The South by Southwest music festival and conference is underway and yesterday's keynote speaker was non other than the FLOTUS, Michelle Obama.
She was joined on stage by songwriter phenom Diane Warren, rapper Missy Elliot, actress Sophia Bush, and Queen Latifah. The topic of discussion was the Obama Administration's initiative, "Let Girls Learn," to help adolescent girls around the globe attend and complete school. Girls' education is a topic that is near and dear to the First Lady's heart as she also created the campaign #62milliongirls partnered with Change.org.
As part of the #LetGirlsLearn initiative, Michelle Obama enlisted the help of Diane Warren to write a song for the cause, and although Obama herself doesn't sing on the track, the talented rapper Missy Elliot does. Missy is joined by Kelly Clarkson, Kelly Rowland, Janelle Monae, Lea Michele, Chloe x Halle, and Jada Grace.
All the artists part of the track waived their royalties and fees and all proceeds will support the Peace Corps' Let Girls Learn fund. The song is available for download at the iTunes store, but for a sneak peek, have a listen to Missy's bars in the video below.
The reason I stand behind and support this initiative is because I 100% understand it's importance and meaning. My parents moved from Uganda, east Africa to communist Russia in the late '70s to get their university degrees. Take that in for a second, east Africa is yet to ever see snow, but still they went. My parents education was in Russian, a language they knew nothing about, but still they went. A country under communist rule one can argue is better than one under the dictator Idi Amin however, it's still a case of the lesser of two evils.
My parents valued education and instilled its importance in me from a very young age, which is why I set off to Canada (a country I'd never been in) with 2 kids, to pursue my higher education and hopes of becoming a CEO. Corporate success was the only success I knew back then, but now I'm encouraging us all to pursue our dreams, regardless of where; even if it means escaping the cubicle. (Read more of my story here.)
So I'm encouraging you to do what you can. If buying the single for $1.29 is all, then do that. But we're responsible for the next generation, regardless of geographical location. Cause how many of y'all know that what's happening in India, in Syria, in Libya, 3 different continents, affects us all to one degree or another. I've also been at a place where $1.29 was a loaf of bread for my family, so I won't use the term "only" a dollar, and in that case, you can share this, cause say it with me, Sharing is Caring! :)
Stay blessed!
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