PEOPLE OF INTEREST
The COMMUNITY ACTIVIST
BY ALISHA McDARRI S
Clint Starling can’t sit still.
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He’s not sure if it’s part
of being an only child
or because his parents
were always so involved with the
community, but his restlessness
has benefited a long list of Martin
County organizations.
His days are full — he plans
them that way — and they start
early. He kicks off his day with a
bike ride or a walk on the beach,
where he collects sea glass just
as his grandmother did. He then
heads to work at the Arts Council
of Martin County, where he
plans events like Arts Fest and
the Lounge Series. He lunches
with friends and colleagues nearly
every day and fills his evenings
with board meetings, games with
friends and volunteer work.
“There’s always something,”
Starling says.
On Tuesdays he can be found at
Blue Door in Stuart, hosting thrift
store bingo. Once a week he plays
basketball with friends and the rest
of the week he volunteers for Tykes
and Teens, United Way, Treasured
Lands Foundation, Boys and Girls
Club, Redeem the Shadows or
other organizations and events.
“I feel like every hour of work
I get paid for there should be
one that I don’t,” the Stuart
resident says.
He’s been involved with several
local political campaigns, too,
including congressional and county
commission campaigns.
“I love this town. I feel responsible
to it. When you really care
about a place you want to be aware
of what’s going on,” Starling says.
But the cause that’s closest to
his heart is the Rivers Coalition.
He serves on its board, has helped
organize several area protests
and has even lobbied for it in
Washington, D.C.
“I grew up on the beach. I have
a deep love of it, and that’s what
makes me so protective of it,” says
the Jensen Beach native.
ALISHA McDARRIS
>>
Clint Starling, a
Martin County
native, has no free
time and that’s the
way he likes it.
He’d much rather
spend his days
making the
community he
loves the best
that it can be.