The Voices4Climate competition has officially come to a close, and our panel of esteemed judges has begun the gargantuan task of looking over more than one thousand music videos, photos, and videos on climate change. The Connect4Climate team would like to extend our thanks to all of the part
Julie Allen is Creative Director for Social Responsibility at Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN). In this role she is responsible for the strategic and creative development of pro-social media campaigns across all platforms for VIMN - this includes long and short form on-air programming, events and digital content. Julie is co-creator of MTV Voices, MTV's global pro-social platform for the millennial generation.
Dawuni has leveraged his popularity across the African continent to bring his unique Afro Roots sound to global audiences and champion social causes. Over the course of his career, and the release of five albums, his infectious grooves and dance-inducing anthems have consistently excited fans, including some of music's biggest stars with whom he's performed and collaborated. Having appeared at many of the biggest World and Reggae music events, Dawuni has worked alongside superstars Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Jason Mraz, Sharon Jones, and Janelle Monae.
Dawuni's activism reached new heights when he was recently invited to meet with Ghana's top leaders on a broad range of issues and was appointed the country's Tourism Ambassador and World Music Ambassador for the Musician's Union of Ghana. He was just announced as an Ambassador for the UN Foundation's Global Alliance For Clean Cookstoves, joining ambassadors Julia Roberts and Chef Jose Andres to raise awareness. These efforts are in addition to his ongoing involvement with Product (RED), UNICEF, the Carter Center & the UN Foundation. In 2012, Rocky was also chosen by CNN as one of the top ten African musicians alongside Youssou N'Dour and Cesaria Evora and was featured on CNN's African Voices.
See our full post on Rocky Dawuni here.
Rachel Kyte is the former Vice President of Sustainable Development at the World Bank. She has overall responsibilities for the organization's global work in climate change, agriculture, environment, infrastructure, urban development, disaster management, and social development. Rachel chairs the MLT. She has held the VP position since September, 2011.
Prior to her appointment, Ms. Kyte had been Vice President for Business Advisory Services at the International Finance Corporation since 2008. From 2004, Ms. Kyte served as IFC's Director for Environmental and Social Development, where she led efforts to develop new sustainability performance standards. Through the Equator Principles, adapted by 70 commercial banks and 34 export guarantee agencies, these standards are now a global benchmark illustrating that improved environment and social standards can raise financial performance in emerging markets. Prior to joining IFC, she was a member of the management team of the World Conservation Union. She has held elected positions in Europe, and founded and led non-government organizations focusing on women, the environment, health, and rights.
Ms. Kyte was recently appointed as Professor of Practice in Sustainable Development at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Boston. Ms. Kyte holds a MA in International Relations from The Fletcher School, and a BA in politics and history from the University of London.
Cedella Marley is an accomplished singer, author, fashion designer, and entrepreneur. The first-born of Bob and Rita Marley, she has combined her multifaceted creativity with her family legacy to champion causes such as reducing maternal mortality, access to safe drinking water, and protecting the environment.
The world first met Cedella as a singing and dancing teenager with The Melody Makers, the Marley sibling group which, over two decades, has sold millions of albums and won three Grammy Awards. Cedella continues to record and is currently at work on her debut album, produced by her brothers Ziggy and Stephen. Cedella balances the responsibilities of motherhood (she and her husband have three sons) with the management of the Marley family's numerous business endeavors and the demands of designing her celebrated women's casual wear collection 'Catch A Fire.' She is the CEO of Tuff Gong International, the record label founded by her father in 1965 and director of The Bob Marley Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization. She oversees Hope Road Merchandising, LLC, a Marley family entity that manages the rights to Bob's name and likeness, and the Marley merchandising conglomerate House of Marley. Cedella also helms1Love.org, the family's recently launched social networking/charity foundation which is working to channel the energy of Bob Marley's 37 million Facebook "friends" into positive work and charitable causes.
See our full post on Cedella Marley here.
Kenny Young has written and produced more than 25 chart records, including the Grammy Award-winning song, 'Ai No Corrida' and 'Under the Boardwalk.' He received the United Nations Global 500 Award for outstanding practical achievements in the protection and improvement of the environment as co-founder of the Earth Love Fund. He co-produced the Hollywood Genesis Award-winning film 'Spirit of the Forest,' a BBC-TV documentary feature about the destruction of the Amazon, and wrote a benefit record of the same name, which was released by Virgin Records and featured over 50 major international artists.
Founder and Music Producer at Artists Project Earth (APE), he is the creative force that has engineered five highly successful 'Rhythms del Mundo' charity albums in support of over 300 climate change projects around that world that feature Coldplay, Bob Dylan, Eminem, Radiohead, U2, Amy Winehouse, The Rolling Stones, Beyonce, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mumford & Sons, and many other renowned international artists.
"What's More Precious?" by Nadia Asfour, Selina Chaouki, and Elias El Hage, Lebanese American University
