The world’s largest youth empowerment event, WE Day, returned for its third year in celebration of young people committed to making a difference. Over 16,000 students and educators from across the state attended the event featuring renowned speakers, innovative thought leaders and celebrity performers including Jennifer Aniston, John Stamos, Will Ferrell, Selena Gomez, Dierks Bentley, The Chainsmokers, Bailee Madison, Cyndi Lauper and more.
Moving performances included The Chainsmokers, who performed their hit song “Sick Boy”, Cyndi Lauper who performed a rendition of “Ooh Child” alongside JD McCrary and Dierks Bentley who honored inspirational women around the world with a performance of his latest single, “Woman, Amen”. The exciting lineup shared theirpassion for change and motivated young people to continue to take action on pressing issues to affect positive change in their communities and around the world.
More than a one-day event, WE Day is connected to the free, yearlong educational program, WE Schools. The program provides schools and community groups with curriculum, educational resources and action campaigns designed to enhance a school’s existing social initiatives or spark new ones. In the 2016/2017 school year, schools and groups across California improved their communities through WE Schools, volunteering more than 836,000 hours and raising over $2.2 million in support of more than 610 local and global causes including hunger, homelessness, bullying, volunteerism, health and wellness.
Tune in for one-hour special which will air Friday, August 17, 2018 on ABC at 8P ET/7P CT.
By Kinya Claiborne, STYLE & SOCIETY
Photo Credit: Getty Images
