OVER 300 VOLUNTEERS TO SPRING-CLEAN CHINATOWN AT CHINATOWN CDC WORK-A-THON

Contact: Lehmann Sio 415.823.9182, Rosa Wong-Chie 415.984.1478

San Francisco, CA—Chinatown Community Development Center’s Adopt-An-Alleyway Youth Empowerment Project (AAA), the founder of Chinatown Alleyway Tours (CATS), will hold its 12th Annual Work-A-Thon to clean up Chinatown on Saturday, March 22. A total of 300 volunteers, primarily high school youth, and staff from various community organizations will participate to clean buildings, remove graffiti and spruce up community open spaces at Portsmouth Square and St. Mary’s Square.

AAA has recruited youth from eighteen high schools and volunteers from organizations including the Department of Public Works, the Department of Parks and Recreation, Portsmouth Square Garage, Alpha Phi Omega from UC Berkeley, and Cameron House for the Work-A-Thon, which was started in 1996.  This year’s efforts will include cleaning Chinatown’s alleyways, four Single Room Occupancy (SRO) buildings and gardening two Ping Yuen housing projects, St. Mary’s and Portsmouth Squares.

CCDC Community Organizer Rosa Wong-Chie said, “The Work-A-Thon is meant to introduce youth back to the community and ultimately help local youth to foster a sense of ownership and belonging to Chinatown.” In addition to the clean-up, team leaders will also talk about history and stories of their community. A free BBQ lunch is served at 1 p.m. at the Ping Yuen building to thank all the volunteers.

Location: Portsmouth Square, upper level of the park

                     (on Kearny, between Clay and Washington)

Time:        Saturday, March 22, 2008

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