For Ryan Bradley, the road to becoming Reading’s Clean City Coordinator wasn’t a straight line. It wasn’t paved with job titles or polished resumes, but with lived experience, grit, and a passion for community betterment. Since taking on the role, Bradley has redefined what it means to keep a city clean—not just picking up trash, but restoring pride, educating residents, and fostering connections that make a difference.
Bradley has called Reading home since 1996, arriving by way of a local halfway house after a stint in jail. Determined to turn his life around, he earned degrees and dedicated himself to counseling and case management in the drug and alcohol field. His professional journey included roles as a therapist, counselor, and gang prevention specialist. But after years of working in the nonprofit sector, burnout led him to consider a new path.
“I was just burnt out from 2008 to 2020,” Bradley recalled. “When I was asked to apply for the Clean City Coordinator position, I thought, why not? And here we are today.”
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At first glance, Bradley’s job might sound straightforward: coordinate cleanups, manage litter and illegal dumping, and work with community partners. But he’s taken it much further. His day-to-day routine involves more than riding through the city in his work truck. He actively monitors trouble spots, engages with residents on social media, and organizes cleanups through the city’s Adopt-a-Block program—a grassroots initiative he helped create after researching similar efforts in Pottstown, Allentown, and Harrisburg.
“It was focused on getting block captains, but I thought, why not get whole groups of neighbors involved?” he said. “We wrote up an agreement and presented it to city council. That’s how Adopt-a-Block came to life.”
Bradley’s approach is hands-on. He supplies volunteers with everything they need—trash bags, brooms, gloves, safety vests—and shows up alongside them to work. His philosophy is simple: lead by example. “Once you get the community to buy in, it gets easier,” he explained. “It’s not always the whole block at first, but when people see the difference, they start to pitch in.”
The impact is tangible. Bradley points to blocks like Chestnut Street, where consistent cleanups have helped reduce drug activity, and neighbors now take pride in their properties. His work also extends to graffiti abatement, illegal dumping enforcement, and even addressing homeless encampments—an aspect of the job that hits close to home for him.
“That’s the only part I hate about my job, because I was once homeless myself,” Bradley shared. “But I go out with the police and the Berks Homeless Coalition, and we talk to people. If they want help, I make the calls. My background in addiction and mental health helps in those moments.”
Bradley’s work isn’t confined to city limits. He’s actively collaborating with other municipalities interested in replicating Reading’s cleanup efforts. He also advocates for stronger partnerships between city, county, and state agencies to combat illegal dumping more effectively, drawing inspiration from cities like Chicago that take a no-nonsense approach to enforcement.
“It’s about collaboration. More cameras, more accountability. If we had more resources, we could expose the people doing this and deter others,” he said.
Beyond his official duties, Bradley’s commitment to the community continues. He and his wife organize annual turkey drives, Christmas giveaways, and other grassroots initiatives without seeking publicity. “That’s God’s work,” he said. “We don’t need the press for that. We just do it.”
When asked what keeps him going despite the frustrations of the job, Bradley is quick to answer. “I wake up every morning with a purpose. A lot of what I do is about helping people, restoring pride in our city, and making sure people know there’s a solution. It’s more than just picking up trash. It’s about changing mindsets.”
From his early days cleaning his own block to leading citywide efforts, Ryan Bradley is proof that community change starts with one person willing to pick up a broom—and inspire others to do the same.