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I'm working to save my city
By Mari Copeny
scholastic.com
Mari Copeny, 12, is raising money - and using her voice - to help the people in her hometown. Here's her story, in her own words.
As you read, Think About: How is Mari trying to help people affected by the Flint water crisis?
I live in Flint, Michigan.
About five years ago, our water began to smell funny.
My family started getting really bad rashes.
My little sister needed special medicine.
At night, she had to be in plastic under her pajamas to heal her skin.
She wasn't the only kid in Flint who got so sick.
Some people suffered from bad headaches.
Others had severe stomach cramps.
Across the city, people complained that something was seriously wrong with their tap water.
But the local officials insisted it was clean.
It turns out they were wrong:
Our water was toxic.
It was contaminated with lead, a poisonous metal.
We couldn't drink or cook with the water from our tap.
We had to use bottled water for drinking, cooking, and brushing our teeth.
In 2015, when I was 8 years old, I decided I needed to speak up for the people of Flint.
I wrote a letter to then-President Barack Obama to ask him for help.
In response, he came to speak with our community.
I got to meet him, and he lifted me up onstage.
But I wanted more.
Taking Action
My friends and family helped me start a campaign to buy bottled water for Flint.
Our goal was to raise $15,000.
So far, we've collected $280,000!
For the past few years, I've been giving out bottles of water and new water filters to people in my city.
At every event, we see hundreds of people lining up.
Many people in Flint still can't use their tap water.
They have to use bottled water every time they want to wash their hands or make a cup of tea.
I've also used social media to ask people around the world for help.
I have more than 100,000 followers on Twitter, including celebrities, politicians, and regular people from different countries.
With their support, I've been able to raise more than half a million dollars for Flint.
Changing the world
Most people know me as Little Miss Flint.
I'm proud that I am able to help my neighbors have access to clean water.
I'll continue until every single Flint resident feels safe drinking the water from theirs taps.
I also want people to realize that Flint isn't the only place in America with water issues.
It's important for all of us to ask questions about what's in the water at schools and at home.
My goal is to run for U.S. President in 2044-as soon as I am old enough.
But you don't have to be an adult to change the world.
It starts with helping out in your own community.
You have a voice and the ability to amplify that voice.
Don't let anyone stop you.
The End
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