By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

Eight months after the group first began removing graffiti and cleaning up trash in downtown Biddeford, Go Greene will receive money to pursue leadership training.

The Biddeford City Council voted unanimously April 6 to give Go Greene $4,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds for a youth leadership series. In exchange, Go Greene will do 10 graffiti removal events with accompanying cleanup in the downtown area.

Go Greene, a group of youth and young adults dedicated to doing “good work” in the community, was formed last summer following the shooting deaths of Gage and Derek Greene on South Street. The group is sponsored by Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center at Christ Episcopal Church.

Linda Waters, community development coordinator for Biddeford, said she has been keeping a close eye on the group for nearly a year. The group applied for funding in next year’s budget but did not receive money because the funding already was allocated, she said.

Waters said she recommended the council allocated money from the city’s CDBG allotment of $482,788. The city is allowed to spend 15 percent of the total on social services.

“It was time to back them up as they have been backing us up,” she said.

Waters said this is a cost-effective way to control graffiti, which she thinks is increasing in the city.

“We’re seeing more and more on signs and public buildings and private buildings,” she said. “(Go Greene) has been doing an outstanding job changing things.”

Go Greene facilitator Laura Kimball said the group began graffiti removal last summer when 22 members gathered to spend a day removing tags from Lincoln Mill.

“We’re hoping to provide kids with something to do and also make a change in the community. It also gives the youth and young adults the opportunity to meet business owners,” she said. “The best lesson in all of this is graffiti is a lot harder to remove than it is to put on. They took pride in the areas (they cleaned) and they have been saddened by the graffiti we’ve seen over the months.”

Kimball said older group members have been trained by professional cleaners to use a pressure washer and other scrubbing methods to remove graffiti. Younger member focus on cleaning up properties, including removing litter and sweeping.

The Downtown Development Commission will determine which 10 properties Go Greene will focus on this year.

Councilor George “Pete” Lamontagne said he has been to several events where Go Greene was volunteering and supports their efforts.

“It’s always those who have the least who give the most,” he said.

Council President Bob Mills agreed.

“I’ve always been supportive of this group because it’s demonstrating how the kids can reinvest in the community and make a difference,” he said. “It shows people that people can make a change. You do wonderful work.”

Mayor Joanne Twomey said she will never forget how the group was formed following Gage and Derek Greene’s deaths. Many of the group’s 10 to 12 core members were friends with the brothers, who lived in Biddeford.

“Out of something horrible and negative something positive can happen,” she said. “Thank you for what you do.” 

Receiving money from the city provides Go Greene members with recognition that what they are doing is important to the community, Kimball said.

“They believe what the kids are doing is right. It gives the kids a sense of pride to be recognized for their efforts,” she said.

Members are excited at the prospect of leadership training, Kimball said.

“It gives them the opportunity to basically work on their goals to achieve their aspirations,” she said. “It’s giving them the steps in the right direction. They need help getting there, but they all have goals.”

During bi-weekly meetings at the neighborhood center, Kimball said the group discusses various topics members want to learn more about, including CPR, cooking skills, banking, peer pressure, teen dating violence and other life skills.

Go Greene members are required to adhere to the neighborhood center’s community standards. Standards include no abuse of any kind, no possession of drugs, alcohol or weapons, and no unsafe behavior. Kimball said several original members left the group because they chose not to meet those standards.

Waters, who works closely with South Street neighborhood residents, said it is important for youth and young adults to be involved with the revitalization of the neighborhood and downtown as a whole. Having people of all ages involved in planning the future of the area is essential to ensure efforts are successful, she said.

“They’re the future of the neighborhood,” she said.

Brian Keely, chairman of the Downtown Development Commission, said he is already hearing from property owners who want graffiti tags removed. He said tags can be removed from buildings, retaining walls and any other structure. Anyone interested in arranging for a cleanup should call him at 282-9926 Tuesday through Saturday.

Keely and the commission have worked with Go Greene since last summer and purchased many of their graffiti removal supplies. He said it is nice to see the teens and young adults set themselves up for a “lifetime of volunteerism and caring about the community.

“I think it’s a positive thing for the community,” he said.

Go Greene currently is holding open enrollment for new group members. Members must be in seventh grade but no older than 21. They will participate in graffiti removal, community service projects and fun activities, Kimball said. All meetings and activities are supervised by adult mentors.

Kimball said adult mentors also are needed. The group meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month at Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center, 35 South St. For more information, call 283-1783.

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.