DAYTON, Ohio — “Yes we’re protesting," said 18-year-old Chaz Amos. "Yes we’re pleading. But what are we going to do to stop waiting on our government and to not only hold our government accountable, but our community accountable?"

And that is why Amos decided to create the "I Love West Dayton" Clean Up Initiative. 

“We can’t expect our lives to be valued if we don’t value our own and part of that starts here and where you live,” said Amos.

Close to 400 people got involved Saturday afternoon and helped clean up trash from 5 different West Dayton neighborhoods. 

“The goal is once people start seeing a clean community, a clean space, they’ll start to promote people to want to keep it that way and for years to come you’re looking at neighborhoods that are yes, in an impoverished area, but you honestly can’t tell,” he said.

This initiative was also made possible through the help of several different community organizations across the Dayton area.

“It’s so important because there are a lot of people out here now wondering what they can do to not just help the black community, but help the community period,” he said. “So, this is a way to start.This is literally a gateway for you to start being involved and active in your community.”

Getting involved in the community is something that volunteer Megan Norkunas takes seriously.

“I think it’s important to have pride in where you are from and to help others who are in need of help,” said Norkunas. “That’s what you’re supposed to do. If you have the ability to give, to give it back to people.”

And Amos says it's not just about helping people and cleaning up the neighborhood.

“There’s more of a bigger outcome than just cleaning trash and cutting down weeds,” said Amos. “It’s building relationships and truly helping one another here in the West Dayton community.”

"I Love West Dayton" will happen every Saturday until October 31.