G.R.E.A.T. Graffiti Cleanup

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G.R.E.A.T. Graffiti Cleanup - Printable Version - May 25, 2010 - 5 Comments

On May 22, 2010, a GREAT (Gang Resistance Education And Training) Cleanup, organized by Portland Police Officer Chris Burley (who was wounded in the tragic shooting incident the week before), saw 50 kids show up to paint out graffiti on a 600' long building.

Steve Brown from Associated Chemists, the building owner, provided 40 gallons of paint and 50 roller covers (and 4 dozen Krispy Kreme donuts). Everyone braved raindrops and hailstones and flashes of sunlight to paint out dozens of tags at this building on the Springwater Trail. They even had substantial paint left over they plan to use on other sites. Carey and Bert from Youth Employment, Inc, (YEI), our ongoing community youth workforce partner, provided other materials without which the team couldn't have done it - roller handles, extension poles and photo-reconnaissance of the building "before" the event

Photo by Marcia Dennis, Office of Neighborhood Involvement

Many thanks to Steve Brown, Officer Burley, Marcia Dennis, and all the youth volunteers. Well done!

Comments

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Posted by: Jack Bogdanski - May 25, 2010 08:36 PM

Serious graffiti abatement is one of the things that makes Portland special. Thanks to everybody involved.

Posted by: Amanda Fritz - May 26, 2010 11:53 PM

Thank you, Jack!

Posted by: Doretta Schrock - June 02, 2010 11:26 AM

Here in North Portland our Office of Neighborhood Involvement Crime Prevention Coordinators, Mark Wells and Angela Wagnon, are helping neighborhoods create "neighborhood livability teams". Once a month, these teams get together on a weekend morning for a few hours of removing graffiti and picking up trash in their neighborhoods. Marcia Dennis at the Office of Neighborhood Involvement and her crew help by providing training materials and some supplies and local businesses make their dumpsters available for trash.

Our Kenton team has been out twice now and it's not only improved the look of the neighborhood it's been great fun. I've gotten to know some of my fantastic neighbors better and it's very satisfying to watch that graffiti disappear.

Check with your local neighborhood association for similar opportunities in your area.

If you live in North Portland, there's a big North Portland-wide graffiti cleanup scheduled for this Saturday, June 5. information here: http://sites.google.com/site/graffitiportland/

Posted by: Amanda Fritz - June 03, 2010 03:10 PM

Thanks for posting this information, Doretta. I'll be there at the graffiti cleanup on Saturday -dressed to work this time, unlike a few weeks ago when the St Johns Parade was at the same time as the Northwest District Association workparty. I am very grateful for neighbors stepping up to help with this challenge. Check back on my site soon for information on how to apply for small grants to assist you in your graffiti abatement projects that also build community.

Posted by: Marcia Dennis - June 05, 2010 09:25 PM

Thank you Commissioner Fritz, Pastor Edgar Rodriguez, Mark Wells and Angela Wagnon, Theresa and Jason from Goodbye Graffiti, Carey and Bert and 'crew' from Graffiti Removal Program, PPB officers and GREAT students from George Middle School, and ALL the volunteers who worked so hard today on the North Portland Graffiti Cleanup. The weather cooperated (finally) and it was a wonderful event!