Hi neighbors,

We’re always looking for ways to keep the cleanup party going and make them fun, and we’re excited to partner with forever SF Giant Hunter Pence and his non-profit Healthy Planet Project on their Get In the Game! Challenge. This initiative is motivating people to take action towards a cleaner, greener Bay Area, which includes joining cleanups. You can log your volunteer hours and hit milestones to score prizes and unlock exclusive Green Glove Crew giveaways and experiences, including a Giants game outing to hang out with Hunter at Oracle Park for those that hit the 24 volunteer hours Home Run. So, Get In the Game and sign up here.

Renowned environmental activist Robin Greenfield, after walking 1,600 miles from Canada to Los Angeles, will be embarking on a speaking tour of California. This includes joining a special Mountain Lake Park Cleanup on Wednesday, May 14 from 5:00pm-6:00pm, followed by a talk about his experiment of complete non-ownership where he has given away every possession he owns (yes, even his computer and clothes!). Join us to hear about Robin’s journey, to critically question our societal norms, to build community, and to reconnect with Earth, humanity and the plants and animals we share this home with.

Inspired by Japanese soccer fans who clean up stadiums after World Cup matches, we are partnering with our own local team SF City FC to organize pre- and post-game cleanups of Kezar Stadium at their home games. The Japanese have a deep culture of cleanliness and it’s something we want to import to San Francisco, so what better way than to emulate them at our own soccer games. All volunteers will receive a free ticket to the game and water (Liquid Death) & pizza afterward. Visit this event page for dates and times and to signup.

Back in 2021, I started picking up trash with my daughters as a way get outside during the pandemic, which became something much deeper; a quiet form of service and a personal act of care for the place we call home. Around that same time, the country was facing a wave of anti-Asian hate. And it hit me, while others were rallying and speaking out (and I’m thankful they did), I was expressing the same pride and protest in a different way, by cleaning up our blocks, bag by bag. These cleanups were my way of saying that we belong here, we care, and we take pride in where we live. And this May, for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we’re launching The Year of the Cleanup, a series of neighborhood cleanups in Asian communities across SF—followed by food from a local Asian-owned business. It’s simple, it’s local, and it’s open to all. Our first event is the Chinatown Cleanup on Saturday, May 17 from 10:00am–11:00am, with more to come.

Your neighbor,

Vince Yuen