DeSales Community Development Celebrates 50 Years!

For five decades, DeSales Community Development has been a trusted, steady presence in St. Louis neighborhoods through sustained housing investment, preservation, and resident-focused support.

On November 5th, we gather in the heart of our historic service area at Rung for Women to recognize the milestone of 50 years of impact and reflect on the partnerships, projects, and people who have shaped our work. The event marks both a celebration of progress and a continued commitment to neighborhood stability for generations to come.

✍️ A Message from the Executive Director

Fifty years is a remarkable milestone, not because of the passage of time itself, but because of what has been built, preserved, and sustained through that time.

As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of DeSales Community Development, I find myself reflecting on the countless people who have shaped this organization's story. Neighbors who believed in their community when others had given up. Residents who chose to stay and invest in the places they call home. Staff, volunteers, partners, donors, and public leaders who recognized that strong neighborhoods do not happen by accident. They are built through commitment, collaboration, and care.

Since 1976, DeSales has worked alongside residents to strengthen St. Louis neighborhoods through affordable housing, community investment, and resident support. Over five decades, our work has evolved, but our core belief has remained unchanged: every person deserves the opportunity to live in a safe, stable community where they can thrive.

The neighborhoods we serve today are stronger because generations of people invested their time, talent, and resources in them. Together, we have preserved historic buildings, created and maintained affordable homes, transformed vacant and neglected properties into community assets, and supported families as they pursue their goals and dreams.

Yet our work is not finished. Across St. Louis, there are still neighborhoods facing many of the same challenges that inspired the founding of DeSales fifty years ago. The need for affordable housing remains urgent. The need for community-driven investment remains critical. The need for organizations willing to commit for the long term remains as important as ever.

As we celebrate this milestone, we also look ahead. The next chapter of our story will be shaped by the same values that have guided us for fifty years: stewardship, partnership, and an unwavering belief in the people and neighborhoods of St. Louis.

Thank you for being part of this journey. We invite you to celebrate with us, reflect on what we have accomplished together, and join us in building the next fifty years of impact.

Becky Reinhart
Executive Director
DeSales Community Development