In honor of Earth Day and South Bend’s 150th birthday, students from the Crossing Educational Center are teaming up with Leadership South Bend/Mishawaka, Union Station Technology Center and the Kroc Center to beautify a 1 square mile area south of downtown known as the Renaissance District.

Specifically, the work will be performed around the historic Studebaker properties inside the borders of of Chapin Street to S. Michigan Street and Western Avenue to Sample Street.

The day’s agenda includes planting 150 trees, painting custom rain-activated sidewalk art, paining crosswalks and fire hydrants and taking part in a district-wide trash pick up.

The event is the launch of a two-year partnership between the Crossing Educational Center, Union Station Technology Center, and South Bend Warehousing and Distribution to provide students with trade-skill work opportunities in the district.

Community members are invited to take part in the effort from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 22.

The first 200 volunteers to sign up will receive a commemorative t-shirt and day pass from the Kroc Center.

Volunteers should meet in the parking lot at the southeast corner of Lafayette and South Street in South Bend. Morning and afternoon shifts are available.