Young people across the country are improving media representation for people of color, promoting literacy education, speaking out against bullying, and much more. In honor of Black History Month, we compiled a list of seven African-American young leaders who are raising their voices, advocating for their causes, and fighting for a better future.

  1. Mari Copeny, 10
    In 2016, Mari wrote to President Obama requesting a meeting in Washington, D.C. to discuss the water crisis in her hometown of Flint, Michigan drawing national attention to the public health emergency.
  2. Nyeeam Hudson, 12
    At 12 years old, Nyeeam Hudson has already traveled the world delivering motivational speeches to other kids, offering support to victims of bullying, building up confidence, and teaching self-love.
  3. Marley Dias, 13
    Marley Dias started the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign, aimed at finding 1,000 books with black girls as protagonists. The campaign collects and donates books and works with educators to discover and promote more diversity in reading.
  4. Grace Dolan-Sandrino, 17
    Dolan-Sandrino has become a nationally-recognized advocate for LGBTQ youth of color. She co-founded Youth Blackout DC, an organization that aims to amplify student voices and helped organize thousands of D.C. high school students to protest in a city-wide march.
  5. Yara Shahidi, 17
    Yara Shahidi first came into the national spotlight for her roll on ABC’s Black-ish. Since then she’s used her platform to establish herself as a strong advocate for diversity in Hollywood and girls’ education across the country.
  6. Tony Weaver, 23
    Founder and CEO of Weird Enough Productions, Tony Weaver works to correct the misrepresentation of young men of color in media.
  7. Malcolm Mitchell, 24
    NFL receiver Malcolm Mitchell says that one of his proudest achievements involves reading. This led him to found the Read With Malcolm Youth Literacy Initiative.

Read the full article about seven young leaders making black history today by Beah Jacobson and Natalia Tramontana at America's Promise Alliance.