Councilwoman Adrienne Adams joined community-based organizations and resident volunteers on Aug. 22 in cleaning up and beautifying the streets in Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park and Jamaica.
Local community groups participating in the beautification effort include the South Queens Women’s March, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., South East Queens Cleanup Initiative and Hood Love.
Adams, who represents District 28, said sanitation is critical to the health and safety of communities, with each person playing a role in the development.
“While we worked to clean up trash, this event was also an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of keeping our community clean,” Adams said. “We must continue to work together to maintain a beautiful district that we are proud to call our home.”
Kuturie Rouse, a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Gamma Rho Sigma Chapter, Social Action Committee, thanked Adams and her staff for inviting them to join the community cleanup and are looking forward to making a difference.
“The way that our community is being maintained is absolutely disgraceful. Our streets are being disregarded and the people of Queens are feeling frustrated,” Rouse said. “There is absolutely no way that we can just sit back and ignore the need for a clean community. These are our streets.”
Aminta Kilawan-Narine, founder and executive director of South Queens Women’s March, said they were honored to join hands with Adams and several community-based organizations to clean up areas in the district.
“Our organization, which seeks to bring south Queens women and gender non-conforming individuals together to promote equity and empowerment, was founded right before the pandemic,” Kilawan-Narine said. “We have since been responding to the needs of our community; promoting wellness, curbing food insecurity and period poverty, and supporting healthy relationships. Service has become a core component of our movement. During this crisis, we have seen increased litter on the streets of our neighborhoods and we are proud to have a team of dedicated volunteers who are stepping up to beautify District 28.”
DJ Nett, founder of South East Queens Cleanup, said their organization’s mission is to let each member of the community know that they matter and every little bit counts in adding to the beautification of southeast Queens.
“From picking up litter in the local parks, to planting a new garden or painting a mural to cover up graffiti, our motto is ‘DO YOUR PART.’ When each member of the community does their part, we are one step closer to our collective goal,” Nett said. “SEQCLEANUP thanks the local elected officials who see the initiative we started and have been very supportive. We salute you!”
