Volunteers fan out for neighborhood cleanup up during Englewood unity day

Chicago Tribune

03-05-2025

Unoka Obanner said she came to Unity Day events in Englewood for the first time Saturday to pass on the spirit of service to her 13-year-old twin sons. Obanner, a mother of four who lives in Auburn Gresham and works with Englewood-based nonprofit Think Outside Da Block, said she was interested in 'doing whatever I can to give back to communities.'
'Change is what I'm about, and I think the first step is showing up and participating,' Obanner said.
She and her sons were among the 200 people who spread out in blocks around South Honore and West 64th streets in Englewood to clean up and beautify the neighborhood on a sunny yet slightly chilly early May morning. The effort was part of the 12th annual Greater Englewood Unity Day hosted by Imagine Englewood If along with some community partners.
Michelle Rashad, executive director of Imagine Englewood If, said the event was about bringing people from all walks of life to do 'at least one good thing together and make our community a cleaner, more beautiful space.'
Imagine Englewood If is a nonprofit youth and family service organization that offers resources to the community, including life skills workshops, a pantry with food and supplies and case management. Much of the work takes place on the 'peace campus,' made up of some 18 properties around South Honore and West 64th streets.
People began gathering to check in around 9 a.m. and after a quick breakfast of doughnuts began separating into groups to work on different projects around the neighborhood, from painting murals on fences to fixing up a children's play area or picking up litter.
'It's so amazing,' Rashad said. 'I think one of the beautiful things about volunteering is you don't need a fancy degree or work experience. You don't have to be a certain age, like literally anybody can come and roll up their sleeves and serve on this day.'
Rashad said that despite challenges the neighborhood, city and country may be facing, Unity Day is an opportunity to 'take action together,' no matter a person's age, race or gender.
Paris Jackson, who lives in Auburn Gresham and went to high school in Englewood, said he is in his seventh year volunteering with Imagine Englewood If. His group at Unity Day was working on the children's play area, 'fixing it up and making it safe for the kids to play in this summer,' he said.
Jackson said he enjoys the spirit of Unity Day because the effort 'shows the community that we care.'
'We come every year and take part in this community clean-up because we care about the neighborhood and the people who live here,' Jackson said. 'We want to make this community vibrant and to make it feel like even more of a home, one of the best places to be in the city with amazing people.'
After a couple of hours of work, the groups planned to meet up to celebrate and enjoy more food, some games and 'vibing out,' Rashad said.
Imagine Englewood If and some of its community partners are based on a peace campus, which has resources including a computer lab and a community garden. There's also a court where people can play basketball and that the nonprofit uses for various other events.
'The point is to have this activated safe space that serves as a resource hub for anyone who needs some help,' Rashad said. 'We wanted to make it easy for people where they can come to this community campus and get almost anything they need.'
Rashad said the peace campus would continue to expand with more properties in the area that will be transformed to serve a purpose. Organizers, for example, hope to open a multimedia gaming center for young people, she said.
'We are consistently trying to come up with solutions and be imaginative in how we can help people,' Rashad said. 'That's what it's about, being consistent, and that's who we are.'