MIKE Youth Clean Up with CPAH Event

MIKE youth are actively taking part in a pilot program with Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH). The housing agency that builds and maintains affordable and sustainable housing for low-income residents in Washington County and Southwest Portland, launched the afterschool program with MIKE in May.

As part of MIKE’s mission to empower youth to embrace and promote healthy behaviors, youth participants at CPAH wanted to connect health with their immediate environment, so they designed a clean-up project encouraging residents to clean up discarded trash and other items found around the grounds.

The youth even created their own brand theme, “Green ‘n Clean is the Dream.” Donning t-shirts they designed, the youth grabbed buckets and handheld trash pickers for their inaugural Clean Up Day on July 16, 2019.

At first their efforts garnered little attention, then some curious residents ventured outdoors and approached the teens with questions. Brendan, one of the MIKE youth leaders, explained how he came up with the idea and encouraged others to join in.

Deedee one woman who recently moved into the facility, was thrilled to see the teens caring about their facility. She rushed back with a broom and offered to help. Soon her son Andre joined the cleanup effort. The youth discovered how demonstrating healthy behaviors encourages others.