The Story Behind Glitter
August 2021 protest at Municipal Services Building where Glitter Founder Morgan Berman met her future partner Brandon Pousley, now CEO at Glitter.
It all started on New Year's Day. I was walking down the street, heading to meet friends for brunch, and I kept tripping over trash. As a single woman navigating the city, this wasn't just inconvenient—it was infuriating. I couldn't help but ask myself, "Why is the city so dirty?" This wasn't the first time I'd asked this question. Growing up in Philadelphia, I remember gazing out of my parents' car window as we drove down Broad Street, wondering why there was always so much trash on the ground.
It became clear to me that if I wanted an answer, I'd have to take matters into my own hands. If not me, then who? Through a series of events—fortunate or unfortunate, depending on your perspective—I became the president of my local civic association. My neighbor had asked me to join because there was an opening, and no one else seemed interested. Eventually, I found myself leading the group, and one of our primary activities was organizing neighborhood cleanups.
At the same time, I was building and running my first company, MilkCrate, which helps mission-driven organizations create customizable mobile apps to engage their communities. While organizing these cleanups, I realized just how inefficient and ineffective our efforts were. We’d spend hours recruiting a small group of volunteers to clean a few blocks, only to see the streets dirty again a week later. It was disheartening.
What if we could pay people to do the work and hold them accountable through the use of software tools that would accurately and easily report on their efforts?
Determined to find a solution, I reached out to Councilman Squilla. Our meetings led to discussions with former Councilman Green and Carlton Williams, the then Streets Commissioner. Over two years, we developed a model where my company, MilkCrate, would build a mobile app, and the city would hire and pay individuals with tax dollars to clean the streets. This program, originally named PhilaSweep, aimed to professionalize and modernize neighborhood block cleaning.
We managed to secure $100,000 in the city budget, but when it came time to execute, Carlton Williams declined to move forward. Frustrated and disheartened, I stepped back from the project for nine months. Then the pandemic hit, and social media platforms were flooded with complaints about the city’s filth. I realized that the community’s frustration presented an opportunity. Perhaps people would be willing to pay to alleviate this problem, even if it meant paying on top of their tax dollars.
Thus, Glitter was born—a neighbor-funded block cleaning service where we hire individuals facing barriers to work and pay them a living wage of on average $30 an hour. Neighbors can contribute whatever they can afford towards the $50 weekly cost for cleanings. We come before or after trash day (neighbors choose), bag the debris, and if it’s after trash day we ask neighbors to hold the bags for the next collection, ensuring cleaner blocks for longer periods. The more contributions a block receives, the more frequently we can clean. If a block raises $200, then we can come every single week of the month.
One pivotal moment in Glitter’s journey was a protest I organized alongside other community leaders, including Nic Esposito, the former Zero Litter Czar for the city. We collected litter from our neighborhoods and brought it to the municipal services building. It was there I met Brandon Pousley, who would later become my partner and Glitter’s CEO. A fateful day!
Throughout this journey, we’ve faced numerous challenges. Despite these setbacks, we remain committed to our mission. We continue to work with neighbors and local businesses, filling the gaps for neighborhoods that have gone too long without a solution.
Glitter is more than just a cleaning service; it’s a community-driven movement. We’re here to make our neighborhoods cleaner, stronger, and more connected. We’re taking action, and we invite you to join us. Together, we can make Philadelphia a cleaner, better place for everyone.
