Photo Credit: Mike Windle/Getty Images for WE Day
More than 16,000 people—including some major A-list names—stepped out in the name of change and leadership on Thursday in honor of WE Day, a series of global educational events celebrating youth making a difference in their local and global communities.
International activists and WE Day co-founders Craig and Marc Kielburger were joined by Charlize Theron, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen, Kermit the Frog along with other Muppets, Big Sean, Tyrese Gibson, David Foster, New Girl’s Zooey Deschanel, Hannah Simone, Lamorne Morris and Max Greenfield, Nikki Reed, Lilly Singh, Joe Jonas, Darren Criss, Jacob Tremblay, Martin Sheen, Paula Abdul, Henry Winkler, Beatrice York, Rowan Blanchard, Sabrina Carpenter, Bridgit Mendler, Rico & Raini Rodriguez, Amandla Stenberg, Jordan Smith, Jordan Fisher, Connor Franta as well as 16,000 students and educators from over 550 schools in Inglewood, Calif. to celebrate the contributions of young people and kick-start another year of change.
Photo Credit: Mike Windle/Getty Images for WE Day
The event energized the crowd through a day full of powerful educational speeches, inspirational moments and empowering performances from the likes of actress, multi-platinum recording artist and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Selena Gomez, who took the stage to perform her uplifting song “Kill Em’ With Kindness.” Her pal Demi Lovato then delivered an emotional rendition of her hit song “Stone Cold.”
Academy® Award-winning actress and Founder of Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project and Honorary Co-Chair of WE Day California Theron took the stage to talk about what inspires the audience, asking them to share in her goal of ending the stigma around AIDS/HIV.
GRAMMY® nominated hip hop recording artist, Big Sean performed his hit song “One Man Can Change the World” alongside multi award-winning record producer, musician, composer and performer, David Foster, local Youth Orchestra LA (YOLA) at HOLA and over 100 students from 3 choirs across LA.
Photo Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for WE Day
The full list of WE Day California speakers, performers and presenters, in alphabetical order, included Paula Abdul, Stephanie Argyros, Big Sean, Rowan Blanchard, Christian Burgos, Sabrina Carpenter, Darren Criss, Zooey Deschanel, DJ Amara, Gracie Doran, Kathleen Dunlop, Jordan Fisher, David Foster, Reilly Fox, Connor Franta, Gunner Gehl, Tyrese Gibson, Selena Gomez, Max Greenfield, Yash Gupta, Corinne Hindes and Katrine Kirsebom, Olivia Holt, Jazz Jennings, Joe Jonas, Kardinal Offishall, Kermit the Frog along with other Muppets, Craig and Marc Kielburger, Demi Lovato, Austin Martin, George McGraw, Bridgit Mendler, Millennium Dance Complex, Elliot Miville-Deschênes, Lamorne Morris, Ashley Murphy, Nico & Vinz, Maya Penn, Nikki Reed, Revelation Avenue, Rico Rodriguez, Raini Rodriguez, Seth Rogen & Lauren Miller Rogen, Martin Sheen, Hannah Simone, Lilly Singh, Jeff Skoll, Jordan Smith, Amandla Stenberg, Charlize Theron, Xiuhtezcatl Tonatiuh, Jacob Tremblay, Spencer West, Henry Winkler, Youth Orchestra LA (YOLA) at HOLA and Beatrice York.
“We believe that, if given the right tools, today’s youth can conquer anything they put their minds to. Annually, 200,000 students coast to coast and around the globe, from over 10,000 schools, earn their tickets to WE Day by creating tangible benefits for their communities,” said WE Day co-founder Craig Kielburger. “By bringing together thousands of young change-makers today, students from across California will know that they’re not alone and that collectively, they are making their voices heard.”
In the 2014/2015 school year, students and teachers from across North America participated in remarkable social change, donating over 2 million pounds of food to their local food banks and raising over $12.4 million dollars in support of local and global causes.
Photo Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for WE Day)
Photo Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for WE Day)
Photo Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for WE Day)
Photo Credit: Mike Windle/Getty Images for WE Day 
Photo Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for WE Day)
Photo Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for WE Day)
Photo Credit: Mike Windle/Getty Images for WE Day 
Photo Credit: Mike Windle/Getty Images for WE Day 
