World Oceans Day, held annually on June 8, is a global celebration honoring our oceans, which connects us all.  

Keep America Beautiful Youth Advisory Council (YAC) member Alex Henson and her program, Project L.E.A.D., celebrated World Oceans Day with a cleanup event at Sirenia Vista Park in Cape Coral, Florida. Several groups supported the event, including The Ocean Project, Keep America Beautiful local affiliate Keep Lee County Beautiful, Keep America Beautiful state affiliate Keep Florida Beautiful, the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit, the Guy Harvey Foundation, and PepsiCo.

Volunteers cleaned the park’s shorelines of debris and litter, including plastic bags, bottles, aluminum cans, monofilament fishing line, cigarettes butts and plastic straws. The event also featured trash tallying games, a litter collection competition, and information panels. 

“There was a great turnout, and excellent volunteer participation,” said Alex Henson, Keep America Beautiful YAC member and Project L.E.A.D. Founder/Executive Director. 

Alex founded Project L.E.A.D. (Local Environmental Activist Development) as a public outreach program to help educate and captivate others. Through this program, Alex works to enlighten future leaders to take a stand and protect the blue planet. In addition to being a Keep America Beautiful YAC member, Alex serves as the 2018-2019 Chairwoman of Keep Florida Beautiful’s Youth Advisory Council and is the current Chairwoman-Elect of Keep Lee County Beautiful’s Youth Advisory Council.

By: Kaitlyn Lauer