Nick Cannon on the TeenNick HALO Awards: "It Is Time to Pass the Baton — Celebrities Should Give Awards to the Leaders of Tomorrow"

At 30, Nick Cannon — TV and radio personality, rapper, comedian, and TeenNick chairman — created and executive produced the second annual TeenNick HALO Awards, honoring young people who are "Helping And Leading Others." Premier Guide Miami's Daedrian McNaughton spoke with Cannon about the award show's mission, Miami resident and Haiti native Herold Charles (whose HALO match is Wyclef Jean), the surprise "Halo Hits" visits, and why Cannon is tired of celebrities giving awards to other celebrities. Premier Guide Miami sat down to find out what that means — and what comes next.

At 30, Nick Cannon wears many hats — TV and radio personality, rapper, comedian, and TeenNick chairman. He created and executive produced the second annual TeenNick HALO Awards, an award show that recognizes young people who are "Helping And Leading Others" in their communities. TeenNick partnered with the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) to provide grants and scholarships to each honoree. The special aired Friday, December 10 at 8 p.m. (ET) on TeenNick, with celebrity partners Mariah Carey, Ashton Kutcher, Rosario Dawson, and Wyclef Jean.

On the HALO Awards' mission: "Halo Awards is an award show that I created. I wanted to shine the spotlight on young people who are helping and leading others in their communities. I am tired of seeing so many award shows where celebrities are giving awards to other celebrities, so I figured it is time to pass the baton where celebrities are the ones giving these awards to the leaders of tomorrow."

On Miami honoree Herold Charles, whose HALO match is Wyclef Jean: "Herold is a remarkable young man who was not necessarily involved in a certain charity or even doing a lot of philanthropic things. He is just a young man trying to better himself. He moved from Haiti when he was young. He was separated from his family, and when the devastating earthquake hit Haiti, he helped. What propelled him into activism? Anyone could have done it, and he just became a leader in the moment. He connected people via Twitter and his cell phone to get people in the United States to contact people in Haiti to find out if their family members were OK. He created his own system, right there online. For him to do that shows that anyone can get involved and change the world."

On the surprise "Halo Hits" visits: "When we roll up on them, it is to surprise them. We try to keep it a secret as much as possible, so every reaction is genuine when you see it. They jump for joy, in shock, or in tears. It is great to see all the different emotional responses." On whether they recognized him: "Yes, I am big in that demographic."

On advice to teens who struggle to stay focused: "Just get out there and do something. It doesn't have to be something extraordinary, or something that garners attention. Help someone across the street, help someone with their groceries, whatever it is — just do something. You will feel good to do for others, and once you do that, it becomes contagious, and you want to do it again and again. It will then become your way of life."

On becoming a father (Cannon and Mariah Carey were expecting twins): "I feel amazing. It is an amazing experience. It is one of those things that's quite a journey, so you take it day by day."

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