This weekend, we attended the 6th annual Global Citizen Festival held in Central Park as a guest of Cadillac. From sunset into the evening, supporters and influencers were joined by leaders, non-profit organizations, and artists to advocate for sustainable development and eradicating poverty.
Global Citizen is an international movement of supporters, celebrities, and influencers that aim to end extreme poverty and bring justice to social inequality, ranging from topics like healthcare to terrorism. The advocacy event included live performances from headliners like Stevie Wonder, Green Day, The Killers, The Lumineers, The Chainsmokers, Pharrell Williams, Big Sean, Andra Day, and Alessia Cara. The Killers began the six hour concert with their hits such as “Mr. Brightside”, “All These Things That I’ve Done”, “Read My Mind”, and “When You Were Young.” Following, the Lumineers sang a cover of “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” in support of the victims of Hurricane Irma. Other highlights included Green Day’s political message of “I’m not a part of a dumb Trump America!” in their hit “American Idiot,” Stevie Wonder’s uplifting classics, and Pharrell’s “Happy” as a closing.
The festival aims to raise awareness through global figures in music and politics as a touch point to realize the world’s biggest issues. Highlights in the campaign included victories such as economic empowerment, specifically for women-owned businesses. Companies like Accenture, Citi, Ernst & Young, and Procter & Gamble collectively contributed $400 million to deliver sourcing to women in developing countries.
Johnson & Johnson also announced a breakthrough in healthcare with the first ever global vaccine for HIV and AIDS. Studies have proven promising with a 100% success rate in clinical trials. In addition, famine funds this year have increased to over $300 million and the UN council has also taken action for Yazidi justice with help from the voice of Global Citizens.
With the festival also streamed live, millions of Global Citizens in attendance were affected through social media, television, and Youtube. Many other celebrities also joined the movement to speak about global issues such as singer Demi Lovato, actress Priyanka Chopra, and supermodel Joan Smalls.