A civil rights advocate and community pillar, Harada opened her home to displaced families after WWII and helped preserve the landmark that now tells her family’s story.
Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful will host its citywide cleanup event on Saturday, May 10, 2025, as part of the national Greatest American Cleanup initiative, with a goal of recruiting 1,000 volunteers.
The event will run from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at pre-assigned cleanup sites throughout Riverside. Following the cleanup, volunteers will gather at the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce for tool return and a complimentary lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
"During the Greatest American Cleanup, Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful engages more than 700 volunteers and is dedicated to forming partnerships with a diverse array of businesses and organizations," said Andrew Nguyen, project coordinator. "Together, we strive to create clean, green and beautiful communities, aligning with the City of Riverside's commitment to sustainability and civic engagement."
Participants will receive their site locations and instructions from KRCB prior to the event. The Chamber of Commerce is located at 3985 University Ave., with parking available at the Chamber, on Chestnut Street and at the Main Library next door.
The local effort contributes to the nationwide Greatest American Cleanup campaign, which aims to remove 25 billion pieces of litter from the national landscape by July 4, 2026—America’s 250th birthday.
In previous cleanup events, KRCB volunteers have collected thousands of pounds of litter and waste from public spaces, including parks, waterways and neighborhoods throughout the city.
The organization, established in 1992 as a partnership between the City of Riverside and local businesses, conducts monthly beautification projects year-round, building a sense of community pride with more than 29,000 volunteer hours organizing community beautification projects.
How to Volunteer
Individuals can register for the May 10 cleanup event by visiting krcb.com. Those interested can also call (951) 683-7100, ext. 212, or email cHernandez@riverside-chamber.com with questions.
KRCB will provide all necessary cleanup supplies and event T-shirts to volunteers. The event will proceed rain or shine.
