By Wayne Wilson, Public Affairs Campaign Manager, Caltrans

Juneteenth marks an important moment in our shared history—a time to reflect on the
legacy of our ancestors who, even in the face of injustice, chose freedom, unity, and
community over fear, anger, and hopelessness. We honor their resilience and the paths
they paved so future generations can continue to walk with pride.

It’s been empowering to watch Juneteenth blossom into a widely celebrated holiday,
filled with vibrant outdoor events like cookouts, festivals, parades, and more. It’s
inspiring to see the community embrace our history—showing up in droves to celebrate
freedom, a freedom delayed for some enslaved Americans more than two years after
the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

As we head into the weekend full of festivities and summer celebrations, I want to offer
a friendly reminder about who is not invited to the cookout: litter.
At Clean California, we believe the places where we gather—parks, parade routes,
street corners, and church lots—should reflect the pride and beauty of the people who
fill them. Our mission is to restore and beautify public spaces, transforming areas
impacted by trash and neglect into spaces that reflect the strength and spirit of the
communities who use them.

Too often, after the music fades and the grills cool, our public spaces are left littered
with trash. Just as our ancestors took pride in their communities, we honor their legacy
when we clean up after ourselves, teach our children to do the same, and care for our
shared spaces.

Small acts can inspire big change. Since 2021, Clean California and its partners have
collected and removed over 2.9 million cubic yards of litter. We did this by partnering
with local nonprofits and community organizations to organize grassroots cleanup
events and beautification projects across California.

Now, we invite all California communities to continue the incredible momentum and take
the pledge toward building a cleaner community through our Clean California
Community Designation Program. This recognizes cities and neighborhoods committed
to long-term cleanliness and civic pride.

This Juneteenth, let’s not only celebrate our history—but also contribute to its legacy.
By picking up after ourselves and by leaving no litter behind after celebrations, we have
an opportunity to honor our past and shape a cleaner, safer, more vibrant future.
Visit CleanCA.com to learn more about Clean California.

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