It was a beautiful day in the City of Newark, NJ. Not only was the sun shining, but 45,000 students from 80 schools celebrated Earth Day by planting 3,000 flowers and nearly 2 million seeds in hundreds of communities throughout the city.
This effort, led by a national youth service organization called The League, was year two of “Beautiful Newark” -- a three-year program designed to make Newark a better and more beautiful place to live, work and play.
“There’s nothing quite like rolling up your sleeves and working as a team to accomplish something good,” says JoAnn Hoppe, New Jersey State Director for The League. “Beautiful Newark is making a difference in so many ways. Not only is our city cleaner and brighter, but our young people are actively involved in appreciating and caring for their community. The students all worked very hard and helped each other and the adult volunteers, along the way. It’s a day we’ll all remember for quite some time.”
This, and hundreds of “Earth Day” activities happening nationwide, is one of six key events sponsored by The League throughout the school year. Created by a consortium of business, education, government, media and non-profit leaders, The League empowers young people everywhere to get in the game of “doing good” and help make their
community and world a better place. It’s done using a three-prong system that focuses on events, curriculum and recognition. The League is school and web-based and free to teachers nationwide.
Newark Public Schools are 80 of the more than 680 schools and 4,080 classes that have joined The League and are getting in the game of “doing good.” Superintendent of Newark Public Schools Dr. Marion A. Bolden couldn’t be more proud of her city’s youth. “As Superintendent of Newark Public Schools, it thrills me to see the students of Newark on their way to becoming environmental stewards of this great city,” she says. “I applaud them! Beautiful Newark is more than a slogan, more than a dream; it exists as a progressive reality due to the efforts of all involved.”
Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker agrees. “The Beautiful Newark program is a way for Newark residents and businesses to manifest a sense of community and pride by making a commitment to work together as good neighbors to keep our beloved city clean every single day,” says Mayor Booker.
Joining The League is free and simple – and everything a school needs to get started is available at www.theleague.org. There, The League provides step-by-step instructions on how to register, plan an event, track points, reward team members and much more. It also provides access to more than 1,200 lessons on giving, service and civic engagement, state approved for use in K-12 classrooms nationwide. For more information, visit www.theleague.org.
