First up, we have Mari Copeny, aka “Little Miss Flint.” She skyrocketed to public attention back in 2016 after the then-8-year-old child penned a letter to Barack Obama in an effort to draw attention to the infamous water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

Since then, she’s continued to maintain a public presence and has become a noteworthy youth activist. Most recently, Copeny spoke out in favor of gun reform on Twitter following the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

 

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Tarana Burke‘s status as the founder of the “Me Too” Movement makes her perfect for this list. Burke first started the movement back in 2006, working to build “a community of advocates determined to interrupt sexual violence wherever it happens.”

Over 10 years later, the #MeToo hashtag became widely used online in an effort to call attention to the far-reaching issue of sexual harassment, assault and rape culture. Many high-profile celebrities joined in, and Burke was acknowledged as the creator behind the movement. She continues using her platform to speak out about issues involving human rights.

 

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Black Girl Environmentalist founder Wawa Gatheru also made our list for her devotion to climate justice.

From her personal and business pages, she continually provides updates on what’s happening in both the world of ecopolitics and environmental activism. On top of climate activism, she’s also an outspoken advocate for racial justice and women’s rights.

 

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Next up is Elyse Fox, who runs “Sad Girls Club” — a nonprofit that’s “committed to destigmatizing mental wellness for millennial and Gen Z women, girls, and femmes of color.” From wellness summits to inspirational posts, this organization’s Instagram page and website are full of content that positively ushers in reflection and self-care.

While Sad Girls Club is arguably her most well-known project, Fox also makes change through a similar organization called Sad Boys Club, as well as Produced By Girls — a “collective for female creatives.”

 

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Lynae Vanee is another creator who masterfully uses her platform to call attention to serious issues with a touch of refreshing humor. She’s particularly known for her “Parking Lot Pimpin'” series, and she had her first live event earlier this year.

“A graduate of Spelman College and Boston University with a Master’s Degree in African American Studies, Lynae uses her digital platforms to speak on race, feminism, politics, and inclusivity,” Vanee’s website reads. It’s also worth noting that she’s an NAACP Image Award nominee.

 

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Boston University (BU) professor and author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi is on our list on account of his status as an impactful activist within the realm of anti-racism.

Through some of his latest works, Goodnight Racism and How to Raise an Antiracist, Kendi seeks to provide people with the tools to instill this sense of activist thought within the next generation. It’s also worth noting that he’s the director of BU’s Center for Antiracist Research and was included on TIME’s “100 Most Influential People of 2020” list.

 

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Upholding her grandfather’s legacy, Yolanda Renee King has also earned a shoutout for her activism. With experiences speaking at the 2018 March For Our Lives rally and 2020 Commitment March, this teen is already making her mark on the world by speaking out about gun reform and civil rights.

In fact, King uploaded a video in partnership with the Drum Major Institute in which she shared the “How-Tos of Activism,” showing that she’s definitely a young changemaker to watch.

 

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Martese Johnson came to public attention back in March 2015. During a night out, agents with the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control bloodied the University of Virginia student in a violent arrest, which was recorded and posted online. This sparked massive public outrage, and Johnson eventually filed a lawsuit against the agency and brought about widespread discussions of police brutality against young Black men.

Since the incident, Johnson has gone on to do amazing work for the Obama Foundation and a Chicago-area charter school. He went on to graduate with a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, and he continues to advocate for social justice.

 

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We also have to acknowledge Bree Newsome Bass. While this is a list on digital activists, Newsome Bass is best known for removing the Confederate flag from the South Carolina State Capitol. She was resultingly arrested for civil disobedience, and her action put immense pressure on state officials to remove the flag, which was done in July 2015.

Since then, this NYU-educated filmmaker-turned-activist continues to speak out and use her platform to advocate for political awareness. She’s also been heavily involved with an Advance Carolina project dubbed When They See Us Vote.

 

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A post shared by Bree Newsome Bass (@bree.newsome)

Last but certainly not least, we have Nupol Kiazolu: the activist who founded @WeProtectUs, an organization that works toward “empowering disenfranchised Black and Brown communities through mutual-aid, education, and sustainable resources.”

Just last year, Kiazolu shared the organization’s first successful project: establishing a “peace treaty” between Brooklyn-based Bloods and Crips. Her activism also secured her a position on the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s National Racial Justice Initiative.

 

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Shoutout to these changemakers!