What Works

Winning Graffiti Prevention Programs

Keep America Beautiful, Inc., announced the results of its first annual Graffiti Hurts® National Award competition. Winning graffiti prevention programs in four cities included First Response Team in Burlington, VT; Operation Clean Sweep in New Orleans, LA; the Baltimore City Police Department in Baltimore, MD; and Operation Brightside, Inc., in Kansas City, KS.

"This awards program honors the best and most innovative collaborations to combat graffiti," said G. Raymond Empson, president of Keep American Beautiful, Inc. "Across the country we're seeing creative and proactive ways to achieve lasting community improvement. These winners are taking responsibility for their environment,v and Keep America Beautiful is proud to recognize their achievements."

The competition drew over 60 entries from 26 states representing the best of local governments, police departments, nonprofit volunteer organizations, and other groups dedicated to eradicating graffiti vandalism. Winning programs receive a cash award, a plaque, and local and national recognition. The four innovative program winners presented their programs' best practices at Keep America Beautiful's 51st annual national conference in December 2004 in Washington, DC.

First Response Team in Burlington, VT

Since its launch in December 2001, First Response Team has repaired graffiti vandalism in over 900 locations, racked up over 1,700 volunteer hours, painted several murals in high-graffiti areas, and in a local survey found that 92 percent of respondents reported a decrease in graffiti in their neighborhood. With an operating budget of $37,000, the program includes removal within 72 hours; weekly volunteer cleanups; volunteer training; youth service learning; adopt a block, mural, and other restorative activities; and community service opportunities for prosecuted graffiti vandals.

Operation Clean Sweep in New Orleans, LA

Through a grassroots effort and a shoestring budget of just under $30,000 a year, Operation Clean Sweep has painted over more than 10,000 tags and significantly reduced graffiti in the City Of New Orleans and in the French Quarter. Building on broad local media support and working with more than 40 neighborhood associations, youth groups, churches, schools, and the New Orleans Police Department, Operation Clean Sweep has initiated a program that is reducing crime and improving the quality of life in the city.

Baltimore Police Department in Baltimore, MD

The Baltimore Police Department and Access Art, a local youth art center, teamed up on the Mural Project, a creative outlet for Baltimore City youth that discourages tagging in favor of public displays of positive community images. The premise is that to change attitudes and behaviors, young people must participate in the life of their neighborhoods. Following 50 hours of professional art instruction and education to promote civic responsibility, the youth conceived and created a 25 by 75 foot mural showing Baltimore residents in different stages of community involvement. Youth who would otherwise be involved in graffiti vandalism became advocates for cleaning up the neighborhood and acting as role models for other youth. In 2003, Baltimore City painted over 500,000 square feet of graffiti.

Operation Brightside, Inc., in Kansas City, KS

In 2003, to respond to an increase in graffiti, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS, built a coalition of public and private organizations to assess the graffiti problem and design a solution. This Graffiti Task Force targeted ordinance changes, expanded public and youth education, and coordinated a new abatement effort. After one year, 644 graffiti cleanup projects were completed, 96 percent of calls to the graffiti hotline have been resolved, and the new code enforcement process is providing victims with free assistance.

For more information, visit www.kab.org or call 203-323-8987, ext. 811.