Community Clean-Up In The Works In Taylors

An partnership born out of the context of Taylors Town Square is hoping to organize a community clean-up effort in our area. Rayshawn Johnson of CITY Initiative and Doug Young, a local artist, both attend TTS meetings, and are hoping their idea will pick up steam. 

CITY Initiative is a community development and advocacy organization aimed at promoting positive growth of communities by uniting its people and connecting them to the proper resources needed for improvement and growth.  

Most recently, CITY helped spearhead the Judson Community Garden Project by helping the community acquire some 10 additional acres for a community park, along with its one-acre garden. 

Johnson, a Taylors native, says Taylors has something of an "identity crisis," and the community is in need of coalescence. 

"Our mission in Taylors is to help further the cause of helping the community find its identity and foster a sense of unity among its residents – one that transcends all barriers," Johnson said. "We plan to do that by introducing community building projects, like the community clean-up. We are also involved in Taylors Town Square, to be supportive of its mission and to network with like-minded people."

Johnson said he and Young of Doug Young Studios in Taylors are spearheading the clean-up project, which will take place over the course of the year. In the coming weeks, Johnson and Young plan on locating spots in Taylors that most need cleaning up. 

"We plan to introduce them in four stages; each stage will have a designated area and a set task. I hope to get the project started by the end of the month," Johnson said.

Johnson is already seeking out resources to help assist the clean-up effort, which would rely heavily on volunteer efforts and assistance by the local business community.

"We agreed that it (Taylors) needs a face-lift, a resurrection, some reinvigoration, and out of it, the clean-up was born," Johnson said. "We have spoken with a key landscaping company that loves the idea, and once finalized plans are drawn, they will help us however they can. Now what we need is support from the residents, the people that will be willing to volunteer their time in, order to give Taylors the facelift that it needs."

Those interested in the project can contact Johnson at rjohnson@cityinitiative.co. 

Note: The e-mail address listed above is correct. Please do not send inquiries to rjohnson@cityinitiative.COM.