Community-Focused Nonprofit Welcomes New Group of Student Leaders to Help Evolve Programs and Engage Young People in Gwinnett County

Lawrenceville, Ga. – November 12, 2024 – Former United Nations CEO Kathy Calvin believes, “Young people aren’t the leaders of tomorrow. They are the leaders of today AND tomorrow.” Keep America Beautiful affiliate Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful (GC&B) embraces that concept wholeheartedly by designing and implementing a wealth of programs designed to empower future leaders in Gwinnett County. Through the Green & Healthy Schools Program at many Gwinnett County Public Schools, the Plant It Forward initiative creates edible and pollinator learning gardens, Food Waste Warriors helps students find solutions to reduce food waste, and Compost Connectors turns food waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer. GC&B also engages local school green teams and civic groups like Girl & Boy Scouts of America in cleanup, beautification, and recycling volunteer events. However, the community-focused nonprofit’s flagship youth program – based on the national Keep America Beautiful model for high school students – is its Green Youth Advisory Council (GYAC). The applications for this year’s Green Youth Advisory Council are in, the kickoff meeting has been held, and Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful is proud to introduce the following high school students as this year’s members:

• Samuel Bredland – a Sophomore from Central Gwinnett High School
• Sonia Charaniya – a Senior from Brookwood High School
• Rianne De Los Santos – Returning member and Senior from Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology
• Ananya Desai – a Junior from Peachtree Ridge High School
• Asha El – Returning member and Junior from Norcross High School
• Violet Fung – Returning member and Junior from Peachtree Ridge High School
• Kelly Ho – a Junior from Peachtree Ridge High School
• Nafisa Jannat – a Junior from Brookwood High School
• Brian Le – a Junior from Brookwood High School
• Jennifer Le – a Junior from Meadowcreek High School
• Minchan Lee – Returning member and Junior from Mill Creek High School
• Vicky Li – a Sophomore from Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology
• Falyssa Ly – a Junior from Paul Duke STEM
• Asma Naviwala – a Freshman from Parkview High School
• Yusuf Naviwala – Returning member and Sophomore from Parkview High School
• Tanya Nguyen – a Senior from South Gwinnett High School
• Jasmine Osorio-Antonio – a Junior from McClure High School
• Krish Patel – a Junior from Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology
• Aryan Pathak – a Sophomore from McClure High School
• Mrinali Pathak – Returning member and Senior from North Gwinnett High School
• Serena Pradhan – Returning member and Senior from Parkview High School
• Dev Shah – Returning member and Junior from North Gwinnett   High School
• Eshani Sharma – Returning member and Senior from Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology
• Allison Shin – Returning member and Junior from Mill Creek High School
• Shivali Singh – Returning member and Senior from Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology
• Elizabeth Woo – a Junior from Mill Creek High School
• Julia Yoon – Returning member and Sophomore from Buford High School

“This year’s GYAC comprises 27 students from 13 high schools across Gwinnett County,” said Schelly Marlatt, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Executive Director. “We’re excited about all our new members, and I’m particularly thrilled to welcome back 12 members from previous GYAC groups. On October 24th, we hosted a kick-off event at The Manor, the office of our Board’s Chairwoman, Pam Ledbetter. These kids came to the table with so much passion and so many great ideas; I know this will be an amazing GYAC class! In addition to their volunteerism, advocacy, and being ambassadors at their schools and out in the community, our GYAC Class of 2024-2025 has been tasked with either developing and implementing a new environmental program or expanding an existing one at their school. We cannot wait to share their project ideas after they present them later this month at the November meeting.”
Representing an environmental and sustainability service-learning and leadership development program unlike any other, involvement in the Green Youth Advisory Council provides its members with the opportunity to:

• Develop leadership skills while engaging in creative work focused on litter prevention, beautification, community greening, waste reduction, recycling, food insecurity and more
• Collaborate with like-minded peers with unique perspectives from across the county
• Assist with the design and implementation of environmental program initiatives for engaging youth in community service
• Act as a GC&B ambassador to their school and community by engaging youth and county leaders to promote sustainability, environmental literacy, and civic engagement
• Earn service hours and a letter of recommendation for college, future employment, and more
• High school seniors involved in the Green Youth Advisory Council will be considered for a $1,000 post-secondary scholarship

To learn more about Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, its programs, and future events, please visit www.GwinnettCB.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. The organization invites you to connect with Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful on Facebook (@gwinnettcb), Instagram (@greengwinnett), LinkedIn (@gwinnett-clean-beautiful), and X (@gogreengwinnett).