Volunteers Needed: “Beautifying MLK” Black-Led Community Clean-Up Day of Service Set for This Saturday

This Saturday, June 14, the Coalition of Black Men, Soul District Business Association, and Reimagine Oregon invite community members to roll up their sleeves and join the Beautifying MLK Jr. Blvd: C3 Community Clean-Up Day of Service — a grassroots volunteer event focused on restoring pride and vibrancy to Portland’s historic Soul District.

Volunteers of all ages are encouraged to participate in graffiti removal, trash pickup, and beautification efforts along NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with registration and orientation starting at 376 NE Sumner Street, Portland, OR 97211.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025
Time:
- 8:30 a.m. Check-In, breakfast and orientation
- 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. clean up along MLK
- 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. post event social
Location: Outside 376 NE Sumner St, Portland, OR 97211

Volunteers will receive:

Free breakfast and snacks
All supplies and safety gear
Music, refreshments, and a community celebration after cleanup
The opportunity to make a direct impact ahead of Juneteenth and Good in the Hood

This effort is more than a one-day cleanup, it’s part of a larger campaign to reclaim the corridor through Black-led revitalization, economic empowerment, and cultural pride. Funded by a grant from Reimagine Oregon, the campaign spotlights the power of local leadership, from Black-owned contractors like Scorpion Surface Cleaning to grassroots organizers driving community change.

“This is a great opportunity for all of us to come together and help revitalize the MLK corridor,” said Tony Jones, Economic Development Chair of the Coalition of Black Men. “It’s about working side by side to restore pride in our streets and show what’s possible when the community leads.”