March 12, 2024, 9am
Title: Examining Community Narratives of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s “Green Grants” Initiative
Committee members: Lori Cramer, Erika Wolters, David Bernell
Abstract: This essay examines community narratives around Keep Virginia Beautiful's Green Grants initiative. Green Grants is a signature annual program that awards grants to organizations throughout Virginia in support of projects aligned with one of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s three pillars: recycling, litter prevention, and community beautification. The primary research questions are a) what can final report narratives tell us about recipient perceptions of Keep Virginia Beautiful's Green Grants initiative? and b) do grant recipients’ narrative impact statements align with the grant initative’s stated mission and goals?These research questions are explored by reviewing grant recipients’ final report statements for common themes. Recipient statements can shed light on perceptions of the program and its outcomes, as well as perceptions of the goals and purpose of the program itself. Findings can provide important evidence regarding the extent to which the program is successfully meeting its intended goals. This essay concludes with an examination of the current sustainability policy landscape in Virginia and recommendations for improvement.