About Us
Who We Are
When long time residents of Bushwick, Nicole De Santis and Sarah Back, had enough of the cluttered litter and vermin that infested their neighborhood, they decided to take action. Since 2016, in response to the lack of action on the part of local politicians, businesses, and building owners to mitigate trash, this organization was founded with the name Keep Bushwick Beautiful.
Renamed the Clean Bushwick Initiative, we now work with our community stakeholders to raise awareness on all sustainability related issues, not just street litter. Through activating partnerships, Clean Bushwick Initiative promotes environmental awareness and stewardship to create a healthier and more sustainable Bushwick for all.
Since its inception, the Clean Bushwick Initiative has gained the support of numerous local businesses, community groups, and city entities. We welcome everyone to get involved in our community cleanups, rain garden and tree care maintenance events, and educational workshops in Bushwick, New York.
What We’re Accomplishing
We believe that our goals for change can be enacted most effectively on a local level.
Read about our history of work in the press.
Promoting sustainability in our neighborhood
Inspiring community & environmental advocacy
Activating community partnerships
Promoting conservation of natural resources
Educating community around zero-waste living
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Bushwick Daily
At a Town Hall In Bushwick, Locals Complain About Rats
Jan 28, 2023
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EcoRate
Get Your Hands Dirty: Bushwick Street Clean-up and Litter Audit
July 11, 2022
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Year 3
Banding Together to Clean Up
June 7, 2022
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The Urban Activist
The Vicious Circle of Littering in Cities. Cleanup Activists Explain
April 22, 2022
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Bushwick Daily
This Earth Day, Try Cleaning Up Bushwick
Apr 19, 2022
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NY City News Service
Bushwick Battles Trash
Dec 1, 2021
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Bushwick Daily
So You Want to Volunteer? Here Is a List of Bushwick Organizations That Need Your Help
Aug 20, 2021
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The Urban Activist
A towering waste problem. Local ideas spearhead change in Brooklyn
Apr 19, 2021
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Cell Vision
Neighbors helping neighbors: community care in the time of COVID-19, Parts 1-4
Apr 2, 2021
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New York Post
Hey, de Blasio, where’s that stinkin’ cleanup you promised?
Mar 9, 2021
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BKReader
Clean Bushwick Initiative: A Movement to Tidy Up a Neighborhood
Jan 25, 2021
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Bklyner.
Cleaning Up Bushwick One Block At A Time
Jan 22, 2021
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Bushwick Daily
Clean Bushwick Initiative Steps in to Address Neighborhood Trash Pile-Ups
Oct 19, 2020
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Medium
Rain Garden Cleanup
Oct 7, 2020
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BK Reader
Bushwick Artists and Businesses Unite to Unveil Mural and Celebrate Community
Sep 9, 2020
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Bushwick Daily
Local Organization to Unveil a New Mural and Raise Funds for Bushwick Mutual Aid this Labor Day
Aug 31, 2020
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Spectrum News NY1
Nicole De Santis: Volunteer Presses on to Clean Up After Coronavirus Litterbugs
Jun 2, 2020
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City Limits
Does Gentrification Mean More Garbage, in Bushwick and Beyond?
Aug 7, 2019
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Heritage Radio Network
Garbage situation: meet the activists helping to make Bushwick stronger, one piece of litter at a time...
May 30, 2019
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Spectrum News NY 1
Clean Bushwick Initiative picks up litter
Mar 31, 2019
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Bushwick Daily
Clean Bushwick Initiative is Working to Create a Trash-Free Neighborhood
Mar 25, 2019
Meet The New Yorkers Keeping NYC Clean
This video by Make A Change was filmed in March 2021 during the COVID related budget cuts to the New York City Department of Sanitation. Despite their daily operations, DSNY had been struggling to keep the streets free of litter and trash had been accumulating.
This video showcases the New Yorkers who stepped up to the plate to clean the streets by themselves.
