Abstract
Worldwide, less than 9% of plastic waste is recycled, and research shows that humans and over 900 species of marine animals are threatened by marine debris (Geyer et al., 2017; Kühn & van Franeker, 2020). To address these issues, plastic pollution can be reduced at its source by opting for reusable products rather than single-use plastics, especially in businesses. In Miami, Florida, Plastic Free Cities is an initiative that empowers high school students to assist in recruiting businesses to Miami-Dade County’s Plastic Free 305, a voluntary program that incentivizes businesses to reduce or eliminate single-use plastics from their operations. Plastic Free Cities is a collaborative effort between three nonprofit organizations: Big Blue & You, Debris Free Oceans, and Ocean Conservancy, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The specific objectives of this project were to: 1) report on the role of community-based organizations in developing stewardship for ocean conservation and 2) develop a mentorship program that supports the progress of high school students who participate in the Plastic Free Cities cohorts. As the Programs Intern with Big Blue & You, I observed and assisted in the operations of the Plastic Free Cities program to determine the importance of partnerships, mentorship, meaningful education, community-specific programming, and other factors in building a community that is equipped to conserve the ocean for future generations. After observing student responses to the revised curricula, it became evident that experiential learning and activity-based curricula were critical components of the program. The hyperlocal focus that is intrinsic to the program model assisted in the community-building and youth empowerment aspects of the program as well. The development stages of the mentorship program involved the mentors themselves and understanding their needs for the program led to a well-rounded experience. Recommendations for future mentor cohorts include introducing the tasks associated with the mentor target skills early on and establishing an understanding that target skill completion is required to complete the program. This project highlights the impact potential of youth and provides insight into how Plastic Free Cities can continue to be replicable and scalable in other communities.