"America The Beautiful & BagReadyJobs" Empowering Our Nation's Youth

The "America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs" effort is being used as a teaching, learning and earning opportunity for our nation's youth groups. "BagReadyJobs" is funded by community businesses and residents.

Youth groups will learn how to develop marketing, sales, service and billing skills for their services rendered. Youth groups will negotiate fees with their local businesses and residents for picking up the litter on the highway and filling 33 gallon bags. The youth groups will work with their local Adopt-a-Highway groups and assist them in their efforts to restore the beauty to "America the Beautiful".

The businesses and residents that pledge funding or products to the youth groups will negotiate a fee between $7 and 10 for every 33 gallon bag of trash the youth group fills to the brim.

The nation's official Adopt-A-Highway group leaders will document the participation of the youth groups and the number of bags they fill. The youth groups will provide a copy of the Adopt-A-Highway group leader's confirmation of their participation and the number of bags they filled to their funding sponsors.

In addition to displaying the trash-filled bags on the highway for 4 days as part of creating an awareness, education and recognition opportunity, the youth groups are required to write an essay that addresses the following five questions. The youth groups are to provide a copy of their essays to those funding their activities and to their local news media organizations.

The essay questions are:

1) What did you learn?

2) What solutions might reverse the occurrence of highway litter and recycling efforts?

3) How does highway litter impact the economy of your community?

4) In addition to the negative economic effects, how does highway litter reflect on the residents?

5) What will you do to do to make a difference?

Those providing funding will pay the youth groups for their services once all of the obligations have been fulfilled.

"America the Beautiful and BagReadyJobs" litter events are being promoted nationwide on the third Saturday of February, May, August and November, however, many Adopt-A-Highway groups select random dates for their cleanup activities. Our goal is to connect America's Adopt-A-Highway groups needing help with youth groups wanting to help. Folksville USA would like to receive copies of the essays written so we may share them with others.

"America the Beautiful and BagReadyJobs" is the perfect opportunity for city and town leaders to challenge their community businesses and residents to support local youth groups that want to earn their funding. These young adults are our future role models and leaders. Recycling activities and getting some exercise are additional benefits that can be realized through this effort.