“You cannot go through a day without seeing something real coming up in print, radio, TV, song, fashion or film,” Redford said. “But this group added something new, and what is really important is that they are using both their ears to hear the adults that are making the policies to convey the depth and degree of their passion and their voices to demand that we participate in the system that is shaping them.”

For a youngster who inspires Redford, look no further than poet George Watsky.

“Three years ago at Sundance we heard some of these voices, and when they introduced George and he read his speech, I saw the reactions of the elected officials, and they were all just stunned,” Redford said. “They were literally shocked and it was great to see those expressions.”

Watsky took the stage shortly after Redford, and although he did not share the inspirational poem he read at Sundance years back, he did reveal a new poem, “I Am So Green.” Herewith, a sample: “I have green middle fingers and I flip the green bird. … I am so green, Morpheus offered me the red pill and the blue pill, I chose the green one.”