This afternoon, Chance the Rapper shared the message below with the Obama Foundation email list announcing that he will be teaming up with us to creative direct the concert at the conclusion of the inaugural summit on November 1st. This collaborative concert will highlight local innovators and creative minds from across the country, including Gloria Estefan, the National, and others soon to be announced. To livestream the event and learn more about ways you can get involved, sign up for updates here.
An Announcement From Chance the Rapper
Hey,
I want you to hear this news straight from me, because it’s something I’m deeply honored to be involved with:
The Obama Foundation will close out its Summit with a concert on November 1. I’m helping put it together, and I’ve asked some friends to join me.
I want you to be a part of it — but I don’t want you to just watch. I want you to get inspired, I want you to get out in your own community, and I want you to go change something.
It’s such an honor to be able to help creative direct this show.
That’s because I am blessed to be part of a generation with an inherent sense of self. One that is inspired not just to talk about what needs to be changed — but get up and change it.
Growing up in Chicago, I was lucky enough to be able to just do my own thing. To explore my creativity, to be curious, to experiment and make music.
I owe that to my parents — who showed me love and community. I owe that to my church, where I built some of my longest friendships and learned I liked music. I owe that to the Harold Washington Public Library’s YOUmedia space, which gave kids a place to come after school and be creative -- you didn’t have to have good grades, and you didn’t have to have an in. I could go on.
I want to help make sure every young man and woman in this city has those opportunities, too. I want to help inspire and empower young people to change their world — like the Obama Foundation.
That’s what this Summit is all about —bringing together change makers from around the world to celebrate what we’ve done so far, and recommit to taking on the greatest challenges of our time. And we’ve got a lot of work to do together.
So, let’s do this.
We’ve putting together a great show for you. Be a part of it.
See you out there,
Chance