Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful's Carmita Rivera Earns Master Gardener Certification

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - April 23, 2024 - PRLog -- Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful's Carmita Rivera was one of only 20 Gwinnett County applicants accepted to participate in the University of Georgia's Cooperative Extension Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteer (MGEV) Program during the first quarter of 2024. After successfully completing 42 hours of core horticultural training and two exams, the nonprofit's Resources & Marketing Coordinator earned her Master Gardener Certification. Master Gardener Extension Volunteers (MGEVs) are trained volunteers with unique skills and abilities who share a love of plants and gardens and enthusiasm for learning. Rivera's achievement is a testament to her passion and commitment to environmental sustainability, and she will use her new certification to enhance existing programs and events at Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful (GC&B).

"Many people associate Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful with recycling events, litter cleanup programs, and education through our Green & Healthy Schools program," said Schelly Marlatt, GC&B Executive Director. "As a Keep America Beautiful affiliate, community beautification and sustainability are also core elements of our mission. Carmita's new Master Gardener role will help us enhance our programs and events like Great Gwinnett Wetlands, the Preston C. Williams Gateway Park preservation project, and more. We also hope to share her expert advice with Gwinnett County residents through our monthly e-blast and social media posts, so be on the lookout for information about pollinator gardens, vegetable gardens, tree plantings, and more over the months to come. We're really excited to have a Master Gardener in our midst and know it will help our organization grow in exciting new directions."

MGEVs share UGA Extension consumer horticulture programming about the selection and care of plants for ornamental value, recreation, and home food production. Master Gardeners teach community members how to use plants and gardening to improve their environment, personal health, and quality of life. For the latest information and tips from MGEV Rivera, Gwinnett County residents can subscribe to GC&B's monthly e-newsletter through www.GwinnettCB.org. By making this information readily available, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful hopes to empower the community to improve their own gardening practices and contribute to a more sustainable Gwinnett.

"I wanted to express my sincere gratitude to Lisa Klein and the UGA Extension team for providing the Master Gardener Class of 2024 this collaboration opportunity," said Rivera. Your commitment to extending knowledge and delivering research-based information while empowering individuals and communities is truly commendable. I am deeply impressed by the dedication and expertise exhibited by the UGA Extension team in serving the needs of Georgians. I am excited about the potential to work together and positively impact our community. I'd also like to share my heartfelt thanks for the unconditional support from my Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful team. It means a lot to me, and I genuinely appreciate it."