Global Citizen announced that Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, and Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg will be among the diverse group of political, business, and philanthropic leaders convening in New York on May 1 and 2. The nonprofit’s Global Citizen NOW summit aims to garner support for feasible solutions to address challenges such as food insecurity, climate change, and public health linked to extreme poverty. Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans emphasized the need for urgent action to tackle these issues, highlighting the pivotal moment the world is currently facing.
The event will bring together actors Hugh Jackman, Danai Gurira, and Dakota Johnson, as well as representatives from companies like Cisco, Citi, Delta, and PayPal. Other notable attendees include Rockefeller Foundation President Rajiv Shah, Bezos Earth Fund CEO Andrew Steer, and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. Gurira expressed her commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and addressing the profound inequities impacting the African continent.
The third edition of Global Citizen NOW will prioritize efforts to combat preventable diseases like malaria, polio, and HPV. Additionally, organizers plan to unveil new initiatives focused on preserving the Amazon Rainforest and increasing investments in Africa through the World Bank. The summit also aims to build on the momentum generated by Gen Z and millennial leaders at Global Citizen’s recent international conference in Australia.
Evans underscored the importance of inspiring the next generation of advocates through initiatives like the Global Citizen Prize awards, which will recognize and support five young individuals making exceptional contributions to positive change in the world. The Associated Press, in collaboration with The Conversation US and with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc., covers philanthropy and nonprofits, with further coverage available at https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.