On April 19, community members and volunteers met at 5922 W. Division St. for Wecycle’s fifth annual spring cleaning event. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., nearly 50 people traveled through the Soul City Corridor, picking up trash, sweeping debris and washing windows.
“We didn’t pick up as much trash as I anticipated, but that’s actually a good thing,” Wecycle Founder David “Malik” Fleming told Austin Weekly News. “I guess people are being more conscious and aware about their community and neighborhood.”
Last year, Wecycle filled more than 30 50-pound trash bags. This year, it was around 30. Fleming said there were a lot of children who helped wash windows along stretches of the cleaning route.
Both State Representative Camille Lilly and Malcolm Crawford – head of the Austin African American Business Networking Association, which is leading the effort in establishing the Soul City Corridor – attended a portion of the event. Chicago Police Department’s 15th District escorted participants along the route.
Pastor Timothy Williams of Trinity Community Baptist Church led cleanup attendees in prayer at the spot where Fleming’s cousin, Lemuel Lee, lost his life after he was mistakenly taken for someone else.
At the end of the street cleaning route, 5840 W. Chicago Ave., Wecycle hosted an Easter egg hunt with a bounce house and had free food from Uncle Gene’s BBQ and Coleman’s BBQ.
Though Fleming intended to have someone give free haircuts at the end rally, Cindy the Barber couldn’t attend and instead raffled off three free haircuts to attendees.
“A lot of the neighborhood came out in the end,” Fleming said. “We had so many residents and businesses come out and enjoy all the activities.”
April 25, 2025, 1 p.m.: This story was updated with additional comments from David “Malik” Fleming.