"Be the change you want to see in the world." You've likely come across that saying before, but what does that look like? Here in Louisville, 'Clean For A Change' is moving beyond inspirational quotes and into action.
Recently organized by Hallie Rice and Robbey Taylor, with support from Black Lives Matter of Louisville and the Louisville Democratic Party, the group is creating community by cleaning it up.
With all the issues and challenges we are constantly confronted with, it can be a bit overwhelming. Where do you even start? Starting small is better than not at all, so yesterday some folks came out to 39th and Broadway to clean up an old church building dating back to 1925.
It had been broken into, and as was soon discovered, squatted in, with broken glass, trash, and other waste scattered about.
For the next few hours folks swept up glass, filled up trash bags, and tried not to breathe through their noses.
Aprile Hearn, one of the candidates for Metro Council for the district, joined the party and pitched in.
Cleaning up other people's messes is nobody's idea of fun, but they're not going to go away of their own accord.
With some music going and a bit of getting to know your neighbors, it managed to be a not unpleasant experience.
Working by the light filtering in through boarded up windows made things a bit more challenging, but the cleanup continued until just after nightfall.
The building had been something of a headquarters for Black Lives Matter during the rising back in 2020.
Amidst the debris, you could still see some of that history.
There was more to be done than time to do it, but then again, when isn't there? Only thing for it is to keep getting together and working at it until things are clean for a change..
(edited to correct the names of BLM Louisville and the LDP)