Members of the L.G.B.T.Q+ community joined together to celebrate their pride Saturday afternoon, with some community service.

The Avenue Blackbox Theater came to Joseph Avenue in June, to bring art to the neighborhood and its youth.

“Just using the arts as a way to inspire the community, heal the community and build connectivity amongst the community,” Theater resident Adrian Elim said.

For Blackcrowned Entertainment, who exists to promote pride.

“It tries to preserve the culture of the L.G.B.T community, whether that’s through art, or entertainment or community work,” said Jazelle Bonilla, of Blackcrowned Entertainment.

The theater was the perfect location for their third annual Clean Sweep.

“L.G.B.T.Q of color live in the city, they work in the city, they have families in the city, so what better way is to be part of the city better by cleaning the city?” Bonilla said.

The afternoon started with the beautification of the sidewalks.

“It’s good to just see You Matter, or Love is the Answer, or different messages as you’re walking down the streets of Joseph Avenue,” Elim said.

Followed by the clean-up of trash, and the planting of flowers in the area.

“I think it’s important for everyone in some way, whether it’s a clean sweep or volunteering at a food shelter, it’s just a part of giving back to your city,” Bonilla said.

For volunteers like 17-year-old London Knight, who has a short film premiering at the theater next week, this kind of community work is art.

“It’s making something that was old into something new, and something better beyond somebody else’s persective,” Knight said.

For the theater and Blackcrowned Entertainment, it's about community and pride.

“We all live here, we all work here, we all thrive here, do recreational things here,  and so we should be taking ownership and we should be investing back in the community that allows us to be who we are.”