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Central Park's Great Lawn Ushers In a New Season of Solidarity Through Music and Advocacy

Festival for a Cause: Global Citizen Returns with a Rallying Cry Against Poverty

NEW YORK, April 1, 2024 – A wave of excitement sweeps through the city as the Global Citizen Festival announces its grand return to New York City's esteemed Great Lawn in Central Park. Slated for Saturday, September 28, this monumental event marks its twelfth anniversary as a beacon of hope and change, steadfast in its commitment to tackling extreme poverty head-on. Earning festival admission reaches beyond monetary transactions; it requires attendees to engage actively in causes that advocate for basic human rights, environmental conservation, and mutual prosperity. This year, organizers promise an impressive roster of musical talents and an informative guide on how to secure tickets in the forthcoming months, stirring both anticipation and social conscience.

"The embrace of Central Park as the festival's longstanding venue is a testimony to our successful collaboration with NYC Parks and the City of New York," expresses Hugh Evans, Co-Founder & CEO of Global Citizen. Since 2012, we have rallied an army of 60,000 participants annually, making tangible strides toward eradicating extreme poverty. With the upcoming festival, we are poised to deepen our impact through more immersive actions and more significant commitments from all stakeholders involved. As we count down the days to September 28, our excitement soars at the prospect of another milestone event."

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue revels in the spirit of the festival, noting, "Central Park is a mosaic of New York's vibrancy, a common ground for rejoicing, reflecting, and revolutionizing. It stands as a historical epicenter for performances that captivate and galvanize, from Simon & Garfunkel to the NY Philharmonic. The Global Citizen Festival transcends musical indulgence; it catalyzes societal transformation, prompting us to act as global stewards in the face of poverty, inequality, and climate peril. I, too, will stand in solidarity amidst the festival's waves of change."

New York City Councilmember Erik Bottcher asserts, "Our duty as global citizens extends far beyond our urban borders. Each year, as UNGA Week concludes, the Global Citizen Festival ushers in an unparalleled fervor across Central Park. It beckons residents from every corner to contribute to a pivotal cause, addressing critical global needs. The partnership with Global Citizen enables the restoration of the Great Lawn, ushering in a spring renewal for this city jewel—preparing it for a season infused with inclusive events that embody the essence of our city's greatness."

The Global Citizen Festival coincides annually with the UN General Assembly's presence in New York City, creating a unique opportunity for engagement and education. People from all walks of life, captivated by the event's eclectic energy, gather on the Great Lawn to drive real change. Past festivals have ignited over 33 million actions, translating into more than $43 billion for nonprofit entities worldwide, positively impacting in excess of 1.3 billion lives. Tackling grave issues such as the growing hunger crisis, accelerating climate change, and pronounced gender disparities demonstrates the festival's ambitious scale of impact.

Central Park's Great Lawn springs back into the public domain on April 6, following an on-schedule reopen. The aftermath of last year's festival caused significant wear due to unprecedented rainfall, necessitating repair work, which the Global Citizen's Board of Directors fully funded. Now, having rested over winter, the lawn is rejuvenated and ready to welcome New Yorkers and visitors once more. The venue is set to showcase a spectrum of events that speak to the city's cultural, philanthropic, and recreational ethos during the ensuing warmer months.

For more details, enthusiasts and activists can visit the Global Citizen Festival website.

Preserving Spaces, Fostering Passions: The Stewardship of NYC Parks

New York City's Department of Parks & Recreation sits at the helm of over 30,000 acres of urban greening, accounting for 14 percent of the city's land. This department oversees a treasure trove of recreational sites—including esteemed beaches, renowned parks like Central Park, verdant community gardens, and the characteristic Greenstreets. It manages a plethora of sports facilities, children's playgrounds, public pools, nature centers, and culture-laden historic house museums. With a vigilant eye on over 1,200 monuments and a commitment to the health of the city's urban forest, NYC Parks underpins the wellbeing and leisure of every city dweller.

Global Citizen: A Decade of Advocacy Paving the Road to Eradication of Poverty

Global Citizen stands at the forefront of advocacy, wielding the power of voice and action to obliterate extreme poverty. As a globally active organization, it draws strength from a community of ardent activists, endorsed by influential figures across various domains such as music, entertainment, business, and policy-making. The decade-long journey has witnessed the mobilization of $43.6 billion in commitments, revolutionizing nearly 1.3 billion lives. From its inception in Australia, Global Citizen's outreach has proliferated, with active teams working across influential cities including New York, Washington DC, and beyond. The movement beckons to all—join at Globalcitizen.org.

To stay connected with the community and the cause, consider the Global Citizen app and follow their updates on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

For additional information or inquiries, the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and Global Citizen can be contacted through their respective email addresses found on their websites.

Leading with Action, Harmonizing for Humanity

As September 28 approaches, anticipation surges for the transformative experiences promised by the Global Citizen Festival. This unique conjunction of activism and artistry serves as a testament to what humanity can accomplish when united under collective goals. New Yorkers and international visitors alike are warmly invited to tread the lush expanse of the Great Lawn, psyching themselves for a day where entertainment aligns with enlightenment—a day committed not just to joyous revelry but to catalyzing a future devoid of poverty.

Reaching the conclusion of this engagement, the synergy between Global Citizen's advocacy and Central Park's idyllic environment underscores the power of communities in forming a united front against global challenges. The historical stage of the Great Lawn is primed to witness another chapter of impactful narratives shaped through music, collaboration, and the resolve of those who choose to be the voice for the voiceless. The stakes are as high as the spirits, the hopes as vast as the sky above—every note, every voice, every action drawing us nearer to a world free of deprivation.

In the grand gesture of renewal and progress, the festival reflects an enduring legacy—a celebration that champions collective welfare and universal rights. As the city readies to soak in melodies that move both hearts and missions, the Great Lawn becomes more than a concert venue; it transforms into a pulpit for progress, a podium from which the message of unity and change resonates far beyond the echo of the last chord.

An Invitation to Catalyze Change and Celebrate Community

With each passing year, the Global Citizen Festival fortifies its status as an unmissable landmark event. It offers an invitation—a clarion call to individuals and communities to partake in an experience that transcends the self and reaches out to the global population. It is an opportunity for every attendee to leave an imprint on the larger fight against inequity and injustice, to collectively push the boundaries of what is possible when we act in unison.

As New York City's landscapes shift into the verdant hues of spring, the Great Lawn serves as a vibrant canvas upon which stories of hope, resilience, and global citizenship will be painted. This iconic venue, with its rich tapestry of historic moments, readies itself for yet another. It awaits the footprints of thousands who will come to assemble in the name of progress.

With the harmonious blend of pleasurable entertainment and the gravity of its cause, the Global Citizen Festival is a cry of empathy, a symphony of activism that dares to look towards the horizon—a world where every individual can thrive, where the planet flourishes, where humane essentials are not just a privilege but a given.

As details on the anticipated lineup and ticketing unfurl in the coming months, the buzz around the festival is poised to grow. Activists ready to take purposeful action for their tickets, music aficionados eager to witness the celebrations—everyone has a role to play. The festival beckons, ready to once again prove that engaging hearts, minds, and voices is the most melodious way to orchestrate transformative change.

Prepare to be part of this year’s Global Citizen Festival: an experience that promises not only an unforgettable day filled with melody and rhythm but also an amplified call to action for a more equitable world. It is not just a show. It is a movement. And it starts in the heart of New York City.

With exceptional dedication and the culmination of efforts from every participant, the twelfth year of the Global Citizen Festival stands to soar new heights. Whether it is through the harmonizations on stage or the chorus of voices demanding justice and sustainability, the Great Lawn will once again resonate with the sounds of hope and a cadence towards change.

Join as New York City paves the path that leads from dreams to reality, transforming every ballad into a banner for a better tomorrow. Let the music play not just within the confines of the park, but echo tirelessly in the actions that shape our shared future.