The 100 Mile Italian American Clean Streets Challenge

Italian Americans have always believed in taking care of their neighborhoods.

From the tight-knit streets of Brooklyn to the historic neighborhoods of Chicago and San Francisco, generations of Italian Americans built communities rooted in hard work, family, and civic pride.

That tradition continues today.

Christopher Alghini at the Phoenix Adopt-A-Street sign on 20th Street in the Biltmore district, ready for a cleanup run

Recently, Christopher Alghini, founder of the Alghini Institute, joined his 87-year-old cousin Frank Scalise, a Chicago-born Italian American living in Phoenix, to adopt a mile of roadway in the prestigious Biltmore district of Phoenix.

Through the city's Adopt-A-Street program, they maintain:

20th Street between Camelback Road and Indian School Road.

Wearing safety vests and carrying trash bags, they clean the street several times each year.

It's a small act with a big message:

If every community took responsibility for just one mile, our cities would transform.

Introducing the "100 Miles for Italian American Communities" Challenge

ItalianAmericans.com and the Alghini Institute are launching a new national initiative:

The Italian American Clean Streets Initiative

Our goal: Adopt and maintain 100 miles of streets across America.

Each participating city, organization, or family adopts a street and commits to periodic cleanups. This initiative celebrates a core part of Italian American culture — respect for community and pride in place.

Christopher Alghini and Frank Scalise, 87, after a successful cleanup on 20th Street in Phoenix

From the Street

The photos below capture what this looks like in practice. Not a press event. Not a photo opportunity. Two men in safety vests picking up litter on a busy Phoenix boulevard on a warm October morning.

Christopher and Frank with a full trash bag after their Biltmore district cleanup

Christopher Alghini working the bike lane segment of 20th Street during a 2025 cleanup

Italian American Cities With Adopt-A-Street Programs

Below are major cities with large Italian American communities where residents can adopt a street.

New York City

NYC encourages residents and neighborhood organizations to participate in local cleanup programs through the Department of Sanitation. Volunteers can organize block cleanups, maintain public spaces, and participate in neighborhood beautification initiatives.

NYC Department of Sanitation

Chicago

Chicago's community cleanup initiatives allow residents, businesses, and organizations to adopt streets and public spaces. Volunteers commit to periodic cleanups that help reduce litter and strengthen neighborhood pride.

City of Chicago Streets Department

Philadelphia

Philadelphia's Streets Department supports community cleanup efforts and neighborhood beautification. Residents can organize block cleanups and volunteer programs that help keep historic neighborhoods clean and welcoming.

Philadelphia Streets Department

Boston

Boston's Public Works Department supports community-led cleanup initiatives that allow residents and organizations to help maintain streets and public spaces.

Boston Public Works

Newark

Urban city street with cars and buildings at night

Newark offers programs that encourage residents and community groups to help maintain city streets, vacant lots, and neighborhood spaces through organized volunteer cleanup efforts.

City of Newark

Providence

Historic New England street with American flag and brick buildings

Providence encourages community volunteers to organize neighborhood cleanup events and beautification projects that improve local streets and public spaces.

City of Providence

San Francisco

San Francisco's Adopt-A-Street program allows residents, families, and organizations to commit to maintaining a specific street or block through regular litter pickups and beautification efforts.

SF Public Works — Adopt-A-Street

Los Angeles

Los Angeles residents, businesses, and organizations can adopt a block or street through the city's Adopt-A-Street program and participate in ongoing cleanup efforts to improve neighborhood environments.

Streets LA — Adopt-A-Street

Phoenix

Phoenix offers residents the opportunity to adopt a one-mile segment of roadway. Volunteers commit to periodic litter cleanups and receive safety equipment and supplies from the city.

Phoenix Adopt-A-Street Program

Buffalo

Person walking across a wide urban street in an American city

Buffalo encourages residents and community organizations to adopt blocks and participate in neighborhood cleanup efforts that improve the appearance and cleanliness of city streets.

City of Buffalo

Why This Initiative Matters

Beyond keeping streets clean, the Italian American Clean Streets Initiative helps:

Strengthen civic pride
Bring communities together
Honor Italian American traditions of service
Engage younger generations in volunteerism
Show positive leadership in our cities

How You Can Participate

Starting is simple:

1.Find your city's Adopt-A-Street program (links above)
2.Register your street segment
3.Recruit friends, family, or community groups
4.Commit to 2–4 cleanups per year

Even one mile of road can remove hundreds of pounds of litter annually.

If your family, organization, or local Italian American group adopts a street, we want to hear from you.

Send your photos and story to be featured on ItalianAmericans.com. Together we can reach our goal of 100 miles of adopted streets across America.

View all adopted streets and join the leaderboard on the Clean Streets Initiative page.

Take the First Step

Adopt a street in your hometown. Represent your family name. Show pride in your community.

Because heritage isn't just about where we came from. It's about what we do for the places we live today.

The 100 Mile Italian American Clean Streets Challenge

Introducing the "100 Miles for Italian American Communities" Challenge

The Italian American Clean Streets Initiative

From the Street