MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Every year, tons of plastic ends up in our waters, harming our marine life, our ecosystems and even our health.
But some South Florida teens are tackling the plastic crisis head on. It’s why they were featured in a Local 10 “Don’t Trash Our Treasure” report. Front and center, was eco warrior Alexia Lorie, of Jose Marti MAST Academy.
As a student mentor with the Plastics Free Cities program, Alexia is trained to convince local business owners to ditch plastic and choose greener options instead -- ones that are kinder to our planet.
Alexia spent hours canvassing area businesses during Plastic Free July.
“Which is basically a program where the county helps these businesses transition from single-use plastics, which are really cheap and abundant in our everyday life, to more biodegradable options, which are a little more expensive, but way better,” Alexia explained.
And at Jose Marti MAST Academy, Alexia has signed up more Green Club members to join the plastic-free movement.
This passionate environmentalist took her message all the way to Washington, D.C., representing Miami as a youth delegate at the Capitol Hill Ocean Week, sharing her perspective on conservation issues with policymakers.
“They were all super responsive to us and they absolutely love having young people show their passion for our environment and that they actually care,” Alexia said.
Back in South Florida, as a Green Club leader, Alexia helps care for her school’s lush arboretum -- home to a wide variety of indigenous plants and the many animals and birds that live there.
And because Alexia wants to be a veterinarian one day, her teacher called on her to care for the school’s chickens.
“I got involved with them because she needed help to remove a bumblefoot infection that one of the chickens had. Ever since then, I’ve sort of become the chicken doctor,” Alexia said.
The animal lover in her is excited at the thought of an adventure down under.
“Australia is really, really rich in biodiversity and has a lot of different animals which I would love to see,” Alexia said.
Alexia says whatever happens, her environmental journey is just beginning.
“We are going to inherit this Earth in a few years, so it is our job to make sure it is OK and that we can take care of it and have a beautiful Earth 50 years from now for our children to inherit as well,” she said.
Alexia immigrated from Cuba with her family when she was 9 years old and said she used to be painfully shy, but her passion for protecting the environment has helped her find her voice and confidence.