DSNI Hosts Mayor Walsh for Discussion on Future of Dudley Village Campus

Left to right: John Barros, Boston's Chief of Economic Development; State Representative Evandro Carvalho;  Mayor Marty Walsh; Keila Barros, DSNI's Board President; and Juan Leyton, DSNI's Executive Director.

On, Friday, January 29, DSNI hosted Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh and local leaders at its annual open house, which brought neighbors together for a discussion of the future of the Dudley Village Campus.

The event focused on providing Dudley residents the opportunity to participate in the vision of the future of the neighborhood, while submitting ideas to the Imagine Boston 2030 citywide planning committee.

“Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative is all about lifting people up and creating opportunities,” said Mayor Walsh. “This is a thriving and healthy community and the future of our city is right here in this room.”

Dudley residents answering questions about the future of their neighborhood.

“We thank Mayor Walsh for visiting DSNI and including Dudley residents in the Boston 2030 initiative planning process,” said DSNI Executive Director Juan Leyton. “We want to ensure that the future of our neighborhood is planned with and by the community.”

Other local leaders in attendance included Boston Chief of Education Rahn Dorsey, Chief of Economic Development John Barros, Director of the Department of Neighborhood Development Sheila Dillon, Rep. Evandro Carvalho and Councilor Tito Jackson.

“DSNI is doing what it has always been doing, which is community engagement,” said Rep. Carvalho. “Looking forward, I want to work with DSNI to make sure we continue to build and develop the community, and increase opportunities for  people that are here today.”

The theme of the event was ‘Imagine Your Dudley Village Campus’. The event showcased performances from DSNI’s youth program, interactive art installations and a culinary presentation by residents. DSNI also discussed its upcoming work in 2016 as it celebrates 32 years of building community power and control of the land in the Dudley neighborhood.

Dudley dad helps his daughter answer the question, "What's your vision for the neighborhood in 2030?"