Hyde Park · North St. Louis City
Dream it. Build it. Own it.
Our Dream
We envision a world where all communities have the courage to dream, the skills to build, and the resources to own their future.
Our youth-centered, hyper-local model transforms North St. Louis neighborhoods into economically sustainable and socially engaged communities — growing equity and creating intersecting positive outcomes across all four pillars.
DonateOur Programs
Six pathways to community equity
Every DB4E program is interconnected — designed to create real wages, real ownership, and real community power for young people and residents in Hyde Park.
Youth development
Summer BUILD Academy
An 8-week program providing young people with tools, employment, mentorship, and real-world development experience. Participants contribute to community projects, publish their writings, earn wages, and access free therapy and ongoing mentorship.
Summer BUILD Academy →Real Estate
Transforming Hyde Park
DB4E rehabilitates vacant properties alongside minority contractors — boosting economic opportunity, encouraging community business growth, and fostering lasting investment in Hyde Park.
Real Estate Program →Publishing
Book Publishing
Participants journal their Summer BUILD Academy experiences and get published. 100% of book sale profits go directly to the youth authors — building voice, identity, and financial independence.
Book Publishing →Free Repairs
Senior Home Repair
Free home repairs for Hyde Park seniors ensure they can remain in livable conditions — increasing net worth and reducing displacement traditionally associated with new community development.
Senior Home Repair →Chess
Black Squares
A youth-led afterschool program providing essential access to chess for minority youth in St. Louis — promoting critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative learning in a culturally rooted environment.
Black Squares →Retail · Creative
House of Vision
A retail store showcasing locally-made clothes, art, books, and products. HOV empowers youth and community entrepreneurship — nurturing talent and providing resources for North City residents to thrive.
House of Vision →Our Community
Rooted in Hyde Park
DB4E's work is hyper-local by design. We're not parachuting in — we live, work, and build in Hyde Park. Every vacant lot we rehabilitate, every senior we serve, every young person we employ is part of a connected strategy to transform our neighborhood from within.
See Our Projects →
Updates:
Thanks to Our Key Mission Supporters!
