erhaps best known for his R&B tracks such as “Heaven” and his multiple Grammy Awards, John Legend has received praise from fans and critics alike. After getting his start in the music industry as a song writer for artists such as Kanye West and Lauren Hill, Legend has risen to fame selling more than five million albums worldwide. Legend’s newest album, Evolver, has a title befitting his contributions to the world outside of the entertainment industry.
In 2007, Legend partnered with Colombia University Professor and economist Jeffrey Sachs and Millennium Promise, an organization working to address various aspects of extreme poverty in Africa by 2015, in order to create the Show Me Campaign. Coinciding with Legends song “Show Me” featured on the album Once Again, the Show Me Campaign was developed in order to permanently end poverty in Mbola, an isolated village in northwestern Tanzania.
Working from the ground up, the campaign’s action plan includes implementing sustainable development initiatives for families and individuals. The Show Me Campaign is currently raising money to provide farmers with soil, free meals for school children, a local medical clinic and a host of other projects aiding in the health and well being of the citizens of Mbola.
As part of their outreach initiative Legend and Sachs have traveled across the United States on a Poverty Action Tour spreading the message about the importance of sustainability to college students. The Poverty Action Tour takes the form of a moderated Q&A forum discussing issues of global poverty followed by a musical performance by Legend.
This past June, Legend received the 2008 Humanitarian Award from CARE, one of the world’s leading international humanitarian organizations, for his commitment to end poverty. Legend also received the 2008 Difference Award from OneXOne, a Canadian based nonprofit foundation seeking to improve the lives of children.
In addition to his humanitarian efforts, Legend managed to lend time to his latest musical project, Evolver. As his third release, with an up-tempo vibe, the album is said to feature collaborations with Andre 3000, Kanye West, and Estelle.
Blending his musical talent with the dedication to improve the lives of impoverished persons on an international level shows Legend to be an “evolver,” as his album title suggests, who is capable of creating positive change through music and community action in an ever developing world.
For more information regarding John Legend check out his official website and myspace page. Also, make sure to watch his latest video “Everybody Knows”.
By Dyani Vanderhorst
