I had the opportunity to interview Monique Coleman, actress, dancer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist best known for her co-starring role in Disney’s High School Musical movies, in which she plays Taylor McKessie. On November 16, 2010 Monique was named the first ever United Nations Youth Champion for the International Year of Youth. Her aim was to raise awareness on the most pressing issues facing today’s youth, encourage young people to use their abilities to foster progress in their communities and urge the international community to take responsibility on youth issues. She is the Founder, CEO, and Executive Producer Gimmemo.com, an online talk show that empowers youth through safe conversation about issues pertinent to their development. Most recently, Monique was named a Girl Up Champion. ACTBOLD: Was there a particular experience or person that inspired you to become an activist and get involved in the United Nations Foundation?
MO: I’ve always desired to make a difference. When I was in middle school and high school, I volunteered with several organizations and participated in a lot of community activities. As far as role models, I deeply admire the work of Martin Luther King Jr., and from a young age, I aspired to walk in his foot steps. Getting involved with the UN was not something I ever expected, but once I became the Youth Champion, I felt that it was where I was always meant to be. I love working with the United Nations Foundation because it gives me the opportunity to further the efforts of the UN by supporting extremely impacting projects.
ACTBOLD: That’s so cool! Can you tell us a about your role as the Youth Champion for the United Nations?
MO: When I was appointed the first ever UN Youth Champion for the International Year of Youth, my role was to promote the theme of the year which was dialog and mutual understanding. I took this a step further by initiating a 6 month global tour to understand first hand the unique experiences youth face all over the world. I visited 24 countries in the six months. In each country, I facilitated dialog in schools, met with NGO’s, spoke with government officials, did media interviews, and volunteered with local and international organizations. The experience was multifaceted and life changing.
ACTBOLD: From all your travels, can you tell us briefly about one or two highlights or encounters that have had a significant impact on you?
MO: Bangladesh was a highlight because I had never seen such extreme poverty. At the same time, the people I met were some of the most gracious and positive people I’ve ever met.
A project that was particularly impacting was visiting a sanitation project in Lodwar, Kenya where a local woman had employed women in the neighborhood to sew sanitary napkins for girls in the community. It turns out that during a girl’s time of the month, she was forced to sit under a tree and miss a week of school. After a few months, girls typically dropped out of school completely. This project was especially meaningful to me because I saw how something so simple could make such a huge difference.
Make sure to check out Part II of our interview tomorrow! For More Mo’, follow her on twitter @gimmemotalk or connect with her at facebook.com/gimmemotalk.
