Community cleanup on April 20
As Earth Day of 2024 approaches, there are many different activities the citizens of Los Angeles can partake in to help the environment. One of which is beautifying the local neighborhoods in which we reside, such as South Los Angeles. The Compton Initiative has plans to do just that on Saturday, April 20. The Compton Initiative was founded in 2006 and is a non-profit organization that has committed to restoring the city of Compton by painting homes, schools, churches, and inspirational murals, and cleaning up local neighborhoods in the city of Compton.
The Compton Initiative drew inspiration from the Get Paramount Looking Good Campaign that took place in the 1970s. City management went to Emmanuel Reformed Church and partnered with the city and Paramount Unified School Board. What was once a small group of volunteers has now expanded to include thousands of volunteers of all ages all pulling together to create a safer and cleaner environment.
Clean-Up Day will take place on April 20 and host monthly cleanups. February, March, May, June, August, September, November, and December, they host block clean-ups, with up to 75 volunteers. They are expecting a large volunteer turnout for the Earth Day clean-up, with up to 200 to 300 volunteers.
Volunteers will meet at the Compton Courthouse at 7 a.m., and at 7:30 a.m. a brief orientation and prayer will commence. Volunteer work begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 11 a.m. Volunteers will then disperse to ten different worksites, with nine of the ten being a mere two blocks from the courthouse.
Todd Boquet is the program coordinator of the Compton Initiative. He works in conjunction with Dr. Rick Jones, a Compton resident. Bouquet’s role includes soliciting volunteers, handling logistics of cleanups, establishing site leaders, and lending a hand with painting and cleanups. The Bright Lights of Compton is derived from the Compton Initiative and aims to offer a monthly partnership opportunity on the third Saturday of each month.
Boquet intends to open up his own home as a gathering place for volunteers. They intend to paint the fences along Cypress Street, in hopes that neighbors will join them and interact. At 11 a.m., volunteers will meet at Boquet's home for food and fellowship
As of December 2023, the Compton Initiative has completed work in 1600 sites, over 800 houses painted, 465 school buildings painted, 243 murals painted, and 50 church buildings painted. Additionally, there have been 81 neighborhood cleanups, 80 public spaces, 2 medical clinics, and 4 community gardens have been beautified.
Boquet says of Bright Lights of Compton, "Empowering the local community is our long-term goal, we dream of one day where every single block and street of Compton has Bright Lights encouraging, supporting and maintaining the community."
For more information visit The Compton Initiative (justdogood.org).
