“I think we’re trying to make activism cool again for kids.”
So said comedian Chris Rock, who was among a host of celebs including U2 frontman Bono; B soulstress Alicia Keys, and Columbian pop star Shakira to join former President Bill Clinton at Harlem’s historic Apollo Theater for a roundtable forum on youth activism Saturday night that was sponsored by MTV.
After wrapping up a three-day summit during which his foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative, won major commitments from philanthropists to address some of the globe’s most pressing problems, the ex-prez teamed up with the cable network for a lively bash that mixed music and politics to fire up youth to take action on issues they care about.
If it was showtime at the Apollo, it was also Bill’s time to inspire.
“We’re here tonight because young people here have more opportunity than ever before to change history,” said Clinton, who just released his latest tome aptly titled Giving: How Each of Us Can Change The World. Before a mostly college-age crowd that also included such notables as U2 guitarist Edge, Val Kilmer, Harry Belafonte and Clinton’s daughter Chelsea, 42 called on young people to make a richer contribution to society by being a more “active intelligent voter,” and giving more of their own time as a “citizen servant.”
To that end, last night’s panel and concert titled “Giving?Live at the Apollo?put the spotlight on the initiatives of some of his famous do-gooder friends as examples for what today’s Internet Generation can do if they just put their mind to it. Source
