Celebrating Martin Luther King Day: Activist kids who are changing the world

Most kids haven’t exchanged heartfelt hugs with world leaders that were captured on film and then beamed around the world.

But then Mari Copeny isn’t most kids.

Mari first captured the attention of the world’s media in 2016 when – at the age of 8 - she wrote to then President Barrack Obama asking him to intervene in the Flint Water Crisis where there hadn’t been clean water since April 2014.

Mari is also affectionately known as Little Miss Flint because of her tireless work to represent the rights of children in her home-town, in Michigan. The little girl’s other campaigns – that, at the last count, had raised more than $250,000 - include:

• Partnering with Pack Your Back.org* to provide backpacks full of school supplies for more than 1,000 students and host a summer party

• Launching a GoFundMe campaign so that several-hundred underprivileged kids and their chaperones could see the “Black Panther” and “Wrinkle in Time” movies

• Organising a water drive to distribute essential supplies to Flint residents

• Kick-starting a campaign - #DearFlintKids - inviting people to write to a child in Flint to tell them that somewhere in the world, someone cares about them

Using her 11^th birthday to launch a gifting drive to provide over 600 bikes and 1000 books for Flint Kids

“Kids need to see themselves as superheroes,” says Mari. “Black kids are seen as victims — and we’re not.”

Perhaps it’s no surprise then that Mari – who is an inspiration to both children and adults the world over – has now inspired international toy brand, Lottie Dolls, to create a toy in her likeness.

The doll – that is sure to appeal to kids of all ages - is dressed in denim shorts, sneakers and a cosy jacket with a bold slogan t-shirt and campaign badges.  A placard and megaphone complete the set. “Kid Activist” perfectly demonstrates the company’s vision that childhood should be an inclusive place where every child belongs regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability.

“We continue to be blown-away by the next generation of young people,” says Ian Harkin, co-founder of Lottie Dolls.

“They’re compassionate, collaborative and their can-do attitude gives them the ability to be change-makers on a global scale. Mari’s ten, now, and she aspires to be President of the USA. We have every reason to believe that she’ll do exactly that. With our toys, we want to encourage all kids – regardless of gender, ability or ethnicity - to follow all their dreams. We can’t wait to meet the next generation of scientists and activists, environmentalists and artists, sportspeople and teachers. From where we’re sitting, the future feels pretty bright!”

Mari is the third person from last years Teen Vogue #21under21 that has now inspired a Lottie doll following Allie Weber in 2014 and Taylor Richardson in 2016.

About Lottie Dolls:

Lottie Dolls are sold in over 30 countries worldwide. Unlike other dolls, Lottie is based on a child and focused on childhood, letting kids be kids. To date they have sold over 1 million dolls. Their dolls have been inspired by kids from all over the world. One doll - an idea inspired by an 8-year-old from Canada - even spent 264 days on the International Space Station.

Lottie has featured significantly in the media, some of the links to which are attached:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lottie_Dolls

*Who is ‘Pack Your Back’?

In 2016, Mari partnered with Pack Your Back, a non-profit organisation created by students attending Central Michigan University who wanted to make a difference in childhood education. 

One of the founding members of the organisation, Galen Miller, had been volunteering in Flint during the water distribution with his fraternity Phi Delta Theta when he noticed the impact the water crisis had on adolescent development in the area. 

The very next week, Pack Your Back was created, committed to helping underprivileged students get the proper tools and resources needed to succeed in the classroom. Mari has fundraised over $250,000 for the organisation since its launch.

The Lottie, Finn & Friends range has something for everyone!