Mission & Vision

Our Mission:

Dream Builders 4 Equity (DB4E) is working to develop economically sustainable and socially engaged communities by growing equity for youth, businesses, residents, and real estate.

Our Vision:

We envision a world in which all communities have the courage to dream, the skills to build, and the resources to own their future.

Our Approach:

We are tackling the vacant home epidemic plaguing the St. Louis region by employing local minority youth and contractors to do large scale community-led development projects - putting money and equity back in the pockets of people within the community while creating workforce development and scaling minority-owned contracting businesses.

While employed and participating in our Summer Academy and Apprentice Program, historically underserved youth develop the skills needed to succeed academically and professionally, while also retaining ownership and equity in the revitalized properties in the form of scholarship funds.

We ensure our development efforts protect against the displacement of current residents by providing renovations for seniors and grant support for property tax increases that disproportionately affect minority residents.

Our approach transforms neighborhoods that have been historically divested in into thriving communities where residents have the opportunity to live out their full potential.

Our 4 Pillar Equitable Development Model:

Our youth-centered, hyper-local model transforms North St. Louis neighborhoods into economically sustainable and socially engaged communities by growing equity and creating intersecting positive outcomes in all four areas.