Usher Honored At Ford Freedom Awards (Detroit)
Today, three youth leaders from Detroit will participate in the Ford Freedom Award festivities alongside Usher Raymond IV who is honored as this year’s Ford Freedom Award Scholar. Atif Hashwi, Alexis Pearson and Angie Perkins will accompany Usher Raymond IV throughout the day for activities celebrating entrepreneurship, leadership and philanthropy. The day’s activities include a Freedom Award Scholar’s lecture with over 1500 youth from Detroit, a media roundtable with executives from Ford Motor Company and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, and award ceremonies.
Mr. Raymond is being honored by Ford for his work as an entrepreneur and a philanthropist. Through his New Look Foundation over 7,500 youth like Atif, Alexis and Angie have been able to gain leadership skills to be successful in their academic, career and community pursuits. Today, these New look alumni will have the opportunity to share their experiences and discuss the importance of youth voice in communities, especially when addressing pressing issues like education, health and the economy. Like all New Look alumni, these young leaders have been involved in rigorous leadership training and experiences and led local Powered By Service projects. This year, Detroit youth have worked on projects addressing malaria prevention, Haiti relief and education. The New Look Foundation recognizes that young people have the power and creativity to be global leaders and ensures they have the tools and resources to make their voices heard.
The Ford Freedom Awards is the perfect venue to discuss the importance of youth leadership and education. According to Ziad Ojakli, group vice president, Government and Community Relations, Ford Motor Company “The Ford Freedom Award program will provide lasting benefits and encourage talented young people to follow in the steps of . . . entrepreneurs, and help strengthen their abilities to become leaders in the community in which they live and serve.”
This year, the Ford Freedom Awards also recognize John H. Johnson, world renown corporate and community leader. Mr. Johnson was an empire builder who started his publishing company as a young man with only $500. The New Look Foundation encourages youth to find inspiration from Mr. Johnson’s success and imagine how they can transform their communities and the world with small seeds of creativity and energy!
