This week's Inspiring Pop Culture Moment: Wilmer Valderrama

  Photo by Tech. Sgt. Adam M. Stump, U.S. Air Force

Each week we take a look around our pop culture world and try to find one moment that stood out as the most inspiring. It might be a celebrity who is doing charitable things; a TV shows that inspires us to be better. Here is this week's most inspiring pop culture moment.

Wilmer Valderrama has made a name for himself in comedies. Rising to fame at the age of 18 on That ‘70s Show, the Miami native has found success making people laugh — most recently in his return trip to Suburgatory.

But the actor, who spent many of his formative years growing up in Venezuela, has a serious side. In a recent exclusive interview, he shared some very deep thoughts. Wilmer revealed, “What I’m really passionate about is finding multiple ways to use my entertainment platform to really not just raise awareness but to somehow create civil engagement within a number of communities that have yet to embrace the national community when it comes to the big picture.”

As Wilmer explained, “I’m the spokesperson and Executive Director of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and I’ve created youth leadership programs with them. I’m also the co-chair and co-founder of Voto Latino, which is an organization that mobilized the most Latinos [in the] last election for President Obama.”

During the campaign he did all he personally could to help rock the vote. He acknowledged, “I’m really, really passionate about mobilizing, not only the youth, but the people and in specifically my Latin community, as well. It’s important that they finally join in more of a big picture conversation when it comes to where we need to be as a country because united is how we’re really going to win.”

Wilmer added, “That’s one of the biggest passions I have is civil engagement and my activist roots, not only as an immigrant, but as someone who really appreciates his country and really wants his country to continue to give the American dream to so many people. But that’s one of the things that I am very passionate about is honoring this country and the opportunity and the possibility it has given me. [I want to] educate everyone.”

He seems to be on the right path. Learn more about Voto Latino and follow Wilmer Valderrama on Twitter.