(This press release was generated by Leadership St. Pete® and the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce®.)
The Leadership St. Pete® (LSP) Class of 2022 is proud to announce the launch of its class project, dubbed “Waves of Inspiration,” to make significant capital improvements to the Clam Bayou Marine Education Center located in South St. Petersburg.
The Center is a community outreach and educational facility for programs that inspire youth to become active environmental and ocean stewards. It focuses on fostering pathways toward careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) -- an especially critical mission for underserved communities that traditionally lack access to such programming. The Center also serves over a hundred teachers per year through professional development programs.
The facility is operated by the USF College of Marine Science in partnership with the City of St. Petersburg. The core project mission is to enhance the outdoor spaces around the Clam Bayou Marine Education Center as a way to foster improved comfort, enjoyment, and by extension, enhanced learning.
The project goals are to:
- Upgrade and improve the Center’s outdoor spaces to create cool, attractive surface areas to extend teaching and recreational space to outdoor areas during the hot summer months
- Transform the paths throughout the property into accessible, inviting connectors
- Upgrade the landscaping with native Florida seaside plants to educate the youth about coastal ecology.
The LSP Class of 2022 will complete the Center renovations by May 2022. The project will be made possible through a series of fundraising events and donations. The Class Project culminates with the LSP Class of 2022 completing a hands-on day of service. The exterior upgrades will result in a noticeable aesthetic improvement to this waterside gem, where experiential and hands-on opportunities await aspiring scientists and young STEM enthusiasts.
“Our environment and oceans are undergoing rapid change, and it is paramount that we continue our mission to engage as many youth as possible in stewardship, resiliency, and careers,” said Dr. Teresa Greely, Director of Education and Outreach at the USF College of Marine Science. “We are deeply grateful to the St. Pete Chamber of Commerce and Leadership St. Pete® for supporting our mission in such an exciting and tangible way.”
Barbara Stalbird, Natural and Cultural Areas Manager at the City of St. Petersburg, added, “The Clam Bayou Marine Education Center has impacted and inspired youth with their innovative programs. The City of St Petersburg is honored to partner with them and to be part of the LSP Waves of Inspiration legacy.”
Click here to donate to the LSP Class of 2022 Waves of Inspiration project through the Bay Area Chamber Foundation.
| Nikki Bromley | Lindsay Petty | Maggie Knaust |
|---|---|---|
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LSP Marketing Committee Chair nikki@pinstripemarketing.com 917-251-1187 |
Chair, LSP Class of 2022 lindsay@pyperinc.com 727-688-5071 |
Chair-Elect, LSP Class of 2023 mknaust@trenam.com 727-824-6134 |
ABOUT LEADERSHIP ST. PETE®
As one of the oldest leadership programs in America and a division of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce® and its 501(c)(3) Foundation, Leadership St. Pete® is a dynamic, intensive, interactive, six-month experience designed to promote and enhance community leadership through an in-depth introduction to social, economic, business and political issues in the St. Petersburg area. The mission of LSP is to identify, recruit and develop leaders who represent the diversity of our city and who will assume future leadership roles in our community. The LSP program is made possible through the generous support of community partners. Patron Sponsors of the Class of 2022 are Collaborative Labs, Duke Energy, Eckerd College Leadership Development Institute, The MPetty Group, Northwestern Mutual, and Power Design.
ABOUT THE ST. PETERSBURG AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE®
The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce®, originally founded in 1899, now serves over 1,300 member businesses and organizations. Continually identifying ways to create and enhance opportunities to do business in St. Petersburg, the Chamber works to improve the local economic climate and to build a thriving business environment. The Chamber represents perspectives of local business in St. Petersburg, providing and fostering leadership on important business and community issues. Information is available at stpete.com.
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