Young Activists

When Ozzy Powel saw a man holding a sign walking between cars at a stoplight, she immediately wanted to know what he was doing. Her mother gently explained that there are many people who live off Key Biscayne who survive one day at a time, one meal at a time. “I think we should buy them all dinner,” Ozzy suggested. “That’s a nice thought, but instead, how about we buy loaves of bread from Costco, and make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” suggested her mother. “Yes, Yes!” Ozzy & Lola Powel excitedly shouted from the backseat of the car, both extremely thrilled at the thought of making food for hungry people to eat. Thus started three years of making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and dropping them off to the homeless. This budding altruistic curiosity of giving has spilled over into other aspects in their community, including making the local government aware of the crosswalk lights state of affairs after Lola experienced an incident when a motorist barely stopped for her and her scooter. “It was very scary to cross the street on the way to school,” she says. And they’re not stopping there, future plans include things kids their age — now 7 and 9 — can relate to such a backpacks for children who can’t afford them. Ozzy sees her future focus as people and animals, while Lola is focused more on the plants, gardens and the environment, all proud lifelong endeavors for this latest generation of the Powel Family and their philanthropic efforts.