In the post below, Clinton School students Austin Hall, Austin Harrison, Akaylah Jones, Alex, Lanis, Molly Miller, and Ashley-Brooke Moses, reflect on their experience attending the 2015 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting in New York.
One of the most unique things about volunteering at the CGI Annual Meeting is the fact that six students assigned to the same team can have six completely different experiences. While we were all prepared to show up ready to work hard for the duration of the four day meeting, we were surprised by the opportunities that we had to share the same space as business leaders, philanthropists, social innovators, and even celebrities!
While all of the big names were inspiring and fascinating to listen to, one of the most inspiring experiences of CGI was having the opportunity to attend the Hult Prize Award Ceremony, where one team of social entrepreneurs was awarded $1 million for their innovative plan to improve early childhood education in developing nations. Having just returned from our International Public Service Projects, many of us witnessed the same issues that the winning team, IMPCT, was hoping to address with their proposal for Playcares™, so it was incredibly inspiring to see what can be done when innovative thinkers come together to address a global social problem.
Additionally, we were able to hear discussions between social change leaders about how they solved or are currently addressing pressing issues such as climate change, refugee and health care crises, and empowering women and girls in their home countries. Learning about the great work that these individuals are doing was fantastic, but having the opportunity to hear about the new commitments being made each day during the meeting was just as inspiring. Individuals and companies actively joined forces to commit to solve issues such as preventing another Ebola outbreak, ensuring that women are economically empowered, and investing in early childhood education.
While listening to all of the impressive work and commitments of CGI members was amazing, we also learned a lot from our fellow volunteers, who were, for the most part, young people who are also passionate about social change. There were over 200 of us – some who had traveled from other countries just to volunteer – and many of them, like us, will be philanthropists and social change makers in the future. It was truly amazing to be in a space filled with the past, present, and future of social change.
Beyond these interactions with social change leaders and our peers, one of the coolest things that we all had the opportunity to experience was viewing “Inside Impact: East Africa”, a virtual reality experience the demonstrated the impact that CGI commitments have had in East Africa. The video was so realistic that we felt like we were actually in Africa when we watched it!
All in all, the experience of volunteering at CGI was a once in a lifetime opportunity that helped each of us gain a unique perspective on what can be achieved through social entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
About the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting:
Six Clinton School students will be in New York City from September 26-29 to attend the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting (CGI). CGI is an invitation-only even held each September in New York City for heads of state, chief executives of companies, directors of major nonprofits, and other global leaders. For three days, members make new connections and share insights and ideas. They learn about creative approaches taken by different organizations around the world. They hear from inspiring speakers who come from different sectors, different countries, and different points of view. They analyze what works and what doesn’t. Then they take that knowledge and use it to create programs that make meaningful and lasting change in the world. Second year Clinton School students have been invited to attend as volunteers to help with all of the behind-the-scenes work that makes this important event happen smoothly.
The students who attended CGI:
Austin Hall, from Hot Springs, Ark. and graduate of the University of Central Arkansas
Austin Harrison, from Louisville, Miss. and graduate of the University of Mississippi
Akaylah Jones, from Little Rock, Ark. and graduate of Henderson State University
Alex Lanis, from Ada, Okla. and graduate of the University of Arkansas
Molly Miller, from Sand Springs, Okla. and graduate of Hendrix College
Ashley-Brooke Moses, from Sharpsburg, Ga. and graduate of Wesleyan College
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