On May 6, 2017 at 8AM Laurelton community members came together to clean up Merrick Boulevard from Springfield Boulevard to Laurelton Parkway. The initiative was spearheaded by Laurelton resident Charise Parsons and Queens Deputy Borough President Melva Miller. Over 50 volunteers showed up to clean up Laurelton as a result of their organizing and the project will be ongoing until August.
The initiative has provided a platform for entrepreneurs, local businesses and civic organizations to all work together in improving community conditions. Many organizations came out in support of the initiative to work. The organizations that were present were: Federated Blocks of Laurelton, Pop’s House, 2241 NYPD Explorers and DIVAS for Social Justice. Local politicians, Councilman Richards, Senator Leroy Comrie and Queens Borough President all showed up and lent their support to the initiative as well. All the elected officials spoke of the importance of community members taking a vested interest. Councilman Donovan Richards shared an inspiring story about the importance of community members solving an issue in Far Rockaway, which inspired the city agencies to provide strategic support to the solution.
The Operation Clean Up Initiative has attracted an inter-generational group of volunteers interested in the improvement of Laurelton. Youth committee member Nicholas Madern spoke of the importance of the community residents keeping Laurelton beautiful. Dwight Johnson and Bess DeBethem of The Federated Blocks of Laurelton spoke of their hope of millennial carrying the torch of improving Laurelton.
Many current and former residents of Laurelton came out to actively participate in the event. Bonnie Huie, a resident of Laurelton for over 40 years served as Captain to a clean up team. David Huie, Laurelton resident generously provided T-Shirts for the event that were designed by his company VioKMarketing. Mr. Huie expressed the importance of giving back to community is by example. Huie stated, “Our generation needs to learn from the previous generation. I experienced great block parties and community events in Laurelton and we need to give back.” There were quite a few volunteers at the event that came back to the community to give back. Both Lynette Erskine and Myky Lespinasse came back to Laurelton after moving to volunteer in the initiative. Lespinasse said, “Laurelton is in my blood. I still have family that lives here and we have show people we care about the community.”
Gary Richards and Kitty Garcia also served as key team members of the clean up crew for the initiative and also expressed the importance of long time residents of Laurelton giving back to the community and taking pride in the beauty of Laurelton.
The launch of Operation Clean Up was a huge success. The next clean up date is:
Saturday June 3, 2017 8AM
For more information on participating in Operation Clean Up contact: LaureltonOperationCleanUp@gmail.com
Please post early the next clean up date. We no longer have an association on our street so we don’t get news like we should. I am a long time resident since my youth and keeping my neighborhood up is important to me.
June 3, 2017
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