Founded in 2020 in response to COVID-19’s environmental impact and social isolation, LEA’s Community Clean-Ups bring together youth, parents, and neighbors to beautify East LA and Southeast LA—one city at a time. This is civic engagement as community care.
When COVID-19 hit, our communities faced more than a health crisis—public spaces were neglected, isolation grew, and many people lost the everyday connections that make a city feel like home.
LEA’s Community Clean-Ups were created as a response: to rebuild connection, show up for our neighborhoods, and turn civic engagement into something joyful, collective, and visible.
We gather volunteers who share a vision for a cleaner, safer, more loved communities of color.
At each clean-up, we:
This isn’t just about picking up trash. It’s about proving that community care can be loud.
Expect a warm, team-based experience where everyone is welcome. You will check in, grab supplies, and join a small group led by a team lead, then head out knowing your time is making a real difference. You will leave with a tangible sense of impact, new connections, and the feeling of a city that looks and feels more cared for, along with a reminder that you belong here and have the power to shape what home looks like.
Meeting frequency: Every 2 months
Locations: Rotating across East & Southeast LA
Audience: All ages (families welcome)
