Groundwork Lawrence achieves results by engaging the community it serves in its mission. Its education programs, volunteer events and family activities are designed to foster ownership among participants in making Lawrence a safer, healthier place to live. Each year, Groundwork’s community programs attract increasing numbers of residents who are passionate about their city and doing their part to change it for the better.

Volunteer Events

Each year, Groundwork mobilizes hundreds of volunteers to participate in community clean-ups, building projects and tree planting. The annual Spicket River Cleanup brings together local schools, community groups and businesses to remove trash, debris and invasive plants from the banks and surrounding areas of the Spicket River. The Green Team’s "Green It Up!" campaign, an ongoing effort to clean up city streets, enlists local youth to reduce, reuse and recycle, while working to keep their own neighborhoods free of trash.

Family Activities

Throughout the year, Groundwork Lawrence and its partners sponsor family-friendly events designed to encourage Lawrence residents to get out and enjoy its green spaces. Events such as the annual Kite Festival in Pemberton Park, Canal IllumiNations at Lawrence Heritage State Park and group hikes at Den Rock Park promote fitness, build community and create new ambassadors for the health of Lawrence and its residents.

Healthy Living Workshops

Groundwork Lawrence’s Healthy Living Workshops empower participants to be more savvy consumers and better stewards of their own long-term health. The workshops are designed for low income Latino residents who live in Lawrence’s most challenged neighborhoods. The sessions cover such topics as making homes safer, with hands-on demonstrations on how to make cheaper, non-toxic alternatives to common household products. A second series encourages healthy eating habits with a focus on buying, growing, preparing and storing fresh fruits and vegetables.