Eco-Focused Nonprofit Enlists the Aid of Local High School Youth Leaders to Help Shape its Policies and Programs for an Up-and-Coming Generation

Lawrenceville, Ga. – November 10, 2022 – Inspired by Keep America Beautiful’s National Youth Advisory Council, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s Green Youth Advisory Council (Green YAC) is a hyper-local a service-learning and leadership development program for high school students. During their service in the program, Green YAC members lend a fresh perspective to Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and take part in the eco-focused non-profit’s events while acting as ambassadors for environmental change.

“We’re truly excited about this incoming class of Green Youth Advisory Council members,” said Schelly Marlatt, Executive Director for Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. “Before the end of this school year, they will have an opportunity to propose new programs, create initiatives to grow awareness, serve as service-leaders at community events, provide key insights on how we can engage an up-and-coming generation of environmental stewards and so much more. We hope to empower each and every one of them to have an impact on the communities where these rising stars live, work and attend school, while engaging other young people to follow their lead. It is our hope that they will take what they learn during their time with us and grow their reach to impact their cities, their state, their region, their country and the world at large. Of course, what we’re finding is that we as an organization have a lot to learn from them, too.”

The newest members of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s Green Youth Advisory Council for the 2022-2023 school year are:

• Stephanie Aguirre, Senior – Paul Duke STEM HS
• Hailey Brown, Junior – Mill Creek HS
• Asha El, Freshman – Norcross HS
• Alice Garcia, Junior – Berkmar HS
• Haven Hardy, Senior – Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology
• Esther Jung, Sophomore – Mill Creek HS
• Kaylin Koen, Senior – Mountain View HS
• Hannah Nguyen Le, Senior – Paul Duke STEM HS
• Carolina Luevano, Senior – Paul Duke STEM HS
• Anthony McIver, Senior – Parkview HS
• Mrinali Pathak, Freshman – North Gwinnett HS
• Vinh Pham, Junior – Brookwood HS
• Serena Pradhan, Sophomore – Parkview HS
• Luke Winter, Senior – Greater Atlanta Christian
• Jean Yu, Senior – Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology

Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful is also delighted to welcome back ten returning members from last year’s Green YAC:

• Ariella Ayenesazan, Junior – Peachtree Ridge HS
• Suraj Chatoth, Senior – North Gwinnett HS
• Danielle Chun, Junior – Mill Creek HS
• Ella Lee, Junior – Mill Creek HS
• Jack Prewitt, Senior – Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology
• Arshan Rafiq, Junior – Peachtree Ridge HS
• Amay Shah, Senior – Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology
• Miles Simmons, Senior – Archer HS
• Shivali Singh, Sophomore – Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology
• Trevor Spake, Senior – Brookwood HS

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 the Green Youth Advisory Council and other Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful programs, please visit www.gwinnettcb.org. About Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful:  Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Services, Inc. (GCB) 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, GCB 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.