What is this cleanup?
The Neighborhood Cleanup is run by the Los Feliz Trash Busters and hosted by the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council. Mike Hain, who has been behind it from the start, says the group typically meets on the first Saturday and the third Sunday of the month, and each cleanup lasts about an hour.
This one takes place at Walt Disney Square, which Mike describes as “right by where Disney first had their studio that they first paid for.”
How did it get started?
Mike thinks it has been running about five years, maybe more. It began with a simple question he asked himself: “What can I do to help make our neighborhood better?”
He knew he couldn't replace streetlights or put in crosswalks, since that work is done with the city. As he puts it, “I can do something little by doing good in the neighborhood by cleaning up.”
Honestly, what's happening is we're creating community.
Who helps make it happen?
Mike leads the effort, with help from Ben Deeb, Raina Pratto, Olsen Ebright, Rob King and Julia Ekwall, all of whom are with the Neighborhood Council. Mike calls them “so awesome.”
He gives special credit to Julia, who has been posting pictures, promoting the cleanups and bringing her friends along.
What happens when I show up?
You will meet a group of neighbors who are there to help. You can bring your own tools if you like, but the group has rags, gloves, rakes, brooms and picker-uppers on hand.
Everyone can take part. Mike tells people who doubt themselves, “You can sit here, take roll, watch the equipment, and still be part of this.” He says the same to kids who join for a short time: “If you pick up 10 pieces of trash, that's 10 pieces of trash that are no longer there.”
What is different this time?
This cleanup celebrates Walt Disney Square and recognizes the Disney brothers. There was a recent event at the square, and the group wants to keep the area clean and let people know about the history in the neighborhood.
The cleanups move to a new spot each time, covering the whole neighborhood and reaching out toward Sunset, Hollywood and Western, and Griffith Park.
Why does it matter to the people who come?
Mike says people leave after an hour with a great feeling, and often with new friends. “Honestly, what's happening is we're creating community.” His favorite memory is attending a wedding in Northern California for someone he met at a cleanup, where he ran into other Trash Busters regulars. “The fact that we became real friends just by picking up trash, just to me, I think that's the best thing I could ask for.”
Mike grew up in Hollywood, rode his bike to Los Feliz as a kid and later chose it as home. “I've been here since 1988, and I love it.” His advice for getting involved is to “attend, tell your friends, and start a group of your own.” You can follow Los Feliz Trash Busters on Instagram. He also asks neighbors to keep two weeks of food and water at home, take a CPR class, get to know their neighbors and throw their trash away.
When and where is Neighborhood Cleanup?
Saturday, November 7, 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, at North Vermont Avenue & Kingswell Avenue, N Vermont Ave & Kingswell Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Every detail, a map and a button to add it to your calendar are on the Neighborhood Cleanup event page.
More from Los Feliz Events
See what else is coming up on the Los Feliz events calendar. Hosting something in the neighborhood? Add your event, it is free, and you can ask to be interviewed for a post like this one.
Los Feliz Events comes to you from your neighbors at Rooster Homes, the Los Angeles real estate brokerage led by Brandon S. Arlington and Sarah Arlington.
Everything else coming up is on the Los Feliz events calendar.
