Previous to her encounter with Plastic Free Cities, Vanessa R. from Doral Academy Preparatory School was still figuring out how she could help make her environment a healthy place. She had already demonstrated her passion for environmental issues, as  one of the leaders of the Green Club at her school. She wasn’t sure what she would discover, when one day in November 2023, unassuming, she  decided to attend one of the Plastic Free Cities business canvassing workshops that the Green Club was hosting in collaboration with Ocean Conservancy, Big Blue & You and Debris Free Oceans.

 Vanessa shares the experience in her own words here:

On that day, two classmates and I were ready to join the Plastic Free Cities canvassing team. Initially, we were told to take on one of two roles: the speaker who leads the initial conversation with the business owner, or the data collector who uses the Plastic Survey to gather information about the businesses current plastic use. I didn’t feel ready to step out of my comfort zone with public speaking yet, so I chose to be the surveyor. When my classmate finished introducing our purpose, the owner told us they spoke Spanish but not English. I was the only student in our group that spoke Spanish, so I had to step in without rehearsing. I was very nervous, but looking back at the opportunities that followed, I am glad for this surprising experience.

As time went on, I continued canvassing businesses, graduated from the Plastic Free Cities program and became a Student Mentor the following semesters. Through this program, I’ve now led canvassing workshops for other students, and met with business owners and my school administration on my own as a Junior Sustainability Consultant! I spearheaded getting both my school and a nearby local business, Cuentos Sandwiches, enrolled in Miami-Dade County’s Plastic Free 305 program, by sharing what I’ve learned about plastic pollution and sustainable business with them and providing resources to help them continue to make eco-conscious choices.

Sharing my experience as a Plastic Free Cities student and Mentor with the next group of students in Miami.

In the spring Mentorship program, I recorded a video about my experience with Plastic Free Cities to showcase to students from another school, Miami Senior High.  I encouraged them to step out of their comfort zone like I did, because that is how I became more involved in ocean conservation, advocacy and learning about the interconnectedness between local actions and global environmental impacts.  It really takes another person like you sharing their experiences so you can learn how to take action yourself!

Vanessa working with Cuentos Sandwiches to gather follow-up data.

Over the summer, we continued to work  with Cuentos Sandwiches and were interviewed on Local 10 News, sharing our perspective on our own work as part of their Don’t Trash Our Treasure Series for Plastic Free July. During that interview, I was asked: “Do you think you’re making a change by doing this?” and “Where are people getting this plastic from?” 

“I believe that even small changes can make a big impact” 

“[Plastic is] mostly [coming] from businesses”, a realization that struck even me and made me reflect on my own way of consuming.

Vanessa’s interview on Local 10 inspired more youth like her to get involved in talking with businesses about plastics.

There is a degree of understanding I gained from my canvassing work, where I saw firsthand how small businesses, in their modest ways, contribute to the larger narrative of environmental sustainability. It was through this lens that I began to grasp how individual efforts, such as reducing plastic waste, fit into the greater puzzle of protecting our oceans and ecosystems. What struck me most was not just the isolated actions, but the broader implication that community involvement is essential to this cause. This experience stirred within me a deeper resolve to advocate for sustainable practices, understanding now that meaningful change often begins with small, deliberate acts that ripple outward. Sometimes it takes action to inspire change not only in others but in yourself.

Vanessa on Plastic Free Cities Mentorship Program graduation day in Summer 2024.