This may be the only time you will ever see Alicia Keys naked.
With recent events like the shooting of unarmed teen Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO to the toll in Gaza and Syria, the music superstar launched the “We Are Here” initiative to bring awareness around society & social causes as well as pushing for changes like stricter gun laws, gay rights, criminal justice reform, and education.
“I want to gather an army,” Keys told the NY Daily News.
The multi-Grammy winner, who is expecting her second child, trips down naked for the movement, putting a peace sign around her pregnant belly as an image of amity.
“It’s time to get people’s attention,” she said. “People won’t be able to ignore this visual.”
Keys plans to encourage her 54 million fans (Facebook & Twitter) to support 12 specific 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.
“We’re in the same head space. We think the same things,” Keys said of her fans. “This is bothering us, so how can we take that to the next step and do something about that, as opposed to just being angry?”
Along with petitions, rallies, protests and public awareness efforts, Keys is getting the effort started by donating $1 million of her own money to 12 groups, and she hopes that her fans will make their own donations directly to the charities. A website, WeAreHereMovement.com, provides information.
Along with the movement, Alicia is also promoting the single “We Are Here.”
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.
