Post Malone and Doja Gate headline Global Citizen Festival to mobilize youth

NEW YORK (AP) — Post Malone and Doja Kate, two of pop music’s biggest stars, will host this year’s Global Citizen Festival in New York’s Central Park on Sept. 28, organizers say. mobilizing the youth Help solve the world’s pressing problems.

The COVID-19 pandemic has wiped out years of progress the world has made in ending extreme poverty, and those setbacks are compounded by the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and climate change, said Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans. He estimates that about 10% of the world’s population now lives in extreme poverty The United Nations expects 575 million people will be at that level in 2030, even with long-term plans to eliminate it.

„In an environment where we need more ambition, we’re seeing a lot of countries pull back,” Evans told The Associated Press. „That’s why we know our work is more urgent than ever, and we’re thrilled that the world’s greatest artists are stepping up at a time when they’re absolutely needed.”

Global Citizen has long partnered with major artists – from Beyonce and Jay-Z For Queen, from Stevie Wonder to Ed Sheeran – political, corporate and philanthropic leaders have drawn attention to what will become audience acts supporting its initiatives. The nonprofit says its events have raised more than $14 billion to end extreme poverty over the past decade.

Evans said this year’s headliners have an important connection with young people that is essential to changing how leaders react to current needs.

„There’s a reason brand managers spend more time talking to the 16- to 30-year-old demographic — the key trendsetters for the next 40 years,” Evans said. „Young people have the power to create enormous change when they come together.”

Malone expresses that sentiment in his current music. Her current single „Pour Me a Drink” is a duet with Blake Shelton. So far this year, she’s joined Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Morgan Wallen.

Doja Kate is currently on a European tour promoting her hit album „Scarlett” and is also known for her collaborations.

„We all have a role to play in ending extreme poverty and establishing equity,” Doja Kate said in a prepared statement. „I look forward to being a part of this important evening of positive change.”

Tickets are free for the festival, which also includes sets by country star Jelly Roll and Puerto Rican singer and rapper Rao Alejandro. But they must take action to „defeat poverty, protect the planet or demand equity” on the festival website – usually by writing to global leaders or posting on social media.

Global Citizen works to increase countries’ contributions to the World Bank’s International Development Partnership, a fund dedicated to improving living standards in 75 of the world’s lowest-income countries.

Zambia’s President Hakindeh Hichilema said the timing of the campaign was crucial. „With our worst agricultural season in more than 40 years, our country and our neighbors are facing severe food shortages and severe instability in our electricity supply,” he said in a prepared statement. „The participation of the world’s wealthiest countries in this replenishment is not only generous — it is life or death for the millions who will experience the worst impacts of climate change.”

This year, Global Citizen is also focusing on individual activities around New York to introduce youth to volunteering in exchange for festival tickets. Black Surfing has partnered with Rockaway to clean up Rockaway Beach and nonprofits like The Bowery Mission and CityMeals on Wheels to work with new volunteers.

„It’s a low data entry point for those who want to take action,” Evans said. „It’s an initiative we’ve done across Ghana. We did it as part of a larger cleanup in South Africa. It’s educating global citizens about food insecurity and other needs in New York.

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