After the Cleanup: What We Learned in Mid City
by Dr. Ashlee Kelly
Last month, the Mid City Community Development Corporation (Mid City CDC) hosted a Community Cleanup and Stormwater Marking event in Mid City, covering the area between Fortification Street, Bailey Avenue, and Woodrow Wilson Avenue. We considered it a success; however, we plan to make a few key adjustments as we prepare for future cleanups.
What Worked Well
Planning and Approval Process
Mid City CDC scheduled our cleanup through Keep Jackson Beautiful. To participate, your organization or neighborhood will need a Neighborhood Registration Number, which you can obtain here. During the application, you’ll also need to provide details such as your preferred date, start and end times, backup dates for inclement weather, and your ward. Through the application, we requested all the necessary supplies and equipment. The City of Jackson’s Stormwater Division supported us with markers, brushes, adhesives, and literature, emphasizing the importance of keeping only water in drains to prevent pollution.
Community Outreach and Marketing
Once Keep Jackson Beautiful approved our application, we created a Facebook event and shared it on other platforms, including Instagram, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter). Reminders were sent to community partners and residents through email and text messages. Our cleanup was also featured on Volunteer Mississippi’s calendar and the Jackson Association of Neighborhoods’ Community Calendar, which reshared it each time we posted. We highlighted the specific streets we targeted and the benefits of community cleanups and stormwater marking.
Partner Support
Our partners were invaluable in helping recruit volunteers and participating in the cleanup. Without their contributions, the cleanup wouldn’t have been as successful.
Provision of Supplies and Refreshments
Mid City CDC provided participants with maps detailing the cleanup area. We offered coffee, water, juice, donuts, and fruit for participants who might not have eaten beforehand or needed a snack afterward. Afterward, we returned all equipment and unused supplies to Keep Jackson Beautiful.
Efficient Timing
From past experiences, we noticed that people could get burnt out quickly during cleanups. We scheduled ours for three hours, keeping engagement high and energy levels up.
What We Would Change
Volunteer Management
Managing volunteer needs while actively participating in the cleanup was challenging. We plan to assign dedicated volunteer coordinators for future cleanups to oversee logistics and address immediate needs.
Extended Marketing Efforts
Although the event was successful, we believe marketing further in advance could boost participation, especially from community members and local churches. We aim to enhance our outreach efforts to strengthen community involvement.
We want to highlight that Keep Jackson Beautiful is celebrating its 60th anniversary! For six decades, this incredible organization has been instrumental in litter cleanup, litter prevention, education and outreach, and the beautification of Jackson. We encourage everyone to contribute to their 60 for the 60th Birthday Donation campaign to help them continue this vital work.
About Dr. Ashlee Kelly: Dr. Ashlee Kelly is the executive director of the Mid City Community Development Corporation and serves as vice president of the Jackson Association of Neighborhoods.
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