We Collected 32 Bags of Litter & Donated 50 Meals to Those Experiencing Homelessness!

On August 1, 2026, CT Speech & Action collaborated with The Young Presenters Project in a New Haven Green and city cleanup. We picked up about 35 garbage bags worth of litter and donated meals to around 50 individuals experiencing homelessness. 

New Haven Green

If you are unfamiliar, CT Speech & Action (CTSA) is a student-led organization that believes advocacy is most powerful when it leads to action. That’s why CTSA combines speech with service. A few times each year, we host speech tournaments, conferences, and help participants conduct social action initiatives that help students develop their communication skills while making an impact in their communities. By fully funding and organizing these opportunities, we empower young people to turn their ideas into action. Additionally, The Young Presenters Project (TYPP) is a group of students from South Windsor High School who organize free public speaking workshops at the local middle school to help youth step into their power and grow their confidence. 

Student Picking Up Litter

To organize this event, CTSA’s Finance Team and Event Hosting Team figured out what we needed for the event (lunch, equipment, etc.) and how to raise funds for it. We are very grateful to have had the Greater New Haven Green Fund sponsor us with the $800 needed for the event. Our Social Media Team was able to outreach to thousands of students online, climaxing in a highly successful 45-attendee event.

But beyond the numbers, the impact was shared in the experiences of the attendees– “I think this event is great because we were able to clean up trash in the park and save food from being wasted by giving it to other community members!” said one of our attendees. Others spoke of the importance of youth-led service events, with one attendee sharing how “It was nice helping others, I’m happy helping my community” and another adding how “it was really nice cleaning up the trash and walking around.” 

Students Gathering Litter

We are very grateful to each CTSA and TYPP member who helped organize and run the event, face and recover from challenges, and to all to attendees who helped us make a positive influence on our community. Thank you to everyone who supports youth

advocacy!