Towson University students are continuing to find new and innovative ways to change the world. This weekend, five Towson University students are bringing their initiatives to the Clinton Global Initiative University Network in Miami, Florida.
The CGI U conference is a gathering of more than 1,000 student leaders convened by former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton who present “Commitments to Action,” which 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 2015 conference is encouraging students to take action on some of the Millennial generation’s biggest concerns such as the future of energy, the power of big data to address global challenges, and peace-building in the Middle East and North Africa. TU students brought three initiatives to the conference: Hope for Guinea, Mobilizing Minds in KPK, and Streamlining Resource Efficiency in Business Practice and Waste Management.
Towson students have already seen success at the conference, as the “Hope for Guinea” initiative has reached the championship round of the CGI U Commitments Challenge tournament. “Hope for Guinea” was one of the top two fundraising initiatives at the conference.
Donations are being accepted for the “Hope for Guinea” initiative, with the top earning fundraiser winning the CGI U 2015 Commitments Challenge.
Read on to find out more about all three Towson commitments:
- Hope for Guinea
This commitment is to provide a safe community center for academic success and civic engagement in Ratoma, Guinea.
Students involved in this commitment are: Oumou Diallo, a sophomore business administration, finance major; Jacqueline Bell, a sophomore molecular biology major; and Luis Alvarado, a senior currently specializing in the areas of international affairs and French literature.
- Mobilizing Minds in KPK
The goal of this commitment is to increase literacy rates of young girls and women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan by providing movile devices.
The student involved in this commtment is Reema Riaz, a senior in the honors college, studying political science and English. Riaz is on the path graduating summa cum laude.
- Streamlining Resource Efficiency in Business Practice and Waste Management
The goal of this commitment is to take a piece of machinery and combine it with straight-edge, uncompromised public policy to better handle the world’s natural resources and successfully manage waste.
The student involved with this commitment is Bilcia “Jasmin” Rivera, a senior majoring in political science and Mass Communications with a track in public relations.
“CGI U directly connects to the TU 2020 plan, along with our mission of advocating for social issues and the development of personal and social responsibility, said Christopher Jensen, director of The Office of Civic Engagement and Leadership. “I truly appreciate all the students participating in the program as they envision active citizenship and community involvement; and are working to make the world a better place.”
The Office of Civic Engagement & Leadership, along with Cynthia Kalodner, a professor in the department of psychology, and Tom Basuray, professor in the department of management, will mentor the student commitment-makers as they develop and implement their plans at Towson University and across the globe.
For more information on the entire event, please view the Clinton Global Initiative University Network website.
