nothin Next Generation Joins Clean-Up Cause | New Haven Independent

Next Generation Joins Clean-Up Cause

Paul Bass Photo

Sanchez with his winning poster.

Sixth-grader Jason Sanchez put a smile on the earth to remind New Haveners to pick up their trash.

Sanchez, who attends John S. Martinez School, put that green smile on what became the first-place finisher in a citywide anti-litter public-service announcement poster contest aimed at spreading the message that New Haven needs to pick up its trash pick-up game.

Students gathered at the City Hall event.

He and other winning students displayed their posters Monday afternoon at a City Hall press conference, where Mayor Toni Harp urged the assembled young people to become ambassadors” in a Clean City Initiative” her administration has launched to keep trash off the streets. Honda Smith of the public works department has been organizing the campaign, which includes volunteer neighborhood clean-ups.

We’re going to have the cleanest city in Connecticut because of you,” Harp said.

Sanchez — who said he likes art, and loves soccer — won a $125 gift certificate from the Artist & Craftsman Supply store on Chapel Street.

The city’s public works and parks department organized the contest with the support of the Downtown Special Services District and the Solid Waste Authority. Parks chief Rebecca Bombero has been calling on the public to help keep parks clean amid an increase in litter (as described in this story). Teachers Jean Blakeslee of Martinez School, Carina Ruotolo of Robert Clemente Leadership Academy, and Rebecca Looney of Augusta Lewis Troup School worked with the students.

The contest winners were:

Middle School Level:
First Place: Jason Sanchez, Grade 6, John S. Martinez School
First Runner-Up: Angelinna Moye, Grade 7, John S. Martinez School
Second Runner: Up Issa Mendez, Grade 7,Roberto Clemente Leadership Academy

Elementary School Level:
First Place: Jolienna Jean, Grade 4, Augusta Lewis Troup
First Runner-up: Yeinalis Perez, Grade 3, John S. Martinez
Second Runner-Up: Mariluz Monteagudo, Grade 3, John S. Martinez

Sanchez’s poster.

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