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THIS WEEK: Secretary Hillary Clinton to join President Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton at the 11th annual Clinton Global Initiative University meeting at the University of Chicago


October 19-21, more than 1,000 student leaders from around the world will engage with leading experts, advocates, and innovators on issues facing young people and the world today

Chicago, IL – This week, President Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton will host more than 1,000 university students and experts at the 11th annual Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) meeting at the University of Chicago. They will be joined by Secretary Hillary Clinton at the closing session which will take place on Saturday, October 20. Throughout the meeting, CGI U students will develop innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges including hurricane recovery, expanding civic participation, gun violence, and youth incarceration.

This meeting is part of the Clinton Foundation’s efforts to inspire civic engagement and service and builds upon the success of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in convening leaders to tangibly improve lives around the world. CGI U is just one of the ways that this work continues – CGI has continued to convene leaders from business, philanthropy, and government on a range of issues through innovative Action Networks, including sustainability and hurricane recovery in the Caribbean; stopping elephant poaching worldwide; encouraging continued investment in Haiti; and promoting economic opportunity for artisan entrepreneurs worldwide.

This is the first year the University of Chicago will host CGI U. UChicago is a leading academic and research institution where students and scholars are empowered to challenge conventional thinking to solve some of the most pressing challenges of our time. As an intellectual destination, the University draws scholars and students from around the world to its campuses and centers around the globe. The University provides a distinctive educational experience and research environment, enabling individuals to pursue research that shifts paradigms and produces new understandings with global impact.

Media accreditation is now open. To apply, please complete the form at https://forms.clinton-foundation.org/view.php?id=191260. A schedule of activities and press logistics is available below.

*** FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY ***
*** SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE – PLEASE EMAIL PRESS@CLINTONFOUNDATION.ORG FOR QUESTIONS ***

NOTE: An event map will be provided to registered media. To register, please complete the form at: https://forms.clinton-foundation.org/view.php?id=191260

Friday, October 19

CLINTON FOUNDATION CODEATHON AT CGI U – Closing Ceremony
3:30-5:45 p.m. CDT
PRESS PRE-SET: 2:30 p.m. CDT
William Eckhardt Research Center, 5540 S. Ellis Ave, Chicago

This year's Codeathon, co-hosted by CGI U, the CGI Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery, and the Clinton Climate Initiative, will challenge students to develop digital tools that can increase the effectiveness of response and recovery efforts following natural disasters. From Thursday, October 18 to Friday, October 19, students will work in teams and then pitch their projects to a panel of expert judges. The winning team will be featured on-stage at CGI U 2018, hosted by President Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton.

Judges:

  • Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair, Clinton Foundation
  • Bob Lord, Chief Digital Officer, IBM
  • Christine Schindler, President and Founder of Girls Engineering Change; former CGI U student
  • Dawn Walker, Director, RainReady Community 
  • Chris Wheat, Chief of Policy, Office of the Mayor at City of Chicago

OPENING PLENARY SESSION — Expanding civic engagEment
6:30-8:00 p.m. CDT
CAMERA PRE-SET: 2:30-3:30 p.m. CDT
RETRICTED ACCESS: 3:30-5:30 p.m. CDT
PRESS PRE-SET: 5:30-6:30 p.m. CDT
Gerald Ratner Athletics Center, 5530 S. Ellis Ave, Chicago

The challenges we face are daunting: from violence against ethnic groups to natural disasters spurred by climate change; from a growing number of forcibly displaced people uprooted by armed conflict, to racial injustice and economic inequality. There is an urgent need to address and protect what we care most deeply about and to expand a culture of civic engagement that extends far beyond volunteering and voting alone. In an age of both increased connectivity and separatism, we must take action in a way that expands the definition of “us” to include “them.” In this session, panelists will explore how CGI U commitment-makers can:

  • Cultivate leadership skills needed to turn passion into sustained action and civic participation;
  • Develop partnerships with governments, civil society, schools, and businesses around the world to engage for tangible impact; and
  • Create opportunities for dialogue with a wide range of perspectives and populations, helping key stakeholders be represented, supported, and heard.

Speakers:

  • President Bill Clinton, Founder and Board Chair, Clinton Foundation; 42nd President of the United States
  • Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair, Clinton Foundation
  • Robert J. Zimmer, President, University of Chicago
  • Muzoon Almellehan, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
  • D’Angelo McDade, Executive Director, Peace Warrior Organization
  • Wai Wai Nu, Executive Director, Women’s Peace Network
  • Astrid Silva, Executive Director, Dream Big Nevada

Saturday, October 20

MORNING PLENARY SESSION – FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AROUND THE WORLD
9:00-10:15 a.m. CDT
PRESS PRE-SET: 8:00-9:00 a.m. CDT
Gerald Ratner Athletics Center, 5530 S. Ellis Ave, Chicago

Free speech and the open exchange of ideas are both critical to a functioning democracy, and a core component of a rigorous education and the process of innovation. Yet the freedom of expression is not only threatened by repressive governments and institutions around the world, but by a growing resistance to exploring diverging opinions and the unintended consequences of a digital world. The internet has enabled millions of users to generate content and share opinions without traditional gatekeepers or censors, yet it has also given rise to anonymous smear campaigns, the spread of misinformation, and echo chambers of like-minded users. With the freedom of expression comes the responsibility to reject falsehoods, question previously held assumptions, and demand accountability for each other’s words. In this session, panelists will explore how to:

  • Develop platforms for constructive dialogue and creative problem solving, where worldviews can be explored without intolerance or ad hominem attacks;
  • Build peer-to-peer, crowdsourced systems for credible and accurate content delivery, both online and offline; and
  • Combat censorship and promote the safety of dissidents and journalists in even the most repressive environments around the world.

Speakers:

  • Julio Martinez Ellsberg, Member, International Relations Commission
  • Susan Herman, President, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
  • Uzodinma Iweala, CEO, Africa Center
  • Mai Khoi, Independent Artist

SKILL SESSIONS
10:30-11:45 a.m. CDT
PRESS PRE-SET: 10:00 a.m. CDT

Designing a Meaningful Project
School of Social Service Administration, 969 E. 60th Street, Chicago

How can CGI U students design thoughtful and impactful projects as they set out to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges? Participants in this session will learn to approach commitment design through a community-driven and constituent-informed lens focusing on ideation, solutions engineering, and learning and refinement. This session is intended for students interested in mastering critical design practices prior to embarking on project implementation.

Speakers:

  • Trine Hammershøy, Managing Director, headspace Denmark
  • Hafsah Lak, Co-founder, Violence Against Women Centers    
  • Kamau Murray, Founder, XS Tennis and Education Foundation
  • Vincent Stanley, Director of Philosophy, Patagonia
  • Susana Vasquez, Associate Vice President, University of Chicago

Raising Money for Your Commitment
Max Palevsky Cinema, Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th Street, Chicago

How can CGI U students access and leverage the funding opportunities and resources available to them? Participants will learn to navigate traditional, grant-based funding streams as well as maximize the benefits of online fundraising tools, social media, and other digital marketing platforms. This session is intended for students who want to hone their skills in pitch-making and establish enduring connections with potential funders.

Speakers:

  • Becca Keaty, Chief Development Officer, Bunker Labs
  • Derrius Quarles, Founder and CEO, Million Dollar Scholar / BREAUX Capital
  • Andrea Sreshta, Co-founder, LuminAID
  • Phil Weilerstein, President, Venture Well

Strengthening Organizational Capacity
Gordon Parks Arts Hall, 5815 S. Kimbark Ave, Chicago

Limited personnel and organizational capacity can significantly reduce the ability of CGI U participants to carry out their commitments and bring them to scale. This session will introduce strategies for managing and building a staff as well as recruiting, organizing, and retaining an engaged volunteer team. In addition, students will learn how to expand their reach and impact by identifying and securing partnerships with a wide range of campus and community partners.

Speakers:

  • Mayra Jimenez, Children’s Program Director and Managing Attorney, Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES)
  • Jamila Raqib, Executive Director, Albert Einstein Institution
  • Justin Luke Riley, Founder and CEO, Young People in Recovery
  • Jeff Ubois, Senior Program Officer, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
  • Anne Filipic, Chief Program Officer, Obama Foundation

Creating Buzz: Using Technology to Expand Your Impact
Charles M. Harper Center at the Booth School of Business, 5807 S. Woodlawn Ave, Chicago
Beyond a quick press release or an article in the school newspaper, what are some creative ways to raise the profile of the work done by CGI U members? How can the internet expand community engagement and participation with CGI U commitments? This session will explore traditional marketing and media campaigns, along with a wide range of digital storytelling and organizing strategies.

Speaker:

  • Jacob Tobia, Author and Producer
  • Tiana Epps-Johnson, Founder and Executive Director, Center for Technology and Civic Life

Monitoring and Evaluating Your Results
Cloister Club, Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th Street, Chicago

How can CGI U participants position their commitments to achieve tangible progress and fulfill their mission? Discussions will explore measurement and evaluation methods that can enhance the quality and effectiveness of commitments, enable attendees to identify potential design flaws, and build upon existing strategies to maximize outcomes and inform future efforts. This session is intended for students looking to use data to inform strategy and improve impact.

Participants:

  • Amy Carter, Deputy Director, Family Interest Grants, Community & Civic Engagement, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Ruchira Gupta, Founder and CEO, Apne Aap
  • Bob Lord, Chief Digital Officer, IBM
  • Sara Minkara, Founder and CEO, Empowerment Through Integration
  • Harris Bostic, Senior Strategic Advisor, Tides  

AFTERNOON PLENARY SESSION – GUN VIOLENCE IN THE U.S.: A CASE STUDY IN SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
2:00-3:15 p.m. CDT
PRESS PRE-SET: 1:00-2:00 p.m. CDT
Gerald Ratner Athletics Center, 5530 S. Ellis Ave, Chicago  

A groundswell of young activists and changemakers have taken the lead in addressing gun violence and increasing opportunity for disenfranchised communities throughout America. From the March for Our Lives to the streets of Chicago, these student leaders have inspired people across the globe, building bridges between unlikely communities who share the common pain of gun violence and creating tangible impact when many traditional institutions have not. On gun violence and countless other urgent challenges, they are building a social movement that extends far beyond protest alone: foundations, policymakers, businesses, and civic leaders are now coming together under the leadership of students to develop effective strategies and take concrete next steps. Together they are working to address the many underlying factors connected to gun violence, including unemployment, poverty, overdependence on incarceration, mental illness, and easy access to firearms. In this session, panelists and CGI U commitment-makers will explore:

  • Lessons learned from a wide range of successful social movements: how they developed clear goals, how they focused on inclusivity, and how they harnessed creativity;
  • How current anti-gun violence campaigns can move beyond slogans and marches alone: how movements can evolve from awareness to impact, bring people together, and leverage the power of advocacy as a tool for tangible results and long-term partnerships; and
  • Digital tools and internet campaigns that can build and support networks of activists, both on and offline.

Speakers:

  • Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair, Clinton Foundation
  • Tom Barrett, Mayor, Milwaukee
  • Helene D. Gayle, President and CEO, The Chicago Community Trust
  • Lt. Col. Joe Plenzler, Retired Marine Corps combat veteran and Co-Founder of #VetsForGunReform

WORKING SESSIONS
3:45-5:00 p.m. EST
PRESS PRE-SET: 3:15 p.m. EST

Beyond the Bars: Addressing Youth Incarceration
Gordan Parks Arts Hall, 5815 S. Kimbark Ave, Chicago

On any given day, more than 47,000 youth are incarcerated in the U.S., more young people than in any other country in the world. Among those imprisoned, 73 percent are for nonviolent offenses and 69 percent are youth of color. While the overall number of incarcerated youth has decreased since 2001, racial disparities are increasing, with youth of color now five times more likely to be detained or jailed than their white peers. LGBT youth are also overrepresented, encompassing 20 percent of all youth in juvenile justice facilities while only representing seven to nine percent of the general population, and are also more likely to be sexually victimized. This overreliance on incarceration not only decreases young people’s chances of high school graduation or college enrollment, but increases risk factors for long-term financial instability, family separation, and adult incarceration. How can schools, community organizations, and law enforcement agencies address gender and racial disparities in the justice system as part of broader efforts to reduce youth incarceration and improve outcomes for young people and their communities? In this session, panelists and CGI U commitment-makers will explore how to:

  • Break the cycle of the school-to-prison pipeline by addressing “zero tolerance” school disciplinary policies, an overreliance on police in schools, and inadequate educational resources and counseling services for students;
  • Strengthen violence prevention programs, summer job opportunities, and community-based sentencing alternatives for at-risk youth; and
  • Support systematic change for youth in juvenile justice systems and their families through solutions that improve behavioral, nutritional, mental, and physical health outcomes.

Speakers:

  • Adam Foss, Founder and Executive Director, Prosecutor Impact
  • Jens Ludwig, McCormick Foundation Professor and Faculty Director of The Crime and Education Labs, University of Chicago
  • Liz Dozier, Former Principal, Founder and CEO, Chicago Beyond
  • Curtis Toler, Change Leader, Chicago CRED
  • Kim Bogucki, Co-founder, The If Project

Build Back Better: Post-Disaster Recovery in the Caribbean and Beyond
Max Palevsky Cinema, Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th Street, Chicago

Hurricanes Irma and Maria had a devastating impact on the Caribbean, leaving hundreds of thousands displaced, destroying critical infrastructure and power grids, and disrupting a wide range of local supply chains and social services. In Barbuda, more than 90 percent of properties were significantly damaged, while in Puerto Rico, it is estimated that more than 5,000 small businesses still remain closed to this day. In the face of increasingly severe weather and the growing consequences of climate change, it is critical that vulnerable regions around the world build back in a way that focuses on recovery and resilience in the face of future storms. How can governments, civil society, and businesses work together to build on progress made, expand disaster preparedness, and foster long-term ecological and economic resilience? In this session, panelists and CGI U commitment-makers will explore how to:

  • Promote large-scale adoption of renewable energy, hurricane-resistant design, and long-term flood risk reduction through reforestation and wetlands conservation;
  • Develop effective systems of emergency preparedness and response, while enabling access to electricity for critical infrastructure such as hospitals, wastewater treatment plants, and transportation networks, both before and after natural disasters; and
  • Enhance the capacity of small businesses and smallholder farmers to withstand future storms and safeguard jobs and livelihoods.

Speakers:

  • Amira Odeh, Director, Caribbean Youth Environmental Network Puerto Rico
  • Kathryn Adams, Co-founder and Executive Director, LIDE

Building Financial Inclusion at the Bottom of the Pyramid
Cloister Club, Ida Noyes, Hall, 1212 E. 59th Street, Chicago

The World Bank has reported that there are approximately two billion adults around the world who are unbanked, down from 2.5 billion in 2011. Innovations in mobile money, e-wallets, and peer-to-peer lending have increased access to financial services, enabling millions to utilize transaction accounts where they can store money, obtain credit, or send and receive payments. Yet despite these advances, 80% of those living on less than $2 a day are not accessing formal financial services, making it difficult for them to save, plan for the future, start a business, or recover from unexpected emergencies. How can entrepreneurs, nonprofits, governments, and financial institutions harness digital advances to expand relevant financial services to those at the bottom of the pyramid and in doing so, increase economic mobility and narrow income inequality? In this session, panelists and CGI U commitment- makers will explore how to:

  • Adopt and scale affordable financial services that are designed for low-income users and provide support for first transactions, including face-to-face interactions that can inform new customers how best to use savings and credit products;
  • Promote women’s economic participation and greater security and control over their finances by addressing gender, cultural, and educational barriers that often restrict their access to financial services;
  • Open new pathways to financial inclusion by partnering with organizations that are delivering internet and mobile connectivity to hard-to-reach places to expand access to financial services for those living in rural areas and at the last mile.

Speakers:

  • Duquesne Fednard, CEO and Founder, D&E Green Enterprises and Savings by Consumption
  • Parag Mehta, Executive Director, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth
  • Olivia White, Partner, Mckinsey & Company

Keeping Adolescent Girls in School
The Charles M. Harper Center at the Booth School of Business, 5807 S. Woodlawn Ave., Chicago

From lower maternal mortality rates to reductions in early marriages and early pregnancies, there are numerous benefits linked to female secondary school enrollment. While one-third of women in the developing world give birth before they are 20 years old, one extra year of secondary school can increase their future annual earnings by more than ten percent. Yet inadequate sanitation facilities, along with a lack of sexual health and violence prevention education at schools, negatively impacts adolescent girls’ ability to stay in school and can make girls more vulnerable to sexual harassment and assault. Investing in public health solutions will not only help to address gender barriers to education faced by adolescent girls, but will also positively impact their earning potential, well-being, and the health and education of their broader communities. In this session, panelists and CGI U commitment-makers will discuss how to:

  • Improve access to adequate sanitation facilities and private restrooms in schools to better support adolescent girls and to mitigate the risk of sexual violence and harassment;
  • Provide sexual and reproductive health education in schools to help develop good hygiene practices, increase access to sanitary hygiene products, and combat social gender norms including the widespread stigma of menstruation; and
  • Incentivize and expand access to education for pregnant girls and young parents, with strategies including financial assistance, childcare support, and re-admission programs for teenage mothers.

Speakers:

  • Shadrack O. Frimpong, Founder and CEO, Cocoa360
  • Suhani Jalota, Founder and Director, Myna Mahila Foundation
  • Chernor Bah, Co-founder and Executive Director, Purposeful Productions
  • Laurie Adams, CEO, Women for Women International

Thinking Critically: Education for Engagement
School of Social Service Administration, 969 E. 60th Street, Chicago

While emphasis on STEM education and standardized testing continues to grow, knowledge of civics has been declining, with only 26 percent of Americans able to name the three branches of government in a 2016 survey, compared to 38 percent in 2011. A recent national poll of 18- to 29-year olds found that 67 percent of young people are more fearful than hopeful about America’s future, yet voter turnout remains low among college students, many of whom believe that government all too often stands in the way of creating social impact. In an age of fake news, political polarization, and growing economic disparities, how do we equip young people with the tools to think critically and enact positive change as civic leaders? How do we empower the next generation with the knowledge and skills necessary to become active and effective participants in a democratic society? In this session, panelists and CGI U commitment-makers will explore how to:

  • Address disparities in civics education, particularly among underserved youth in low-income communities, and use action civics as a way for young people to go beyond the classroom and collectively transform their local communities;
  • Work with educators, organizations, and other students to increase political participation – independent of party affiliation – and provide college students, a traditionally transient population, with the resources and support to register and participate in elections; and
  • Engage in meaningful, informed dialogue with a wide range of perspectives, discern facts from falsehoods, and understand how to engage with and drive change through the political process.

Speakers:

  • Samantha Paradis, Mayor; Registered Nurse, City of Belfast, Maine; Waldo County General Hospital
  • Jessica Marshall, Former Director of Social Science and Civic Engagement, Chicago Public Schools (CPS)
  • Amanda Litman, Executive Director and Co-founder, Run for Something
  • Clifton Kinnie, Founder, Our Destiny STL

CLOSING PLENARY SESSION – A Conversation with President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton
5:30-6:45 p.m. CDT
PRESS PRE-SET: 4:30-5:30 p.m. CDT
Gerald Ratner Athletics Center, 5530 S. Ellis Ave, Chicago   

Speakers:

  • President Bill Clinton, Founder and Board Chair, Clinton Foundation; 42nd President of the United States
  • Secretary Hillary Clinton, Former United States Secretary of State
  • Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair, Clinton Foundation

Sunday, October 21
DAY OF ACTION: SERVING THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY
9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. CDT
PRESS PRE-SET: 7:30-8:30 a.m. CDT
XS Tennis and Education Foundation, 5336 S. State St., Chicago

On the final day of the meeting, CGI U will host a morning of community service with select partner organizations in the Chicago area.

Speakers:

  • President Bill Clinton, Founder and Board Chair, Clinton Foundation; 42nd President of the United States
  • Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair, Clinton Foundation

Onsite Logistics – Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20

Press Credentials:
Press registration is open to members of the media. All media must apply for credentials and must be approved by CGI U in order to attend. To apply, please complete the form at https://forms.clinton-foundation.org/view.php?id=191260. 

Credentials may be applied for on-site, but pre-registered media will be given priority. For questions about press registration, contact the Clinton Foundation Communications Department at press@clintonfoundation.org.

Media who pre-registered and received a confirmation email notification from CGI U of their acceptance are encouraged to pick up their credentials at the Press Registration desk and working room at Campus North Residential Commons, Baker Dining Commons.

Credentials will be available for pick up at the press registration table at the following location and hours:

Press Registration
Friday: 1:00-8:00 p.m. CDT
Saturday: 6:00 a.m.-6:15 p.m. CDT

Location
Campus North Residential Commons, Baker Dining Commons
5500 South University Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637

Press Center and Workspace
There will be space for press to work and file stories during CGI U in the Press Working Room, located at the Campus North Residential Commons, Baker Dining Commons.

Press Working Room Hours
Friday: 1:00-8:30 p.m. CDT
Saturday: 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. CDT

Meals
Meals will be provided onsite.

Useful links

Interview Locations
If you are interested in interview locations on-site at the University of Chicago, please email press@clintonfoundation.org. 

Wireless Microphones
Please do NOT bring or use wireless microphones on-site, as they may interfere with the show wireless system.

Mult Box
Output specifics are:
            HD: HD/SDI with embedded audio
            Analog Audio: XLR

Throw from press riser to stage: ~75 feet

Sat Truck Parking
There are a limited amount of satellite and microwave truck parking spaces available. Please email seth@tuckerproduction.com with requests and questions regarding satellite truck parking. Please note that sat trucks should bring yellow jackets for cables.

Cable run: 500 feet

General Press Parking: Parking for press will be available for media at the Young Lot across from the Gerald Ratner Athletics Center at the University of Chicago. However, this will be first come, first serve. Additional parking can be found at the Campus North Parking Garage located at 5501 S Ellis Ave, Chicago, IL 60637. Please note that parking here will not be complimentary.

Interview Requests
Please send all interview requests to press@clintonfoundation.org

Day of Action Logistics – Sunday, October 21

Day of Action Press Registration and Parking
You will be directed to press registration upon arrival to the XS Tennis Village.

Day of Action Location
                XS Tennis Village
                5336 South State Street
                Chicago, IL 60609

Day of Action Sat Truck Parking

There are a limited amount of satellite and microwave truck parking spaces available. Please email seth@tuckerproduction.com with requests and questions regarding satellite truck parking.

Press registration for the Day of Action will take place from 7:00-8:45 a.m. CDT

Social Media

Throughout the course of the CGI U Meeting, we encourage you to take advantage of these social media opportunities:

Photos Available for Use
For photos and permission to use in published materials, please send requests to press@clintonfoundation.org

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About the Clinton Foundation 
The Clinton Foundation improves lives across the United States and around the world by creating economic opportunity, improving public health, and inspiring civic engagement and service.