If you’re one of Downtown Fort Wayne’s nearly 50,000 followers, you might have heard of Downtown Fort Wayne’s Clean & Green program. If not: The Clean & Green team has been around for over a decade, celebrated by the community (and local news) for keeping DTFW’s 99 blocks clean of debris, providing a more welcoming, beautiful urban space for everyone to enjoy.
Their services span from litter removal, landscaping, graffiti remediation, and everything in between. They even respond to service requests from Downtown businesses, fostering a sense of shared pride and ownership across the district. If you’ve ever walked the streets of Downtown and praised the city’s cleanliness, you have the Clean & Green team to thank.
But thanks and praise is not why the team works tirelessly to care for Downtown’s public spaces. Their dedication is reflective of a deeper outlook on what it means to be connected to a community.
“Walking around picking up litter is good for the mind, body, and soul,” says Downtown Fort Wayne’s Anthony Racic. “Low-impact exercise is good for the body; seeing an area clean after you’re done gives you that dopamine hit for your mind, and people usually say thank you, which makes your soul shine. A reach-and-grab [tool] and a bucket can change your whole outlook. Everyone should try it at least once.”
Racic’s energy is contagious; that feel-good spirit is why the team’s environmental stewardship stands out. And this year, for Earth Day, the team is celebrating with a rebrand and an expansion that keeps their passionate, community-centered outreach front and center.
Now known as Clean & Safe, the program is expanding, with the former Clean & Green team carrying on their daily cleaning services, while a new team will focus on the community’s health and safety. The new Safe component introduces the Downtown Ambassador Program, which deploys daily “boots-on-the-ground” to build authentic relationships and serve as liaisons between the community and critical medical and social service providers.
Think of it like a wellness check on patrol. Here’s how it works! Thanks to grant funding from the Allen County Department of Health, Downtown Ambassadors roam the district looking to:
- engage with both housed and unhoused individuals to promote well-being, facilitate access to care, and improve public interactions—especially for those facing complex challenges like chronic illness, mental health issues, and substance dependency
- rather than duplicating existing efforts, the Ambassadors complement the work of local healthcare and service agencies by gathering real-time data, offering referrals, and equipping providers with valuable field insights to improve care
- document daily outreach activities, enabling data-informed collaboration with partners like the City of Fort Wayne, United Way, Alliance Health, and the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission
This new ambassadorship expands upon Clean & Safe’s services and helps ensure that every individual, no matter what they’re going through, feels seen, supported and welcome in Downtown’s 99 blocks.
Have questions about the new Downtown Ambassadorship program? Email [email protected].
Want to get involved by volunteering with Clean & Safe? Fill out our volunteer application!
Molly Conner is a Fort Wayne native and freelance writer. Having lived in Downtown Fort Wayne throughout her twenties, she loves watching her stomping grounds grow. With her love of storytelling and community in tow, she’s eager to tell Downtown Fort Wayne’s story piece-by-piece—exploring the people, spaces, and organizations that make it thrive.