Art not only provides the opportunity for students to express themselves creatively, but it implements a healthy method for children to handle their aggression. Low income areas are known to be at high risk for violence, and many of our youth are exposed to that kind of environment. Amanda May Moore, an AmeriCorps member serving with South Florida Urban Ministries, is not intimidated by this element of society and chooses to embrace its potential. Through several initiatives, Amanda May has encouraged elementary children and youth to expand their minds and look at the beauty in their neighborhood through recycling. She created an initiative to save bottle caps, as they cannot be recycled in Florida, and worked diligently with students to make artwork out of them to give to the community. She also used this initiative to help a student with a science fair project, and encouraged the student to think about recycled material. This kind of thought provided an opportunity for great recycled art development and a first place win at the Miami-Dade science fair. Now, Amanda May is working with our children and youth to recycle bubble wrap, Styrofoam, cardboard and other plastic materials by turning them into art. Under Amanda May’s leadership, our children and youth created so many pieces of artwork, they are now able to plan the first annual art show for our organization to be held in June. Not only did Amanda May provide a great outlet for students to show interest in and learn about the environment, but she encouraged their growth of positive creativity and empowerment to keep the earth clean. Amanda May looks forward to bringing this recycling model to the schools in our area, as well as across other program sites in our organization. The school districts within our organization’s locations do not recycle in the classrooms because of a lack of training or use for the recycled materials. Two of our program sites are excited about implementing recycled art and has invited Amanda May to show them how!. The expansion of this initiative would be sustainable and will continue to educate on keeping our earth clean!