They Are Coming Back to Dudley

It was a smallish neighborhood turnout but what they lacked in numbers they made up for in enthusiasm in Dudley Square today.  Organized by coalition of municipal, state, and law enforcement groups and spearheaded by Roxbury business owner Clayton Turnbull, Dudley Main Streets coordinator Joyce Stanley, and former District 7 neighborhood liaison Angela Yarde, Come Back to Dudley was a celebration of the positive changes happening in Dudley Square.

Many of the big guns were present:  Mayor Menino, Police Commissioner Davis, MBTA G.M. Rich Davey, B-2 Captain John Davin, Transit Chief Paul MacMillan, Tito, and Felix. The mayor acknowledged that the changes coming to Dudley are the result of collaboration between many city, government, and neighborhood forces and said a cleaner and safer Dudley will help to draw people with disposable income to the district.

Anticipating that disposable income were several artists hawking their wares.

Janeen St. Louis of Roxbury poses with some of her her jewelry line

Carol D. Carter of Dorchester was passing through the station on her way to the health fair at the Hynes when she was drawn by the crowd and the music. She paid three dollars for a little hand paint and then exhorted others to do the same.

"We got to support each other," she said.

Carol D. Carter shows off her hand with its painted butterfly