Missouri State University

Springfield, MO

Electronic Arts Senior Project

We Are the World 417

We Are the World 417 is a collaborative project being put together by a group of Electronic Arts students at Missouri State University. This project is a recreation of the original 1985 music video of “We Are the World,” originally written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson.

In our version, we want to empower local marginalized voices. Whether it be race, religion, gender, sexuality, ability, or any other reason that a person might be different, we want to highlight and celebrate it.

The music video has been filmed and is scheduled to be released at the MSU Electronic Arts Senior Presentation in May of 2025. It will be posted on YouTube shortly after.

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Donations are much appreciated and go straight towards the project.

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Get Involved

At this time, we have finished filming and are no longer recruiting musicians or singers. If you have additional assistance to offer, please reach out to us via email. Thank you!

Frequently Asked Questions

What does marginalized mean?

“A person, group, or concept treated as insignificant or peripheral.”

In other words, any identity that isn’t considered “normal” or “default.”

Some examples include: women, LGBTQ+, people of color, people with disabilities, neurodivergent (ADHD, autism, etc), religion besides Christianity, immigrant, ESL (English as a Second Language), seniors age 60 and older, and many, many more!

When and where will We Are the World 417 be filmed?

Filming is scheduled in three blocks: musicians in late November, soloists in late February, and choir in early March. All recording sessions will take place on the Springfield main campus of Missouri State University.

Specific dates are to be decided, but will likely be during the afternoon on a Tuesday or Thursday.

Where will We Are the World 417 be shown?

The final music video will be premiered at the MSU Electronic Arts Senior Showcase in May 2025. The video will be posted online shortly thereafter for public viewing.