The Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative was founded by residents to finally rebuild their neighborhood after decades of neglect. But first, the residents had to say “enough is enough.”
The neighborhood was one of the poorest in Boston, a dumping ground for toxic waste and condemned buildings. The city began “disinvesting” in the neighborhood, meaning they weren't allocating proper funding to its care and upkeep.
The majority of residents were Black and brown, so their cries fell on deaf ears. So the people took matters into their own hands.
A local foundation teamed up with the neighborhood to supply help and funding. Together, they protected the local land from being gentrified and sold. They established permanent affordable housing for residents as well as “parks and gardens, a town common, community center, charter school, community greenhouse, and several urban farms.”
This initiative invests in the community and increases its quality of life. It prevents it from being sold and gentrified, and shows what can happen when the people step up to take charge!
The Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative shows the power of communities coming together and fighting environmental racism, the terrors of gentrification and the disinvestment of our neighborhoods. We all can learn from these residents and use our voices. In great numbers, we cannot be silenced!