Crossings TV Asian Television – Home to Asian Americans
By Shoun Thao, Executive Director, Hmong Youth & Parents United
At Hmong Youth & Parents United (HYPU), we believe that keeping California clean starts by caring for our neighborhoods, and that begins with community. When we joined the Clean California Community Designation program, our goal wasn’t just to pick up litter; it was to inspire and create a movement of pride, education, and connection across generations. Our organization, based in North Sacramento, works with young people, families, and seniors to build stronger and healthier communities. Through the designation program, we saw an opportunity to extend that mission and turn environmental stewardship into an act of service and leadership. We wanted our young people to see that a clean street, a well-tended garden, or a single small act of care can reflects the heart of a community that believes in itself.
Our journey began by forming a Clean California committee that included staff and youth representatives. We meet monthly to plan cleanups, identify problem areas, and gather community feedback. By including youth in every step, from outreach to event leadership, we ensure the next generation sees environmental care not as a one-time activity but as a shared, lifelong responsibility. To understand our neighborhood’s needs, we conducted regular litter assessments, especially around North Sacramento’s bike trails and areas affected by illegal dumping. Using a simple but effective weight-based system, our volunteers tracked how much litter we collected. Over time, those numbers became more than data; they became motivation.
In one year, HYPU’s cleanups removed thousands of pounds of litter from local streets, parks, and trails. Each event began with a community orientation at our HOPE Center, where participants learned about safety, teamwork, and how to report large debris using Sacramento’s 311 app. These short trainings transformed every cleanup into a hands-on classroom about civic responsibility. One of our proudest moments came when members of our Youth Mentorship Circle (YMC) decided to host their own cleanup around their school campus. Without prompting, they applied what they had learned about organizing, recruiting, and leading their peers. That’s what success looks like to us: when young people take ownership of their surroundings and inspire others to do the same.
To other community organizations and neighborhood groups across California, we want you to know that earning a Clean California Community Designation is easier than you might think. The program welcomes all communities, big or small, to take part. You don’t need a large budget or a big team to take the pledge. It starts with simple, meaningful actions such as hosting a cleanup, planting a garden, or adding a trash bin where it’s needed most. Once your community takes these steps and shares your progress, you can easily apply online to become a designated Clean California Community, a recognition that shows your commitment to a cleaner, prouder neighborhood.
Visit the Clean California website at CleanCA.com/designation to learn more and take the pledge. From there, you’ll find simple toolkits, resources, and guidance to help your group start small and make a lasting impact. Whether it’s a one-day cleanup or an ongoing neighborhood beautification effort, every act of care adds up to something powerful. At HYPU, we’re proud and excited to be among the first to be recognized as a Clean California Community. This designation reflects our shared belief that when people come together with purpose, they can create lasting change. We’ve seen firsthand how this work transforms not only the physical environment but also how people feel about where they live. So, we invite other community groups, neighborhood associations, and our community leaders in California to take the Clean California pledge today. Let’s lead by example, one street, one neighborhood, and one act of service at a time. Together, we can keep California clean.