Keep It Clean Oakland

What is it?
"Keep It Clean Oakland" is an initiative designed to actively engage longtime residents and the university community in beautification activities throughout Oakland's neighborhoods. Volunteers work together to clean, repair and improve the Oakland area. The idea is simple but the potential impact is huge. The initiative focuses on keeping the area clean through beautification efforts throughout the year while at the same time creating opportunities for students to feel a sense of ownership of the community.

Why?
Oakland has an incredible amount of litter and debris due to the number of users it has each and every day. Many of the diverse populations that use Oakland are rarely given the opportunity to improve and take care of thearea. The cleanup and ongoing cleaning activities will improve the visual and physical aspects of the environment. By engaging the Oakland residents and students to take part in cleanup and "keep clean" activities, they are more likely to careabout its appearance.

"Keep it Clean Oakland" encourages Oakland residents (both short and long term) to take ownership and responsibility of Oakland as a space and to create an atmosphere of pride in keeping Oakland beautiful. There are many examples of cities, which take a littered and distressed area and change it into an area that is clean and cared for by its community. Clean neighborhoods can translate into less crime, less graffiti, increased property values, and a better environment for anyone who uses or lives in the community.

Who is involved and what do they do?
"Keep it Clean Oakland" is collaborative in nature. Partnerships between Oakland Planning and Development Corporation, Oakland Community Council, the University of Pittsburgh, and local businesses have made this program a success. Since August of 2003, we've had over 8,700 volunteers collect 4,300 bags of litter and debris from Oakland.

We have removed litter, painted a field house, planted flowers, removed more litter, distributed information on recycling, code enforcement, and tenant rights and responsibilities. We have created an Adopt-A-Block program where a group adopts a street or group of streets and agrees to clean it up at least once a month.

KICO Quarterly Newsletters
KICO Summer 2008 Newsletter

KICO Sponsors and Partners
Jewish Healthcare Foundation - OPDC would like to thank the Jewish Healthcare Foundation for its continued support of the Keep It Clean, Oakland program. Since KICO's inception in 2003, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation has donated $7,000.00 to support our neighborhood cleanup and beautification projects. The generosity of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation has enabled OPDC to buy various supplies, including trash bags, gloves, hand sanitizer, and flowers.

University of Pittsburgh - OPDC would also like to thank the University of Pittsburgh for its continued support of the Dumpster Project and for its in-kind donation of 20 dustpans and brooms for KICO.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - OPDC would also like to thank the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for its generous in-kind donation of latex gloves, and trash bags for KICO and Adopt-a-Block.

American Eagle Outfitters Foundation - OPDC would like to thank the American Eagle Outfitters Foundation for their generous donation of over 600+ blank, colored tee shirts for KICO. Last year, OPDC printed the newest design of KICO tee shirts after holding a tee shirt design contest among KICO volunteers and Adopt-a-Block groups.  The tee shirts were a huge hit among the volunteers as they featured a bright yellow decal on the back with a trashcan telling everyone to “Bash the Trash!”

City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works - OPDC would like to thank the Department of Public Works for their continued commitment to KICO. KICO would not be possible without the support of Public Works, as they are kind enough to pick up our trash from our many cleanup events throughout the year.

KICO could not accomplish what it does without the help of our community partners like the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, The City's Department of Public Works and the American Eagle Outfitters Foundation! Thank you again to our community sponsors and partners!!

 

Adopt-a-Block
The Adopt-a-Block program is part of OPDC's broader clean up and beautification program, Keep It Clean, Oakland (KICO). The goal of KICO is to engage residents in the community while keeping Oakland clean. Through the Adopt-a-Block program, student and community organizations can adopt a street or group of streets in Oakland. By doing so, they vow to clean up their streetonce per month for the entire academic year. Last year, there were 38 active Adopt-a-Block groups and almost every street in Oakland was adopted.

For the Adopt-a-Block program, all the necessary supplies are provided by OPDC, including gloves, trash bags, dustpans, brooms, and hand sanitizer. All you have to do is show up ready and willing to clean up your street! Adopt-a-Block is a simple, easy way for organizations and groups to get involved and make a difference in the Oakland community.

 

Adopt-A-Block Dates for the 2008-2009 to be announced soon!

Please note: All Adopt-a-Blocks begin at 10:00am!

For more information or to sign up, please email Kelly or call 412-621-7863.

How to get involved
To find out about future volunteer opportunities or to be added to the KICO email distribution list, email Kelly or call 412-621-7863.

We can customize volunteer activities for your group! If you have a particular day in mind and we don't have an event scheduled we can usually organize one for you.

back to top