Episode summary
Indy Street Sweep is bringing 777 people to the streets of Indianapolis on July 7th to pick up trash and better the city we love.
In this episode, we talk about where the vision came from, why the Parks Department invited us into parks across the city, and how friendships formed on mission can change how Indianapolis sees its neighbors. This is about more than clean streets, and you're invited to be part of it.
Core Insurance Solutions (Jackson Blevins)
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Full transcript
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We're going to do something really cool later this year. And that's one of the reasons we had you on the podcast was for Indy Street Sweep that we're we're planning on July 7th. 777 of us are going to hit the streets and pick up trash and and better the city. Where was that vision? Where did that come from? Well, uh I've always loved this city and I've always believed that we need safe streets and safe neighborhoods. And it's, you know, you may have heard of the broken windows policy, and if you don't take care of the broken windows in the vacant homes or other homes, pretty soon everything else is going to go downstream. Well, one metric of pride and ownership of course is is their litter and trash around. And so the the the I think Max through Ethan Fernho, Ethan said, Max has this idea and I think you were the one that brought this beautiful concept of picking up trash, picking up the trash because I know that's what Roots does. you guys are leading the way here. But the whole vision is how do we get this uh group of guys uh from Citizen 7 and we now have about 1500 guys on the mailing list. Lots of small groups forming, but not every we haven't done mission together. How do we get guys and others in the city doing something that brings guys together on mission? That's where guys form friendships. And then guys said, well, can I bring my spouse or friends or others and family? I know you're open to anybody doing this. Anyway, open the door completely. Open the door. But the whole thing is it's not so much we're going to do good for the city, but I'm going to be with men and women, young and old, black and white and brown, that can form friendships because the power of friendship on mission and as friends, we're going to have a lot of fun picking up trash. I'm going to be at Watkins Park there at 23rd and can't wait. What I love is I think a lot of people in this day and age, you know, are cynical of Christians and think we're like bigoted or judgmental. But when I think people in Indy are driving to work and they see a massive amount of people out cleaning trash when the sun people are going to think something's wrong. Why are all these people outside with trash, but then they and then they hear like, "Oh, this was the Christian group." Yeah. It's like, "Oh, I think paradigms will shift like, oh, maybe this Christ, this Jesus thing, this reason is is real." That's right. And if we do it not once but year after year after year. That's right. What will that do to a city? Well, one, it'll be a lot cleaner. That's right. But two, I think there'll just be much more belief in the actual hands and feet of Jesus cuz that's ultimately what this is about. It's not about roots. It's not about citizen 7. Who cares about us? It's about being the hands and feet of Christ. And I completely agree. When you're operating in that way, it's the best conversations. It's the It's the best discussions and you dive to a level three conversation really quick. That's right. But that's why I like going to the streets with myself. We've had what, four best conversations ever. I don't even know who I'm next to, but we're swatting mosquitoes and, you know, avoiding poison ivy and just having an absolute blast. A quick aside, most people overpay for insurance or worse, they're undercovered and they don't realize it. We partner with Jackson Blevens at Core Insurance Solutions. He's a full-ervice broker here locally in Indianapolis who handles everything from home, auto, boat, he can do it all. And he understands the retail side and investor side of the game. If you want someone who can shop the market for you and tailor correct coverage for your property, connect with Jackson in the description below. My favorite part thus far of planning this has been the congregations that have reached out. all these different leaders of different congregations with uh the that represent the population of the city are wanting to get into the streets and walk with one another. That's right. And that's unique. That doesn't happen in in many cities. And it's going to be so good. What really stirred my heart is I believe this is true. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you were invited in by the parks department to serve in these particular 21 or 23 different parks. Yeah. They give us a list of 21 parks. They are supplying all the everything that we need. The government is is paying for the trash bags, the gloves, um, and everything to keep us safe and we'll be picking up the trash behind us. And they're excited about it because July 4th is just a few days ahead. That's right. Well, again, the notion of invitation, not we're going to come in and we're going to be the big man here and shape you guys up. No, where can we be invited? And we're invited because we're winsome. We're we want to be humble and saying, "Yeah, please come into into my neighborhood and be with us here." That's beautiful. So, I'm really excited and thank you so much you guys for taking the lead and leading by example already. Yeah, we we love it. We need a lot more guys though, don't we? We need a lot more hats on that say roots. That's right. Are you going to actually do that and care about your roots or are we just going to be a brand that has a nice font, right? So, I think it's it's up to us to do that. Deep roots.
Episode questions, answered
Quick answers from this guide.
What is Indy Street Sweep?
Indy Street Sweep is a community cleanup event planned for July 7th where 777 volunteers will hit the streets of Indianapolis to pick up trash and improve neighborhoods. The event aims to bring men and women of all ages and backgrounds together on a mission to serve the city.
How many parks will be cleaned during Indy Street Sweep?
The Indianapolis Parks Department has provided a list of 21 parks where volunteers will clean up trash. The city is supplying all necessary materials including trash bags and gloves to support the effort.
Who is organizing Indy Street Sweep?
Roots Realty and Citizen 7, a men's group with about 1500 members on their mailing list, are organizing the event. Multiple congregations representing the city's diverse population have also reached out to participate.
Why is the broken windows policy relevant to this cleanup?
The broken windows policy suggests that if you don't maintain properties and neighborhoods, everything else deteriorates downstream. Litter and trash are visible metrics of community pride and ownership, making cleanup efforts important for neighborhood health.
What is the spiritual purpose behind Indy Street Sweep?
The event is about being the hands and feet of Jesus and demonstrating Christian faith through action. Organizers hope that when people see large groups cleaning the city, they'll recognize the positive impact of faith-driven community service.
Can families and non-Christians participate in Indy Street Sweep?
Yes, the event is completely open to anybody. Participants can bring spouses, friends, and family members. The focus is on building friendships and community across all backgrounds, ages, and beliefs.