2007 Events:

Recycle Detroit and the Paradise Valley Earth Day Observance - On April 21st, Project Clean participated in it’s first event of the 2007 season by helping out Recycle Detroit in Cass Corridor and Cass Park with their new Earth Day event. Volunteers from several different community groups cleaned in the morning and then participated in an informational/networking and community component in the afternoon. Detroit Synergy had a very dedicated, hard working group of 25 people, who filled half a dumpster with refuse from a lot just north of the Masonic Temple. We got many compliments from the organizers of the event, as well as had several residents thank us while we were working. In the afternoon, there were speeches by local community activists, live music, and demonstrations by Back Alley Bikes. We got to meet and speak with organizers of the event and residents of the area, as well as networked a bit with some other community groups. Thanks again to ALL of the volunteers who came out that day, and kudos to Recycle Detroit for implementing this great idea and doing a phenomenal job in the first year!

Motor City Makeover with the GRDC - Project Clean participated in the Motor City Makeover on May 19th in the Grandmont Rosedale neighborhood, partnering with the Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation (GRDC). About 20 volunteers from Detroit Synergy showed up, in addition to a dozen more volunteers from the neighborhood, to help out that morning. Volunteers were split up into a few groups to tackle different areas along Grand River, such as clearing out weeds in, and preparing, the flower boxes; cleaning lamp posts; and painting out grafitti on some of the commercial buildings. The majority of us stayed behind at the new location of the GRDC to assist in clearing out of weeds and other organic, and not so organic, material from around the building and parking lot, which was quite a feat! The GRDC and their members were impressed with the amount of work we accomplished that day! Thanks to everyone for your hard work!

Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision for the Fort Visger Collaborative Clean-Up - As a part of the 4th Annual Good Neighbor Day, close to 100 volunteers gathered from Southwest Detroit, Ecorse, River Rouge and Lincoln Park on June 23rd to help clean and beautify the borders between all of these communities. The SWDEV and DSG group worked in an alley on the border of SW Detroit and Ecorse, completely clearing it out of garbage that was dumped there illegally, and filling half a dumpster. Thanks again to those who showed up so early on a Saturday morning to volunteer for this event!

Eastside Clean-Up with U-SNAP-BAC/East Warren Business United - 40+ volunteers from both Detroit Synergy and surrounding neighborhoods came out on July 28th to help clean and beautify East Warren Avenue in Morningside and East English Village. Volunteers did everything from pulling weeds and sweeping to picking up trash and weed-wacking. Despite the rising temperature as the morning went on, volunteers kept on working hard, filling over 100 bags with refuse. Thanks all the volunteers who came out on such a sunny hot day, your hard work was much appreciated! And thanks to U-SNAP-BAC for keeping everyone going with lots of water, snacks and lunch.

Habitat for Humanity in Morningside Commons – On September 1st, about 30 Detroit Synergy volunteers gathered bright and early to help Habitat do some finish work on several houses that were built during their Blitz Build, which took place at the beginning of August. The punch list for the day included adding reinforcements to joists, beams, and the roofs; plumb work; some landscaping and cleaning; but the majority of work done was installing insulation. And thanks to the nice weather we had, it made for a pretty hot day! But all in all, everyone learned something new and were very glad to have volunteered for an organization that is known worldwide, and making a difference here in our city. Thanks again to everyone who sacrificed a beautiful day on a holiday weekend to assist in helping make a house someone's home!

Project Clean and Green in Corktown – On Saturday September 29th, Project Clean teamed up with the Greening of Detroit in Corktown. We had 35 volunteers attend the event, which included a group from St. Mary's in Ann Arbor as well as a group from the Indian American Student Organization from U of M for their annual Ghandi Day. Volunteers did maintenance on trees that were planted alongside Michigan avenue between the Lodge Freeway and Cochrane. Tasks included weeding, watering, trimming and attaching decorative tree guards around the trunks of the trees. Because so many volunteers showed that day, and there was some time to spare, we also picked up trash and pulled weeds in the sidewalks. The people at the Greening of Detroit were very impressed with all the work that was accomplished, and we also got several compliments from area residents. Thanks again to everyone (especially those who sacrificed a Saturday of college football) who came to help out!!

2006 Events:

Greening of Detroit - Our first event of the year was a success! On April 8, about 20 or so volunteers from Detroit Synergy, along with other volunteers and residents of Rosedale Park, planted 47 trees total along Bretton and Lancashire streets as well as in the Community Center park. Unfortunately our group got a little split up since the plantings took place over several blocks, but a group with 8 people planted 7 trees, a group of 4 people planted 3, and another group of 4 planted 2. With those stats, we can probably guesstimate that Synergy volunteers planted about 15-20 trees. All those who came out learned a lot about tree planting and also had lots of adventures in dealing with mother nature's little creatures, posing for the media, axing through roots, bypassing pipes and building and re-building mulch donuts. Thanks to all those who came out on a cold but sunny morning!

Motor City Makeover in Warrendale - On Saturday, May 13th, we joined forces with the Warrendale Community Organization to clean the Southfield Freeway service drive between Joy Rd. and Warren Ave. 23 total volunteers gathered on this cold and rainy Saturday morning and managed to fill about 70 bags with refuse, removed 19 tires, and cleared an additional 50 yards of solid waste including tree limbs and brush in addition to carpeting that someone apparently dumped on the service drive. A BIG thanks to the group who had hand saws and removed most of the tree limbs/brush...and to the WCO who provided us with snacks and lunch!

Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision - On Saturday June 17th, Project Clean teamed up with volunteers from People to People - Student Ambassadors, to help the SDEV clean around Romanowski Park. Illegal dumping has been an issue in the area, and about 30 volunteers managed to fill 3 large dumpsters that were placed along Trenton Street at John Kronk, midway between there and Michigan Ave. and in front of Holmes Elementary School. Volunteers also collected found objects that will be used to create 'found art' to be put on display in the park. Thanks to all those who came out!

Detroit Garden Resource Program - On Saturday July 22nd, a group of 14 dedicated volunteers came to the only urban 4H Center in the country, located on the East side of the City to work in the community gardens. We got off to a good start by pulling weeds to clean up and prepare the gardens for more plantings while some volunteers helped create new signs for the garden. Many volunteers learned what were weeds and what were actual plants and even found out there many vegetables and herbs growing in the gardens. Eventually we split into a couple groups to clean up around the playground area and started work on another garden, which included more weed pulling, planting, staking tomato plants and even harvesting some vegetables. Thanks to the Detroit Garden Resouce program for hosting us again and to the volunteers who came out!

Pre-Cruise in Detroit Clean Up at the T-Plex - On August 12th, 15 volunteers helped prepare for the 'grand finale' of the Cruise in Detroit by cleaning and beautifying in and around the T-Plex grounds, which is home of the Model T. We pulled weeds outside the complex, cleaned display cases, swept and mopped floors, and even moved a pallet of historical bricks from a plant in Highland Park into a very tight space (which was quite a feat of engineering). We also got some help with transporting garbage from a couple construction workers with trucks who were working next door to the T-Plex. Thanks again to everyone who came out to help, both the coordinators of the Cruise in Detroit and the T-Plex were grateful for the work we did.

Comcast Cares Day with Motor City Blight Busters - October 7th, volunteers came to Old Redford throughout the day to volunteer for Comcast Cares Day with Blight Busters. Despite getting off to a slow start, and competing with beautiful weather and 2 big sporting events that afternoon, we still managed to get a lot of work done. Volunteers did a variety of things such as picked up garbage and cleaned around the local businesses and neighborhood; painted parking barriers and cleaned area parking lots; pulled lots of weeds; and even helped paint murals in the Artists Village. It was also amazing to see the transformation the area has made since we volunteered for Comcast Cares Day last year. The coordinators of this event were very grateful for all the volunteers who showed and the work that was done. Thanks again to everyone one who showed.