Pali students and staff gathered on Wednesday, May 28, at the Skirball Cultural Center to hear musician, entrepreneur, philanthropist and Pali alum William Adams Jr., known by the stage name “will.i.am” speak about his career, community work and time at Pali. The event, organized by Pali’s Latino Student Union (LSU) and Black Student Union (BSU), featured a student-led interview with Adams, conducted by seniors Miranda Casas and Joshua Tavasti.
The event was spearheaded by Advanced Placement Spanish teacher Myrna Cervantes, a class of 1993 Pali alum who attended high school with Adams.
Cervantes opened the event by introducing the guest, highlighting his wide-ranging contributions and accomplishments.
“Our guest is a long-time investor and innovator in artificial intelligence, layering AI into many projects via his roles as a musician, producer, futurist, tech founder, TV and radio host, author and many other things,” Cervantes said. “And of course, he is a Pali alum—class of ’93—best class ever.”
Throughout the conversation, Adams reflected on his upbringing and the influence of his years at Pali.
“I grew up in Boyle Heights,” he said. “It’s a beautiful community, but, by the ’90s, the neighborhood got really bad.”
Because of that, Adam’s mother sent him to a school an hour and a half away–Pali. “Mr. Wright was my favorite teacher,” Adams said. “He would grade you on the questions you ask, not the answers, and that makes you want to ask better questions.”
He described discovering his love for music through his mother’s double cassette recorder.
“I saw this machine that I could put a tape in and make it say what I wanted it to say… that’s when I realized that creativity, imagination—those are my superpowers,” he said.
While Adams is most well known for his music career, he emphasized his roles as a tech innovator and philanthropist. He demonstrated his AI-powered app, Focus Your Ideas (FYI), which provides real-time information and collaborative tools. He emphasized the importance of representation in tech, particularly in artificial intelligence, and warned of digital bias and the need for diverse voices in development.
In discussing the roots of his philanthropy, Adams pointed to a transformative moment.
“In 2005, the tsunami happened in Indonesia. So I went with [the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)], and I saw all the devastation,” Adams said. “I thought, ‘There’s a tsunami in my neighborhood every day, though it’s a tsunami of neglect.’”
Adams founded the i.am Angel Foundation in 2008, an organization focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics (S.T.E.A.M) education, college access and tech skills for students in underserved communities.
“Math and robotics and engineering is the key that unlock everything in the world,” he said. “My gut tells me that the world is going to be highly technological… The jobs of today might disappear, but new ones will be born. So we need to prepare kids for that.”
Pali Junior Eliyah Husravi reflected on the insights Adams shared.
“The conversation was surprising and highly intellectual,” Husravi said. “I didn’t expect this event to be as motivating as it was.”
Adams applauded the philanthropic systems that allowed him to attend Pali, specifically the magnet and busing programs that connected students from across Los Angeles.
“Philanthropy is what allowed me to go to Pali because of the busing system that brought in kids from various zip codes—not just from the Palisades,” he said. “I’m a recipient of someone else’s philanthropy, and if I hadn’t made it in music, I’d probably still be teaching or serving the community.”
Adams also celebrated Pali’s current efforts in robotics, spotlighting the school’s growing team and reinforcing the importance of STEM education.
Pali Senior and robotics team member Luis Ramirez discussed the impact Adams’ inspiring message is having on the robotics team.
“The fires created a lot of uncertainty for our robotics team, especially since our classroom was destroyed, but will.i.am’s words have really affirmed to us to keep going,” Ramirez said.
Adams emphasized that students—especially girls and students of color—should feel empowered to pursue tech, business and entrepreneurship regardless of their backgrounds. Adams spoke to the audience, reinforcing his belief in the potential of young people, particularly young women.
“Men have historically dominated so many fields and industries,” he said. “But the future is female.”
Junior and ASB Treasurer Nathan Hall reflected on the impact of the event on a school still recovering from the effects of the recent Palisades Fire and temporary relocation.
“It’s amazing we have alumni like will.i.am who came out to support our community,” Hall said. “After so much devastation, I think students needed a day like today to just smile, laugh and be inspired.”
