Chester block captain committee schedules monthly cleanups, seeks volunteers and funding

Dakeem Williams, a committee member for Chester’s Block Captain program, and fellow organizer Haley Jurina outlined the program’s goals and calendar at a community meeting, including a summer cleanup series with a May 31 event at Twentieth and Edgemont and ongoing monthly cleanups.

The program aims to mobilize residents for neighborhood beautification and to expand communication between the city and residents. “My name is Dakeem Williams. I am a committee person for the block captain program,” Williams said, explaining the group’s role. Jurina described the volunteers’ focus: “We don't go find and fight crimes. We try to fix and beautify the community.”

The committee said the summer cleanup series began with an April event at Chester High and will hold recurring cleanups on the last Saturday of each month; the next scheduled cleanup is May 31 at Twentieth and Edgemont. The committee will also table at the city’s Riverfest this coming Saturday and expects to participate in the city’s Safe Summer Fair at…