Written by: Rashawn Khamari Merchant

All weekend, I knew the rain was coming. I tried holding out as much as possible, but as long as I stood committed, I knew attending the Global Citizen Festival meant getting soaked.

Who would’ve thought the end of Climate Week in NYC would finish off with the heaviest weather of the season? 

However, with my friends and fellow world savers, we had a blast attending this event dedicated to solving Earth’s issues.

Every year, the Global Citizen Festival (GCF) is hosted in New York, right in the heart of Central Park. The festival has featured past performers such as Kendrick Lamar, Metallica, and Mariah Carey. This year, we were all drawn to see Lauryn Hill and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, even if it meant standing in a storm for 5 hours.

The overarching theme of GCF is to promote the current year’s sustainability goals. Influencers and world leaders who went on stage in between acts mentioned climate, world hunger, and poverty. 

Truthfully, my friends and I expressed a slight disconnect. As climate students, we’ve each experienced our fair share of blank words and performatism, which often doesn’t amount to action. I realized, however, that it is always better to stay positive. An event promoting a fight to get people fed is better than no event. 

It’s essential to remember you can have a good time amongst all the bad. As Lauryn Hill celebrated the anniversary of Miseducation, I’m sure balance is what she wanted 25 years ago.

Thanks for reading!

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