Amariyanna Copeny facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amariyanna Copeny
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Copeny in 2016
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| Born | July 6, 2007 Flint, Michigan, U.S.
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| Years active | 2016–present |
Amariyanna "Mari" Copeny, born on July 6, 2007, is a young activist from Flint, Michigan. Many people know her as "Little Miss Flint." She became famous for speaking up about the Flint water crisis. Mari also works hard to raise money and help kids in need, both in her hometown and all over the United States.
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Mari Copeny's Activism
Fighting for Clean Water
When Mari Copeny was just 8 years old, she wrote a letter to President Barack Obama. She wanted him to know about the serious water problem in Flint, Michigan. Her letter made a big difference! President Obama wrote back, saying that letters from kids like her made him hopeful for the future.
On May 4, 2016, President Obama visited Flint. He saw firsthand how the lead-poisoned water was affecting people. His visit helped everyone across the country learn about Flint's big problem. Eventually, President Obama approved $100 million to help fix the crisis. Even with these efforts, people in Flint still face challenges.
Speaking Up for Flint
Mari continued to speak out. On April 13, 2017, she spoke at a rally in Washington, D.C. She reminded everyone that Donald Trump, when he was running for president, had promised to fix Flint's water. Mari said he had not kept his promise. She also spoke about other important issues, like immigration.
To keep the focus on Flint's water struggles, Mari started a new project in 2018. She teamed up with Pack Your Back for "The Little Miss Flint & PYB Water Drive." This was a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for bottled water. The state had stopped giving out free bottled water to Flint residents. They raised almost $50,000, which bought over 200,000 bottles of water!
In 2019, Mari started another campaign called the Little Miss Flint Clean Water Fund. She partnered with Hydroviv, a company that makes water filters. This partnership helped her make the most of donations. It also reduced plastic waste from bottled water. She reached her first goal of $100,000 in September 2019. By June 2020, she hit $250,000, and on Earth Day 2021, she reached $500,000! Mari's new goal is $1 million. She wants to help many communities across the country get clean water while their water systems are being fixed.
Mari became known as "Little Miss Flint" after winning a beauty contest in 2015. This nickname stuck with her as she became a national voice for change.
Helping Her Community
Mari Copeny doesn't just focus on water. She also helps kids in her community in many other ways.
School Supplies and Movies
Before school started in 2016 and 2017, Mari worked with Pack Your Back. This group helps students. Mari raised money to provide backpacks filled with school supplies. In 2016, she collected enough for 100 backpacks. In 2017, she raised $10,000 for 1,000 backpacks for local children.
In 2018, Mari started another GoFundMe campaign. This was part of the #BlackPantherChallenge. She raised over $16,000! This money allowed hundreds of kids from low-income families to see the movie Black Panther. They also got movie merchandise. Mari hoped this would give the mostly Black audience positive feelings about themselves and inspire them.
Other Projects
Mari Copeny has many other projects too:
- The Dear Flint Kids project: She asked people to write encouraging letters to children in Flint.
- Giving away free copies of the book A Wrinkle in Time.
- Organizing Christmas parties and providing Easter baskets for kids in need.
- Supporting local schools with programs to stop bullying.
In 2022, Mari received the 3rd Change Maker Award at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. This award honored her amazing work for the environment and her community.
