Six years ago, David “Malik” Fleming was driving for Uber on Chicago’s North Shore. He opened a piece of gum and thought about throwing the wrapper out the window but didn’t because of how clean the neighborhood was. But when he found himself in the same situation a week later while driving near Douglass Park, Fleming tossed the gum wrapper on the street.
“I was more apt to do it in my own neighborhood because it was already dirty,” Fleming previously told Austin Weekly News.
So, in 2019, Fleming started Wecycle, an organization that offers environmental restoration services, snow removal and hosts an annual street cleaning event.
This is the fifth year Wecycle is organizing community cleanup efforts. On April 19 at 11 a.m., community members will meet at 5922 W. Division St. to start picking up trash and sweeping debris. The cleanup will traverse through the Soul City Corridor and end at 5840 W. Chicago Ave. with free food and drinks, a bounce house and an Easter egg hunt.
At last year’s Wecycle cleaning rally, a few dozen participants filled over thirty 50-pound trash bags and used nearly a gallon of Windex to wash storefront windows.
While Fleming said Wecycle has picked up about the same amount of trash every year, he expects to collect a bit more this time because the route is longer, encompassing both the 29th Ward and 37th Ward.
“I’m expecting to have more hands on deck,” Fleming said. In addition to Fleming’s lifelong partner Doris Freeman, the cleanup will be attended by public officials, volunteers, “a host of churches, community leaders and municipalities trying to bring more energy and more life.”
This year, there’s also a new pickup point, where a bus that someone sponsored will drive over 30 older volunteers to the end rally location.
“A crew of elderly women wanted to come out and give some energy,” Fleming told Austin Weekly News.
At the end rally location this year, there will be the new additions of two barbers, each of whom will be giving an hour of their time for free haircuts. There will also be other free community resources and networking opportunities, plus food from Uncle Gene’s BBQ and Coleman’s BBQ.
This year’s rally is in memory of Mrs. Carol, who Fleming said was a staple in the community.
“She was part of one of the churches in the area, and she was hands-on with kids who didn’t have a lot of family or who ditched school,” Fleming said.
At the pickup point for senior volunteers, there will also be a prayer in honor of Lemuel Lee, Fleming’s cousin who died in his arms at that spot after he was mistakenly taken for someone else.
“He died on that block, which is the reason why I start off the route in that area,” Fleming said.
After honoring his cousin, the cleanup route will continue south to Chicago Avenue.
The Chicago Park District is donating rakes, push brooms, garbage bags, gloves and hand pickers to help with efforts.
“The donations and sponsorships are great. We need that,” Fleming said. “But [we need] participation, trying to get those numbers up and let people know that we’re making a conscious effort to keep our community clean.”
While Wecycle is reusing some materials from last year, they purchased additional supplies to increase their impact.
“We’re hoping to pick up more trash,” Fleming said of this year. But he also hopes the amount of trash in Austin decreases. “People are being more respectful about their community because of what we’re pioneering here. And hopefully we can be a catalyst for change.”