Alicia Keys, representing the organization Keep a Child Alive, photographed as she speaks at the second day of the ServiceNation Summit in New York at the Hilton on 1335 Sixth Ave on Friday, September 12, 2008. 

For over two days (Sept. 11-12) in New York City, 500 leaders from universities, foundations, businesses and politics came together to celebrate the power of citizen service, and set to lay out a bold policy blueprint for addressing America’s greatest social challenges through expanded opportunities for volunteer and national service.

The Summit began with a presidential candidates’ forum on the evening of September 11, where Senators McCain and Obama spoke about their views on the role of citizenship and service in post-9/11 America. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg welcomed the attendees when the proceedings continued the following day, and the summit concluded with a keynote addressed by then California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The lineup of speakers and panelists included Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, Caroline Kennedy, Alicia Keys, Usher, Kenneth Cole, Tobey Maguire, Jon Bon Jovi and others.