Coffee, community, and clean-up.  That was the thinking behind Trash Talkin’ when Grandmont Rosedale residents saw a need to get others involved in picking up trash in the Grandmont Rosedale community.   While it may seem strange to try to make picking up litter fun, the idea worked.  Last year, Trash Talkin’ met four times, collected 53 bags of trash, and went a long way toward building community among the volunteers.  This year’s Trash Talkin’ season begins on Saturday, May 24 at 9:30am at Always Brewing Detroit.  Volunteers begin at the coffee shop because this is where the coffee and community piece of this project begins.  The coffee is free and the community is guaranteed.  After a morning coffee, volunteers can grab some gloves, litter grabbers and trash bags (all provided by GRDC), and then continue their talkin’ as they pick up trash.  If you can’t make it on May 24, there are three more Trash Talkin’ dates, all the fourth Saturday of the month:  June 28, August 23, and September 27.

You might not want to miss the kick-off on May 24, though.  Last year a local rapper who wrote an original piece about picking up trash performed, and members from the Detroit Police Department helped with the clean-up while they pulled over speeding cars!  The regular 15-30 volunteers who participated in last year’s Trash Talkin’ were also joined by Councilman James Tate and Representative David Nathan.  So, while picking up trash may not at first seem exciting, when coffee, community and celebrities are part of the day, suddenly Trash Talkin’ is clearly not just talkin’ trash.

For more information or to RSVP please contact Mary Lyons at mlyons@grandmontrosedale.com or at 313.387.4732 x116.