When Janae and Jason Julian moved to Magnet Cove in 2015 after working in crowded, congested Washington, D.C., they specifically wanted to live the quiet country life.
Arkansas Living
March 31, 2017
By Jenny Boulden
Their home sits on 25 acres off Gourdneck Valley Road, a winding backcountry byway. Janae says they love the life, but it quickly became apparent that there was a problem: Their lovely country road was remote enough that many drivers routinely threw out, or sometimes even dumped, their trash there.
Five months after relocating to Arkansas, Janae organized her first Keep Arkansas Beautiful cleanup. The Julians gathered their three kids and a few neighbors and registered the event with the Keep Arkansas Beautiful (KAB) Commission, a state program funded entirely (along with three other state programs) by the 1/8-cent Conservation Tax. As with all registered KAB events, the organization provided the Julians with free supplies, including trash bags, gloves, safety vests, KAB T-shirts and customizable templates to promote the event locally and online.
A group of volunteers met on a Saturday and gathered as much litter as they could.
Keep America Beautiful affiliate cities
KAB is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, and 12 Arkansas cities have achieved their own Keep America Beautiful affiliate certifications. The affiliates champion events and ordinances in their cities, and pursue partnerships with the local government and organizations. In return, they receive guidance and resources from Keep America Beautiful and opportunities for promotional giveaways and grants. For instance, the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Clean & Beautiful affiliate recently constructed a downtown pavilion funded by a Keep America Beautiful grant.