On Friday, March 18, Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) will call on hundreds of its state’s finest public servants, business and political leaders to stand in unity for a cleaner tomorrow at its third annual Leaders Against Litter event.

Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is personally inviting more than 1,500 state leaders to volunteer for a morning litter cleanup in 28 local communities followed by a public pledge declaring that they will “Speak Up, Pick Up and Stand Up” for a litter-free Louisiana. Armed with trash grabbers and matching event t-shirts, groups of local leaders will pick up trash before pledging their commitment to a cleaner state by supporting the efforts of KLB and its network of 39 affiliates.

The day will conclude on the steps of the state capitol in Baton Rouge, where the Lieutenant Governor will take his own personal pledge to end litter and hold a press conference to bring public awareness to the enormous toll litter takes on the environment, economy, and public health and safety. It also serves as the kickoff to the Great American Cleanup season, a time when all Louisianans are asked to join the pledge and put on their work gloves to go out to clean up their their local communities. A 2:00 p.m. (EST) press conference is scheduled with Lt. Gov, Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain, and Secretaries from Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Department of DEQ, Department of DOTD and Department of Public Safety and Corrections. The results of the day’s events will be announced with all state officials signing the pledge board.

Keep Louisiana Beautiful Executive Director Susan Russell introduced the event two years ago when she decided that one of the best ways leaders can effect change is by setting a good example. “Litter in Louisiana is a problem for everyone and we need for everyone to make cleaning up our state a priority. Louisiana’s litter problem deserves the attention and resource of our state that will bring about attitudinal, behavioral, and cultural change.”

Leaders Against Litter is sponsored by Volunteer Louisiana, the service organization established by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to promote service and volunteerism. Volunteer Louisiana generously provided a Generation Fund grant to fund the Leaders Against Litter event.

Over the past two years, Leaders Against Litter has garnered the support of more than 1,000 of the state’s leaders. Together, they have removed 12,160 pounds of trash from Louisiana’s roadways and green spaces. Russell is expecting the largest turnout yet this year, with over 600 local leaders expected to attend.