Visit to Philippines peace convention is their "first step in going global"

MANILA, Philippines - Grammy-award winning R&B singer Usher Raymond IV may be known to Filipinos as that artist with the velvet voice and smooth moves who famously gave a moving tribute at Michael Jackson's funeral.

But there is more to Usher than just catchy party songs and ballads, according to Shawn Wilson, president of Usher's New Look (UNL), a U.S.-based youth empowerment organization founded by Usher in 1999. (More information at www.ushersnewlook.org)

Photo from Usher's New Look.

"Usher has been known as a global artist, but as we talked years ago, he wanted to do good from there. From his World Tour, he learned that the world is sick," Wilson told Philippine reporters in an interview at the Manila Hotel on Thursday.

"So he wanted to mobilize the youth, bring youth together and pinpoint solutions because they haven't been tainted by life. They can't stand on the sidelines," he added.

"We hope people in Manila see a different side of Usher in the way that he uses his celebrity for good," Wilson said.

Since its founding, UNL has helped 3,500 youth develop their leadership and business skills under their 2-week Camp New Look program in Atlanta, Georgia.

The organization also launched its Powered by Service campaign, which offers financial support and skills training for American youth who want to initiate projects that will make positive change in their communities.

These projects can be as simple as a high school quarterback hosting a fund-drive for Hurricane Katrina victims during his homecoming week or a young girl DJ-ing her own party to raise awareness for a national issue.

Learning experience in Philippines

UNL top executives are currently in the Philippines for the first-ever Global Peace Convention (GPC) at the Manila Hotel that was spearheaded by the Global Peace Service Alliance (GPSA).

The conference brings together over 500 delegates from 28 countries like Mongolia, the Philippines, Kenya, Korea, Nepal, Malaysia and the United States to discuss peacebuilding through interfaith dialogue, family, and service.

Delegates include world leaders in parliament and Congress, philanthropists, non-government organizations (NGOs) and youth leaders.

In the course of 4 days, delegates are expected to discuss and find solutions to a myriad of urgent peace issues like the conflict in Mindanao and in the rest of the globe.

Wilson said Usher, as a "hands-on guy when it comes to philanthropy", sent a delegation to the GPC to find out what issues are facing the youth in the Philippines and how they could be empowered.

"This is the first step in going international. It's getting on the ground and getting the true story of the issues confronting the youth. Knowing what their passions are. Also, partering with the right organizations [like the GPSA]," he said.

A walking example

A member of the UNL delegation to the GPC is James Harris, who at 20, has testified with Usher at US Congressional hearings on the importance of service and passing the Serve America Act.

Harris was also elected as the first youth member on UNL's Board of Directors.

Originally from Kansas, Harris was a camper at Usher's New Look Camp and became the first youth to carry out a Powered by Service project. He campaigns for the "Nothing But Nets" campaign on malaria prevention.

Wilson said Harris is a living example of how youth, when given the skills and resources, can accomplish great things using their talents. In Harris's case, he was also able to develop his skills as a musician.

From L-R: Shawn Wilson, president of Usher's New Look; James Harris, UNL youth Board Member; and Paul Murray, spokesperson of the Global Peace Alliance; watch a video on peace initiatives in Northern Mindanao.

"It builds our self-esteem because a lot of times, as youth, our opinion is overlooked," Harris told abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak in an interview. "The experience did give me not just literally a new look but a new look into life."

The things he learned at the UNL program reflected on his music through the years. At first he rapped about violence, pain and anger--the themes he grew up with-- but later realized that those negative ideas were "not cool."

"My music became a testimony, you know, for people to learn from my mistakes. You know, like, 'I did that, but you don't have to.' Instead of glorifying violence, you have to step back and say, that's not cool," said Harris, whose rap name is "Dewey Da Don."

Being in the Philippines, where music is a big part of local culture, Harris and the UNL team hope to tap into Filipino youth's passions (like music) and use that for projects that can better one's community.

'Money makes the change go around'

Aside from partnering with service-oriented organizations all over the world, one of UNL's core projects under Powered by Service is providing 50,000 micro-grants that could mobilize 5-million youth worldwide.

Usher reportedly set aside $40 million in funds for UNL projects, of which $25 million will go to the youth.

"See the great thing about Usher is that with all his celebrity and his money and the social status that comes with that, it would be nothing to throw money for himself. But he gives it to the youth," Harris said.

Based on the Powered by Service model, it is important to give youth the financial support to carry out their proposed projects because "you can't get them all excited and then leave them with nothing."

Youth are provided with skills to analyze core issues that cause problems in their society, then tap into their power sources or talents to implement a strategy that will solve the problem.

'Close to home'

The UNL team even expressed interest in joining the GPC's scheduled fact-finding mission and tour of Peace Villages in Lanao del Norte, Mindanao.

GPC organizers said 130 people have already agreed to join the tour on December 14 (Monday).

The Peace Villages serve as out-of-classroom learning experiences for Mindanao schoolchildren coming from a variety of religious and socio-economic backgrounds.

Muslim and Christian children learn to live together in sleeping quarters and cooperate on camp activities to promote a culture of "unity in diversity."

In a dialogue with Dr. Estrella Babano, Department of Education regional director for Northern Mindanao, Harris proposed that Babano come to the New Look Camp in Atlanta and share her experiences of working for the Mindanao Peace Initiative.

Babano has been a key proponent of establishing "Schools of Peace" and "Peace Villages" in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao).

"It's just striking because the countries may be different, but the issues are the same. [Children in Mindanao] deal with war and are saying, 'I don't want to die.' It's the same thing with kids in rough neighborhoods [in the US]," Wilson said.

"There is a Mindanao all over the world," said GPC spokesperson Paul Murray. "So we have to focus on the core issues like children going to be hungry, or not being able to have an education, all those."

Peace building through partnership?

Harris, who will be part of the GPC's youth conference on Sunday, meanwhile, believes there should be more non-profit organizations who partner on common goals like peace building.

"When it come sto peace, it should never be a competition. If we have a common goal, why not come together?" he said.

The Global Peace Convention, which runs from December 10 to 14, was held following 30 successful Global Peace Festivals held by the GPSA around the world since 2007, starting in the Philippines before spreading to other countries.

It features educational seminars and workshops plus cultural events.

As a non-political organization, the GPC does not aim to make recommendations for governments to solve conflicts in their areas.

Instead, it aims to stop conflict through grassroots initiatives by its participant organizations and engage global leaders in dialogue. Report and some photos by Kristine Servando, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak.