Clean Up Columbus: Showing Up for Our Community

Pass the Class believes that education and service go hand in hand. That belief extends beyond the classroom and into the neighborhoods we call home.

Each semester, Pass the Class volunteers participate in Clean Up Columbus, a city-wide initiative focused on restoring public spaces, improving neighborhood safety, and fostering civic pride. Our students regularly come together to clean sidewalks, parks, and residential streets—removing litter, improving walkability, and contributing to a healthier local environment.

We genuinely love showing up for our community. Early mornings, reflective vests, trash bags in hand—and yes, the promise of hot coffee and donuts never hurts. But what keeps our students coming back semester after semester is the shared sense of purpose: working side by side, taking responsibility for the spaces we share, and doing something tangible to make Columbus better.

For our volunteers, Clean Up Columbus is about more than just a few hours of service. It reinforces the same values we bring to our academic work: consistency, teamwork, and commitment. By participating every semester, Pass the Class emphasizes that service isn’t a one-time event. And just like education, its impact compounds over time.