The world’s largest youth empowerment event, WE Day, is returning to Seattle on May 3, 2018 at KeyArena.
An unparalleled celebration of young people committed to making a difference, WE Day Seattle will bring together over 16,000 engaged students and educators from across the state for a powerful, life-changing experience featuring renowned speakers, innovative thought leaders and celebrity performers.
Announced today, the initial lineup for WE Day Seattle includes WE Day Seattle Co-Chairs Ciara and Russell Wilson, along with Doug Baldwin of the Seattle Seahawks, Bella Thorne, Rachel Platten, Noah Cyrus, Ann Curry, Diane Guerrero, Jacob Tremblay, Jack & Jack, Olivia Holt, Anthony Gonzalez, Esera Tualo, Lizzie Velasquez, and more. Joined by international activist and WE Day co-founders Craig and Marc Kielburger, the exciting lineup will share their passion for change, energize the crowd and motivate young people to continue to take action on pressing issues to affect positive change in their communities and around the world.
“Our years of involvement with WE have inspired us on so many levels. It is so empowering to experience the unwavering determination, passion and love the kids have at WE Day Seattle,” said Ciara, Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer and WE Day Seattle Co-Chair. “From the young people on-stage sharing their challenges and triumphs, to the thousands of students in attendance who prove what caring for others can achieve, the energy and positivity at WE Day Seattle is unparalleled” added Seattle Seahawks quarterback and WE Day Seattle Co-Chair Russell Wilson.
More than a one-day event, WE Day is connected to the free, yearlong educational program WE Schools. Providing schools and community groups with curriculum, educational resources and action campaigns, the program is designed to enhance a school’s existing social initiatives or spark new ones. WE Schools encourages students to further their curricular learning and develop life skills for success beyond the classroom.
In the 2016/2017 school year, schools and groups across Washington improved their communities through WE Schools, volunteering more than 656,900 hours and raising over $1,809,600 in support of more than 610 local and global causes including hunger, homelessness, bullying, and poverty. A shining example of this are the students at Selah Middle School who have gone above and beyond to support those in need in their community. This year the school’s WE Club partnered with the Selah Food Bank, decorating and placing collection barrels at local grocery stores, and collecting over 700 items for their first drive. With the goal of combating local hunger the school will continue to sort and collect donations throughout the year, making an impactful difference for those in their community who need it most.
“We are surrounded by youth of the WE generation — a generation that is tuned-in to the needs of their community both globally and locally. It’s truly remarkable. They have committed to choosing hope, optimism, empathy and courage over fear, division, apathy and intolerance,” said Craig Kielburger, co-founder of WE. “During WE Day, we are honored to celebrate the young people from over 700 schools and youth groups from across Washington, who have joined together to make a difference and prove that you are never too young to help change the world.”
WE Day Seattle is free of charge to students and educators across Washington, thanks to the generous support of partners led by Co-Title Sponsors Microsoft and The Allstate Foundation. Microsoft is proud to empower young people — in Seattle and around the world — with the resources, skills, and inspiration they need to create a more inclusive world. Through its Good Starts Young initiative, The Allstate Foundation empowers America’s youth with the strength, confidence and skills to step up as leaders and achieve success in their lives.
