Standout teen: 15-year-old Farrell resident continues making mark as '18 under 18'

Feb. 2—Inside every writer is a reader.

For Mia Clemons, the book is "If Beale Street Could Talk," by iconic Black author James Baldwin.

"It's so sweet," she said. "The love story is written in such a beautiful way."

Someday, a teenage reader might say the same thing about Clemons. The 15-year-old Farrell resident is an award-winning poet and writer whose current project is a poem for the upcoming documentary "The Ebony Canal."

When the work is complete, viewers will hear Clemons words spoken by former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Before that, though — on Tuesday to be precise — Clemons, along with 17 other teenagers, will be honored as Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania's "18 Under 18" for 2024. The event, held at Acrisure Stadium, will include honorees who represent the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.

"It's a way to spotlight people who are making a difference in their community," Clemons said.

Dr. April Torrence, CEO of Zion Education Center in Farrell, nominated Clemons, which was the first step. Following that, she went through an interview process before her selection.

She also participated in a video at KDKA television studios in Pittsburgh to highlight the "18 Under 18" event.

Clemons said the experience of meeting her fellow outstanding young people was awe inspiring.

"It was so exciting, because it's a really positive event," she said. "They are changing the community, but also the world. It's all inspiring and fun.

Clemons is changing the world in her own way, partly with her words. She was a silver medalist for poetry last year in the national NAACP's ACT-SO competition, which includes participation for the performing arts, visual arts, humanities, culinary arts, business and STEM.

In Clemons' upcoming work, she is contributing poetry — to be read by Michelle Obama — for "The Ebony Canal" documentary. The project, by Emmy Award winner Emmai Alaquiva, focuses on health care inequities, particularly Black maternal mortality.

The maternal mortality rate for Black women is roughly triple the mortality rate for white women, which itself is the highest in the developed world. In many cases, Clemons said, more Black women are opting for at-home births with Black midwives.

"They view it as being safer than putting themselves in the hands of somebody who doesn't understand their bodies," she said.

Clemons, a sophomore at Lincoln Park High School in Midland, Beaver County, has addressed raw issues in her poetry. One of her previous long-form poems told the story of a 2021 bus accident on her way home from school that took the life of one of her classmates.

But even as she writes about tragedy, she maintains a 15-year-old's sense of wonder.

"I feel like that's so important to keep," Clemons said. "I try to see the world as a bright and beautiful place."

At Lincoln Park, Clemons studies in the writing and publishing field. She contributes a column, "The Culture of Controversy," to the school's publications.

For the series, she chooses a celebrity and takes a deep dive into their life — which usually requires six to seven hours of research. Previous "The Culture of Controversy" columns have focused on Sinead O'Connor, Kanye and Rihanna and Chris Brown.

For her Sinead O'Connor column, Clemons listened to all of the Irish singer's albums.

"I realized that I liked her as an artist," she said. "I try my hardest to get into their zone."

Clemons also is a regular on the Saturday Light Brigade radio broadcast, which offers softer music that isn't often heard on Top-40 channels.

As with her writing and reading lists, Clemons' musical tastes cover a wide swath — she lists Etta James, Sam Cooke, Amy Winehouse and Fleetwood Mac among her current favorites.

Clemons' future plans involve one of her very first efforts — an expansion for Mia's Magical Books, which began in 2015. The project promotes literacy and provides books for students. She plans to expand that work to children's hospitals and juvenile detention centers.

For Clemons, all of that — more Mia's Magical Books, her words falling from Michelle Obama's mouth, future installments of "The Culture of Controversy," not to mention high school graduation and college — will come after her "18 Under 18" celebration Tuesday.

And while she and her fellow difference-makers can inspire other young people, Mia Clemons doesn't have to look far for her own inspiration — her mother, Sandra.

Sandra Clemons, formerly a corporate attorney, now helps people as a social worker, her daughter said.

"It's so cool," Mia said. "She's made such a big difference. I'm proud of her."