Young, Gifted & Green (formerly Black Millennials 4 Flint) was founded in 2016 in response to the Flint Water Crisis – a man-made disaster that left tens of thousands of residents in Flint, Michigan exposed to lead-contaminated water. The group began when a teacher stepped in to organize emergency bottled water deliveries, only to realize the need for long-term change in communities facing similar dangers. Today, this Memphis-based national nonprofit works to protect people from the lasting harm of lead poisoning and toxic environmental conditions, especially in Black and Latino neighborhoods. Its grassroots efforts range from planting trees and managing composting hubs to advocating for stronger public health protections and environmental oversight. In 2025, they were selected by the EPA to launch a Mid-South Environmental Justice Center – a major initiative halted by the Trump administration’s Inflation Reduction Act clawbacks – but their work continues with urgency: everyone deserves clean air, safe water, and a future free from preventable harm, regardless of zip code.
Teacher LaTricea Adams, who had witnessed the cognitive and developmental toll of lead exposure on her students, built Young, Gifted & Green into a community-driven force. Its team includes a staff of 10 and a four-member board made up of educators, activists, public health professionals, and organizers. Signature programs include the Environmental Justice Summer Camp, where students collect soil and water samples and present their findings to local officials, and the EJ Griot Project, which trains young people to tell the stories of their communities through poetry, photography, and public performance. Their Lead Prevention Ambassador Program teaches adults how to test for lead, demand accountability from landlords and lawmakers, and advocate for safe housing. The group has helped pass the Childhood Lead Prevention Amendment Act in D.C. and fueled community opposition to Elon Musk’s xAI data center in Boxtown, a historically Black Memphis neighborhood already overburdened by environmental risk. Young, Gifted & Green continues to grow its reach and impact – building environmental knowledge from the ground up.
At the 7th Annual Flint Weekend of Service, members of Young, Gifted & Green work with students at Eagle’s Nest Academy on their community garden project. Source: Young Gifted & Green Facebook page