Founded in 1989 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Citizens for a Better South Florida's, mission is to provide environmental education, particularly to the diverse underserved community which inspires active stewardship and preservation of the South Florida environment. The organization’s founder, Arsenio Milian, is a Cuban-born environmental-civil engineer who was serving on the board of The South Florida Water Management District. During this time Mr. Milian increased his awareness and knowledge of environmental issues in the Everglades, Biscayne Bay, and Lake Okeechobee and their profound impacts on South Florida ecosystems. Citizens for a Better South Florida (CITIZENS) was a National pioneer in offering multi-lingual environmental education in Miami-Dade County. Mr. Milian set the foundation for CITIZENS and the organization has kept his mission alive. CITIZENS believes that intervention in the form of grassroots, community-based education is greatly needed to maintain South Florida’s native ecosystems and the quality of life for South Florida citizens. The organization understands the beneficial role of native flora and fauna in urban landscaping and believes that if people have the chance to learn about these benefits, they can help the environment by planting native vegetation around their homes. We believe that if people are given the opportunity to learn about important environmental topics, particularly in their native language, they can be called to action within their local communities.