Environmental Activist Amariyanna Copeny, ‘Little Miss Flint,’ joins Jaden Smith as the Institute’s 2021 honorees joining a prestigious group of past recipients including Barbara Streisand, Gisele Bündchen, Jeff Skoll and Ted Sarandos
Gala attendees and performers include Al Gore, Harrison Ford, Sting, Courteney Cox, Natasha Beddingfield, Issa Rae and more
Featured photo: Amariyanna Copeny, aka “Little Miss Flint”
September 22, 2021 (LOS ANGELES) – Today, UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability announced they will honor Amariyanna Copeny, aka “Little Miss Flint,” for her work toward environmental justice and clean, safe water at the institute’s annual gala, which will take place virtually on October 13, 2021. Copeny will be introduced by award-winning producer, best selling author, and creator of the hit television series, “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal,” Shonda Rhimes.
In 2016, at just eight-years-old, Copeny’s hometown of Flint, Michigan was facing an unprecedented water crisis, which drove Copeny to write a letter to then-President Barack Obama. Obama responded to her letter and visited the city; and in January 2017 the President approved $100 million to address the problem and improve infrastructure in Flint. Now 14, Copeny continues to advocate for environmental justice in Flint and beyond. She has raised more than $1 million for safe water efforts across the United States, she has partnered with Hydroviv to produce her very own water filter, her work has been featured in media outlets including NBC News, The Washington Post and Teen Vogue, and she plans to run for U.S. President in 2044.
“I’m honored to be recognized for my efforts in getting water into the homes of those who need it, but will be even more excited when those efforts are no longer necessary,” said Copeny.
In addition to Copeny, UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability’s virtual program will honor actor, musician and activist Jaden Smith, and will include guest appearances by Al Gore, Harrison Ford, Issa Rae, Courteney Cox, Natasha Beddingfield and Sting, with additional guests to be announced.
The event will also feature four current UCLA graduate students highlighting their ongoing research and the university’s efforts to educate rising leaders from all backgrounds and make sure communities most impacted by climate change and environmental degradation have a prominent role in generating solutions. Marilyn Raphael, the university’s first Black director of the IoES, will also speak about overcoming global environmental problems by providing equitable solutions for minority communities who are disproportionately negatively affected by climate change.
“The entire world faces threats from climate change and toxic pollution, but communities of color often live on the front lines,” Raphael said. “These communities suffer the most harm and have fewer resources to adapt.”
To save the date and receive event updates, join the email list here. All proceeds from the event will benefit UCLA’s environmental institute, its graduate students and their work.
In previous years, UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability’s annual gala celebrations have been in-person, formal affairs. Past honorees include Al Gore, Van Jones, Jeff Skoll, Ted Sarandos, Barbra Streisand, Gisele Bündchen, Paul Allen, Eric and Wendy Schmidt, Keely and Pierce Brosnan, and Lyn and Norman Lear. Past musical performers include Lauryn Hill, CeeLo Green and Jackson Browne, and past guests include Jane Fonda, Goldie Hawn, Rosario Dawson, Moby, Ellen Pompeo and numerous others.
This year’s move to a streaming variety show opens the event to a broader, global audience, while continuing to supply critical funding for environmental education, research and outreach.
About UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
The Institute of the Environment and Sustainability moves science to action on the front lines of environmental progress. Using Los Angeles and California as a testbed, IoES promises solutions for the broader world—and their commitment to communications makes sure their ideas are heard.
They thrive on the energy, optimism and impatience of its students and faculty. They envision a future that is beautiful and prosperous in 2050—air, water, food, people and nature. As humanity urbanizes, the story of how they save the planet will be written by cities like Los Angeles, by multicultural universities like UCLA and by innovators who break down silos of disciplinary scholarship. IoES aspires to be a big part of that story.
IoES has pioneered a unique, hands-on approach to environmental research and practice. Their Senior Practicum takes students off campus and pairs them with clients to solve real-world problems using the science, statistics and communications skills they’ve learned. A similar approach is taken at the graduate level.
Our Doctorate in Environmental Science and Engineering program immerses students in two years of rigorous coursework, then matches them with businesses and government agencies to fuse their thesis research with real work.
With their eight research centers and partnerships throughout the UCLA network, they achieve national and global reach. IoES works hand in hand with groups across campus, such as the Emmett Institute on Climate Change, the Luskin Center for Public Policy and the Graduate School of Education. These cooperative efforts allow them to focus teams of diverse talents on today’s most urgent problems.
Today’s environmental challenges are too big to leave any idea unexplored. They are too pressing to exclude provocative or even unpopular ideas. For these reasons, IoES sponsors events that stimulate public dialogue on topics including nuclear energy, genetically modified organisms and the future of cars and transportation.
There was a time when environmental scientists and leaders had to alert the public to threats and risks. Now is not that time. We know the problems—it’s time for solutions.
