Now in its fourth year, Keep America Beautiful continues to infuse the youth voice into its programs and build on the model of youth leadership seen in its local and state affiliates with the national Youth Advisory Council (YAC). The Council, which is comprised of sophomore, junior and senior high school students from around the country, requires each of the 10 members to complete environmental projects in their community.

The YAC played a significant role in inspiring and educating attendees at Keep America Beautiful’s recent National Conference in Orlando, Florida. Members of the YAC delivered a presentation to a packed room about why youth engagement is so important to an affiliate’s success and shared components of the newly piloted “Keep America Beautiful Schools” initiative.

Connor Stack, a returning member from the previous year’s YAC, was pleased to be back with the group. Stack, who is from Arrowhead, California, said of the National Conference, “Everyone came with fresh new ideas to apply in their community.”

Elena Prenovitz from Erie, Pennsylvania, is working with local elementary students to clean up her town’s school campuses and teach her peers to be community stewards.

Nick Ranieri, who is from Palm City, Florida, and represents Keep America Beautiful affiliate Keep Martin County Beautiful, was featured in his local news here.