CHICAGO — In the city’s Englewood neighborhood Saturday, it was time for spring cleaning.
Whether it was sanding, panting, raking or cooking, all could be seen or heard at the Greater Englewood 11th annual Unity Day, one of the largest cleanup events in Chicago.
Imagine Englewood If (IEI) is the organization behind the large-scale cleanup collaboration, who often brings together residents of all ages to spruce up the neighborhood.
“It started with just a few dozen people who were cleaning up greater Englewood,” said Michelle Rashad, Executive Director of IEI. “And now we’re close to 300 volunteers.”
Block by block across dozens of blocks on the South Side, volunteers built connections through service that are often needed to weave a community together.
Jarvis Burks was one of those volunteers on Saturday.
“This is my third unity day,” Burks told WGN News. “I just like giving back. Originally I’m from the West Side so, me getting out of my parents house and being on my own, this is my first time living in a community, without family around … And this is where I found my community at.”
After earning his Masters in Social Work, Burks settled down within the Englewood community, finding solace in the Peace Campus near South Honore and West 64th Street.
“It serves as a hub for youth and families through enrichment programming, skill building opportunities and also support,” Edwards said of the Peace Campus. “[It offers] services that help people going from surviving to thriving.”
For more information on Imagine Englewood If, visit their website here: https://www.imagineenglewoodif.org/about