Code Compliance Manager David Oliver made a presentation to Upward Bound students on June 24, 2016, at the Florida Avenue Residence Hall on the U of I campus. The TRiO Upward Bound College Prep Academy works to increase minority student enrollment at universities across the country by providing high school students with encouragement, support and the academic skills necessary to compete at a major academic institution. Oliver presented on the importance of community engagement and the Keep Champaign Beautiful initiative. The presentation began with leading the students through a City XYZ exercise in which they were divided into groups representing City Council, the business community, a neighborhood association, and interested citizens. The groups were then asked to solve a problem in the community. Oliver used litter as the problem to be solved. The business community prevailed as the leading problem solving group. Oliver lead the students through the remainder of the presentation emphasizing citizens must make environmental decisions every day regarding their waste handling practices and there are always consequences to our behaviors. Education being one of the key points to changing behaviors in a positive direction.
