losing out and what, in turn, is Miami losing when those who make up its cultural identity are displaced?

We already have something in common. You’re here because you believe in the Herald.

I grew up reading the Miami Herald – or to be honest, the El Nuevo Herald copies that my Spanish-speaking dad would pass along to me at the dinner table as he finished each section, one by one.

You probably also love Miami (OK, maybe you love-hate it; we’ve all been there). I hope you’ll help us answer some of our questions and bring up new ones.

We want to hear from you. What’s your take? What should I be writing about? Please share the things that are news to others, but are just facts of life for you. Email me at ylopez@miamiherald.com tweet me @yadiraxlopez – write it in the sky if you must.

Not only is thank you a good way to start, it’s a good way to end things. So, thank you for the opportunity to share your concerns and, most importantly, your stories.