America's first National Youth Poet Laureate, 22-year-old Amanda Gorman, is featured in a new television and social media campaign by United Way and Truist Financial Corporation, one of the nation's largest financial services companies, to spread a message of hope and unity.
The campaign launched earlier this month in Richmond and Norfolk markets, as well as across the nation.
Gorman's call to action her original poem "Live United," "... dare to care, to be hope-sided", embodies the ideals of respecting others and supporting communities to thrive. Truist and United Way believes the poem aligns with the mission of their partnership and commitment to building better lives and communities.
Gorman says putting together to project virtually was challenging but a great experience.
"I was really excited to work with United Way on this project, because I know they do such incredible things around the world, and that the work they do is incredibly necessary at this time… Doing this type of project from home, while sheltering in place was a type of hands-on approach that I had never experienced before. It meant that things like lighting and camera angles and things like that had to be handled by me from home while working digitally with the team that was coaching me through all of the steps."
Live United by Amanda Gorman
It's hard to hope,
Hard to cope with crisis.
But while we might feel all alone,
We've never been more tightly tethered.
Because we'll only weather this unknown together.
So we get to work. We mend.
We don't break, even when we bend.
Somewhere, another mom pays her bills,
Somewhere, another child eats his fill.
We are the world's neighbors,
Making our communities brighter, greater,
Fighting for every person in every neighborhood.
We, the coming of the common good.
So dare to care, to be hope-sided.
We're never divided, for when we live to give,
We always live united.
You can visit You can visit https://www.truist.com/truist-foundation/united-way#.Xxno6S2z1N2 to view the "Live United "campaign video.
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