John Legend

John Legend is an artist and activist who made history as the first African American man to join the prestigious EGOT club.

At the age of 15, Legend won an essay competition in which he shared his dream of becoming a star recording artist and using his influence to give back to the community.

In 2007, Legend founded The Show Me Campaign, aiming to provide quality education to every child and to address systemic issues in the criminal justice system that disproportionately affect underprivileged communities and minorities. Through his work in education, he discovered a troubling connection: the lack of quality education often channels many young people into the "school-to-prison pipeline." This realization compelled him to take further action, leading him to launch freeamerica in 2014. This initiative aims to end mass incarceration and assist local governments in addressing racial inequalities in critical areas such as health, criminal justice, education, jobs, and housing.

In addition, Legend currently serves on the advisory board of FUSE Corps, The Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and Teach For All. He is also on the board of directors for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the board of directors for Harlem Village Academies, and the governing board of Management Leadership for Tomorrow.