Even More Super Awesome Kids™

Older generations love to complain about “kids these days”—they always have, and they probably always will. But even amid the hardships of a pandemic, academic disruption, and social upheaval, many Gen Zers—and the oldest Generation Alphas—are proving that kids these days are actually super awesome.

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Kids in the U.K. Raise Hundreds of Thousands for the NHS and Other Hospital Charities

The 100-year-old veteran Colonel Sir Tom Moore started a fundraising campaign for the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) in April which raised an astonishing £32,796,446 before it came to an end in May 2020. Even more astonishing are the other fundraisers he inspired to start their own campaigns, including several Super Awesome Kids™. As of June 17, 4-year-old Ethan Rankin’s bike challenge has raised £5,879, 12-year-old Ottilie Bankes’ walk raised £1,315, 9-year-old Tobias Weller’s 70-day-challenge raised £128,966, 6-year-old Frank Mills raised £301,015, and 5-year-old Tony Hudgell’s 10k walk has raised £462,691. Add them all up, and these amazing kids are 36 years old and have raised £900,000—and counting! Read more about these super kids and others who have been inspired by Captain Tom Moore.

Nashville Student Musicians Perform Virtual Concerts for Isolated Music Lovers

Zack Ebin, the senior director of Suzuki Violin at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, started organizing music concerts over Zoom for his elderly parents who were isolated in Stony Brook, NY. When the family concerts were a big hit, Ebin expanded his efforts to give young musicians throughout the Blair School of Music programs the opportunity to perform virtually for the public around Nashville—and the world. With the assistance of 17-year-old violinist Nora Wang, the concerts have grown to include young musicians from age 5 to 21 who have performed free virtual concerts for audiences in the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, and Mexico. Read more about the young performers and their community efforts in this Washington Post article by Dave Sheinin.

9-Year-Old Entrepreneur and Friends Raise More than $40,000 to Support Black Businesses

In Minnesota, 9-year-old Kamryn Johnson wanted to help Minneapolis families in need by selling colorful string bracelets to raise money. With the crafting help of five neighborhood friends (aged 5-12) and local news coverage, Kamryn & Friends: Bracelets for Unity and Justice has raised more than $40,000 total, with donations made in-person and via GoFundMe. Although the bracelets are being sold for $1-$5, many people have overpaid, with individual donations coming in from all over the country and ranging from $1-$1,000. Kamryn’s family are planning to donate the proceeds throughout their community, with a particular focus on Black-owned businesses. Read more about Kamryn’s efforts in this article by Sydney Page.

Teens Helping Seniors Across the United States (and in Canada!)

In March, 16-year-old Dhruv Pai and 15-year-old Matt Casertano of Montgomery County, Maryland, started a nationwide volunteer service of young people delivering groceries and supplies to the elderly. The initiative, Teens Helping Seniors, now has 21 chapters in 14 states and providences with more than 450 members who have made more than 700 deliveries. Although Matt and Dhruv started the effort for students at Montgomery Blair High School, within weeks, interest had spread across the United States (and into Canada!), with volunteers in Hawaii, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, New York, and more. The group now boasts teen and adult volunteers making free deliveries to the elderly and other vulnerable populations during the pandemic, and they are continuing to grow! Join their efforts here and read more about the teen founders in this Washington Post article.

7-Year-Old Hosts a Backyard Prom for His Nanny

In Raleigh, North Carolina, when 7-year-old Curtis Rogers found out that his nanny, Rachel Chapman, wouldn’t get to go to her high school senior prom, he came to the rescue. Rachel’s prom was cancelled due to the pandemic after she had already bought the dress she was going to wear. With the help of his mom, Curtis “promposed” to Rachel and hosted a mini-prom for her in his backyard. Curtis dressed in a suit with a bow tie to match Rachel’s dress, and the two celebrated with a Chik-fil-A feast, dancing, and proper social distance maintained with the help of a six-foot pool noodle. Read more about this charming evening here.

Youth Organizers Are Inspiring and Leading Marches for Racial Justice

When 15-year-old Zee Thomas tweeted that she wanted to lead a Nashville protest, five other teenage girls joined the call—Jade Fuller, Nya Collins, Rose Smith, Kennedy Green, and Mikayla Smith. The six young women, aged 14-16, started the Instagram account Teens4Equality, and got to work. With the guidance and support of the Nashville chapter of Black Lives Matters, the teens led the Nashville protest on June 4. With more than 10,000 people in attendance, it was the largest protest in the area to date. Read more about these awesome young women at The Lily.

The Nashville teens aren’t the only youth organizers! In San Francisco, 17-year-old Tiana Day and some of her friends organized a June 6 protest march across the Golden Gate Bridge. In Oakland, 19-year-olds Xavier Brown and Akil Riley organized a rally and march on June 1st with the support of various local organizations which provided everything from hand sanitizer to a sound system. The protest was attended by 15,000 people, including thousands of high school students, parents, teachers, and allies.

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Want to read about other Super Awesome Kids™? Check out my first post here.