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What do waste diversion and the 4th Annual Punjabi Mela Festival have in common with Street Sense vendors?

Well, just a second chance for the homeless population to gradually get back into the work force,
that’s all!

A crowd of more than 12,000 showed up on May 26 for this year’s celebration of Punjabi culture, held at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, VA. With children’s laughter and the aroma of different tantalizing foods filling the air, the variety of beautiful, colorful clothing sparkling against the blue skies, green grass and the live Indian music, one could easily feel transported, for just a brief moment, to a faraway place and time.

But several of us Street Sense vendors were also there with a very down-to-earth mission. We were  commissioned to provide customer service, ground maintenance and educate event patrons about the importance of recycling and properly disposing of food containers and other items. This was the second collaboration between the Waste Diversion LLC “Green Team” and Street Sense vendors. And the effort had an impact.

“The Green Team collected over 1,815 gallons of recyclable material during the event,” said Robert Howard, a human resource representative at Waste Diversion.

Waste Diversion LLC first extended employment opportunities to Street Sense vendors in 2012 during the Taste of  DC. As a result of outstanding work from Street Sense vendors, this relationship has continued to develop. Recycling and education is what Waste Diversion is all about, and large local, national and international events here in Washington offer great opportunities to teach the public about
responsible and sustainable ways to dispose of trash.

Meanwhile, these events offer homeless individuals who have fallen out of the workforce an opportunity to gradually migrate back into the work force, verses just dropping them into an environment where aptitudes have been negatively affected by not working for years.

The most important thing I’ve observed about this organization and Street Sense vendors is that both parties are willing to give each other a try and that’s the most important step ever! Congratulations Waste Diversion “Green Team” for giving the homeless population a second chance back to work!!!!


Issues |Education


Region |Virginia

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