Soaring reports of graffiti and litter sullying D.C.’s streets and buildings have led the city government to lay out more than $300,000 to change the behavior of District youth.
The number of requests to the Department of Public Works for graffiti removal skyrocketed by 80 percent in three years, from 1,760 in fiscal 2005 to 3,169 in 2007. Between Oct. 1, 2007, and Feb. 29, the agency’s mechanical and manual street sweepers collected 2.36 million pounds of garbage from the District’s streets.
DPW recently awarded a $301,400 contract to Atlanta-based Connect With Kids Inc. to develop and produce a graffiti and litter prevention campaign, one that targets youth through the media they know best: video and television.
The contract includes production of a 30-minute documentary and 10 videos of young people involved in community service, and management of a town hall meeting, “all to look at how we can all work together to raise the cleanliness level of the District of Columbia,” said DPW spokeswoman Linda Grant.
DPW’s last foray into public education was a series of anti-littering advertisements. The newest campaign will target children ages 13 to 19 — those who can influence the behavior of younger siblings and their parents, Grant said. DPW, she said, is laying the foundation for an ongoing public education program similar to “Don’t Mess with Texas.”
The District is developing a slogan for its campaign, the lead finalist being “Not in our D.C.”
“It’s a work in progress,” Grant said.
Connect with Kids produces multimedia programs for classrooms, in addition to a television series targeted to parents. The company has worked with Prince George’s County on truism, and with Stafford County on bullying.
“What I think we’re good at is helping to deliver a message to a community audience, but particularly to parents about issues that families face,” said Collin Siedor, the company’s editor in chief.
Public education is a key component to resolving the city’s graffiti and litter problems, as is apprehension, punishment and community cleanups, said Terry Lynch, executive director of the Downtown Cluster of Congregations.
“It’s a multipronged approach,” he said.
