In Boston, Au Pairs Help Clean Up the Charles River While Enjoying a Day Together
Posted on Wednesday, August 31st, 2016 at 2:13 pm.
By Gisela Nilsson, Cultural Care Au Pair sponsor organization
Au pairs, community coordinators, and staff in front of Education First (EF) Center
“It looked so clean, but when you start looking, you find all sorts of things hidden,” one of the au pairs exclaimed as she meandered along the winding banks of the Charles River, collecting trash and other debris with fellow au pairs and community members.
Cultural Care Au Pair staff, community coordinators, and au pairs joined the Charles River Watershed Association to clean up around the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts this past spring. The Charles River used to be one of the dirtiest rivers in the country but has improved greatly thanks to efforts by the association and volunteers. Bags upon bags of trash were collected, and the clean-up team felt the accomplishment of their work. “I really enjoyed hanging out with other au pairs while helping clean up in the sunshine,” said one of the au pairs.
Proud to have cleaned up the area around Charles River
The au pairs said they had a great time in the gorgeous spring weather and enjoyed giving back to the community, while hanging out with old and new au pair friends. It was a great opportunity to experience volunteering and meeting members of the community. One participant noted: “It was fun volunteering, as I had never done that in my home country.” After the clean-up, the group joined other volunteers for a picnic at the Hatch Shell in Boston.
Not a piece of trash left following the clean-up
The Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup brings together over 3,000 volunteers each year to pick up litter, remove invasive species and assist with park maintenance. Residents are drawn to the popular Charles River Cleanup from a desire to give back to their community while enjoying the beauty and wildlife along the Charles River. Volunteers build on the connections they establish during this day of stewardship by returning to the Charles to exercise, play and enjoy nature throughout the year. The Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup builds on a national effort as part of American Rivers’ National River Cleanup, which has removed over 20.7 million pounds of trash from America’s waterways.
Categories: Program Spotlight
| About Rebecca Pasini Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchange | |
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Rebecca A. Pasini joined the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchanges in July 2023. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister - Counselor, Ms. Pasini has been an American diplomat since 1997.
Ms. Pasini previously served as the Director of Public and Congressional Affairs in the Bureau of Consular Affairs from 2021-2023. Other Washington assignments have included positions in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, the Office of Foreign Missions, and as a liaison to the Department of Homeland Security. She has also completed multiple overseas tours, including as Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs in Islamabad, Pakistan, and as the Consular Chief in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Belfast, Northern Ireland. Other tours included Mexico City and Kuwait.
A Maryland native, Ms. Pasini has a Ph.D. in Political Science from Indiana University, a master’s degree in National Security and Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School, National Defense University, and an undergraduate degree from Mary Washington College.
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