ATLANTA (BLACK PR WIRE) — NBA legend and business mogul Earvin “Magic” Johnson gave an inspiring speech to a packed audience of more than 500 employees and students from the Atlanta University Center recently at Coca-Cola headquarters.

Joined by multi-Grammy Award-winning musician, actor and philanthropist Common, Johnson shared personal childhood stories and insight into the importance of giving back to the community and participating in the “Coca-Cola Pay It Forward” movement.

Kicking off the second year of the program, Coca-Cola has enlisted the help of some of today’s leading African American history makers to offer exciting apprenticeship experiences to aspiring youth. Magic Johnson, Common and Black

Entertainment Television (BET) chairwoman and CEO Debra Lee will serve as mentors, giving four lucky young people the opportunity to shadow them and their teams for a week during the summer.

The program is open to young people between the ages of 16 to 21 (as of May, 1 2013). Family, friends, members of the community and young people themselves can go to My Coke Rewards (mycokerewards.com/payitforward) to nominate aspiring youth.