FLINT (MI) Amariyanna Maricopeny has been shining a light on Flint’s environmental injustice since she was eight years old and how it impacted her family and neighbors.
14 years later, Copenys’ community work has grown tremendously and has been noted numerous times by national and state officials and organizations.
It’s the Billboard Music Awards this time.
RELATED: UCLA honors Little Miss Flint for her activism in Flint water crisis
Copeny, also known by Little Miss Flint, will receive the Changemaker award at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, May 15.
The Billboard Music Awards Changemaker honor goes to pop culture icons who speak truth through their leadership and individual action. The awards organization stated that they are socially conscious, politically aware and active in their communities. They also have the ability to give time, critical resources, and influence to improve the lives and well-being of others.
Copeny said that I am honored by Billboard Music Awards for my community efforts, and commitment to raising awareness about America’s water issues. I hope that this inspires others and encourages them to fight for the right cause, even when no one is looking.
Copeny joins Trae the Truth and Killer Mike as previous recipients.
In March 2016, she wrote to President Barack Obama, asking him to visit the city and experience the water crisis firsthand.
The President received the letter and decided to visit Flint to see the extent of the destruction. This ultimately led to the approval of federal relief funds totaling $100 million for the city.
Her work in Flint and successful crowdfunding campaigns have enabled her to raise over $250,000 and distribute more that a million bottles of water to residents.
RELATED: Little Miss Flint gives 1000 backpacks away to local children
To date, she has raised over $600,000. These projects include distributing more than 17,000 school supplies in backpacks, hosting community movie screenings, organizing holiday events to distribute thousands of toys, and many other events that are centered on children in the area.
Copenys’ work is notable for:
- Hydroviv, a water filter company, partnered Copeny to distribute her high-capacity lead-removal filters to Flint families and child-centric organizations. Each dollar she raises for her filter is equivalent to 160 bottles of water. She has shipped filters all over the United States and has raised $627K to date.
- She was the youngest ever delegate to the U.S. delegation to the UN Commission on the Status of Women’s 65th Session.
- Copeny, who is also a Youth Ambassador for the Womens March on Washington in 2019, was also the chair of Kid Box’s 2019 board of directors. She is also an active member of 18×18, an initiative to encourage young people to register to vote once they turn 18. She is a member of Michigan Department of Education’s Student Anti-racism advisory panel and Flint Youth Justice League, an advisory council through Michigan State University that advises on issues related to Flint’s kids.
- Copeny is also a varsity cheerleader, and will be competing for Miss Michigan Teen USA in a few short weeks.
The evening will be hosted and hosted by Sean DIDDY’ Combs, music mogul and global star. The Billboard Charts honors the top performing artists in each of the 62 categories. The BBMAs will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, on Sunday, May 15, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, and live streaming on Peacock.
As previously announced the 2022 Billboard Music Awards will present Mary J. Blige the Icon Award. Blige will be performing that night with Burna Boy and Florence + The Machine, Maxwell, Megan Thee Stallions, Morgan Wallens, Rauw Alejandros, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Silk Sonic.
Learn more atThe Flint Journal
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