Community Service Is Good Business
Junior Chamber and Waste Pro Team Up to Clean Up SR-100 and Flagler-Palm Coast High School
Waste Pro and the Junior Chamber of Commerce partnered on a community cleanup at Flagler-Palm Coast High School (FPC) and SR-100. Approximately 20 volunteers separated into two teams to clean the right of way and sidewalks along SR-100 from Wawa to Belle Terre Blvd. and along Bulldog Drive next to FPC. This initiative and the Junior Chamber “Green Team” were created by Junior Chamber Student Leader Jasmine Coache, who is beginning her junior year at FPC. The Junior Chamber is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization designed to help business leaders directly support local students in our high schools.
Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber President & CEO Greg Blose said, “Our Junior Chamber student leader Jasmine Coache walks down this sidewalk every day during the school year. The cleanup idea is Jasmine’s, and with Waste Pro’s support, we were happy to help make sure the path traveled by students to and from FPC is free of glass, trash and debris.”
The most interesting item found during the cleanup was a completely full bottle of men’s Versace cologne, which gave everybody a laugh.
If you would like to donate, participate or learn more about the Junior Chamber of Commerce, please contact Junior Chamber President Bryan Soudrain at bsoudrain@gmail.com.
The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership St. Johns Supports Local Youth Program
The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership St. Johns (LSJ) Class of 2022 hosted a Ribbon Cutting Event Sept. 8, 2022, to unveil the renovated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Room at the St. Augustine Players Championship Boys & Girls Club location. The renovation includes brand new Chromebooks, VR equipment, smart boards, new tables, chairs, LEGO kits and more. Additional instructional materials and resources were donated by STEM2 Hub, and a custom LEGO table was provided by local artist Jimmy Davis. This equipment will allow the students to participate in online and in-person classes to develop new STEM skills. The virtual reality component opens a wide range of opportunities for students at all grade levels.
Isabelle Renault, CEO and president of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, said, “The Leadership St. Johns Program is a cornerstone in the foundation of our local chamber. Each cohort is exposed to community leaders across our region and learns the diverse aspects of our economy. Each class selects a project to undertake that marks their legacy in the Leadership Program. This STEM Room renovation and the student scholarships that accompany it will truly make a difference in the lives of the young people involved.”
In addition to the STEM room, the club has undergone other renovations this year. The exterior was painted, and all new landscaping was installed. During that construction, a series of raised beds were added for the agricultural program. Students grow vegetables that are used in the culinary program offered by the club. This allows the students to see how fresh vegetables go from their farm to table and gain the knowledge and skills to prepare them. All these programs have an environmental and sustainable component to begin instilling these values at an early age.
