RV
Rebecca Valverde
  • Salt Lake City, UT

Rebecca Valverde Participated in Sixth Annual Clinton Global Initiative University Meeting at Washington University in St. Louis

2013 Apr 9

Rebecca Valverde of Salt Lake City, UT (84116), participated in the sixth annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U), held April 5-7 at Washington University in St. Louis.

Valverde, a graduate student at Westminster College, joined more than 1,000 college students, representing approximately 300 schools and 75 countries, as well as key innovators, thought leaders and civically engaged celebrities to discuss and develop innovative solutions to pressing global challenges.

Among the featured speakers at CGI U 2013 were former President Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Stephen Colbert, Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus and Washington University's Michael Sherraden.

Each attending student made a Commitment to Action - a new, specific and measurable initiative that addresses some of the most pressing challenges on campus, in the community or around the world. Valverde's Commitment to Action is titled (trans*)forming Salt Lake City.

During the meeting, the students participated in plenary and working sessions to learn from experts in the field on how to enhance the effectiveness of their commitments, as well as discuss topics in each of CGI's five focus areas: Education, Environment and Climate Change, Peace and Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation and Public Health.

For the first time this year, nearly $500,000 in funding was available for CGI U 2013 student commitment-makers to carry out their ideas, primarily through the newly established CGI University Network of 34 colleges and universities that have committed to support, mentor and provide seed funding to student innovators and entrepreneurs from their respective schools.

In the past five years, more than 4,500 young leaders from all over the world have attended CGI U and implemented programs that have produced practical, measurable and significant results.

By participating in CGI U 2013, the students will have the unique opportunity to grow and learn while performing meaningful service and positively impacting the community as a whole.

For more information on CGI U or the CGI University Network, visit cgiu.org. Follow CGI U on Twitter at @CGIU and @ClintonGlobal and visit CGI U on Facebook at Facebook.com/CGIUniversity for meeting news and highlights. Also, visit Washington University's CGI U news Tumblr, which was updated throughout the weekend. The event hashtag was #CGIU.

About CGI U

The Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) brings together college students to address global challenges with practical, innovative solutions. CGI U participants do more than simply discuss problems – they take concrete steps to solve them by creating action plans, building relationships, participating in hands-on workshops, and following up with CGI U as they complete their projects. Previous CGI U meetings have taken place at Tulane University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Miami, the University of California at San Diego, and the George Washington University, and have convened more than 4,500 students from nearly 750 schools, more than 130 countries, and all 50 states. To learn more, visit cgiu.org.

About the Clinton Global Initiative

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world's most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 150 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date CGI members have made more than 2,300 commitments, which are already improving the lives of nearly 400 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at $73.5 billion.

About Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University is counted among the world's leaders in teaching and research, and it draws students and faculty to St. Louis from all 50 states and more than 120 nations. The total student body is nearly 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. The approximately 3,400 faculty teach in seven schools: Arts & Sciences, Brown School, Olin Business School, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, School of Engineering & Applied Science, School of Law and School of Medicine. Twenty-three Nobel laureates have been associated with Washington University, with nine doing the major portion of their pioneering research there. The university offers more than 90 programs and almost 1,500 courses leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in a broad spectrum of traditional and interdisciplinary fields, with additional opportunities for minor concentrations and individualized programs.