Community in Action Strategies: Graffiti Removal

Safe & Sound utilizes a variety of strategies that involve residents, youth and volunteers in cleaning up blighted areas and improving community safety. Many of these strategies are based on CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) principles and work towards making neighborhoods safer and bringing residents together to develop relationships and a sense of community. The goal of Community in Action strategies is to develop projects that can be run simultaneously which are scalable depending on the number of volunteers, community need and material resources available.

Graffiti Removal

When vandalism occurs, the most effective weapon against graffiti is the quick removal of it. The longer graffiti is up, the greater the chances of its return. In addition, gang graffiti may terrify residents and sends a clear message about the neighborhood. Most graffiti can be quickly and easily removed with chemicals or paint. Some graffiti on brick, glass or porous surfaces requires specialized equipment.

Operation Payback is Safe & Sound’s graffiti removal collaboration. The Operation provides constructive community service opportunities for former offenders that give back to neighborhoods impacted by crime and gangs through service projects while gaining appreciation, work experience and self development opportunities. Volunteers work side-by-side with other community members, former offenders, police, probation agents, prosecutors, Safe & Sound and other community based organizations. Everyone works as a team to remove graffiti and implement other blight reduction strategies while reaching out to homes in the vicinity. This is a great opportunity to see the effects of gang crime up close and speak with those most impacted. Those who volunteer will lend a helping hand and a little support while gaining a better understanding of the challenges faced in Milwaukee neighborhoods.

The cost of paint and chemical remover, brushes and rags, gloves and goggles requires funds or donations from businesses or the Department of Neighborhood Services. Teams can vary from chemical removal for graffiti on garbage cans, light poles, etc. to paint removal of graffiti on painted surfaces or more intensive teams using a power washer and multiple colors of paint that go on a pre-planned route from site to site with a vehicle removing large and challenging graffiti vandalism.

Graffiti Wipe-Out Team for Gang Graffiti and Tagging

• 4 volunteers per team
• 2 removers using chemical and scour pads, check garbage carts, arrange carts at alley line
• 2 removing graffiti, carrying supplies and writing addresses and recording graffiti information
• Note: Paint removal requires a vehicle and additional supplies. Pressure washer removal is available as well but can only be used by trained volunteers and requires approval for usage.

Supplies

• Clip-board
• Anti graffiti educational flyers
• 5 gallon buckets to carry supplies
• Spray cans chemical graffiti remover
• Wipe on graffiti remover
• 2-4 rags per person
• 4-6 scour pads per person
• 1-2 Steel wool

Provided by volunteers

• Gloves
• Safety glasses

Graffiti Removal Volunteer Job Description