By Matthew Preusch, The Oregonian
January 05, 2010, 4:59PM

In Guatemala, Laura Kutner noticed, plastic trash was everywhere.

And in the rural Guatemalan community where Kutner was until recently a Peace Corps volunteer, there were classrooms without walls.

The 2002 graduate of Portland's Lincoln High School saw a solution to both problems.

Thanks to her, the village of Granados in central Guatemala now has two new school rooms whose walls are made from discarded plastic soda bottles and other litter.

The 25-year-old came up with the idea and saw the project through. And in so doing she learned plenty -- too much, really -- about plastic, and a fair amount about building community, too.

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