I’m so excited to be speaking at We Day California! The co-chairs Natalie Portman and Magic Johnson are bringing the largest youth empowerment event to California featuring Selena Gomez, Seth Rogen and Orlando Bloom, among many others!
Here is the press release, and see you there!
Today, international charity and educational partner Free The Children announced that its stadium-sized youth empowerment event, We Day, is coming to California for the first time on March 26, 2014 at Oracle Arena with the support of Co-Title Sponsors Microsoft, Allstate and Unilever. Selena Gomez, Seth Rogen and Orlando Bloom were among the first revealed as part of the star-studded lineup of speakers and performers who will take the stage at We Day California alongside 16,000 students from over 400 schools across the state.
The announcement was made at Philip & Sala Burton Academic High School in San Francisco in front of over 700 students who were joined by players from the Oakland Raiders and a surprise appearance by Glee star, Jacob Artist.
Organized by Free The Children, We Day is taking the philanthropic world by storm and going global with events in the United States, Canada and the UK. Over 180,000 youth this school year alone will come together to take part in an unprecedented educational initiative which inspires students to become active local and global citizens.
Spearheading its arrival in California are long-time Free The Children supporters and We Day California Co-Chairs, Natalie Portman, and Magic Johnson along with philanthropic thought leaders Jeff Skoll, Founder and Chairman of the Skoll Foundation, Participant Media and the Skoll Global Threats Fund and Daniel Lurie, CEO and Founder, Tipping Point Community. National businesses are also lending support to We Day including Co-Title Sponsors Microsoft, Allstate and Unilever, and professional sports teams including the Oakland Raiders, San Francisco Giants, the San Jose Sharks and the Oakland Athletics.
“I believe in the power of young people to change the world, but they need support and guidance to do so” said Natalie Portman, Academy Award-winning actress, Free The Children ambassador and Co-Chair of We Day California. “We Day helps to bring that passion to life, encouraging young people to take meaningful actions towards the issues they care about and giving them the tools to make it a reality. I’m so honored to help bring this truly impactful youth-led movement to the state of California.”
The first round of speakers and performers set to attend We Day California was announced today by co-founder of Free The Children, Craig Kielburger. To date, the lineup includes:
· Selena Gomez (@SelenaGomez) – Actress and multi-platinum recording artist
· Seth Rogen (@SethRogen) – Canadian-born actor, writer, director, and producer
· Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) – NBA legend, two-time hall of famer, philanthropist and co-chair of We Day California
· Orlando Bloom – Actor and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
· Martin Luther King III – Human Rights advocate and eldest son of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
· Lauren Miller (@IAmLaurenMiller) – American actress and screenwriter
· Martin Sheen – Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winning actor and activist
· Jesse Giddings (@JesseGiddings) – E! News correspondent and Free The Children ambassador
· The Tenors (@TenorsMusic) – Award-winning, multi-platinum vocal super group joined by up-and-coming hip hop sensation, Young Stitch (@YoungStitchSS)
· Craig and Marc Kielburger (@CraigKielburger) – Co-founders of Free The Children
· Spencer West (@spencer2thewest) – Me to We inspirational speaker, Free The Children ambassador, author and double amputee who climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro
· Molly Burke (@mollymetowe) – Visually impaired Me to We inspirational speaker, Free The Children ambassador and author, who speaks about bullying and the power of hope
· Hannah Alper – 11-year-old Me to We inspirational speaker, Free The Children ambassador, blogger and youth activist www.CallMeHannah.ca
· …with more to be announced soonWe Day California will also see local young leaders and performers take the stage including Vocal Rush, a renowned acappella group from Oakland School for the Arts, the Oakland Youth Orchestra, dance group, Culture Shock and spoken word group, Youth Speaks.
“We are so thrilled to bring We Day to California for the first time. Since 2007 alone, youth involved in the program have raised $37 million for over 1,000 local and global causes and logged more than 9.6 million volunteer hours,” said Craig Kielburger, co-founder of Free The Children. “The enthusiasm students across the state have already shown for making a difference here in California and globally is incredible and we can’t wait to see what new initiatives will be sparked.”
Students can’t buy a ticket to We Day; they earn it through service by making a commitment to take action on at least one local and one global initiative of their choices as part of the year-long educational program called We Act. The We Act program supports students and educators with free educational resources, student-led campaigns and support materials to help turn the inspiration from We Day into sustained activation. The program enhances a school’s existing service learning initiatives or sparks new ones.
World-renowned leaders and A-list entertainers have added their voice to the We Day movement, coming together to address pressing world issues and ignite students’ passion to be a part of the solution. Past of guests of We Day include Sir Richard Branson, Queen Noor, Kofi Annan, Martin Sheen, Demi Lovato, Imagine Dragons, Jennifer Hudson and cast members from Glee, among many others.
I am excited to be attending. I am bringing 33 of my students that have been in my Public Service Club this year. They have done some cool stuff for others in the community.
Thanks for the info.
Dave
Thank you Dave! I hope that you and your students had a good time at We Day and left feeling empowered to make a difference and were ready for the year of action. Thank you Dave, for bringing the students and giving them the tools and resources to change the world and make an impact in their community.
Hi Hannah, we were so glad to finally meet you tonight at the We Day Rehearsal, we have seen you at 2 other We Day’s. We were the ones from Vancouver that drove down and we were talking to your Dad and you. You gave my kids Anthony & Jessica one of your business cards and they thought that was so cool. You really are so amazing and such an inspirational speaker. To think of all the people you have motivated and helped them to be the Change. My kids have done alot for our community and have been involved in many We Day activities. Anthony has been to 6 We Days and Jessica and I have been to 5. We are always so excited to help and to be able to give back! It really was our highlight to meet you tonight Hannah and we cant wait to hear you inspire us tomorrow…Go get em Hannah <3 Debbie, Anthony & Jessica Team Hernandez
Thank you so much Debbie! My dad and I thought that it was so nice talking to you, Anthony and Jessica, your kids have made such big impacts in their communities and have gone to so many We Days. I’m impressed of how articulate and calm they were at the We Day Rehearsal, you have taught them well. The students like Anthony and Jessica and making the impact, but it is the family and educators like you that empower them to make a difference. You have introduced them to issues and causes in the world that they are helping out with. You give your kids tools and resources to change the world. I hope that there will be many more mothers like you who have no doubt that their children can change their community for the better. I also hope to meet you again perhaps at another We Day? Please say hi to Anthiny and Jessica for me!