Tufts University Organizes Chinatown Neighborhood Spring Cleanup

On Wednesday, May 10, Tufts University hosted its 3rd annual Cherish Chinatown Cleanup, a spring neighborhood cleanup in Boston’s Chinatown, the home of the university’s Health Sciences Campus. Over one hundred Tufts students, faculty, and staff volunteers participated in the effort, picking up trash, working on landscaping projects and cleaning up sidewalks, all while learning more about the neighborhood and ways to continue or begin involvement with local nonprofit community partners.  

With the support of Tufts University’s office of Government and Community Relations, Tisch College of Civic Life, and Boston Facilities team, volunteers from across the campus spread mulch and planted fresh flowers around the perimeter of the Josiah Quincy Elementary School, organized supplies and delivered books within the elementary school, and picked up trash and
sharps along the sidewalks of the residential and business areas of Chinatown.  

Remarking on the day, Liza Perry, deputy director of Tufts’ office of Government and Community Relations, said “Tufts University’s Boston Health Sciences campus sits in the heart of Chinatown, a vibrant, diverse, and culturally rich neighborhood that is home to many families, small businesses, and social service organizations. We recognize our responsibility to support our Chinatown neighbors and community partners with this annual cleanup and through other Cherish Chinatown initiatives. Our goal is to further the connections that tie Tufts students, faculty, and staff to the Chinatown community and to do our part to beautify the neighborhood.” 

This year, to kick off the cleanup day, volunteers heard inspiring remarks from Chulan Huang, Mayor Michelle Wu’s Neighborhood Liaison for Chinatown, Grace Burke from the City of Boston’s Office of Civic Organizing, Joann Yung from the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) and Rowena Tuttle from Josiah Quincy Elementary School. Before the volunteers began their volunteer shift, they were treated to delicious snacks from Chinatown’s Bao Bao Bakery. Volunteers also received sharps training from Boston Public Health Commission staff. They then headed off to various locations all around the neighborhood. Tufts University’s Boston facilities team joined volunteers to assist with the grounds work at the Josiah Quincy Elementary School and donated all the supplies, mulch, and plants for the landscaping projects.  

After spending the day volunteering at the cleanup, Dr. Jennifer C.M. Pustz, assistant director of Tufts School of Medicine’s Office of Student Wellness said: “One of the things I missed most when I transitioned to remote work during the first year of COVID was coming to Chinatown every day, so participating in this event means a lot to me in terms of reconnecting to a place that became very dear to me first as a student and now as a Tufts employee.” She continued, “It was also so wonderful to see all the students who participated, stepping away from their studies and labs for just a bit to get some fresh air and work together to support our neighbors. I hope they returned to their work as I did, refreshed by the break from the everyday and feeling the joy of connecting with each other and the community.”