STAMFORD, Conn. (March 2, 2022) – Keep America Beautiful® and Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful invite everyone to a virtual conversation about litter. Happening March 23 from 8 to 10 a.m. EST, “Connecting People and Places: A Community Conversation About Litter” is intended to address the issue of littering.
The conversation also serves as a kickoff event for the 2022 Great American Cleanup, the nation’s largest community improvement program. Taking place March 21 to June 22, 2022, an average of 15,000 cleanup, recycling, and beautification events will take place across the country.
“We are incredibly honored to have been selected by Keep America Beautiful from 700 national affiliates to get this meaningful conversation started,” said Executive Director for Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, Schelly Marlatt. “Although we’ve witnessed a 54% decrease in litter along U.S. roadways over the last decade, 90% of Americans agree that litter is still a problem in their community. There is still so much more to do and Gwinnett County – well-known for our love of community – is a great place to start.”
Attendees are asked to submit their questions about litter. Questions will be selected at random to drive the discussion. The community discussion, facilitated by environmental and social science research group, Responsive Management, will engage a focus group to explore the perceptions, attitudes, and recommended solutions to prevent litter. The discussion will focus on the act of littering and how it impacts a community.
“Decades ago, Keep America Beautiful launched a highly successful public service campaign that galvanized the nation in the fight against litter. At the time, a shared cultural ethic and value was established. This shared focus and commitment lead to meaningful reductions in littering. It is our hope the dialogue in Gwinnett will help establish a new shared cultural ethic across the highly diverse and culturally rich communities we live in,” said Randy Hartmann, Senior Director of Affiliate Operations for Keep America Beautiful.
The livestream conversation is taking place at Georgia Gwinnett College. A link to join the conversation will be sent to all registrants within a week leading up to the event. Register by clicking here. And find the closest affiliate to you by clicking here.
After listening and engaging in the dialogue, Keep America Beautiful encourages individuals to take action and sign up for the Great American Cleanup. Those who sign up to volunteer will receive a cleanup toolkit, packed with all the supplies needed to pick up litter in and around their neighborhoods. Sign-up for GAC and the toolkit by clicking here.
About Keep America Beautiful: Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling, and Beautify America’s Communities. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green, and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision. The Keep America Beautiful Model for Change – steeped in education, research, and behavioral science – is the cornerstone of Keep America Beautiful. We empower generations of community and environmental stewards with volunteer programs, hands-on experiences, educational curricula, practical advice, and other resources. The organization is driven by the work and passion of 700 Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.
About Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful: Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Services, Inc. (GC&B) is a Keep America Beautiful affiliate and award-winning 501(c)(3) charitable organization. It boasts an expansive community-based network dedicated to finding long-term solutions to environmental and quality of life issues through individual action. The organization is guided by a Citizens Advisory Board that represents all sectors of the Gwinnett County community. A nationally recognized leader in creating cleaner, greener and more livable communities throughout Gwinnett, GC&B involves more than 100,000 volunteers annually to clean and restore public places, recycle more, protect watersheds and develop the next generation of environmental stewards. To learn more about Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and its mission of “Connecting People and Resources for a Sustainable Gwinnett,” please visit www.GwinnettCB.org. To stay connected to GC&B, Gwinnett County neighbors are invited to join the organization’s growing base of supporters on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
###
Contact: Abby Turpin, Director of Communications
Keep America Beautiful®
aturpin@kab.org