BATON ROUGE, LA – April 22, 2020 – Today, Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome announced a virtual Earth Day celebration focused on engaging Baton Rouge residents and students in the sustainability and preservation of the planet.
While Earth Day is typically celebrated together on or around April 22, Baton Rouge’s 2020 celebration will feature a month-long series of fun, educational activities and ways families can get involved from the safety of their own homes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year marks the 30th celebration of Baton Rouge Earth Day and the 50th anniversary of Earth Day nationally.
“Caring for our planet is one of the most important things we can do as citizens of East Baton Rouge Parish,” said Mayor Broome. “I’m encouraging each of our residents and families to learn about the easy ways to conserve our limited natural resources and participate in the many digital activities available. Although we will not be able to come together as a community to celebrate this year, we encourage everyone to use the online resources available and be inspired to protect and sustain our beautiful planet.”
To kick off the celebration, Mayor Broome is asking for the community’s help in selecting the winner of a student poster competition coordinated by the City-Parish Department of Environmental Services. The competition challenged students throughout East Baton Rouge Parish to design posters that communicate what should and should not be flushed down the toilet or into the drain, which can cause significant environmental challenges and infrastructure issues.
East Baton Rouge Parish residents can cast their vote and choose from the top three submissions, selected by an internal panel of City-Parish staff after reviewing more than 60 unique poster designs, by clicking here. All votes must be cast before May 13, with only one vote allowed per resident. The winning poster design will be announced May 20 to wrap up the virtual Earth Day celebration; it will be incorporated into future City-Parish educational programs and outreach efforts to residents.
Mayor Broome is also challenging residents to post share photos on social media over the course of the next month, using the hashtag #BREarthDay2020, about how they are participating in activities or efforts that contribute to the preservation and sustainability of the planet.
For more information, tips, and digital or at-home activities, visit the City-Parish’s Earth Day 2020 webpage.