The Life of Dorothy Mae Richardson
Dorothy Mae Richardson was a well-known African American activist who is recognized for introducing a new approach to developing communities in the late 1960s. She spearheaded a resident movement to improve housing conditions in her neighborhood in the Central North Side of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is highly credited for her efforts.
During the mid-1960s, Richardson and her fellow residents reached out to city bankers and government officials in order to improve their neighborhood. With their combined efforts, they successfully convinced 16 financial institutions to provide traditional loans to the community, which were then used to fund the restoration of rundown homes. This initiative served as the foundation for the emerging field of community-based development and eventually led to the establishment of Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of Pittsburgh in 1968. The achievements of NHS of Pittsburgh became a valuable resource for community leaders and inspired the creation of similar programs in 300 cities throughout the United States. In 1978, the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, now known as NeighborWorks America, was established by Congress to institutionalize the NHS network and its mission, which was initially pioneered by Richardson and her neighborhood a decade prior.
In a 2015 piece on the NewGeography.com website, Richardson was acknowledged as a “black urbanist.”
Personal life
Dorothy Mae Davis was raised in the Manchester neighborhood of Pittsburgh. When she was around 16 years old, her family relocated to the Charles Street Valley. In 1940, she completed her studies at Allegheny High School. After her husband, Louis Richardson, a steelworker, returned from serving in World War Two, they settled in the house on the corner of Charles Street and Cross Street where Dorothy would spend the rest of her life.
Throughout her life, Richardson was an active member of the community. In an interview with the Pittsburgh Press prior to her passing, Richardson expressed her reasons for staying on the North Side: “I grew up there, I got married there, and all my friends are there.” On April 28, 1991, at Allegheny General Hospital, Richardson passed away at the age of 68 due to kidney failure. She is survived by her son, Jonathan, as well as her sister, Georgia Davis, and two brothers, David O. Davis and Daniel L. Davis.
Activism
During the 1960s, a significant number of America’s oldest neighborhoods located in the inner city were destroyed, and their residents were relocated to public housing projects as part of the urban renewal movement. The financial sector deemed these inner city areas as high-risk and unsuitable for profitable investments. However, Richardson, a homemaker, refused to accept the deteriorating state of her neighborhood. She witnessed houses sagging and windows decaying, and believed that the solution was not to demolish the entire neighborhood and relocate people to public housing, but rather to repair the existing houses.
A group of individuals, including Richardson and her neighbors, joined forces to create Citizens Against Slum Housing with the goal of gathering funds to assist low-income tenants in achieving homeownership.
The origin of the initiative can be traced back to a single block club. The residents were fed up with the dilapidated houses, neglectful landlords, and rampant rat infestation. Their goal was to improve 24 houses. The landlord agreed to their plan and provided them with the necessary sprays and materials to eliminate the rats and cockroaches. However, they were only able to complete five houses before running out of supplies and the landlord went back on his promise.
Richardson and the block club recognized that money was crucial for their success. They sought the support of city bankers and government officials to help improve the neighborhood. Together, they convinced 16 financial institutions to contribute to their efforts by providing loans and establishing a revolving loan fund. As a result, they were able to rehabilitate rundown homes. Richardson’s group secured $750,000 in grants from local lending institutions, which were used to establish the Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of Pittsburgh in 1968.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Richardson continued to hold a significant presence in her local community and beyond through her efforts to educate and motivate leaders within the community. She provided support in the formation of resident-led organizations for these leaders.
Legacy
The Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLB) partnered with Neighborhood Housing Services of Pittsburgh in 1970 to offer specialized training to savings and loan officers on lending in urban areas. These trainings later expanded into workshops for establishing similar organizations in other parts of the country. NeighborWorks America created a video showcasing the accomplishments of this collaboration.
In 1978, the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, also known as NeighborWorks America, was established by Congress. Its purpose was to encourage reinvestment in older neighborhoods through collaboration between local financial institutions, the community, residents, and local governments.
Award in Honor of Dorothy Richardson
The Dorothy Richardson Award for Resident Leadership was established in 1992 by NeighborWorks America to honor the life work of Richardson. This award is given to seven community leaders each year from various parts of the United States for their exceptional contributions to their communities. It recognizes individuals who have made significant achievements in the areas of affordable housing and community-based development. To be eligible for nomination, candidates must reside and/or work in a community served by a NeighborWorks America affiliate organization and have a minimum of two years of documented volunteer work.
The Dorothy Richardson Legacy Award was established in 2008 by NHS of Pittsburgh, which is currently called Neighbor Works Western Pennsylvania. Its purpose is to acknowledge the exceptional efforts of devoted volunteers and board members who have served for an extended period of time.
