Youth hike across country to "Pick up America"

Pick Up Artist Jeff Chen coordinates trash pick ups in communities. Photo provided by Adam Gulliford

While many young people in their 20s grapple with the uncertainty of life, the "Pick Up Artists" have figured the first way to make a difference in their lives and their communities is by cleaning up their act.

Beginning on March 20 in Assateague Island, Md., they are are coordinating garbage pick-ups for their environmental grassroots organization, Pick Up America. They will be walking across the country until August 2011 to collect trash and raise awareness, one step at a time, in the way the nation disposes of their waste in communities and waterways.

"I see this as literally trying to change the world, to save the world," said Jeff Chen, 23, Pick Up America's director of digital media. "It's pretty idealistic but yeah, it has to be done. I see this as the actual work that really needs to be done right now."

Chen came up with the idea to clean up the country while hiking through a national park. He and a friend decided to "pick up every piece of trash along this trail," and after they finished the task, Chen decided the idea needed to be expanded into America.

Chen met Davey Rogner, 24, Pick Up America's campaign director, at the University of Maryland last fall. Chen shared his idea with Rogner while the two were camping in Assateague Island, Md.

"At first I was like, I gotta play in a rock band, I got other things to do. But I thought about it a little bit more and just one day, it dawned on me: This is what I need to do with my life," Rogner said.

He said as a grassroots organization, they developed from the ground up their own ideas and endeavors. Harvest Collective, a non-profit organization is supporting their plans; the organization, according to Rogner, "takes ideas of young people and puts them into action on encouraging cultural sustainability."

The fundraisers that the "Pick Up Artists" have been planning before their walk across America begins will help fund their initiative. Chen said they'll have potlucks along the way to generate more participation.

"Once we share food, we can share some ideas. At the end of the night, we're hoping to form these action groups in each city. The picking up trash is like the point of contact, the most easily understood point between us and the environment," said Chen.

Kelly Klein, 23, is Pick Up America's community outreach coordinator and Kim Alexander, 22, is the camp coordinator.

Part of planning will include where the group will camp out each night — whether that includes a good samaritan taking them in, simply camping out or pitching tents wherever they end up.

"We're talking about the way people think and act with each other...the bottom base of it all is really how people choose to limit their lives," Rogner said.

Youth Involvement in Green Movements

The “Pick-Up Artists” are among the many youths around the world who are launching environmental startups and becoming engrossed in the cause for sustainable living. According to a column by environmental activist Heather-Taylor Miesle in the Huffington Post, young people are the life of this movement and will ultimately bare the burden of inaction.

“Young people know their future is at stake and this is NOT a partisan issue. On the contrary, if America continues to ignore global warming, this generation will pay the price in the form of a disrupted climate, drought, and increased national security threats not to mention all the refugees who will need help. But if we confront this crisis, young people and old will reap the benefits of more clean energy jobs and robust economic growth,” she said in the article.

Pick Up America aims to tackle the problem by reaching out to youth-oriented organizations, like PTAs in area schools, non-profits, civic organizations, church groups, student-run organizations and clubs. This spring, they’ll be on the Campus Consciousness tour with Ben Harper and Drake.

Rogner said the group has seen success in reaching out to youth because they can relate to their concerns and passions.

“I think generally being young...and understanding the culture of young people and really being able to connect with young people just because this is who we are,” said Rogner, when explaining their success.

But recent statistics indicate that youth are still conflicted over global warming and aren’t fully immersed in the issue. According to a report by researchers at American University, Yale and George Mason University, young adults ages 18 to 34 are for the most part “split on the issue of global warming and, on some indicators, relatively disengaged when compared to older generations.”

While some youth groups lobby with politicians and raise money for existing organizations, Pick Up America tackles the pollution problem behind enemy lines.

Hannah Spiro:  performs at Berwyn Cafe for fundraiser

Pick Up America’s specialty lies in excess wastes that hurt wildlife, like plastics and garbage that line the streets.

“We can live closely with the earth and with all our technology now, we can live very comfortably with the earth and continue to obtain food in a way that doesn’t destroy the entire planet,” said Rogner.

Part of their outreach to youth is hosting fundraisers at local bars and cafes featuring live performances. Hannah Spiro, a freshman at The University of Maryland-College Park, performed at the Open Mic night at the Berwyn Café. A big part of their campaign is allowing youth to express themselves through creative means like music or writing.

“It’s really important what they’re doing,” she said of the group. “I think there’s probably so much to pick up with the environment. I don’t know how big of a chunk they’ll take out but anything is extremely important.”

After the walk, Rogner hopes to continue working with the Harvest Collective and supporting other youth initiatives. This April, they will be hosting a cleanup in Washington, D.C. with teams of students doing watershed restoration.