Environmentalism in the Dudley Street Neighborhood
By Antonio Alves, Trish Settles, and Jason Webb
INTRODUCTION
Eleven years ago, a not-so-unique Boston neighborhood spawned a unique neighborhood organization, the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI). DSNI presents a national model for community-based grassroots organizations to rebuild and revitalize neighborhoods ravaged by years of disinvestment, neglect, and abuse. By viewing the community as an urban village, DSNI demonstrates that groups can holistically address issues such as housing, economic development, human development, and the environment.
The Dudley Street environment is not an idyllic vision of rivers, mountains, beaches, and forests. While the environment does contain air, trees, and gardens; this is a community of houses, people, parks, schools, churches, gardens, and businesses. DSNI believes that in order to address neighborhood concerns each facet of this environment must be considered in a comprehensive and integrated manner. DSNI achieves this through a mission which empowers Dudley residents to organize, plan, and control a vibrant, high quality, and diverse neighborhood in collaboration with our community partners.
Part I provides an overview of the Dudley Street Community and the problems it faces - problems shared by many urban neighborhoods. Part II discusses the achievements of DSNI and the community as a whole. Part III reviews the principles DSNI believes are responsible for the organization's success. Hopefully, this article will encourage other urban neighborhood groups to follow DSNI's principles and achieve success in their own neighborhoods.
Eleven years ago, a not-so-unique Boston neighborhood spawned a unique neighborhood organization, the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI). DSNI presents a national model for community-based grassroots organizations to rebuild and revitalize neighborhoods ravaged by years of disinvestment, neglect, and abuse. By viewing the community as an urban village, DSNI demonstrates that groups can holistically address issues such as housing, economic development, human development, and the environment.
The Dudley Street environment is not an idyllic vision of rivers, mountains, beaches, and forests. While the environment does contain air, trees, and gardens; this is a community of houses, people, parks, schools, churches, gardens, and businesses. DSNI believes that in order to address neighborhood concerns each facet of this environment must be considered in a comprehensive and integrated manner. DSNI achieves this through a mission which empowers Dudley residents to organize, plan, and control a vibrant, high quality, and diverse neighborhood in collaboration with our community partners.
Part I provides an overview of the Dudley Street Community and the problems it faces - problems shared by many urban neighborhoods. Part II discusses the achievements of DSNI and the community as a whole. Part III reviews the principles DSNI believes are responsible for the organization's success. Hopefully, this article will encourage other urban neighborhood groups to follow DSNI's principles and achieve success in their own neighborhoods.
