Conducting Neighborhood Cleanup Programs

1. Conducting Neighborhood Cleanup Programs

2. What is a neighborhoodcleanup program? • Residents band together to clean up all or part of their neighborhood • There are actually three kinds of neighborhood cleanups, any or all of which can be included in a single event: • Public space cleanup • Household cleanup • Community-assisted cleanup

3. Public Space Cleanup • A public space cleanup may start with the municipality • In some cases, the municipality will designate a day for the cleanup • In other cases, the neighborhood can apply for a specific day or weekend • Volunteers might take on tasks ranging from sweeping streets and sidewalks to picking up and separating trash • This type of cleanup often ends with a party or meal

4. Household Cleanup • A household cleanup may be held as part of a public space cleanup, or may stand on its own. • A neighborhood-organized household cleanup usually operates similarly to a neighborhood-initiated public space cleanup.

5. Community-Assisted Cleanup • The community itself makes all or part of the cleanup possible. • If such a neighborhood sore spot is privately owned, residents may need permission from the owner or some official action from the municipality in order to clean it up. • These cleanups may be one-time or annual events, but may also take place much more often. • Large city neighborhoods may have to conduct regular frequent cleanups for maintenance.

6. Why conduct a neighborhoodcleanup program? • A neighborhood cleanup program can instill neighborhood pride. • It can break a cycle of hopelessness and helplessness. • It gives everyone a chance to contribute. • A cleanup program enhances neighborhood quality of life. • It can improve the self-image of residents and of the neighborhood as a whole. • A neighborhood cleanup program can improve neighborhood health.

7. Why conduct a neighborhoodcleanup program? • It can help to "green" the neighborhood. • It makes the neighborhood more attractive to business. • It can serve as a springboard for other neighborhood actions or activities. • It can increase the number of relationships and the amount of social capital within the neighborhood. • A neighborhood cleanup program can encourage the embrace of diversity.

8. Who should be involved in a neighborhood cleanup program? • Any significant racial or ethnic groups, including the majority group. • Youth. • Elders. • People with disabilities. • Faith communities. • Property owners, including absentee owners. • Renters. • Neighborhood business owners and managers. • Neighborhood clubs and associations. • Health and human service organizations that serve the neighborhood. • School personnel. • Neighborhood and/or municipal officials.

9. When should you conduct a neighborhood cleanup program? General guidelines for when to conduct a neighborhood cleanup: • Pay attention to the weather • Schedule around volunteers’ lives • Coordinate with the municipality if you can

10. Some good times to conduct a neighborhood cleanup • When open spaces and streets in the neighborhood are covered with waste. • When the municipality provides the opportunity. • When waste presents a danger to children or others. • When waste presents a danger to health. • When the neighborhood is interested in economic development. • When you want to bring the neighborhood together. • When the neighborhood seems to have lost hope.

11. How do you conduct a neighborhood cleanup program? • Recruit or find a core group to begin the effort • Put together a planning group that represents all groups in the neighborhood. • Assess the neighborhood. • Decide what kind of neighborhood cleanup you want to conduct. • Consider your resources. • Pick an appropriate place, date, and time. • Recruit volunteers. • Organize volunteers. • Plan the cleanup itself.

12. Plan the cleanup itself • Coordinate the effort. • Ask for help from the municipality. • Get permissions and permits. • Decide what needs to be done. • Manage volunteers. • Work with the media to gain positive publicity. • Take care of the nitty gritty. • Make the cleanup fun. • Celebrate when you're done.

13. How do you conduct a neighborhood cleanup program? (cont.) • Run the cleanup • Monitor and record your efforts • Create a structure to keep the effort going • Start planning for the next cleanup.

14. In Summary • A neighborhood cleanup can improve the look of your neighborhood, but can do much more as well. • A successful cleanup can be the beginning of neighborhood regeneration. • Establishing a neighborhood cleanup program can be a boon for any neighborhood, increasing connections among neighbors and creating community. • In order to bring about long-term social change, you have to build a structure that will survive the departure of the builders, and benefit the neighborhood indefinitely.