Young Activists
Young Author, Anti-Bullying Activist Urges Youth To Serve Their Communities, Chase Their Dreams
Jahkil Jackson is a 14-year-old author, anti-bullying activist, and philanthropist from Chicago who has helped thousands of people who are homeless. Through his nonprofit organization, Project I Am, Jakhil is on a mission to motivate youth to get involved in their communities and to chase their dreams no matter their age. Jahkil’s accomplishments include being recognized by President Barack Obama as one of 2017’s most influential people, being named a Youth Ambassador for Heartland Alliance, and much more.
Inventor Lino Marrero Harnesses Clean Energy from Your Feet
Lino Marrero is a 15-year-old inventor with a passion for clean energy and environmental sustainability. Lino has been inventing since he was just 10 years old. His latest invention is Kinetic Kickz 2.0, a shoe insert that stores up kinetic energy as you run that you can use to charge your devices. A nominee for the TIME Kid of the Year award, Lino hopes that his growing platform will give him more opportunities to encourage young people to safeguard the environment.
How ‘Maker’ Elsa Bosemark Uses Glue, Gears and Cardboard to Interest Kids in STEAM Careers
Elsa Bosemark is a 17-year-old maker, artist, mobile app developer, and the driving force behind Hello Maker, an online hands-on learning platform that encourages elementary and middle-grade students to pursue entrepreneurship and careers in STEAM. Elsa founded Hello Maker in the summer of 2020 during the Covid-19 lockdown because she wanted to share her passion for making and to help students feel less isolated and more motivated. Also during the pandemic, Elsa teamed up with four high school girls to create an app called SafeBites that helps people find restaurants that keep customers and employees safe, which won the MIT App Inventor Hackathon.
Episode 6: Lesein Mutunkei Scores Soccer Goals to Fight Deforestation
Lesein Mutunkei, a 17-year-old from Kenya, is an environmental activist who has been doing his part to reverse the effects of climate change. Passionate from a young age about the environment, Lesein in 2018 created Trees for Goals, an organization that plants a tree for every soccer goal Lesein scores. His dedication has allowed the organization to plant over 1,400 trees and inspired many others to join him in the fight against climate change. Lesein is winner of the 2020 EcoHero Awards, which recognize young people 8 to 16 years old for environmental achievements.
Episode 5: Rylee Brooke Kamahele Is Activating Hawai’ian Youth To Protect the Environment
Rylee Brooke Kamahele of Hawai'i is a radio and TV host, model, actor, clothes designer, caretaker of 18 rescue pets, entrepreneur, and, last but not least, founder of multiple nonprofit projects. Phew! The 13-year-old oversees The Catalyst Club, an umbrella organization dedicated to providing opportunities for youth to be catalysts for change, as well as projects to combat plastic pollution and rehabilitate animals. A master networker with boundless energy, Rylee's is passionate about bringing youth together to protect Hawai’i’s nature and wildlife. Her activism won her 1st place in the 2020 EcoHero Awards, which recognize young people 8 to 16 years old for environmental achievements.
Episode 4: Nyla Gilstrap Is Bringing NYC High School Students Together to Fight Racial Injustice
Nyla Gilstrap is co-president of the Black Affairs Club at Trinity School in New York City and an activist with Black Students Demanding Change, a group of high school students from around the city who are working to make independent schools safe and welcoming for all students. A self-described communicator, Nyla has pushed for discussions about Black culture, systemic racism, and the Black Lives Matter movement, and used her voice to bring people together and create change.
Episode 3: This First-Grader Delivers Food to St. Louis’ Homeless
In Episode 3, Jaida interviews first-grader Paris Williams, who has been delivering bags of food to the homeless in her hometown of St. Louis since November 2019. The young activist started the Paris Cares Foundation, through which she accepts donations to buy food and other goods for her Paris Cares Packages. She is proof you're never too young to make a difference! Learn more about her work on Instagram, @pariscaresfoundation.
Episode 2: Jameson Cohen’s Infectious Passion for Public Service
In this episode, Jaida interviews Jameson Cohen, the 18-year-old founder of Circle of Friends, about his passion for public service. Jameson launched Circle of Friends in New York City near the start of the Covid-19 pandemic with a plan to connect the children of essential workers with volunteer high school students for online tutoring. Today, Circle of Friends, whose services are entirely free, works with all kinds of families all over the country.
Episode 1: Student Leader Danielle Geathers Shines at MIT
In our inaugural episode, Jaida interviews Danielle Geathers, the first Black woman to be elected student body president at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a rising junior mechanical engineer. Danielle was featured in Time Magazine's New American Revolution project in August 2020.
Introducing: Adventures With Jaida
Jaida, a MicroSociety 7th grader at Jersey City Global Charter School (JCGCC), is the host of our new series, "Adventures With Jaida," interviewing youth activists from within the MicroSociety community and far beyond. Jaida is a youth activist herself, having led a school outreach program to homeless veterans and an anti-bullying campaign. She is also JCGCC grade-level governor, a peer mentor, and an advisor to MicroSociety, Inc.'s Presidential Team.