Culture of Clean anti-littering creative marketing team was honored Monday, June 25 at the Board of County Commissioners regular meeting, along with premiering their anti-littering video.

The concept for the project began at the Board of County Commissioners Annual Board Retreat in December of 2017. Commissioner Jimmie T. Smith brought up the idea of combatting litter on our roadways, public land and waterways by inviting participation from interested Citrus County high school students to develop a branding and marketing campaign to inform and educate citizens to be part of the solution.

The BOCC agreed with Commissioner Smith’s thoughts on combating litter and Public Information Officer, Cynthia Oswald was tasked with contacting the school district and connecting with an interested teacher and group of students who were up to the challenge.  After speaking with Chuck Dixon and David Roland, Cynthia was invited to present at a district high school faculty meeting and invited any teacher interested in the project to contact me for details.

Mrs., Jong Ash, a Lecanto High School Journalism and Advanced Placement teacher reached out immediately and offered the assistance of a group of her students that she believed could develop and carryout this innovative project which included, development of a logo, narrative, PR, promotion, and a video. Her exact words were, “I don’t want my students to miss this opportunity”.

Over the course of the Spring Semester Commissioner Smith and Cynthia, along with Citrus County Extension Director B.J. Jarvis, met with Mrs. Ash and her students to brainstorm ideas that would catch the attention of the public, young and old, and encourage a culture of keeping our county clean. Students participating on the team during the spring semester were: Liam Wolfe, McKenna Johnson, Brian Torcuator, Aiden Bush, Amelia Burkel and Liberty Bensette.

Special thanks to the UF/IFAS Citrus County Extension, Citrus County Landfill and Solid Waste, Homosassa Printing, and Angelo’s Pizza for contributing in some way to the first year of this project. The students will be presenting to local groups this summer and are already planning to expand the program during the next school year.

The hope is that community groups will partner with the student creative marketing team on this multi-generational effort to not only clean-up our county today but also create a Culture of Clean mindset for the future. For more information email: cultureofclean@citrusbocc.com .

Image: The Board of County Commissioners; Chairman Ron Kitchen, First Vice-Chairman Jeff Kinnard, Second Vice-Chairman Brian Coleman, Scott Carnahan and Jimmie T. Smith, with BOCC Public Information Officer, Cynthia Oswald; UF/IFAS Citrus County Extension Director B.J. Jarvis; Lecanto High School teacher, Jong Ash; LHS students, Liam Wolfe; McKenna Johnson;, Brian Torcuator and Aiden Bush