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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 will come together to turn ideas into action and develop solutions for hurricane recovery, expanding civic participation, gun violence, youth incarceration, and more.

Media accreditation is now open. To apply, please register online here: https://forms.clinton-foundation.org/view.php?id=191260

The full and most up-to-date meeting agenda can be found at cgiu.org/2018

CHICAGO, IL – Next weekend, October 19-21, more than 1,000 students from across the country and around the world will gather at the University of Chicago for the 11th annual Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) meeting. These students will be joined by global leaders and experts from diverse sectors and regions to make tangible commitments to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

CGI U engages the next generation of leaders and is grounded in the belief that no one is too young to make a difference and create positive change in their communities. Since its first meeting, CGI U has brought together more than 9,000 students from more than 940 schools, 145 countries, and all 50 states.

In addition to President Bill Clinton, founder and chair of the Clinton Foundation; Chelsea Clinton, vice chair of the Clinton Foundation; and Secretary Hillary Clinton, former United States Secretary of State, featured speakers at CGI U 2018 will include: Tom Barrett, mayor, Milwaukee; Muzoon Almellehan, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador; Michael Berkowitz, president, 100 Resilient Cities; Amy Carter, deputy director, Family Interest Grants, Community & Civic Engagement, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Julio Martinez Ellsberg, member, International Relations Commission; Helene D. Gayle, president and CEO, The Chicago Community Trust; Susan Herman, president, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU); Uzodinma Iweala, CEO, Africa Center; Mai Khoi, independent artist and activist; Amanda Litman, executive director and co-founder, Run for Something; Bob Lord, chief digital officer, IBM; Jens Ludwig, director, University of Chicago’s Crime Lab, McCormick Foundation Professor; Parag Mehta, executive director, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth; D’Angelo McDade, executive director, Peace Warrior Organization; Wai Wai Nu, executive director, Women’s Peace Network; Lt. Col. Joe Plenzler, Retired Marine Corps combat veteran and co-founder of #VetsForGunReform; Vincent Stanley, director of philosophy, Patagonia; Astrid Silva, executive director, Dream Big Nevada; Jacob Tobia, author and producer, Putnam Books at Penguin Random House, among others.

To participate in CGI U, students must develop Commitments to Action – new, specific, and measurable projects that address societal issues they face on campuses, in local communities, or around the world. Past commitments include: Working to change the way victims of gender-based violence are supported abroad; improving energy efficiency in at-risk communities in order to lower energy costs for families and small businesses while also improving the environment; using mobile technology to stop the spread of counterfeit medicine in emerging markets; creating female mentorship programs to address gender inequality and justice issues in Los Angeles; and developing and distributing drinkable water for people living in disaster zones around the world, starting in the United States.

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 wide 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.

Media accreditation is now open. To apply, please register online here: https://forms.clinton-foundation.org/view.php?id=191260

CGI U 2018 Program Highlights

This is the first year the University of Chicago will host CGI U. The University of Chicago 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.

The University of Chicago’s student engagement efforts for the 2018 event will be coordinated by the Office of the Provost, with leadership from Campus and Student Life and the Office of Events and Ceremonies, in partnership with Chicago Booth’s Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation, UChicago’s Institute of Politics, the Harris School of Public Policy, the School of Social Service Administration, and the Office of Civic Engagement. Through the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation, the University continues to expand support for students, alumni, and faculty who are committed to tackling complex social and environmental issues.

Previous CGI U meetings have been held at Tulane University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Miami, the University of California at San Diego, the George Washington University, Washington University in St. Louis, Arizona State University, University of California at Berkeley, and Northeastern University.

Program highlights at CGI U 2018 will include:

Friday, October 19, 2018

  • “Code for Impact,” presented 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. Students will work in teams and then pitch their projects to a panel of expert judges which will include Chelsea Clinton and Bob Lord.
     
  • Opening Plenary: “Expanding Civic Engagement,” where President Clinton will join Muzoon Almellehan, D’Angelo McDade, Wai Wai Nu, and Astrid Silva to discuss how the next generation can turn passion about the issues we face into sustained action and civic participation. Prior to the panel, Chelsea Clinton and University of Chicago President Robert J. Zimmer will provide opening remarks.

Saturday, October 20, 2018

  • “Freedom of Expression Around the World,” a plenary session moderated by Uzodinma Iweala, and featuring Susan Herman, Julio Martinez Ellsberg, and Mai Khoi will address how to develop platforms for constructive dialogue, where diverse views can be explored without intolerance.
     
  • “Gun Violence in the United States: A Case Study in Social Movements,” a plenary session moderated by Chelsea Clinton and featuring Helene D. Gayle, Lt. Col. Joe Plenzler, and Mayor Tom Barrett will explore how social movements such as “March for Our Lives” have been successful in working together to address the many underlying factors connected to gun violence.
     
  • “Closing Plenary – A Conversation with President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton.”
     
  • “Beyond Bars: Addressing Youth Incarceration,” participants of this working session, will discuss how we can break the cycle of recidivism for young people through counseling, educational resources, addressing harsh “zero tolerance” school disciplinary policies, and more.
     
  • “Building Back Better: Post-Disaster Recovery in the Caribbean and Beyond,” during this working session, moderated by Michael Berkowitz, CGI U students will hear how governments, civil society, and businesses can work together to improve disaster relief and preparedness.

Sunday, October 21, 2018

  • Annual CGI U Day of Action: As a part of the Clinton Foundation’s efforts to inspire civic engagement and service, and CGI U’s longtime commitment to volunteerism, President Clinton and Chelsea Clinton will lead CGI U students in a Day of Action to give back to the Chicago community. Founded and led by Chelsea Clinton in the wake of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the Clinton Foundation Day of Action program seeks to create service opportunities and mobilize thousands of volunteers to give back to their communities. To date, the Clinton Foundation has hosted 31 Days of Action in the United States and abroad, which have mobilized more than 7,200 volunteers and donated more than 29,000 volunteer hours.

Support for CGI U 2018 is generously provided by Boeing, Up to Us, Kevin Xu, Chicago Community Trust, and PepsiCo. Additional support for CGI U 2018 is provided by the University of Chicago and the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation.

Logistical Information

The deadline to apply for press credentials is Wednesday, October 17, 2018. Journalists may apply for credentials on-site, but space is limited, and pre-registered media will be given priority. For questions about press registration, please email press@clintonfoundation.org.  

Updated daily schedules and a complete breakdown of activities can be found at cgiu.org/2018

More information about CGI U is available here: www.cgiu.org.

Follow us on Twitter at @CGIU and @ClintonFdn or on Facebook at Facebook.com/CGIUniversity for meeting news and highlights. The official meeting hashtag is #CGIU2018. The event will also be livestreamed at live.cgiu.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.