Four Clinton School students will travel to Tempe, Arizona this weekend to participate in the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) on the campus of Arizona State University. Modeled after President Clinton’s annual Clinton Global Initiative, which brings world leaders together to tackle global challenges, CGIU brings students together to make specific commitments to service.
Clinton School students Brad Cameron (’15), Haylee Fletcher (’15), Traci Johnson (’15), and Tshering Yudon (’15) will represent the school at the conference. Each of the students has prepared a Commitment to Action:
- Brad Cameron is committed to implementing a program called Change ∆gent, an after-school education program that combines civic engagement with computer science skill development. More about Change ∆gent can be found at http://changeagentcs.launchrock.com/?lrRef=j7oxm4
- Haylee Fletcher and Traci Johnson are developing an online resource, entitled TogetherNet, to enable Arkansas youth affected by incarcerated parents to connect through online avenues that are safe and accessible. TogetherNet strives to empower and educate youth in acknowledging that they are not alone by connecting them to peer support and resources in an anonymous format developed in collaboration with Arkansas Voices. More about TogetherNet can be found at www.Togethernet.org
- Tshering Yudon will collaborate with local visual and graphic artists in Bhutan to create a children’s picture book based on traditional fables. The project is an artistic pursuit to preserve and sustain local stories by sharing it with elementary school children in a fun and creative manner. More about this project can be found at http://www.shingira.org/.
As part of the Clinton School’s membership in the CGI University Network, the school will provide up to $10,000 in funding to be divided among this select group of Clinton School students who are selected to pursue their Commitments to Action at CGI U 2014. Commitments to Action, a unique feature of the CGI U model, are new, specific, and measurable initiatives that address global challenges across CGI U’s five focus areas: Education, Environment and Climate Change, Peace and Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation, and Public Health.
The Clinton Global Initiative University Network is a growing consortium of colleges and universities that support, mentor, and provide seed funding to student leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs who are developing solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The Clinton School is now one of more than 35 colleges and universities worldwide who have joined the CGI University Network.
Since its inaugural meeting in 2008, CGI U has brought together more than 5,500 student leaders from 135 countries and more than 800 schools. Past speakers include Madeleine Albright, Jack Dorsey, Muhammad Yunus, Hawa Abdi Diblawe, and Jon Stewart. For more information about the meeting, visit www.cgiu.org.
Follow the conference through Facebook and Twitter:
Twitter: @CGIU and #CGIU
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cgiuniversity