Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Announces Green Youth Advisory Council Class of 2026-2027

Offering a unique hands-on opportunity for high school students from diverse backgrounds in Gwinnett County, the Green Youth Advisory Council (GYAC) is an environmental and sustainability service-learning and leadership development program facilitated by Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful (GC&B). Serving as “eco-influencers” throughout the school year, GYAC participants take part in hands-on cleanup and recycling events, while contributing to and informing Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful through projects that address local and global environmental challenges. The Metro Atlanta Keep America Beautiful affiliate has reviewed the applications and is proud to announce its Class of 2026-2027 Green Youth Advisory Council. To further enrich programming for this year's participants, GC&B has teamed up with Tixie Fowler, Executive Director of Youth In Nature Network (YINN) and founder of Gardens for Growing Community, Inc.

The newest GYAC members include:

• Aashka Patel- a Junior from Parkview High School
• Arshafa Rehman- a Junior from Mill Creek High School
• Hannah Ibrahim - a Junior from Brookwood High School
• Lasya Singareddy - a Junior from Lanier High School
• Olivia Byars - a Senior from Paul Duke STEM High School
• Sheila Osorio - a Junior from McClure High School
• Suhee Jung - a Junior from Seckinger High School

The organization is also delighted to welcome back the following returning members:

• Amari Wilson - a Senior from South Gwinnett High School
• Aryan Pathak - a Senior from McClure High School
• Julia Yoon - a Senior from Buford High School
• Vicky Li - a Senior from Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology

“We are honored to carry on our long-standing tradition of empowering an up-and-coming generation of future leaders in Gwinnett County for a new school year,” said Schelly Marlatt, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Executive Director. “I’m particularly proud of the fact that ten different high school communities are represented, and that four of our former members made their return this year. While we have always asked our GYAC participants to act as advocates and ambassadors for our programs at their own schools, this year we plan to leverage their social media platforms to create our own brand of ‘eco-influencers.’ This gives them endless opportunities to expand their reach beyond their school and community and reach a larger audience about the importance of sustainability and eco-friendly practices. In addition, they will volunteer at Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful events, such as the Great Days of Service Event on October 16 and our America Recycles Day Recycling Event on November 7. Most importantly, they will develop and implement a new environmental program or expand an existing one at their respective schools. My team and I are excited about our partnership with Tixie Fowler, who has been connecting young people to nature for more than a decade through her two non-profits. She is an award-winning environmental educator who will work alongside our own Resources & Marketing Coordinator Carmita Rivera to take this youth leadership program to the next level.”

Beyond the benefits to the Gwinnett County community, GYAC members have much to gain from opportunities to:

• Develop leadership skills while engaging in creative work focused on litter prevention, beautification, community greening, waste reduction and recycling, food insecurity and more
• Collaborate with like-minded peers with unique perspectives from across the county
• Assist with design and implementation of environmental program initiatives for engaging youth in community service
• Engage youth and county leaders by promoting sustainability, environmental literacy, and civic engagement
• Earn service hours and a letter of recommendation for college, future employment, etc.
• Potentially earn a scholarship. Seniors will be considered for two (2) $2,000 post-secondary scholarships through the GC&B Jim Steele Environmental Education Scholarship Fund.

To learn more about Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, its programs, and future events, please visit www.GwinnettCB.org.