FREEDOM ADVANCES* is our non-partisan civic initiative designed to educate and motivate American citizens to participate in the 2024 national election. Our campaign includes celebrity bumpers, a suite of 30- to 60-second public service announcements, call-to-action anthems with corresponding music videos, and a multifaceted viral video challenge spearheaded by leading artists and online influencers on the social media platforms TikTok, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. All assets will be distributed as non-commercial PSAs in collaboration with key media partners.
Celebrities to be featured in the campaign (to date) include: Masta Ace, Debbie Allen, Regina Belle, Chris Broussard, Andre de Shields, Ricky Dillard, Carla Hall, Hill Harper, Christopher Jackson, Ebony Jo-Ann, Billie Jean King, Norm Lewis, Billy Porter, Clayton Prince, Ryan Jamaal Swain, and Regina Taylor.
*FREEDOM ADVANCES is a non-partisan project, not authorized by any candidate or political party. To support our efforts, tax-deductible contributions can be made through our (C3) fiscal sponsor, The Public Concern Foundation.
Copy and paste our YouTube video link on your social media platforms using the hashtags: #RiseUpandFlight
#FreedomAdvances #Vote2024
With our Rise Up Challenge, we are incentivizing young creatives to use our musical assets to create voter participation messaging that reaches their peers
Nolan Williams, Jr's award-winning civic anthem, "Rise Up & Fight," is written from the perspective of three civil rights volunteers murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in 1964 during "Freedom Summer." The song imagines Andrew Goodman, James Chaney and Michael Schwerner returning to Mississippi today--expecting a world of change--only to discover that human rights issues are still plaguing our nation. They issue an urgent call to action!
This anthem features the words of historical voting rights icons spoken by celebrities Billie Jean King, Billy Porter, Christopher Jackson, and Ryan Jamaal Swain (F/X Network's POSE). It also highlights diverse American citizens gathered at iconic places across the country—from New York’s Times Square to Milwaukee’s Art Museum, and from the “Rocky” Steps in Philadelphia to the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles—all affirming their right to vote!
This award-winning video was first released in 2020 and has garnered well over two million global hits.
· Best Social Campaign - Public Service & Activism, Silver Prize
· Best Social Video, Gold Prize
· Best Animation, Gold Prize
· Best Use of Music, Gold Prize
· Best Music VIdeo, Silver Prize
· Best Art Direction, Silver Prize
· Best Use of Animation, Silver Prize
· Award of Excellence – Music Video, 2024 Best Shorts Competition (International)
· Award of Excellence – Animation, 2024 Best Shorts Competition (International)
· Award of Excellence – African American Theme, 2024 Best Shorts Competition (International)
· Award of Excellence – Music Video, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· Award of Excellence – Animation, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· Award of Excellence – Original Song, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· Award of Excellence – African American Theme, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· Award of Excellence – Liberation/Social Justice/Protest, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· Best Lyrics Video – 2024 International Music Video Competition
· Best Animation Short – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)
· Outstanding Achievement Award (Music Video) – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)
· Finalist, Best Producer – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)
· Finalist, Best Original Song – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)
· Semifinalist – 2024 Sunday Shorts Film Festival
· Semifinalist – 2024 Seattle Filmmaker Awards
· Semifinalist – 2024 Robinson Film Awards (International Film Festival)
· Semifinalist – 2024 Paris International Short Festival
· Special Mention – 2025 UK Animation & Music Video Festival
· Honorable Mention – Best Music Video, 2024 Apex Film Awards
· Honorable Mention – Best Animated Short Film, 2024 Apex Film Awards
· Official Selection, 2024 New York Film & Actor Awards
· Official Selection, The IndieFest Film Awards 2024
· Official Selection, 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)
· Official Selection, AfroComicCon International Film Festival 2024
· Official Selection, CAFF The Cultural Animation Film Festival 2024
· Official Selection, Animation Marathon 2024
· Official Selection, Cannes World Film Festival 2024