LA Man Turns Solitary Trash Pickups Into Nonprofit Work

It is ironic, perhaps, that many people can’t find jobs when there is so much work to be done in the world. Sometimes, however, people like Juan Naula find a way to make a living by answering the call to help solve a compelling public problem.

That call came when the unsuccessful ride-share company founder saw the garbage in Los Angeles’ (LA) Elysian Park.

“It kind of made me sad, because it’s a beautiful place,” Naula told The Washington Post.

Naula started picking up the trash. Then he told his wife about it. She encouraged him to post videos of his volunteer work online. He called his social media account “Clean L.A. With Me.” His time-lapsed recordings of him picking up trash on roads and in parks went viral. They pulled in thousands of followers.  

Naula created a nonprofit that raises enough money to support his family and enlist volunteers in his full-time cleanup efforts. It's huge job. Residents of LA County generate roughly 28 million tons of trash every year. That's enough to fill up the Rose Bowl each week, local officials say. 

“How can you trash this beautiful city?” Naula told the Los Angeles Public Press. “I think everybody has to do their part.”

Naula is a recent transplant from Virginia. He's not only helping his new city, but he’s treating himself to self-therapy. Picking up trash helps him clear his mind. It also helps him cope with the loneliness that comes with living apart from his wife and son. They're in his home country of Ecuador waiting on applications for permanent US residency. 

Naula is no longer alone. His cleanups have brought out hundreds of volunteers in recent months.  

Melanie Garcia, a regular volunteer, told the Post: “I want to be part of the solution.” 

Thought Question: What is a time when you chose to help your community or the people around you, and what motivated you to take action?

Photo of trash on the street from Unsplash courtesy of Jon Tyson.