Meet Our Community: Evan Smith

As part of our seasonal spotlight series, we’re celebrating our incredible employees, partners, and volunteers who help make the work of Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful (KCCB) possible. In our Earth Day Blog, we talk about the ‘Ripple Effect’ and how all it takes is one person to inspire many to make a change in their community. Today, we’re excited to introduce Evan, a dedicated long-time volunteer who brings enthusiasm, teamwork, and hands-on impact to every creek cleanup. 

Role: Cleanup Volunteer

With KCCB: 4 Years!

Fun Facts 🌟

• Happy place: Portola Redwoods State Park 🏞️ 

• Unusual creek sightings: Circus Flyers 🎪🤡

• Favorite hobbies: Walking, Bike Rides, Hiking 🥾🚲⛺

• Favorite food to eat: Mexican 😋

• Favorite color: Blue Green 🌈

Evan described his unusual find and said, “it depends on what you define as unusual; there’s plenty of things that are unusual, but one cleanup I saw 50-100 circus flyers strewn all over the place.”

How it All Started 🌱

Evan started volunteering with KCCB in 2022 after initially participating in cleanups with other organizations. He found them so enjoyable that he continued to show up with his family.

What Evan really appreciates about this organization is that he “started to develop some really good relationships with the site leaders.” He also mentioned that one of the things he really liked about KCCB is that “we don’t hold back. If there’s trash, we’re going to get it.”

It’s not just the process of doing a cleanup in the community; what Evan enjoys the most is how much grit KCCB has in removing debris.

Impact on the Community 🌎

For Evan, the impact of KCCB’s work is both visible and deeply felt, not just in cleaner creeks but in the growing sense of community.

He said, “I’ve been impressed by the number of people who show up… we get young kids, we get older adults. It just seems like it’s definitely becoming a community effort.”

What stands out most to Evan is how cleanup events have evolved beyond just removing trash. With broader community involvement and local leadership support, these efforts are helping bring people together around a shared purpose.

“It’s very much not just about the work, it’s about bringing the community together and making a difference together,” Evan encouraged.

At the same time, the impact is tangible. Each cleanup removes large amounts of waste, reinforcing both the urgency and importance of the work.

Evan noted something significant to appreciate about the process of change. He mentioned, “There has never, ever been a cleanup where there’s no more trash… there’s always more. But it’s also clear to me that our work is making a major impact.”

Through consistency and collaboration, volunteers are not only restoring spaces, but they’re also helping build a culture of care, awareness, and action across the community.

He also mentioned that one of the things he really liked about KCCB is that “we don’t hold back. If there’s trash, we’re going to get it.”

Looking Ahead: The Future of KCCB ☀️🌳

Looking forward, there’s a strong sense of momentum and optimism about where this work is headed.

Evan described, “I think there’s been some momentum around this issue… I feel like there has been some progress.”

One of the most exciting possibilities is moving beyond cleanup toward long-term transformation of these spaces. He said, “What excites me is really being able to see that we’re permanently cleaning up sites… and hopefully getting more into restoration work.”

That future includes restoring areas impacted by dumping and encampments, and bringing them back to life through vegetation and care. “Trying to restore vegetation and really making it look like nothing ever happened” are the next steps beyond cleaning our communities.

Even now, there are signs of progress. While challenges remain, repeated efforts are beginning to make a visible difference.

“There are parts where there used to be a lot of trash that have stayed pretty clean… when you step back, it’s like, okay, this is definitely a lot better.”

With continued dedication, community involvement, and a vision for restoration, the future of KCCB is not just about cleaning creeks; it’s about reimagining and rebuilding them for generations to come.

Final Thoughts ✨

Through hands-on experience, Evan has gained a powerful perspective on the importance of showing up and doing the work.

“There is something very impactful about… working with your hands and experiencing the issue firsthand. I don’t think anything can compare.”

His message is simple: real change starts with action and when people step in, get involved, and see the impact up close, it creates a deeper understanding and connection that cannot be replicated any other way.