The Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI) is proud to announce that its founder and CEO, Forest Whitaker, will be awarded with the 2017 Crystal Awards at the opening of the 47th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting which will take place on 16 January 2017.
Forest Whitaker will be celebrated as one of the winners of the 23rd Annual Crystal Awards for the leadership in peace-building and conflict-resolution he has demonstrated throughout the years, notably by empowering youth as leaders and entrepreneurs in communities touched by violence and poverty.
To achieve his ideals, artist and social activist Forest Whitaker founded WPDI in 2012 as an enabler and incubator providing capacity-building, resources and opportunities to young women and men in South Sudan, Uganda and Mexico. A global advocate Forest Whitaker is also UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation and one of the 17 Advocates appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations to promote the Sustainable Development Goals.
Forest Whitaker will be honored during the opening session of the Davos Annual Meeting 2017 with two other awardees: violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and singer/songwriter Shakira.
Established in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation by Klaus Schwab, the World Economic Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. The 47th Annual Meeting will convene the foremost political, business, academic, arts and media leaders to shape global, regional and industry agendas. It will take place on 17-20 January 2017, under the theme “Responsive and Responsible Leadership”.