The NJ PBS digital documentary series “21” examines a simple question: Does where you live in the state affect how you live? The “21” series profiles one person in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties and looks at the social determinants that affect that person’s life.
This special edition of NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi shares inspiring stories from Monmouth, Salem, and Somerset counties.
In Monmouth County, for Mary-Beth Thompson, the chief operating officer of Clean Ocean Action, and her husband Scott, keeping local beaches clean is a family affair. She says, “My parents were very community-minded, so we’ve tried to instill in our kids that we have a responsibility to take care of the environment.”
Sue Ann Leighty, a resident of Pedricktown and executive director of the Salem County Habitat for Humanity, has been giving back to her local community through involvement with the organization for years. “It’s about a hand up, not a handout,” she says.
In Somerset County, Cindy Ehrenclou, an avid kayaker, birder and executive director of Raritan Headwaters, has spent decades engaged in environmental conservation, specifically working to preserve clean water in the Upper Raritan Watershed and beyond. “Every one of us can make a difference,” she says.
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