Hamtramck's 'Plague Doctor' Leads Community Cleanup Efforts

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In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, a mysterious figure known as the 'plague doctor' began appearing on the streets of Hamtramck, Michigan, picking up trash and organizing community cleanups. This 'plague doctor' was later revealed to be Max Gilginas, a 49-year-old community improvement coordinator for the city. Gilginas, a former theater artist and military veteran, has become a beloved figure in Hamtramck for her work beautifying the city and providing services to the disproportionately poor and elderly population.

Why it matters

Hamtramck, a 2-square-mile city embedded in Detroit, has been undergoing demographic shifts in recent decades, transitioning from a mostly Polish enclave to a majority Muslim community. Gilginas' work as the 'plague doctor' and now as the city's community improvement coordinator has helped bring the diverse community together around a shared goal of keeping Hamtramck clean and supporting its vulnerable elderly residents.

The details

After losing her restaurant job during the pandemic, Gilginas began walking the streets of Hamtramck early in the morning, picking up trash while wearing a Renaissance-era plague doctor costume as a 'coping mechanism.' Word spread, and soon Gilginas was organizing volunteer groups, dubbed the 'Hamtown Trashies,' to help clean up the city. Her work expanded to include mowing lawns, shoveling snow, and helping elderly residents make repairs to their homes to avoid code violations. Gilginas was eventually hired as Hamtramck's community improvement coordinator, a role that allows her to continue her grassroots efforts to beautify the city and support its vulnerable residents.

• In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the 'plague doctor' first began appearing on Hamtramck's streets.
• Two months ago, Gilginas revealed her identity as the 'plague doctor' at a ceremony honoring a Hamtramck historian.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Gilginas plans to continue her efforts to beautify Hamtramck and support its elderly residents, with the city council's recent proposal to create a dedicated city job to encourage volunteer cleanup efforts.