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A friend group in Minnesota started a summer business to help Black-owned businesses and neighborhoods in Minneapolis. The leader of the group is only 9 years old!

Following the pandemic and the protests following the death of George Floyd, these friends decided to get together to do something to help their community. Kamryn Johnson and five friends began selling friendship bracelets in early June. They decided to raise money for businesses and food banks in Minneapolis.

The group’s effort, “Kamryn & Friends: Bracelets For Unity & Justice,” has raised over $90,000 through sales of bracelets and online fundraising. Kamryn’s dad Ron Johnson helped set up the online page and has spoken out about the girls’ work.

“She has a huge heart and simply wanted to be of help in whatever way she could,” Johnson told CNN. “She and her friends are finding ways to feed the families of Minneapolis and give back to their community in the way they know how.”

Word quickly spread about the good work the girls are doing and the fundraising has led to larger, important discussions.

Watch Kamryn on Good Morning America:

“Day after day, we’re having impactful conversations with so many people. So many of our community members have come by to drop off supplies, or just talk about things like racism and injustice, stuff that we don’t talk about very often,” Ron Johnson said.“We want to stay in the fight. We don’t plan on giving a bit and then walking away and going about our day. We’re fighting for our community and it’s not going to end any time soon. This is a fight for racial equality and an end to police brutality. It’s something we still need to talk about.”

Read all our coverage on the protests against racism in One Green Planet:

Here’s what you can do:

Many organizations like Black Lives Matter, Color of Change, and the NAACP are working to empower black Americans and achieve justice for those impacted by racist systems.

Also, remember to register to vote if you haven’t already. This is one of the simplest ways to make your voice heard as a citizen.Here are some resources for you:

Places to Donate:

Petitions to Sign:

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For a more extensive resource list, please see the collection put together by Black Lives Matter.

Through this grief and anger, we must unite and work together to create the change we want to see. Let’s make sure no black child has to ever say these heartbreaking words ever again. If you’re attending a protest, please be safe and careful and maintain social distancing, if possible.

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