When 21-year-old Jamarro Johnson, a lifelong eastside resident, steps outside of his workplace located near the intersection of 38th Street and Post Road, he can see how much the neighborhood has changed. The shopping area where the community grocery store once stood now hosts smaller businesses such as thrift stores and beauty supply shops, its mostly vacant parking lot full of untended potholes and often riddled with trash.
“As a resident, I do happen to see litter very often,” Johnson said. “It is in the parking lots of businesses and just on the street, scattered throughout neighborhoods,”
As the youth employment specialist with the Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (C.A.F.E), he felt compelled to seek a solution. Johnson and members of a newly formed association known as the Far Eastside Community Council started brainstorming ideas on how to improve their neighborhood’s reputation.
“There are many stereotypes placed on the far eastside,” Johnson said. “These labels (include) ‘the hottest of the hot spots,’ and the side of town with one of the highest crime rates in the city. And we are so much more bigger and better than that.”
The group felt a great first step would be cleaning up the plastic and paper products cluttering the community. On April 21, C.A.F.E., the Far Eastside Community Council and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) will bring the Great Indy Cleanup to the area.
The Great Indy Clean Up is a program that assists community groups and individuals looking to combat heavy litter by providing cleaning supplies and dumpster trucks. Each year, between 300 to 400 clean ups take place across Indianapolis. In 2017, over 9,000 people participated citywide. Johnson said C.A.F.E staff has organized the event in the past, but it was never advertised in the community to the extent it is being advertised this year.
Allie Kast, Great Indy Cleanup community coordinatorwith Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, says the benefits of cleaning up go beyond aesthetics. Beautifying a community increases home values, attracts businesses, improves the neighborhood’s image and reduces crime.
“We have noticed, with our cleanups, a lot of times it is the first step that communities take to instilling neighborhood pride,” Kast said. “We have seen crime watches and neighborhood associations form after neighbors come together for a cleanup. It’s a good way to get out there and start talking about issues the neighborhood is facing.”
Kast says cleaning up ultimately helps to prevent further pollution across Indianapolis.
“On the northside, on Binford (Boulevard), there is paper and plastic bottles everywhere from people tossing it out their windows as they drive. Downtown, after events, there is always plastic and paper laying around. It is a problem everywhere,” Kast said. “When there is trash and litter, it invites more trash and litter. It’s kind of the broken window theory, if there is one broken window, more will come along soon after as well. Less trash and litter leads to a higher quality of life. People will feel better about where they live, and more proud, and take more care.”
Johnson has been spreading the word regarding the cleanup at community meetings, churches, businesses and apartment complexes. He expects a turnout of at least 25 to 40 people, but feels cleaning up is only the first step.
“We need more businesses, which will open up more jobs, more community involvement including monthly cleanups and more organizations getting involved with C.A.F.E,” Johnson said.
To contact Community Alliance of the Far Eastside call 317-890-3288.
Contact reporter Keshia McEntire at 317-762-7853. Follow her on Twitter @Keshiamc12.
Pollution statistics
– Plastic accounts for around 10 percent of the total waste Americans generate.
– Approximately 185 pounds of plastic — enough to circle Earth four times — is thrown away each year by Americans.
– People who live in places with high levels of air pollutants have a 20 percent higher risk of death from lung cancer than people who live in less polluted areas.
– Approximately 40 percent of the lakes in America are too polluted for fishing, aquatic life or swimming.
– Recycling and composting prevented 85 million tons of material from being thrown away in 2010, up from 18 million tons in 1980.
(Sources: dosomething.org, ecowatch.com)
Community members fill up a packer truck during a southside Great Indy Cleanup. (Photo/Keep Indianapolis Beautiful)
