Youth flock to Toronto for We Day festivities

"I HAVE CHOSEN TO PAINT THE LIFE OF MY PEOPLE AS I KNOW AND FEEL IT--PASSIONATELY AND DISPASSIONATELY. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE ARTIST IDENTIFY WITH THE SELF-RELIANCE,HOPE AND COURAGE OF THE PEOPLE ABOUT HIM,FOR ART MUST ALWAYS GO WHERE ENERGY IS."

--ROMARE BEARDON

 

Youth flock to Toronto for We Day festivities

International children's rights activist and Free The Children co-founder Craig Kielburger speaks to 18,000 youth at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010, during We Day, an annual youth empowerment event. (The Canadian Press Images PHOTO/Free The Children)

Thousands of young people from across North America are in Toronto to take part in We Day, the largest youth empowerment event in the world.
The purpose of the annual event, an initiative of Free the Children, is to celebrate social activism by youth, create some momentum for change and inspire youth to make a difference in their communities.
The event, held at the Air Canada Centre, regularly attracts big name performers and speakers.
This year's We Day is being hosted by singer and actor Joe Jonas.
A crowd of about 18,000 people will also hear from Free The Children co-founders Craig and Marc Kielburger, singers Nelly Furtado, actress Nina Dobrev and Mary Robinson, the UN former high commissioner for human rights.
The first We Day was held in 2007.