Juan Naula

Juan Eduardo Naula is an Ecuadorian born American community activist and social media personality based in Los Angeles. He is the founder of Clean LA with Me, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2024 that organizes volunteer illegal dumping cleanups. He has been honored by the Los Angeles City Council.

Early life

Naula was born in Ecuador. He later lived in Virginia, where he worked in hardwood flooring, before moving to Los Angeles in late 2024. He lost $8,000 to a scam shortly after arriving and nearly returned to Virginia.

Clean LA with Me

Naula began cleaning streets in Los Angeles in November 2024, initially buying supplies himself and posting videos of his work online. He later quit his job to do the work full time. His effort grew into a nonprofit, Clean LA with Me.

The organization's Instagram account grew from nearly 50,000 followers in September 2025 to more than 80,000 by August 2026.

Naula reports illegal dumping through the city's MyLA311 app, and the City of Los Angeles has featured his work.

In April 2026, Naula found a couple living inside hollow bridge pillars along the Los Angeles River in East Los Angeles, and worked with other nonprofits to connect people living in such conditions with assistance.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pulliam, Tim (September 9, 2025). "Recent LA transplant quits job, starts nonprofit to pick up trash across the city". ABC7 Los Angeles. Archived from the original on October 18, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Orona, Ashley (April 17, 2025). "Inspired by his hometown in Ecuador, one man is picking up trash across LA". LA Public Press. Archived from the original on October 18, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Clean LA with Me | The Viral Movement Transforming Los Angeles Streets". City of Los Angeles. June 26, 2026. Archived from the original on October 18, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 "About Us". Clean LA With Me. Archived from the original on October 18, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
  5. ↑ Elizondo, Brenda (September 4, 2025). "He couldn't ignore the trash piling up in L.A., so he quit his job". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 18, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
  6. ↑ Brooker, Heather (August 15, 2025). "How 'Clean LA with Me' is Transforming Los Angeles City Streets". KFI. Archived from the original on October 18, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
  7. ↑ Seedorff, Matthew (December 7, 2025). "Los Angeles man quits job to clean city streets". FOX 11. FOX 11 Los Angeles. Archived from the original on October 18, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
  8. 1 2 Palmer, Phillip (August 24, 2026). "Clean LA With Me founder is on a mission to tackle city trash and clean up Los Angeles". ABC7 Los Angeles. Archived from the original on October 18, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
  9. ↑ Louwerse, Jeremy (December 9, 2025). "LA do-gooder claims he collected 100K pounds of trash from streets — blames city for slow collection". New York Post. Archived from the original on October 18, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
  10. ↑ Medina, Mekahlo; Garske, Monica (April 3, 2026). "Good Samaritan finds couple living inside bridge pillars along Los Angeles River". NBC Los Angeles. Archived from the original on October 18, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
  11. ↑ Fiset, Jocelyn (March 24, 2026). "Homeless people found living in L.A. storm drains". KTLA. Archived from the original on March 26, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026.