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The Greater Hidden Hills Community Development Corporation (GHHCDC) in partnership with DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson launched the Your Community, Your Litter – Pick It Up!campaign in March to encourage DeKalb residents to clean up their communities and eliminate litter throughout the county.
As of part of the campaign, a jingle contest and video contest were held to build litter awareness and promote community pride. Students from DeKalb County were invited to participate and develop original content supporting the campaign theme.
The winning jingle, “Stop, Drop, Pick It Up,” was created by Victoria Waterman and Mieya Moore, students at Eldridge L. Miller Elementary School. The jingle’s artistic, upbeat tempo and catchy lyrics inspire the listener to engage in picking up litter in their neighborhoods, because “littering is just not cool,” Cochran-Johnson’s staff said.
“We encouraged the students to participate because we educate the whole child–not just academically but socially. We teach them it’s important to care for the environment,” said Mark E. Bryant, principal of Eldridge L. Miller Elementary School.
The winning video, “Pick It Up: Video 2” by De’Ziya White, a senior in Joel Kight’s class at Martin Luther King, Jr. High School, gives the viewer a glimpse of what can happen to the world’s clean water and lush landscapes when one piece of trash is carelessly tossed on the ground.
A committee of judges from the GHHCDC and DeKalb County’s 7thDistrict office came together to tally scores and select winners based on a number of criteria including lyrics, originality, music, interpretation and creativity.
“All of the schools and students that participated were phenomenal and extremely talented,” said Commissioner Cochran-Johnson. “DeKalb County is truly home to some of our country’s most creative youth.”
The anti-litter campaign will culminate with a massive cleanup day on June 1 with volunteers picking up litter along roadsides and in high-traffic areas within the four corners of the Hidden Hills Overlay District. Volunteers are asked to meet at 9 a.m. at1215 S. Hairston Road.
To view and listen to the winning jingles, go to http://bit.ly/2K4rfs5.