Dream Builders 4 Equity

DEVELOP ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE AND SOCIALLY ENGAGED COMMUNITIES BY GROWING EQUITY FOR YOUTH, BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS, AND REAL ESTATE.

DB4E ACTIVELY ADDRESSES THE VACANT HOME AND BUILDING EPIDEMIC IN NORTH CITY BY REHABILITATING AND REIMAGINING PREVIOUSLY VACANT PROPERTIES, THEREBY EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINORITY CONTRACTORS, CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY BUSINESS GROWTH, AND ESTABLISHING SUSTAINED LONG-TERM MOMENTUM AND INVESTMENT IN HYDE PARK. DB4E SUCCESSFULLY REVITALIZED A PREVIOUSLY VACANT PROPERTY WHILE EXPOSING YOUTH AGES 16-24 TO THE REHABILITATION PROCESS. THIS EFFORT CULMINATED IN THE SALE OF THE HOME TO A FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNER. WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE ACTIVE REHABILITATION PROJECTS IN HYDE PARK, WHICH DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE ONGOING RENEWAL OF THE ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY. AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY, WE FACILITATED TWO FREE HOME REPAIRS IN HYDE PARK. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDED FREE LANDSCAPING SERVICES FOR THE ENTIRE GRASS-CUTTING SEASON TO 50 SENIORS IN THE HYDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD, CONTRIBUTING TO NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION AND SUPPORTING THE WELL-BEING OF SENIORS.

THE SUMMER BUILD ACADEMY, AN 8-WEEK PROGRAM, SERVES AS THE CORE OF DB4E'S YOUTH-DRIVEN COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION, PROVIDING PARTICIPANTS AGES 16-24 WITH ESSENTIAL TOOLS, RESOURCES, SUPPORT, AND EXPOSURE TO THRIVE AND LEAD IN VARIOUS ASPECTS OF LIFE. THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, THEY CONTRIBUTE TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND JOURNAL ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES. THEIR WRITINGS ARE PUBLISHED IN A BOOK, WITH PROCEEDS GOING DIRECTLY TO THE YOUTH. FOLLOWING THE ACADEMY, THEY'RE PARTNERED WITH MENTORS, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN MONEY THROUGH PROPERTY REHABILITATION AND TEACHING CHESS, PARTICIPATE IN MONTHLY EVENTS, AND HAVE ACCESS TO FREE THERAPY. A TOTAL OF 36 YOUNG PEOPLE COMPLETED THE 2022 SUMMER BUILD ACADEMY COHORT, INVESTING A COLLECTIVE 7,317 HOURS TOWARDS TRANSFORMING THEMSELVES AND THE HYDE PARK COMMUNITY. 98% OF THE PARTICIPANTS ARE ON TRACK TO GRADUATE FROM SECONDARY, POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, OR TRADE SCHOOL OR ARE CURRENTLY GAINFULLY EMPLOYED. THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS COLLABORATED ON A BOOK OF POETRY AND PERSONAL STORIES TITLED "BRICK BY BRICK". THEY ALSO WORKED TOGETHER ON A JOINT MUSICAL ALBUM, WHICH WAS SHOWCASED AT THEIR BOOK SIGNING EVENT.

HOV HOUSE OF VISION (HOV) IS A COMMUNITY STORE THAT SHOWCASES LOCALLY-MADE CLOTHING, ART, BOOKS, AND OTHER PRODUCTS CREATED BY YOUTH AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AS A CATALYST AND ENTRY POINT INTO SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURSHIP, HOV REMOVES BARRIERS AND RISKS, PROVIDING A SAFE TRAINING GROUND FOR OUR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. HOV IS PIVOTAL IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY FOR TRANSFORMING NORTH ST. LOUIS CITY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT CREATING A PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY REQUIRES MORE THAN JUST REHABILITATING HOMES. IT ALSO INVOLVES ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS SUCH AS RETAIL STORES, GROCERY STORES, CHILDCARE FACILITIES, AND MORE. HOV ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTES TO BUILDING UP OUR COMMUNITY, SERVING AS ONE OF THESE VITAL NEEDS AND ENCOURAGING BUSINESSES TO EITHER RETURN TO THE NORTH OR ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN THE AREA. ADDITIONALLY, HOV OPERATES AS A PRINT AND EMBROIDERY SHOP FOR EXTERNAL BUSINESSES, WITH OUR YOUTH SERVING AS STAFF EMPLOYEES. THIS INTEGRATED MODEL REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO NURTURING TALENTS, FOSTERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND CONTRIBUTING TO EQUITY IN THE COMMUNITY.