Session Four

Keep Louisiana Beautiful Focus on the Future: Educating, Engaging and Expanding

Tuesday, November 17 – 9:00am to 10:30am CST

Keep Louisiana Beautiful announces two new strategic initiatives to expand the organization’s reach and influence throughout the state. Keep Louisiana Beautiful launches state community affiliates to expand our footprint and increase support of local communities’ efforts to prevent litter, reduce waste, increase recycling and beautify public spaces.

In addition to state community affiliates, Keep Louisiana Beautiful expands to higher education by creating a university-level affiliate program. The program will educate and engage the next generation of business owners and community leaders on environmental issues such as waste reduction, litter prevention, and marine debris that have long-term effects on our state and the Gulf of Mexico. University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) and KLB have been working on this effort of over a year, but things really solidified when ULL was awarded a five-year $500,000 EPA Trash-Free Waters Grant. The grant will provide much needed funds to create a litter survey tool, the university affiliate structure, training videos, grants and a state environmental report of measured results.

Susan Russell, Executive Director, Keep Louisiana Beautiful
Susan brings together a large network of stakeholders throughout the state to build and sustain vibrant clean communities. With a focus on building community capacity; influencing positive behavior through education; strengthen litter enforcement; and improving infrastructure and policy, Susan leads efforts to prevent litter, increase recycling and beautify public spaces. Susan has 30 years of experience specializing in non-profit management, strategic planning, program development and implementation, grant administration, communications and marketing.

Gretchen Vanicor, Director of Sustainability, University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL)
Gretchen focuses on implementing and assessing institutional, holistic sustainability efforts across ULL’s campus and in the community. Gretchen has a Bachelor’s of Science in Management and Marketing from McNeese State University, a Bachelor of Arts and Master’s Degree in Architecture from ULL, and she is currently pursuing her Educational Doctorate in Higher Educational Leadership from ULL. Her research and professional interests focus on using ULL campus as a “Living Lab” for sustainable development and community resiliency strategies.