DSNI is one of the most successful community development projects in the nation — winner of many awards for excellence, supported by leading national foundations, and promoted as a national model in its field. In 1984, the Dudley Street neighborhood was compared to bombed-out Beirut, with many properties destroyed by arson, and 1,300 garbage-strewn vacant lots. The Mabel Louise Riley Foundation helped form DSNI, engaging residents to work for a complete transformation. DSNI is now a community powerhouse with 3,000 members, who, in grassroots fashion, tackle neighborhood issues collectively and democratically. Its purpose is “to build a vibrant urban village with all the complex systems and relationships important to village life. Given the extreme destruction we experienced, this means rebuilding the economic, social, human and spiritual fabric of community.” It has built over 400 new homes and refurbished 740 housing units. With eminent domain, it has created a community land trust for 150 of those homes, and reclaimed other sites for gardens, parks and a community greenhouse. Parents are organized to advocate for better schools; students are tutored in preparation for MCAS; through various programs, DSNI encourages youths to stay in the neighborhood and become future community leaders. Now is the time for follow-through investments — yours included.