Mari Copeny

Youth activist who mobilized national attention to Flint water crisis through strategic advocacy campaigns

Known as 'Little Miss Flint', Mari Copeny (b. 2007) became the face of environmental justice at age 8 when her letter to President Obama triggered federal intervention in Michigan's lead contamination crisis. Her #NoChildLead campaign distributed over 1 million bottles of safe water while pushing for infrastructure reforms.

Beyond activism, Copeny launched STEM initiatives exposing marginalized youth to science careers. Her "Dear Flint Kids" project provides academic scholarships and mental health resources, proving that youth leadership can drive systemic change.

Impact Highlights:

• Raised $500k+ for clean water initiatives
• Partnered with Hydroviv to install lead filters
• Addressed UN Water Conference (2023)
• Created back-to-school drives benefiting 25k+ students