"I think we're trying to make activism cool again for kids."

So proclaimed Chris Rock, who was among a host of celebs, including Bono, Alicia Keys and Shakira, joining former President Bill Clinton at Harlem's historic Apollo Theater for a roundtable forum on youth activism Saturday night  sponsored by MTV.

The event, capping a a three-day summit for the Clinton Global Initiative to address some of the globe's most pressing problems, was a lively bash that mixed music and politics and aimed to fire up youth to take action on issues they care about.

Aside from showtime at the Apollo, it was also Clinton and pals' time to inspire.

"We're here tonight because young people here have more opportunity than ever before to change history," said Clinton, who just released his latest book, Giving: How Each of Us Can Change The World.

The event, dubbed Giving—Live at the Apollo, took place before a mostly college-age crowd that also included such notables as U2's the Edge, Val Kilmer, Harry Belafonte and Clinton's daughter Chelsea.

The former commander in chief called on young people to make a richer contribution to society by being a more "active intelligent voter," and giving more of their own time as a "citizen servant." He also put the spotlight on the initiatives of some of his famous do-gooder friends.

Topics up for discussion included Bono's forceful lobbying on behalf of DATA, the charity he cofounded to combat poverty in Africa, Rock's commitment to helping children in an African village, Keys' Keep a Child Alive foundation, which provides life-saving medicines to AIDS orphans, and Shakira's nonprofit ALAS, fighting inequality in her native Colombia and other developing nations across Latin America.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Jerry Lee Lewis (who was celebrating his 72nd birthday) and Solomon Burke kicked off the evening with a rollicking version of "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On."

"I grew up playing music and all my life I've wanted to play at the Apollo," Clinton said, taking the stage afterwards.

He quipped that he had received numerous invites to amateur night but has tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to get Wynton Marsalis onstage with him to avoid getting the hook.

While he didn't break out the sax this time, Clinton did reveal plans for CGI-U, a new youth-based program the Clinton Global Initiative planned to roll out via universities all across the U.S.

"What we want to do now is bring it to universities and we'll begin next year at Tulane because we got a lot of work still to do in New Orleans."

Noting that 3,000 children die every day in Africa from mosquito-borne malaria, Bono explained how DATA (which stands for Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa) has helped lobby politicians worldwide on behalf of the voiceless.

"If you go to D.C. there's all kinds of special interests, but the world's vulnerable, they don't have that there," said the singer.

Bono—in town after being awarded the Liberty Medal in Philadelphia Thursday night—also noted that his One Campaign has made solid progress on Africa's debt and helping the continent lift itself up through trade.

"We want to fight for fairer trade laws," Bono added.  "Africans are a particularly noble people and they want to trade their way out of it. It's not charity, it's justice."

As part of a new initiative, he also announced that his One Campaign plans to launch the One Campus Challenge, which seeks to give college students the tools they can use to help bring an end to global disease and aid the planet's poor.

Shakira seconded those sentiments, citing her participation in 2005's Live 8 benefit concerts, which the Irish rocker helped organize calling for a global action against poverty.

"You convinced the youth of the world," she told Bono. "If we are convinced about something, we can make it happen."

The Grammy winner then spoke about her own foundation, Pies Descalzos, which provides special schools for poor children in her native Colombia, as well as the Latin American for Solidarity Foundation, ALAS by its Spanish acronym, a charity she launched with Nobel Prize winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Putting her money where her mouth is, the "Hips Don't Lie" diva pledged a $40 million donation to aid victims of an earthquake in Peru and a recent hurricane in Nicaragua.

"These are families that have lost everything they have," she said. "It's the second-biggest humanitarian crisis after the Sudan."

During a Q&A, Rock got the biggest laugh from the audience when a student asked how he could get involved in service when he's so slammed at school.

"Well, I bet if you were the one with AIDS, you'd make some time," Rock quipped.

Clinton, however, sympathized and offered some helpful encouragement, noting that even one hour a week can make a difference.

"Start from where you are," he said. "That's the number one message here."

Wyclef Jean was also on hand, performing a handful of songs, including a cover of "Walk on the Wild Side" and "If I Was President," as Clinton looked on from the front row.

Speaking to E! Online before Saturday's event, Wyclef talked about one of the projects he's working on in his homeland of Haiti.

Citing major improvements in the security situation that has made it safer for investors, the Fugee revealed plans to build a resort there within five years that will attract tourists and stimulate Haiti's economy.

"How do you get jobs back into the country?  That's one of the challenges were fixing.  I myself with the baby boomers are looking at a hotel project right now. Tourism is the key," he said, noting Haiti's unique place in history as the first black Republic and some of its sites such as Turtle Island, which he called "the original Pirates of the Caribbean."

Jean—who later got the crowd on its feet dueting on Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie"—also suggested that youth can make a positive impact on the world through the power of the Web.

"I think the best way the kids can make a difference is online communities," he said. Voicing their views and making sure their letters get through to the heads of state. Forming campaigns online, you basically can get 20,000 or 30,000 people if you have a view.  If it makes sense, we all join you."