#HydePark2025: Landscaping for Seniors
Dream Builders 4 Equity Harnesses the Power of Partnership to Bring Free Landscaping to Hundreds of Seniors
In 2020, DB4E continued to look for creative ways to support St. Louis City residents. Instead of starting from scratch, we found values-aligned partners like Park Central Development (Park Central) and St. Louis Art Place Initiative (Art Place) and built on the work they were already doing. Together with our partners, we created an initiative that keeps youth and contractors of color employed, all while bringing older adults in the community free landscaping services.
Yard upkeep is a hassle as adults age — to do it yourself requires mobility, physical strength, know-how, and significant time investment. And hiring help can be costly. DB4E saw the opportunity to hire local contractors of color and train local youth, all while making older adults’ homes safer and more beautiful conveniently and at no cost to the residents.
The Project Begins as a Collaboration Between Park Central and DB4E
The project started when Park Central connected DB4E with 50 older adults’ and the project soon expanded, through a partnership with Employment Connections, to over 100 homes. We also completed the landscaping for Art Place, a local St. Louis City nonprofit. This financially sustainable project generates revenue for DB4E to pay youth and professional contractors, and also keeps us, as an organization, on a pathway to financial sustainability.
It works like this: we pair our youth with landscaping contractors of color who act as project managers and mentors for youth who are new to the trade. Each team is then paired with several seniors to fix up their yards. At first, the professional contractors take the lead and once youth get used to the work, they take more of a leadership position. DB4E youth also engage informally with the residents, sometimes dropping off care packages or meals. Through this work, we see three generations: contractors, youth, and seniors, all coming together in fellowship around this free service. Seniors feel seen and heard, and build relationships with the young people in their communities.
Beyond increasing the number of youth and older adults involved in the program, we see the landscaping project as an opportunity for the youth to take ownership and lead the work, as it is less complex than other areas such as roofing and electric. We look forward to seeing DB4E youth step up and lead this space in 2022!
Support This Equity-Focused, Intergenerational Work
The landscaping project is built on partnership and is proving that we are truly stronger together. It is part of Hyde Park 2025, a campaign aiming to transform Hyde Park into an economically sustainable and socially engaged neighborhood by growing equity and creating intersecting outcomes for youth, residents, businesses, and real estate. You have the opportunity to support this intergenerational, equity-focused work by contributing to Hyde Park 2025. Please donate today.
