【Cute Devil】

Mari Copeny,Cute Devil an 11-year-old with an irrepressible desire to make the world a better place, is remarkable proof that you’re never too young to be an activist.

Copeny, also known as "Little Miss Flint," is an advocate for her hometown of Flint, Michigan, which has been fighting a life-threatening water crisis since 2014. When she was 8 years old, she penned a powerful letterto President Obama on behalf of Flint and its children, who could no longer drink from the tap, shower without their eyes burning, or even safely use a Slip ‘N Slide.

Obama replied to Copeny, visited Flint, and eventually signed off on $100 millionin funding to help repair the city's poisoned water system. But Copeny wasn't done advocating for change.

SEE ALSO: America's youth finally destroyed slacktivism

Since 2016, Copeny has founded the Dear Flint Kids Project, raised more than $10,000 for students in her community,become a Women’s March Youth Ambassador, and recently started to fight against education inequality. As she enters middle school, the activist wants young people around the world to know they have the power to make a change, too.

Before speakingat Mashable’s 9th annual Social Good Summit on Sept. 23, Copeny shared some tips to help guide aspiring young activists looking to take on the world.

1. Don't let your age hold you back

"You're never to young or to small to change the world," Copeny told Mashable via email.

Copeny had been fighting for the kids of Flint for months when she reached out to the president of the United States. She campaigned and marched with her mom, and made plans to take a bus to Washington, D.C, to watch the congressional hearings prior to hearing back from President Obama.

"Never let any adults dull your sparkle."

So to anyone who wants to change the world but is afraid they won't be taken seriously because of their age, Copeny offers the following inspirational words: "Never let any adults dull your sparkle."

"If they don’t want to listen to you at first, keep on talking, they will eventually have to hear you out. And once they hear you out, they will see that you have a unique view of the world and that your opinion matters," she said.

"Never let anybody shut you up, and trust me they will try, because you’re young and a lot of adults don’t think you should have an opinion."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

2. Start small. Work up to big.

Attempting to tackle the world's problems at any age can seem intimidating. But if you're looking to become a young activist, Copeny wants to remind you it's perfectly OK to start small.

"Changing the world can start out as something small like helping fix a problem at your school or in your neighborhood," she said. "Think about what really matters the most to you and go for it. It's easy to fight for things that are close to your heart and important to you."

Mashable Trend Report Decode what’s viral, what’s next, and what it all means. Sign up for Mashable’s weekly Trend Report newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

At age 6, the Flint water crisis began impacting Copeny's life personally, which is why she was inspired to act. But those initial efforts have since led her to fight for children all around the country, and she's now expanding her focus to different issues like education inequality. So take the first step, no matter how small, and see where it leads you.

3. Use the power of social media for good

While social media has its fair share of negativity, when it comes to raising awareness on certain issues, protests, facts, or campaigns, platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can be especially helpful.

"Use social media to your advantage," Copeny said. "There are so many people out there who support the same causes that you do, and reaching out to them can help you see that you are not alone."

Copeny currently uses Twitter to communicate with more than 77,000 followers. She offers updates on her activist efforts and shares links to special projects she's involved with — including online fundraisers to sell shirts and receive donations for water bottles that will help benefit the Flint community.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

4. Be sure to have fun along the way

Helping others is serious and important work, but Copeny wants you to remember to take a step back every now and again to refresh, dedicating time to self-care.

Amidst all her activist efforts Copeny, makes time for other activities that bring her joy, such as drawing, listening to music, playing video games, and running. And when she isworking, she makes sure to enjoy herself whenever possible.

"Have fun. No matter what your cause is you still need to make time to have fun and smile. Don’t take yourself too seriously all the time," Copeny said.

5. Never give up

Copeny's final words of wisdom are simple: Don't give up, no matter how difficult things may seem. "It may feel like it's going to be impossible to make real change, but the hardest thing is actually just doing it," she said.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

What’s next for "Little Miss Flint?"

Copeny’s new campaign, which kicked off Sept. 17, aims to raise awareness about education inequality across the country.

"In many inner city schools like Flint, students don’t have access to the most up-to-date text books and technology that kids in higher income areas have, making the gap to get a good education even greater," Copeny said. "In order for kids to get ahead, they need access to the latest technology and high speed Internet to try to help level the playing field."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

With support from non-profit organizations like Student Voiceand Digital Promise, fellow middle school students like 12-year-old Elias Martinez and Donovan Enriquez from San Jose, California, are working alongside Copeny to reach out to local politicians and invite them to Verizon Innovative Learning Schools.

So far they’ve organized events like an informative leadership panel at which California Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren spoke with students. The long-term plan is to inspire 2 million people to commit to helping America’s youth attain quality education by the end of the year.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

For each person who pledges to support a future of equal education, The Verizon Foundation will donate$1.00 (up to $2 million) to Project Lead The Way— a non-profit that works with students, teachers, and schools to bring STEM programs to pre-kindergarten through grade 12 classrooms.

Copeny plans to run for president in 2044, but until then she's committed to helping kids around the world and inspiring others to pursue causes close to their hearts.

Social Good Summit coverage:

• Despite the hate, Amber Heard wants to make the most of her digital soapbox

• Nick Kroll's Netflix series 'Big Mouth' is the candid conversation about sex you never had as a teen

• 6 things Deaf activist Nyle DiMarco wants you to know about sign language

About Social Good Summit

The intersection of technology and new media has redefined our understanding of human progress. In the midst of this rapidly changing world, the Social Good Summit focuses on where we’re headed. Held annually during the United Nations General Assembly week, the Summit unites a lively community of global citizens and progressive thought leaders around a common theme: #2030NOW. A dynamic exploration of the world we want to live in by 2030, the Social Good Summit will focus on how we can unlock technology’s potential to make the world a better place. For complete event details, visit socialgoodsummit.com.

This year's summit is brought to you by Mashable, the United Nations Foundation, the United Nations Development Programme, and the 92nd Street Y. For complete event details, visit socialgoodsummit.com.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

---

Featured Video For You

---

---

Topics Activism Social Good