Become a Block Captain

A block captain may be a community clean-up coordinator, a Neighborhood Watch coordinator, or a political organizer, or all of the above. A block captain is generally considered to be the lowest-level political figure.

Block captains in Philadelphia, a program begun in 1965, are authorized and organized under the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee (PMBC) of the Sanitation Division of the Streets Department.

The PMBC says this:

The PMBC Program is a partnership between the City, your neighbors and you to keep your block clean. If your neighborhood decides to participate in creating a cleaner block, you can organize and elect a Block Captain to make it happen. Here's how:

• Contact PMBC at (215) 685-3981 to receive a petition in the mail
• Circulate the petition among your neighbors to elect a Block Captain. You will need 51% of the residents on your block to sign the petition —one (1) adult signature per household
• Mail your completed petition to PMBC —a Clean Block Officer will contact you and help you get started

Resources

• How to become a block captain--and rock at it, Philadelphia Citizen, August 5, 2021.
• PMBC: Block Captain
• Philadelphia Reflections: Block Captains
• The No-B***s*** Guide to a Litter-Free Block, Philly Magazine, July 9, 2015
• Philadelphia block captains keep eyes peeled for litter and riffraff, Newsworks, August 19, 2011
• Philadelphia Officials Host Event To Show Appreciation For Area Block Captains, CBS-3, March 26, 2011
• Help Desk: No block captain? No trash can
• Volunteering in Philadelphia
• South of South Neighborhood Association
• Woman and three children die in Feltonville rowhouse fire

Other Cities:

• Block Captain's Guide (pdf, Antioch CA)
• Block Captain Duties (Albuquerque NM)
• What Are Block Captains? (central OK)
• Block Captain Resources (San Mateo CA)
• Block Captain Program (Frisco TX)
• Block Captain Resources (Terra Linda CA)
• Block Captain Responsibilities (pdf, Cheyenne Ridge OK)