We know you are concerned about trash—that's why OPDC organizes students into Adopt-a-Block groups to clean up the streets we all share.
“OPDC recruits groups of students—neighbors from a street, folks in a service organization, etc.—to adopt a block for an academic year,” says Sam Gallagher, Community Engagement Specialist at OPDC. “They promise to keep their eyes on the ground and, at least once a month, host a clean-up event along a particular route.”
Picking up trash with Adopt-a-Block is easy because OPDC coordinates with the Department of Public Works (DPW) to collect garbage at the end of each clean-up event. Volunteers send us pics of their haul and we track their service hours, which we provide upon request.
Hannah Fierle, PULSE fellow at OPDC
Coordinating this year’s efforts is Hannah Fierle, a PULSE fellow at OPDC. “My role is to communicate with existing and potential volunteers, collect data on routes, and build rapport with volunteers,” says Fierle. “From the time they pick up their supplies to the time they drop off their collected trash, volunteers can get in touch with me.”
Fierle knows our streets well—she was a renter here while studying at Chatham University. “I’m excited to be involved with Adopt-a-Block in a community that I lived in. My old apartment building is in Adopt-a-Block Route 17.”
Students often come to OPDC looking for service hours, but leave with a deeper appreciation for the community. “Adopt-a-Block is a first step to forming good relationships with long-term residents,” says Gallagher. “My favorite part is when students thank me for the opportunity to get themselves out there and see who lives in the community.”
Do you know students interested in building pride of place in Oakland? Reach out to Hannah Fierle at hfierle@opdc.org to take part and learn more.