Alicia Keys is using her musical talents to do more than just a carry note these days. The 15-time Grammy award winner aims to bring about peace within the global community with her recently debuted single “We Are Here.” The song 
reflects the rise of social issues that have dominated headlines within the past few months, from the shooting of Michael Brown to the toll in Gaza and Syria.
“I’ve always felt like I can be a voice for the voiceless,” Keys told the Washington Post. The singer/songwriter was prompted by images of Gaza on social media and the #BringOurGirlsBack campaign to generate
a movement of her own that would channel her fans to be more proactive about social justice. “I want to gather an army,” Keys told Nicholas Krist of of The New York Times.
Through the “We Are Here” movement Keys is encouraging her fans to support 12 different social activism groups: All Out, a gay rights organization; CARE, the aid group; Equal Justice Initiative, which combats racial inequity in the criminal justice system; the Future Project, which empowers high school students in America; Girl Rising, which supports girls’ education around the world; Keep a Child Alive, which helps children affected by H.I.V. and AIDS; Moms Rising, which supports universal prekindergarten, maternal leaves and tighter gun laws; Oxfam, which fights global poverty; Partners in Health, which tackles disease worldwide; the Trevor Project, which prevents suicide among gay and lesbian youths; the Trayvon Martin Foundation, which fights racial profiling; and War Child, which supports children in conflict areas.
In an effort to jump-start the campaign, Keys has put her money where her hashtag is. She has donated one million dollars to be dispersed among the 12 groups she supports and has asked her fans to show their support by posting causes they are passionate about on social media along with the hashtag #WeAreHere. To further spread her message, Keys went to her Instagram account to share a nude photograph of herself with a peace sign painted on her bare baby bump. “It’s time to get people’s attention,” she told The New York Times. “People won’t be able to ignore this visual.”
The “We Are Here” movement has already garnered support from other celebrities. Pharrell WIlliams, Kelly Rowland, Jennifer Lopez, and Madonna also took to social media to help spread awareness about Keys’ cause as well as dozens of other high-profile musicians, actors, and artists.
UT junior and Co-President of P.E.A.C.E., Bekha Vigil feels Alicia Key’s initiative is a great way to get students more engaged in social activism especially within the Tampa Bay community.
“I like that it not only exposes you to the problems, but also people that are really working towards the solution.” Much like the “We Are Here” movement, P.E.A.C.E offers everyone within the UT community an array of opportunities to get more involved with organizations that tackle social issues within the Tampa Bay area. P.E.A.C.E. also offers an Alternative Breaks program that deals with issues outside of the Tampa Bay community.
“We utilize [the Alternative Breaks Program] to really push people outside of their comfort zone,” Vigil said. “And, to really take an in-depth look at how these social issues are impacting the region, state, or even the country,” she added.
One of the main issues Vigil feels intimidates students from becoming involved in social activism is being overwhelmed by the problem at hand. “Something that bogs down a lot of people as far as social justice or social movements is that they feel what they do won’t actually make a difference,” she said. Similarly to the WeAreHereMovement.com interface, P.E.A.C.E.’s online portal found on Orgsync, provides students with a list of events for the semester along with information regarding the hosting organization and how students’ efforts support a particular cause. “I think that education is a really good component of getting people engaged. So that they know how to make the best difference and be really instrumental in the change.”
Kai Miller can be reached at Kai. miller@theminaretonline.com.