My girls and I have been playing We Are Here by Alicia Keys pretty much nonstop since she rocked the Social Good Summit on Sunday with her words, her news, her passion and her new song.
Picture this: Alicia Keys walking onstage wearing a jaunty fedora, black leather pants and a sheer black shirt covering her pregnant belly (baby due in December). On the screen behind her was this photo, several stories tall:
Alicia said, “The day I wrote the song We Are Here, a friend asked ‘Why are you here?’ Not why am I here, as in why did you come because I didn’t invite you to this place, but why are you here in the world, on earth? I couldn’t believe I’d never been asked that question before.”
“As I prepare to give birth to my new child, I can’t help but think about what world am I bringing the baby into,” said Alicia.
“Because it’s not about me, it’s about we,” she said.
Alicia said, “People want to do something. We all want to do something. So many of us want to do something, but what do we do, who do we go to, where do we find it, is it really the right thing, will something happen from it?”
“So I figured, if we can gather a group of really powerful organizations who are doing great work, how many people will want to be a part of that?”
“How many people don’t know what’s important to them, but want to be awakened?” asked Alicia.
And with that, Alicia announced that she’s committing $1 million to We Are Here, a new movement that according to the website will “raise awareness of issues around the world that cannot be solved in isolation.” We Are Here will support 12 groups, among them: CARE, Equal Justice Initiative, Keep A Child Alive, Girl Rising, and MomsRising.
Two organizations immediately matched her commitment so We Are Here launched on Sunday with $3 million.
After making her big announcement, Alicia invited leaders of five recipient organizations onstage for a rich, fast-paced conversation.
And then a piano was rolled to center stage and Alicia sat down to the keys and gave one of the most beautiful, moving performances I have ever heard, singing We Are Here. Here is the song on YouTube:
People were literally crying as she played, and the audience roared when she took her bow.
Topping off an incredible evening, backstage following the concert, my friend’s 12-year-old daughter said to Alicia, “Alicia, you’re my favorite activist.” And without missing a beat, Alicia replied, “Girl, soon you’re going to be mine.”
Please join us in supporting Alicia, and the We Are Here Movement.
The Motherhood has proudly been involved in the Social Good Summit since its founding five years ago and congratulates the United Nations Foundation, the 92nd Street Y and Mashable on another incredible, groundbreaking event!
