News Photo by Darby Hinkley Olivia Miller will give a presentation on marine plastics in the Great Lakes at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday at M. Briggs Center, hosted by the Association of Lifelong Learners.

ALPENA — The Association of Lifelong Learners will host a program called Plastics in the Great Lakes from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday at M. Briggs Center at Alpena Community College.

Olivia Miller will give an engaging presentation highlighting marine plastics in the Great Lakes. She will discuss what marine plastics are, where they come from, how they are harmful, and what can be done to take action. She will also share about her small business project, Continual Clothing, and what she has been doing to spread awareness about marine plastics and textile waste.

“This past year, I was a Marine Plastics Ambassador with EarthEcho International,” Miller said. “They have all these different programs at EarthEcho that are about protecting the planet and the oceans.”

EarthEcho International is a program made up of 25 young adults who are devoted to protecting the Great Lakes from marine plastics, and sponsored by SC Johnson.

“I decided to do an awareness campaign/education/business,” Miller said. “It’s called Continual Clothing, and I’m actually wearing one of my shirts right now. I have these T-shirts that I’m working on, and they all have a different animal or creature that is a part of the Great Lakes ecosystem. The front of the shirt has the creature — this is a zooplankton — and then, on the back is their habitat, so it’s showing off what’s being affected by plastics getting into the Great Lakes.”

Some of the other designs include a heron and a walleye, she said.

Miller, 18, is a 13th-year Early Middle College student attending Alpena Community College. She is currently studying marketing and was very involved in the marketing program during her time at Alpena High School. Miller grew up in Alpena and has always felt a deep connection with the lakes, prompting her to do her part in protecting them.

“I’ve also done some different educational events and activities,” Miller said. “I did a clothing swap at the library. People brought their clothes, and I did a little presentation about how it’s better to reuse this stuff, with textiles. And then, I did a visible mending workshop at ACC, and I’m planning to do another one at some point. And then, I’m also doing one at the Alcona library in Harrisville on June 6.”

She said repairing your clothing can not only save money but benefit the environment. She added that natural fabrics such as cotton are much better for the environment than synthetic fabrics such as polyester.

“It’s super fun, but it’s also good for the earth,” Miller said of the mending workshops.

Miller is excited to be starting her own small business, Continual Clothing, providing intriguing Great Lakes-themed T-shirts, and hosting events focused on awareness and education about this important topic.

“The shirts are 100% cotton,” she added. “Five dollars from every shirt is going to go toward nonprofits,” such as Great Lakes, Great Responsibility.

For more information or to order a shirt, contact Miller on Istagram @continual.clothing.