1. involve local high school and college aged youth in community issues and to build youth leadership
2. provide "eyes" on the alleys to keep the alleys free from graffiti and litter.

We envisioned this as a creative means of using Chinatown's alleyways as a training ground for future community activists.

One of the positive outcomes is that the youth learn to work with the media by publishing a "score card" with grades assigned on the upkeep and maintenance of the alleyways. The youth group also learns to work with City departments, especially the Department of Public Works.

Currently there is a youth leadership of over 35 youth who actively monitors and conducts regular clean-ups (at least 10 times a year, including two major alleyway work-a-thons) of all alleys in Chinatown. The alleyway clean-ups draw local and Bay Area youth from all over, with as many as 500 youth participating at large events.