Taking Care Of Business – Cleaning West Philly Corridors
In collaboration with Wynnfield Overbrook Revitalization Corporation (WORC) led by Gerald Murphy, the Overbrook Environmental Education Center hosts a Taking Care of Business (TCB) crew.
TCB crews are sponsored by the Philadelphia Department of Commerce to boost economic growth in Philly. Crew members Devan Curtis and Jeremy Elliot are led by Marvin Kingcade (TCB Supervisor) and Salahudin Thompson (Crew Leader). This team cleans up litter, car crash debris, dumped material, and any other trash that hasn’t been properly disposed of. We care for six business corridors and 51 Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS) vacant lots in West Philadelphia. We are pleased to have quarterly meetings with liaisons of the businesses we serve, including Will Butts, Eric Frank, Rev. Doretha Lindsay, Ann Turner, William Nasir, and City Representatives Gabriella Ayalla and Jordan Stewart. These partners are invaluable in assisting and guiding us in our work.
What may seem like a routine task has a substantial impact on the areas our team serves. Removing trash makes business corridors cleaner and safer, especially for people shopping along the storefronts. This boosts business in these areas and improves the well-being of these communities.
Although our team is small in numbers, their impact is huge. In 2025, they collected 21.62 tons of waste along these corridors. In December 2025 alone, they removed over 2 tons of trash. That averages about 1000 lbs of trash collected per week. Not only is that 2 tons of trash removed from the streets, but all of that litter was also diverted from the storm water system. When trash makes its way into a stormwater system, it can cause flooding and pollute waterways. Our team’s work prevents these issues from worsening.
Next time you see a TCB crew member, whether from our crew or another, be sure to give them a wave and thank them for their hard work. Their tireless efforts are making a significant difference in the beauty, safety, and well-being of our city.
