Atlas Apprentice
Environmental Research, Media, and Activism
The Leveelie Ladies of Santa Cruz
A group of women known as the Leveelie Ladies clean up the San Lorenzo river mouth twice a week. They tally every piece of trash and use this data to excite citizens and politicians to support the restoration of a levy that is both a rich ecosystem and beautiful public space.
The most important journalistic aspect of this video for me was to ensure I did not portray the relationship between the homless population and Leveelies as a battle. No single group is responsible for the river debris, nor its cleanup. The Ladies encourage everyone to join regardless of class or level of commitment. Every little conversation they have with the myriad of people who use the Levy slowly changes the atmosphere. Restoring the river takes more than cleaning up debris; it takes getting the entire community’s respect and appreciation. Their attitude of humility towards service has proven to me that only together can we create a space for the entire community to use.
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Atlas Apprentice 
i met you today on the levee and gave you my contact info.
perhaps you got it incorrect, so i’ll leave it again.
yes, i would like to be involved and would like to
connect with you. (bad at names so please remind)
Hi Ellen,
Email me at atlasapprentice@gmail.com and I’ll make sure you get connected to the Ladies! Stoked you’re interested.
I would like to volunteer as well. Please reach me by email. I can begin in Nov.
Dear Jackie, I am so happy to hear that you will volunteer with the Leveelies! I will connect you to the team.