Campaign Overview

Leading up to our 2024 national election, NEWorks launched FREEDOM ADVANCES*, a non-partisan civic initiative designed to encourage full voter participation. The campaign included celebrity bumpers; a suite of 30- to 60-second public service announcements, the award-winning, call-to-action anthem & music video, "Rise Up & Fight," and Rise Up Song Challenge videos created by local artists nationwide to mobilize voters to make their voices heard at the polls.

Celebrities featured in the campaign included: Masta Ace, Debbie Allen, Regina Belle, Chris Broussard, Andre de Shields, Ricky Dillard, Carla Hall, Hill Harper, Norm Lewis, Clayton Prince, and Regina Taylor.

#FreedomAdvances #RiseUpAndFight #Vote2024

Watch & share our award-winning anthem, "Rise Up & Fight"

“Rise Up & Fight”

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!

“Rise Up & Fight” has won twenty-one international film & music prizes, thirty-four additional film honors, six Davey Awards, an Anthem Award and an AVA Digital Awards Platinum Prize, making it one of the most decorated film shorts in history!

CLICK TO SEE FULL LIST OF HONORS

Congratulations to the winners of our #RiseUpSongChallenge!

Our Rise Up Song Challenge invited young creatives to manipulate two of the civic anthems penned by NEWorks CEO's Nolan Williams, Jr. to create messaging that would encourage their peers to vote. The challenge drew participants with a combined social media reach that tops five million!

Congratulations to the Challenge winners: LewSid (@LewSidRaps), pictured, a powerhouse talent whose smooth and compelling remix has earned him the top spot, and Trooskii (@Trooskii4), second place finisher.

LewSid will be a featured artist for 'Let Freedom Ring' at the Kennedy Center this coming January!

“I Have A Right To Vote” (Radio Cut)

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.

21 International Film & Music Prizes

· 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" – 2024 Chicago Indie Film Awards

· "Best Animation Short" – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)

· "Best Animation Short" – 2024 Independent Shorts Awards

· "Best Animation Music Video" – 2024 Los Angeles Movie & Music Video Awards

· "Best Animation Music Video" – 2024 Europe Music Video Awards

· "Best Director - Music Video" – 2024 New York Film & Female Actress Awards

· "Best Music Video" – 2024 London Global Film Awards

· "Best Music Video" – 2024 Los Angeles Film Awards

· "Best Music Video" – 2024 Paris International Short Festival

· Bronze Medal: Listener Impact: Content/Message Delivery – 2024 Global Music Awards

· "Outstanding Achievement Award for Music Video" – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival) New York Film & Female Actress Awards

· "Special Achievement Award for Social Justice & Hope" – 2024 California Music Video & Film Awards

24 International Film & Music Honors

· Finalist, "Best Director" – 2024 Music Video Awards

· Finalist, "Best Original Song" – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)

· Finalist, "Best Producer" – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)

· Nominee, "Best Social Justice Short" – Cannes World Film Festival 2024

· Nominee, "Best Song" – Cannes World Film Festival 2024

· Nominee, "Best Animation" – 2025 Cinematography & Photography Awards

· Nominee, "Best Animation" – 2024 Tokyo International Cinema Awards

· Nominee, "Best Animation Video" – 2025 Las Vegas Music Video Awards

· Nominee, "Best Human Rights" – 2024 Tokyo International Cinema Awards

· Nominee, "Best Animation Film" – 2025 Barcelona Indie Awards

· Nominee, "Best Music Video" – 2025 Barcelona Indie Awards

· Nominee, "Best Music Video" – 2025 Cinematography & Photography Awards

· Nominee, "Best Music Video" – 2025 Las Vegas Music Video Awards

· Nominee, "Best Song in a Video" – 2025 Las Vegas Music Video Awards

· Nominee, "Best Social Commentary Video" – 2025 Las Vegas Music Video Awards

· Semifinalist – 2024 Arthouse Festival of Beverly Hills

· Semifinalist – 2024 Chicago Filmmaker Awards

· Semifinalist – 2024 Dubai Independent Film Festival

· Semifinalist – 2024 Robinson Film Awards (International Film Festival)

· Semifinalist – 2024 Seattle Filmmaker Awards

· Semifinalist – 2024 Sunday Shorts Film Festival (UK)

· Honorable Mention, "Best Animated Short Film" – 2024 Apex Film Awards

· Honorable Mention, "Best Music Video" – 2024 Apex Film Awards

· Special Mention – 2025 UK Animation & Music Video Festival

10 International Film Fest Selections

· Official Selection, 2024 New York Film & Actor Awards

· Official Selection, 2024 AfroComicCon International Film Festival

· Official Selection, 2024 CAFF The Cultural Animation Film Festival

· Official Selection, 2024 Animation Marathon

· Official Selection, 2024 Tokyo International Short Film Festival

· Official Selection, 2024 Syracuse International Film Festival Honoring Outstanding Black Filmmakers

· Official Selection, 2024 Los Angeles Film & Documentary Awards

· Official Selection, 2024 Hollywood Best Indie Film Awards

· Official Selection, 2025 Magnolia Independent Film Festival

· Official Selection, 2025 Las Vegas Music Video Awards

Special acknowledgements...

Benefactor

Anonymous

Supporters

Anonymous
David Frederick and Sophia Lynn

Donors

Rob Vogel
Rev. Jeffrey Haggray and the American Baptist Home Mission Society
Joyce and Thomas Moorehead
Stephen Zenczak and Pat Feighan

Patrons

Anonymous
Millicent Gorham

Advisory Board

Victoria Murray Baatin, Sr. Director of Social Impact, The Kennedy Center
Heather Booth, Civil Rights Activist
Rev. Paul Smith, Civil Rights Icon
Douglass Tanner, Founder & Sr. Advisor, The Faith & Politics Institute

Campaign Overview

Here are highlights of the campaign...

Watch & share our award-winning anthem, "Rise Up & Fight"

“Rise Up & Fight”

Congratulations to the winners of our #RiseUpSongChallenge!

More Freedom Advances Videos

Freedom Advances Celeb PSA

Debbie Allen Dance Academy & Community (long form)

Debbie Allen Dance Academy & Community (short form)

Lift Ev'ry Voice & Sing

Rise Up & Fight Celeb PSA 1

Rise Up & Fight PSA 2

“I Have A Right To Vote” (Radio Cut)

'Freedom Advances' campaign wins two media awards

"Rise Up & Fight" Earns Top Honors