Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI)
We empower Dudley residents to organize, plan for, create and control a vibrant, diverse and high-quality neighborhood in collaboration with community partners.
New Direction:
DSNI’s main areas of focus encompass our mission and help us fulfill our commitment to work with the community to harness resident voices and foster local leadership. Are you interested in learning more about our strategic road map?
We love to share the stories and experiences of DSNI board members and/or residents. For this blog post, we’re sharing the story of Cecilia Teixera, a DSNI Board Member.
BHEEP (Building Holistic Educational & Employment Pathways) is a project led by Boston Plan for Excellence (BPE), Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) & Project Hope. The goal of BHEEP is to be able to implement STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts & Mathematics) in the Dudley Village. The goal is to make it accessible to those living in the neighborhood. Implementing something like this in the neighborhood will give people access to a better education, leading to better jobs and higher wages.
Dear Dudley Neighbor,
As we continue to work through this rapidly evolving situation around coronavirus (COVID-19), our first thought is for the safety and well-being of all of our residents and community. Our neighborhood has always worked together through hardships to create a stronger and more connected community. At this time, we must unite in the face of a new crisis.
We love to share the stories and experiences of DSNI board members and/or residents. For this blog post, we’re sharing the story of Belinda Cardoso, a DSNI Board Member.
Invitations for residents to respond to the 2020 Census will be delivered between March 12-20th. Acknowledging that participation in the Census determines the resources and support that our community receives, our goal is to get as many residents to respond to the 2020 Census as possible!
Some of the decisions that are made based on Census results include-“School lunches. Plans for highways. Support for firefighters and families in need. Census results affect your community every day.” (2020census.gov)
This image has been taken from The Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
On Friday, February 7, DSNI hosted its annual Open House, welcoming people to mingle, eat and dance. It’s an event that brings members of the Dudley community together with staff, board members and newcomers to reflect on progress in the neighborhood and enjoy a night of fun activities.
We welcome John Lloyd as our new Executive Director! John brings over 17 years of cross-sector experience in strategy consulting, project management and organizational development and leadership. John is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Applied Learning and Development at the University of Pennsylvania and holds an MBA in Management from Bentley University.
The structure of our Board of Directors is a true testament to how we value resident leadership and control. Every two years, the community elects our 35-member Board. The Board consists of representatives from each of the major ethnic groups in our community-African-Americans, Cape Verdeans, Latinos and Whites, as well as seats for youth (ages 14-17), local non-profits, CDCs, businesses and religious institutions.
Over the last 2 years, we have been part of a unique community development partnership with the City of Boston to implement the Upham’s Corner Arts & Innovation District. We recently achieved a major milestone with the imminent release of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for redevelopment of several important properties along Columbia Road in the Upham’s Corner area of Dorchester.

As the effects of COVID-19 continue to spread, they are affecting the most vulnerable populations, including immigrants and people of color, which make up a large percentage of The Dudley Village’s population. Mortality, unemployment, and poverty are all expected to get worse in our community with today’s circumstances.