Mari Copeny was six years old when the Flint water crisis began, but her age didn’t stop her from getting involved to make a change. Since she was a little girl Mari has been considered a vocal advocate for her city and the children in Flint, giving her the title, “Little Miss Flint.”

When she was just eight years old, she wrote a letter to President Obama - a letter that convinced him to take his first trip to her hometown. Mari kept going, delivering hundreds of thousands of water bottles, sold t-shirts and created fundraising campaigns to raise both money and awareness for Flint.

Today, she is an ambassador for the Women’s March, Equality For HER and the Climate March. She is also the creator of #DearFlint, where people across the globe are sending children in Flint positive messages and inspirational letters. The young activist has done more in her ten years than most people can say they have in their lifetime. “Just because we are kids doesn’t mean that we can’t change the world.”

Jada’s work has always been focused on the residents of her hometown of Flint. A graphic designer who started by selling t-shirts, she launched “810H2O” - an activist group created to support the city’s youth by providing both funds and art platforms for students to use as a social outlet. Proceeds from her shirts go towards CMB Basketball - a nonprofit organization which helps student athletes who are rising above the ongoing water crisis and violence occuring in their city.

Our STATE Squad will be geared up this back to school season in custom 810H20 shirts!

At 12 years old, Tracy’s family made the move from Illinois to Flint. Her community work goes well beyond supporting those impacted by the water crisis as she believes that building confidence and self esteem will give young people what they need to ensure a successful future no matter the odds stacked against them. She created the Try to Bully Me campaign, and has continued her anti-bullying efforts with workshops focused on education around bullying, statistics and resources.

Tracy has allowed children and adults in Flint to feel comfortable with who they are, creating a safe place where feelings can be discussed, and bullying can be dismissed. As a leader and positive role model, Tracy has made her community a stronger, better more resilient place.

Throughout her own education, Jessyca had a hard time connecting with her educators because of the difference in their skin color. In college she began to notice the lack of African American teachers, which is how she decided she would become an activist teacher. “I was going to devote my life to making other young people understand that we must fight for change as a teacher of color.” And she did exactly that… now proudly carrying the title of 2018 Teacher of the Year.

She has taught her students to voice their strong opinions, and channel their frustration, fear and anger around the issues surrounding their embattled community.

Born and raised in Flint whose father inspired her to become an activist and stand up for what she thought was right, she has given her students the power to turn their stories and tragedies into passion and creativity.

Nayyirah’s tireless efforts have been key since the beginning of the water crisis. She is a grassroots organizer from Flint that’s been on the front lines of various civil movements for decades.

In 2011 she founded Flint Democracy Defence League, which has been involved in bottled water giveaways, forming town meetings and much more. She’s now the Director of Flint Rising - a coalition of community organizations working to ensure that directly impacted people of the water crisis are given the future they need and deserve.