SC Connecticut News

Italian artist-songwriter Giovanni Caccamo's advocacy project, Manifesto for Change – Youth and Future, sparked the interest of Yale Professors James F. Leckman and Kyle D. Pruett at a meeting in New York City on December 11, 2023. The encounter led to a series of collaborative efforts between Caccamo and the Yale community aimed at empowering youth through words and music.

Caccamo's project was inspired by his concept album "Parola", which was itself a response to Italian writer Andrea Camilleri's call for youth to inspire a new humanism through the value of words. In collaboration with the Vatican Museums and MAXXI - National Museum of XXI Century Arts, Caccamo launched Voices to the Young in 2022. This initiative invited young people in Italy to compose essays addressing societal change and their word for change.

The project culminated in the publication of "Manifesto del cambiamento" (2023), featuring 60 selected essays alongside works by visual art masters and a preface by Pope Francis. It also led to an artistic performance inside Raffaello’s Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican Museums where fifteen top essay winners joined Caccamo in discussing change and the future.

On April 5, 2024, Caccamo expanded his initiative globally at the Change the World Model UN NYC event, inviting young people from all backgrounds to contribute to a global version of his book project. Following this announcement, Professors Leckman and Pruett invited Caccamo to Yale University where he engaged with students during workshops on his Manifesto for Change project.

In conversation with Yale student Kyle King, Caccamo shared his personal journey towards music and arts advocacy. The discussion emphasized intergenerational dialogue and collaboration as key drivers towards shaping a brighter future.

At an intimate workshop held at Yale’s Old Campus on April 18, Caccamo encouraged students to share their thoughts on societal change. The event concluded with an a cappella performance of "Change", the Manifesto for Change signature song.

Caccamo's initiative continues to inspire young people globally, with a call for essay submissions for the Manifesto for Change project open until July 30, 2024.