Young people change the world at WE Day

ROSEMONT, Ill. (WLS) -- WE Day Illinois is coming to the Allstate Arena on April 28, 2016. 15,000 students and educators from over 525 schools across the state will get to witness performances from chart-topping musical artists and renowned speakers. Special guests at this year's show include Ciara, Paula Abdul, and Martin Luther King III.

Students cannot buy their ticket to WE Day, they have to earn it. Through year-round volunteer service, students learn how to create social change to make the world a better place for everyone. This year, WE Day celebrates the ME to WE movement: a community of people moving from me thinking to we acting, building a better world, where everyone has the power to speak out, let their voices be heard and make choices that have a positive impact.

560 schools and groups are in our WE School's network. Over 52 schools and groups participated in the Free The Children's We Scare Hunger campaign where students learn about local hunger issues and take action by collecting more than 34,000 lbs. of food for local food banks. Francie Schnipke Richards, Director of Free the Children Illinois, and WE Day Youth Speaker, Destiny Watson, sat down on ABC 7 Eyewitness News to talk about how WE Day impacts communities across the country.

EVENT:

Name of event: WE Day Illinois

Date: Thursday, April 28, 2016

Hours: 9:00 AM to 2:15 PM

Address: Allstate Arena - 6920 Mannheim Rd, Rosemont IL, 60018

Students earn their ticket to WE Day Illinois by participating in the year-long educational program, WE Schools and taking action on the issues that matter most to them. To earn a ticket to next year's WE Day Illinois, students can sign up for the WE Schools program at http://www.weday.com.