By Alan King
AFRO Staff Writer
After decades of promoting cleaning and sustaining projects in Baltimore neighborhoods, the Afro-American Newspaper continues its 75th annual AFRO Clean-Green Block Competition this August.
Started in 1934, the AFRO Clean Block Competition is the oldest existing environmental program in the nation. It went “Green” and officially partnered with the city of Baltimore in 2008.
More than 30 blocks entered the 2008 competition; the overall winner was the Park Lane Neighborhood (4500 Block of The Strand).
The finalists were: Sunset and Levindale Community (5100 blocks of Sunset and Levindale); Better Waverly Community (700 block of Belle Terre, 3200 block of Frisby and 3200 block of Ellerslie); and Sharp Leadenhall Community (900 Bevan Street and 101 East Cross Street).
The winner and finalists in the AFRO Clean-Green Block Award received prizes that included t-shirts, fluorescent light bulbs, a six-month subscription of the AFRO, a block party and a visit from Mayor Sheila Dixon on “Neighborhood Appreciation Day.”
“Collaborating to beautify our neighborhoods is crucial if we want to make our city and planet cleaner and greener for future generations,” Dixon said. “Every contribution you make promotes our environment and our civic pride.”
The schedule for the 2008 AFRO Clean-Green Block Competition is as follows:
June 30- NOW EXTENDED TO JULY 15TH – registration
August 24 to 28 – judging
September 8 – winners announced
Mid-September – exact date TBA – “Neighborhood Appreciation Day” and Mayor's Trolley Tour
Please click here to download registration forms, or contact Diane Hocker at 410-554-8243.