Beginnings

In 1984, the Dudley neighborhood came together out of fear and anger to resist the redevelopment and gentrification that had already pushed low income people out of the South End and the West End. Red-lining, disinvestment, and arson fires combined to physically, financially, and spiritually devastate this community, a devastation symbolized by 1,300 vacant lots filled only with rubble and trash dumped by outsiders. The people of this community refused to accept these conditions. At DSNI's founding meeting, residents declared our intention to control community land and services for the benefit of the community.

The Mabel Louise Riley Foundation wanted to be part of a bold solution. They were the founding financial supporters of this resident-driven initiative. They also extended their commitment to the neighborhood by supporting a wide range of community organizations serving the Dudley Street community.

The Vision--
Our Urban Village

Turning planning on its head, residents created the vision for our neighborhood. Involving over 200 people, nine months of work, and the aid of consultants from DAC International, this process resulted in the 1987 plan for an urban village. It laid out comprehensive strategies for the physical, economic, and human development of a vibrant, diverse, empowered community, where people could live, shop, work, and play in safety and comfort.

Our vision for an urban village builds on the community's greatest asset--the rich diversity of cultures, talent and willpower of residents.

Our village is created from the intricate combination of individual actions of people and organizations that produce the spirit and tangible results sought by residents.

Dudley Village is a work-in-progress. Early organizing victories against illegal dumping and trash transfer operations led to the belief that we could make a difference.

As hope replaced despair, other extraordinary victories followed:

• The City of Boston's adoption of our plan as its redevelopment plan for the Dudley area;
• Eminent domain authority to assemble parcels of vacant land for development;
• Long-term control of land through a community land trust to ensure neighborhood benefit and to prevent speculation;

   

• Over 225 new affordable homes built according to criteria set by residents;
• More than 300 units of housing rehabilitated by community development corporations and other developers.
• Over 300 of the 1,300 vacant lots transformed into attractive homes, safe play spaces, gardens and community facilities;

   

• The "Unity Through Diversity Mural", designed and painted by neighborhood youth, now a prominent landmark on the side of Davey's Market;
• Improved environmental safety from lead contaminated soil, hazardous wastes and illegal dumping.

   

• A DSNI Board of Directors selected by, representative of, and accountable to community residents;
• A full youth summer camp program at Mary Hannon Park and upgrade of the Park by the City;

   

• The Multi-Cultural Festival in September, an annual community-building event, sharing cultural pride and contributions through food, dance, music and crafts;
• Collaboratives of human service agencies to achieve coordinated services responsive to residents' needs and priorities;

A number of key features to the village are in the works:

• the Town Common at Dudley, Blue Hill and Hampden, which will serve as the gateway to Dudley Village;

   

• conversion of the old Dudley Mill Works building into Youth Build Boston's training headquarters and charter school, DSNI's new office, as well as commercial space;

   

• the City of Boston's commitment to renovate the old Vine Street municipal building (the Cape Verdean Community House) as a community center.

The completed Dudley Village is a multi-cultural environment that is economically secure, nurturing, and healthy for this and future generations.

The Mission--
Working Together

DSNI's mission is "To empower Dudley residents to organize, plan for, create and control a vibrant, diverse and high quality neighborhood in collaboration with community partners".

This mission requires DSNI to create the settings, opportunities, and capacity for resident participation and decision-making. It calls on us to think boldly and to push the limits on traditional barriers and expectations.

"Residents" means the 24,000 people for whom the DSNI neighborhood is home. We are predominantly African-American, Latino/a and Cape Verdean, with a smaller number of Whites and Haitians.

"Community partners" are other organizations in the neighborhood who help achieve the residents' goals: community development corporations, human service agencies, religious institutions and local businesses.

Reinvestment by external forces is also essential to achieving our dream. Local government, banks, corporations and foundations have partnered with residents to invest in this neighborhood's dream.

Together, residents, community organizations, and outside institutions are striving to find a way.

Success Through Struggling Together

These organizing principles underlie DSNI's planning and organizing work:

• Empower vs. reinforce powerlessness
• Residents are the spokespeople for the neighborhood
• Organize in one's own language, which for us means English, Spanish and Cape Verdean Creole

   

• Good leaders are good listeners
• Residents lead the way in organizing, planning and implementation
• Build from positives; residents are assets.
• Anything is possible.

Hopes For the Future

DSNI is committed to realizing the fullness of urban village life. This means:

• Organizing and planning for comprehensive neighborhood development--convert the rest of the vacant land into homes, safe play spaces, gardens or other community uses; rehabilitate distressed properties; aggressively campaign on the urban environmental issues of soil-lead, trash management and hazardous waste reduction and prevention;

   

• Improved economic security by creating a dynamic business district, building on the momentum of public and private sector economic development initiatives. Bottom line: access to jobs and business opportunities;

   

• A brighter future for children and youth through improved educational, recreational, and economic opportunities and supports.

   

• An empowered, united community with the will, the resources and the power to determine our future together.

Che Madyun, DSNI President 1985-95, on the key challenge addressed by DSNI (quoted in Holding Ground video documentary):

"It's not so much what building or social program you are going to change . . . . but it's the people part of it, the part that has people investing themselves to make a difference, to make a change and to see that hope."

Board of Directors

Community Residents
Keila Barros
Paul Bothwell
Warren Brown
Jacquie Cairo-Williams
Maria Carvalho
Jose Couto Centeio
Cesar DaSilva
Catherine Flannery
Elizabeth Miranda
Nilda Ouijano
Clayton Turnbull
Lily Velazquez
Anthony Veras

Partner Organizations
Alyx Baez, YouthBuild-Boston
Edna Bynoe, Orchard Park United Tenants Association
Rev. Manuel Comas, Asamblea de Iglesias Cristia
Evelyn Friedman-Vargas, Nuestra Comunidad Development Corp.
Ruth Grant, St. Patrick's Church
Mary Gunn, Bird Street Community Center
Stephen Hanley, WAITT House
Robert Haas, Dorchester Bay EDC
Sr. Margaret Leonard, Project Hope
Al Lovata, Be Our Guest
Nestor Rios, La Alianza Hispana
Egidio "Gino" Teixeira, Ideal Sub Shop
Kay Williams, Roxbury Multi-Service Center

January 1996