She has explained that since last month's news of the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson and recent events in the Middle East, she has started to consider her role in the world on a more serious level.
Speaking with the publication, she said that a friend recently asked her "why are you here," and her immediate thought was: "Nobody has asked me that question before."
We Are Here - which is also the name of Alicia's latest song - is a way for her to do her part in making a difference in the world.
The aim is to bring people together and help people find ways to make an impact rather than just contemplate the atrocities in the world and not do anything about it.
"I want to gather an army," the star told the Times, adding that the reason for posting the naked baby bump image was to pull eyes to her cause.
"It's time to get people's attention," she explained. "People won't be able to ignore this visual."
The Girl On Fire singer created the image to express the idea that we should be concerned about the type of world we are bringing new children into, and all try to improve it.
"We're in the same head space. We think the same things," she said, of the injustices facing the world. "This is bothering us, so how can we take that to the next step and do something about that, as opposed to just being angry?"
The 12 groups that Alicia will encourage her fans to support are: All Out, CARE, Equal Justice Initiative, the Future Project, Girl Rising, Keep a Child Alive, Moms Rising, Oxfam, the Trevor Project, the Trayvon Martin Foundation, and War Child.
She told the publication that she is donating $1 million of her own money between these organizations to get the efforts started, and that her fans can contribute themselves at the We Are Here Movement website.
Alicia and her husband of four years Swizz Beatz are expecting their second child in December.
Rumour has it that Keys will be giving her son Egypt Daoud Ibarr Dean - who turns four next month - a little brother.
The busy singer was seen in Manhattan, New York, on Saturday attending Ruby Dee's memorial service.
The Grammy winner wore a figure-hugging navy blue dress and matching hat to farewell the famed American actress, poet and playwright.
- Daily Mail
