Last week in Jacksonville, volunteers from Comcast and the Edward Waters University (EWU) community gathered to clean up the neighborhood. Local businesses and community partners also joined for the productive morning, leaving the streets and sidewalks litter-free.
This project was part of Team UP, Comcast’s always-on national employee volunteerism program, and was organized by leads from Comcast’s Young Professionals Network. Their goal was to come together with community members and make a positive impact.
One of the volunteers, Gabrielle Fields, hopes the group’s efforts will inspire others to take care of the community they call home.
“I think that having us volunteers help clean up will inspire residents and students to keep their area clean and beautiful. I hope to see the community involved in more events like this,” said Fields. “During this event, we got to know different people and their backgrounds and that’s always a great thing.”
After the clean up, volunteers and students got to celebrate at EWU Fan Day, where they enjoyed music, games, autographs from athletes and a football scrimmage.
Earlier in the week, EWU was the first stop in Florida for the 2024 Xfinity Unity Tour. This is the fourth year of the tour, which invites students to celebrate the legacy, history, and sense of pride that is unique and central to HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and HSIs (Hispanic Serving Institutions).
“The impact of HBCUs and HSIs goes far beyond the classroom, helping to shape the next generation of leaders and uplift local communities,” said Loren Hudson, SVP and Chief Diversity Officer, Connectivity and Platforms, Comcast.
This year’s tour will visit 13 HBCU and HSI campuses in communities Comcast serves, inspiring the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and creators. The event will connect students to career resources and tools, Black and Hispanic small business owners and entrepreneurs, and culturally relevant content and media. It will also provide a platform to showcase stories about the positive impact HBCUs and HSIs have on higher education.
