Wise Words from Will Smith

Star gives hometown a sermon at 9th Annual Charlie Mack Party 4 Peace Weekend

This past weekend, Hollywood actor Will Smith participated in the 9th Annual Charlie Mack Party 4 Peace Weekend in Philadelphia. The event brings together unparalleled celebrity support including a host of Hollywood stars, recording artists and professional athletes. Proceeds raised benefit the local non-profit, the Charlie Mack Cares Center, a place of refuge for inner-city children founded by Mack in Southwest Philadelphia. Smith addressed award recipients and community members as the featured speaker at the “I Will Be Great Leaders Awards Luncheon.”

Speaking to a packed house, Smith touched on topics ranging from growing up in Philadelphia to gun violence. A few choice excerpts below:

On transitioning from a young boy to becoming the man that he is today:

"To have gone from the beginnings in Philadelphia, to sitting at a table with Nelson Mandela in Mozambique. To have been arguing and fighting with Steady B and the Hilltop Hustler's crew to standing in Soweto ringing the doorbell of Bishop Desmond Tutu'’s house. For me, I’'m here first and foremost to honor my friend, but also to share my story so that you all can see and understand that when people say that there is no limit, hat there is really only one limit, and that one limit is your ability to create what you really want in this world. It is your ability to dream it, and believe in it. Commit yourselves. You have to commit your mind, your heart and your spirit to having a better life. Where you are today is not where you are going to be tomorrow. You are either going to be ahead or behind, but you are not going to be in the same place. A big part of that is who you choose your friends to be."

On the importance of giving back to the community: