Earth’s Southern Superhero: The story of Chad Livsey and his green revolution

By Cowgirl Candace | Photos by Zac Holben

The industrial-gloved crusader swoops into dilapidated Deep South communities like a  present-day Captain Planet – Captain Atlanta as he’s monikered. Armed with raw determination on an environmental justice assignment, Chad Livsey goes beyond talking about strategies to save the planet. He acts on them – one groundbreaking initiative at a time. The Georgia eco-activist fights for Earth’s future and healing alongside his superhero sidekick: 5-year-old daughter Lake. The pint-sized protégé’s pigtailed locs block debris like nunchucks. Her candy apple red lobster trash-grabber snatch up litter in one flawless sweep. “It’s fun picking up chip bags with my grabbers,” said Lake.

Interestingly, potato chip bags and Coke products are the most littered items the daddy-daughter duo confiscate. The two set the quick grab-and-garner tempo for 26 other “street keepers” during a Grove Park cleanup on the northwest side of the city in collaboration with the Grove Park Foundation. In 2 hours, they rid one block of 40 bags of trash and 28 used and worn tires. “We all deserve clean places to live,” said Livsey, who started The Chad Livsey Project as a nonprofit seven years ago, “that also includes our often-neglected Black and Brown neighborhoods.”

Last year alone, the project’s commitment to standardize “zero-waste” communities, resulted in the removal of 28,072 pounds of litter and bulk waste around Metro Atlanta. Annually, more than 600 volunteers participate in Livsey’s preservation activations: removing litter, emptying recycling containers, relining trash receptacles, and hand blowing or sweeping sidewalks across surrounding counties. These neighborhood tidying services travel from Atlanta to Tampa and other cities like Hurricane Helene recovery zone, Asheville, North Carolina. “It’s so easy to take from our cities,” said first-time volunteer Yvonne Eseonu, originally from Maryland. “I’ve never done a trash cleaning project like this before. I’m being intentional about giving back to Atlanta, especially since I’ve lived here for seven years now.”

The cleanup face of Atlanta’s Black neighborhoods, Livsey’s climate impact is sending a loud signal. One that calls for city and county officials to do better. Ironically, his caped crusader efforts have received backlash for holding neighborhood leaders accountable. Livsey flashbacked to that time an officer had Livsey’s truck towed, knowing the environmentalist stopped to pick up trash thrown on his family’s street corner. “The crazy part is that my work is fighting pollution, not people,” said Livsey, “but in the process of rebuilding our Black main streets, I’ve become a target for doing the right thing on behalf of our communities and planet.” A responsibility naturally gifted to him by his grandfather, the late Thomas Livsey Sr., who passed away at age 93 in 2023. 

A litterbug vigilante, Thomas led by action. He hiked Highpoint Road in Gwinnett County, picking up trash and trimming sidewalk grass. Along with beautification and conservation work, Thomas farmed family land. One of 13 siblings, Thomas grew up on the 110-acre plantation property – the Promised Land – that the Livsey’s freed ancestors owned and stewarded. Thomas used the homestead to process honey, harvest timber, and tend a fruit and vegetable garden. In between Chad’s current planet-saving pursuits, he’s also working to register his grandfather’s farm as a national historic site. The goal is to transform the land into an educational site for the community to remember and learn from his hero’s preservation contributions.

“There’s history-saving work I’m pursuing, which is a lot to deal with, too,” said Chad, who actually battled Gwinnett County two years ago over a portion of his family’s centennial farmland. The county wanted to buy several acres for $700,000 to develop a historic park. When the Livseys said no thank you, the district shifted its posture toward eminent domain. Chad and his family still wouldn’t budge. Instead, Chad used the power of the digital pen to inform social media audiences about the private-public dispute. The widespread support he gained online helped halt the county’s plans. “Our family land, past, and stories are not for sale,” Chad said. “This land is for us to continue farming, fishing, and camping on. We offer opportunities for the neighborhood to engage in our outdoor conservation and recreation efforts throughout the year.” 

Like Thomas, Chad remains valiant in the upkeep of his community and its participation in local development. He purposely endorses multigenerational involvement in his monthly cleanup initiatives. “Partnering has to take place to get families connected to our service projects,” said Chad. He has collaborated with both South Gwinnett and Shiloh high schools to introduce youth to his organized cleanups. A win-win experience for students to earn the required community service hours for graduation and understand the significance of caring about their neighborhoods. Not too far removed from her high school days, 23-year-old street keeper Kelyce Allen received a flyer about the Grove Park cleanup and wanted to exercise her public policy degree.

“My work has shifted from an economic-centered lens to a community one,” said Allen, a Duke graduate originally from Tampa. “Atlanta is a great place to experience how Black communities look and move. The Chad Livsey Project is a perfect example.” Elementary students like Chad’s daughter Lake are encouraged to join under parent or guardian supervision – one of the few volunteer opportunities in the city where parents can engage their young children (under 10) in community service projects. “Our property value matters,” said Chad, “and so does the right leadership to raise our kids to care. Trash is the one thing that can instantly bring down our homes’ worth if we don’t keep them clean together.”

WHAT’S NEW & NEXT:

Seeds of Service: Wellness Program is led by Chad’s wife, Candra, who is teaching local residents how to grow fresh food one container at a time. “This program equips our urban families with everyday tools to start their own grassless gardens,” she said. “They’re able to pot fruits, veggies, and herbs year-round.” Seeds of Service educates about regenerative gardening practices and provides resources to apply healthier eating habits.

Wood Wizards partners with communities to teach kids the benefits of woodworking skills. Through local parties and camps, this initiative is designed to build sustainable lifestyles – literally. To construct this promising youth program, The Chad Livsey Project is accepting donations (including in-kind donations for supplies) as the couple prepares to set up a new headquarter space in Southeast Atlanta. Sign up to volunteer, and connect with Chad and his environmental justice lifestyle on Instagram @chadlivsey for weekly developments.

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