LITTLE MISS FLINT. BIG DREAMS.
Little Miss Flint is going to change the world.
And hint: she already has.
When Mari Copeny was 8-years-old, she wrote a letter to President Obama, asking him to meet with her and a group of people coming to Washington D.C. It read:
Mr. President,
Hello my name is Mari Copeny and I’m 8 years old, I live in Flint, Michigan and I’m more commonly known around town as “Little Miss Flint”. I am one of the children that is effected by this water, and I’ve been doing my best to march in protest and to speak out for all the kids that live here in Flint. This Thursday I will be riding a bus to Washington, D.C. to watch the congressional hearings of our Governor Rick Snyder.”
The President responded.
Cue: the waterworks. Which is exactly what Mari, AKA “Little Miss Flint,” has been fighting for in Flint, Michigan since 2014. Working, clean, water. Yes, it’s a human right. She’s known around her town as “Little Miss Flint,” because of her work and activism on the matter to represent the children of Flint.
And she’s still hard at it. Now ten, Mari is the youngest Women’s March Youth Ambassador, National Youth Ambassador for the Climate March, and Youth Ambassador for Equality for Her. She has spoken in front of the White House and at the Science March in Washington D.C. Mari also spoke at the United Nations Girl Up Leadership Conference.
Read more about what we can expect from this amazing young girl below.
Name: Mari Copeny
Instagram Handle: @MariMyAngelOfficial
Your Twitter bio says "watch me change the world." But you ARE changing the world. Where do your drive and passion come from?
I am. My focus is on making the world see that kids are not just the future we are the present as well and we can change the world now. I am focusing so much time on Flint kids and making sure that we get all the things that we need to be successful.
Philanthropy means the "love of humanity." It's so beautiful and simple. What does it mean to you?
It means being able to give back to every single person and love them for who they are.
How did you find yourself on this particular journey?
The Flint Water Crisis kind of flung me into this life and I haven't looked back since. What began as me wanting the world to know that we have a serious problem in Flint has turned into me wanting to help out kids all over the country and to prove to other kids they can change the world as well.
We gotta know, what kind of hugs does Obama give?
They are amazing. He is so soft and warm. Best HUG ever. Like a big fluffy bear without the fluff.
What's something you'd like people to know about your work that they probably don’t?
That even though I'm an activist that I am also a kid as well and I LOVE being a kid. And my number one focus is on making sure that Flint kids are not forgotten.
What's the best advice your mom has ever given you?
To always find the good in every situation, even when things seem all bad.
When you hit a big bump in the road, how do you find a new road?
I dont find a new road, I will work until I am able to get over that bump. Sometimes it takes a lot of being told no to finally get the answer I want.
What song do you sing in the shower when you’ve had a bad day?
"Happy" by Pharrell Williams.
