As we honor Black History Month, it’s essential to celebrate and recognize the remarkable contributions of young Black trailblazers who are shaping the course of history with their creativity, bravery, and unwavering commitment to social justice.
From advocating for the environment to spreading mental health awareness, these inspiring individuals whose impact extends far beyond the confines of the month-long celebration. Join us in supporting their work and applauding their achievements!
1) Mikaila Ulmer
Inspired by her grandmothers lemonade recipe using honey from local beekeepers, Mikaila created her own lemonade before she was 5, donating 10% of the profits to charities that are concerned with saving the bees. Since launching her business Me and the Bees, Mikaila has appeared with her father on the television show Shark Tank, was invited to the United States of Women Summit, and has sold her lemonade in stores nationwide, including Whole Foods and Kroger.
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2) Orion Jean
Named one of TIME’s Kids of the Year, 12-year-old Orion created his own initiative called the “Race to Kindness” to help spread kindness, meals, books, and toys to children all over the world. In 2021, he donated 100,000 meals, and this May he’s coming out with a book encouraging kids like him to engage in acts of kindness in their own community. Join Orion’s Race to Kindness here!
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3) Leah Namugerwa
Instead of throwing a party for her 15th birthday, Leah celebrated by planting trees. This served as the inspiration behind the launch of the Birthday Trees project, which gave out seedlings to those in Uganda who wished to celebrate their birthdays by planting trees.
A prominent young climate advocate, Leah is a founding member of Uganda’s Fridays for the Future chapter, led the writing of a petition to enforce the ban of plastic bags, and continuously uses her social media to encourage and inspire others to take climate action!
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4) Ashton Mota
In middle school, Amir came out as transgender, and since then, he has been candid about his journey, sharing his experience with hopes of benefiting others. In addition to co-authoring a children’s book about inclusivity, Ashton is a project champion of Gender Cool, a youth-led nonprofit that Ashton calls a community of “friendship, family, and support.” Gender Cool champions like Ashton are “helping replace misinformed opinions with positive, powerful experiences actually meeting transgender and nonbinary youth who are thriving.” Now 17, Amir is an aspiring barber hoping to instill confidence and love into his community and encourage others to see beauty as kindness and compassion.
5) Haile Thomas
This health activist holds the title of the youngest Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach in the United States! A chef and community organizer, Haile is also the founder of the nonprofit HAPPY (Healthy Active Positive Purposeful Youth), which brings nutrition education to youth through cooking classes, summer camps, and in-school programs, and she has even opened her own wellness teahouse Matcha Thomas.
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6) Ernest Holmes, Jaycee Holmes, and Tavis Thompson
Ernest and Jaycee are siblings that teamed up with Tavis to create CodeHouse, a nonprofit aimed to bridge the diversity gap in technology and works ensures more students can access the pathways that lead to careers in STEM. In addition to holding Tech Exposure Days to educate high schoolers across the country about careers in tech, CodeHouse also launched the CodeHouse Scholars, an initiative that provides historically Black college students majoring in STEM-related fields with $20,000 in academic scholarships and networking.
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7) Mary-Pat Hector
A community organizer since the age of 12, Mary-Pat has always been passionate about civic engagement. In addition to founding Equity for All, an organization that supports young leaders in running for office and seeking equal representation opportunities, she also serves as the CEO of Rise – which trains and hires students to organize campaigns focused on eliminating tuition and fees, expanding financial aid, ending student hunger and homelessness, and getting out the vote.
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8) Winter BreeAnne Minisee
When she was just 15, Winter founded “Black Is Lit,” an Instagram page that aimed to fill the gap in Black representation on the platform an organization devoted to creating space for marginalized youth. This initiative soon grew into a nationwide tour of elementary schools that promoted education around youth politics and the significance of voting. power of their voice. Today, Winter continues to be a voice for civic engagement and was named to the Board of Directors at Peace First, a global nonprofit with the mission of creating the next generation of heroes.
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