It is with great excitement that we write to announce the kick-off of the Clean Community Challenge!  

Drawing inspiration from the AFRO Clean Block competitions of the past, this program is meant to support residents efforts to make their neighborhoods more healthy, vibrant, and beautiful. Neighborhoods that participate in the Baltimore City Clean Corps Demonstration Program are eligible to propose a cleaning or beautification project of their choosing and receive $1,500 in funding to support their project. Please view the interest form for more information, including a detailed program description and project requirements. Interest forms are due April 25th.  

About the Baltimore Clean Corps Initiative

Clean Corps is a multi-agency initiative, led by the Baltimore City Department of Planning and operated in close collaboration with Baltimore-based nonprofits: Civic Works and Bon Secours Community Works. Funded primarily by the American Rescue Plan (ARPA), Clean Corps works in partnership with community leaders in 42 underinvested neighborhoods to tackle issues of illegal dumping, litter, overgrown grass and weeds across the city. Clean Corps grantees hire under and unemployed residents to clean and maintain community-selected vacant lots, alleys, sidewalks, tree pits, public trash cans and more.  

As a workforce development program, Clean Corps provides holistic support for employees to stabilize their lives and facilitate the steps needed for a successful career. We help employees accomplish their career goals through providing trauma-informed care and counseling, rental assistance and expungement services, GED programs, Certified-Driving License training, resume-writing, interview coaching, conflict resolution, and leadership training. 

Clean Corps operates in each neighborhood in partnership with a representative community association. The community provides crucial input for where to prioritize service. We also support cleaning efforts that are already occurring in our neighborhoods by participating in regular community clean-ups and dumpster days. We service known hot spots and work with the Department of Public Works to complete work orders assigned through 311. Finally, we provide routine cleaning to major commercial corridors, main streets, areas around community assets, including schools, community centers, gatherings spaces and shopping centers.  

Clean Corps Dashboard 

Since early 2023, Clean Corps has maintained a service dashboard that allows all of Baltimore City’s residents to follow the progress of the Clean Corps crews in their 42 targeted neighborhoods over time.  Everyone can view the before and after photos of work completed by the Clean Corps crews as they clean and mow vacant lots, clean alleys, and empty public trashcans on a daily basis to create a cleaner Baltimore.

Visit the dashboard here:  Clean Corps Dashboard 

Survey 

Clean Corps needs to hear from you! If you live in one of the neighborhoods we service, complete this survey to let us know how we’re doing, suggestions you may have to help us improve service, and how Clean Corps is making an impact on where you live. 

Clean Corps Feedback Survey

 

Who do I communicate with about Clean Corps service in my neighborhood?  

The DOP point of contact for East side neighborhoods is Maddy Silberger-Franek (maddy.franek@baltimorecity.gov). The DOP point of contact for West and South neighborhoods is Lamar West (lamar.west@baltimorecity.gov). Please see the table below for Clean Corps Operator information.