Youth volunteers clean Midway area streets

INCLUDE TIDY VIDEO | Find out which group preened SE Division Street in outer East Portland, starting at the Division Midway Alliance office …

In the Mill Park neighborhood, a group of youth gather at the Division Midway Alliance offices for the street clean-up.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

At least for a while, SE Division Street, from 122nd Avenue south to about 112th Avenue was trash-free, after a group turned out for a street clean-up on Saturday morning, April 20.

This group, affiliated with the Division Midway Alliance Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative, set out from the DMA offices in the Mill Park neighborhood to remove trash and rubbish along the thoroughfare, and across the street as well – in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood.

Providing safety information, it’s DMA Vietnamese Community Liaison Khanh Le – the project’s leader.

“The youth participating today have been participating in the “Youth Conversation on Importance of Watershed in Cross-Cultural Setting” project by the DMA and the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services,” DMA Vietnamese Community Liaison Khanh Le told East Portland News as the group gathered.

“This project engages culturally diverse youth from outer East Portland, focusing on watershed management and global cross-cultural understanding. Participants learn about local ecosystems, culminating in a mural painted at the DMA office.

The volunteers gather for a “team photo” before heading out to preen along SE Division Street.

“Today, we are celebrating the project’s completion with a clean-up along the Division Corridor, improving neighborhood cleanliness and preventing pollution in nearby waterways – and afterwards a pizza party!” Le added.

See this video of these volunteers getting ready, then heading out to remove rubbish and trash from a major outer East Portland street:

Before the volunteers left to begin gathering debris on the street, Le gathered the group and told them, “Thank you so much for spending your Saturday coming out here to help us create a cleaner Division Corridor for everyone.”

Volunteers find plenty of trash and litter to pick up on their outing.

She went over the safety briefing information provided by SOLVE for such clean-ups — including the advice to leave sharps, bottles containing any substance, and deceased animals for experts to pick up.

Then, a total of 15 volunteers headed out, trash pickers and bags in hand.

Afterwards, Le reported that the group had collected 19 bags of litter.

Across the street, in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood, volunteers continue to pick up refuse.

“The best part of holding this cleanup was seeing the enthusiasm and dedication of the youthful participants in making the Division Corridor a more welcoming, safer ,and cleaner place,” commented Le. “Witnessing everyone come together, learn, and actively contribute to improving our community, was truly inspiring!”

While traffic zooms by along SE Division Street as volunteers pick up trash, some drivers award them a “thumbs up” for their good effort.

Find out more about the Division Midway Alliance by visiting their website: CLICK HERE.

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