Vanderbilt is pleased to invite our community to participate in the event virtually through live-streamed sessions throughout the weekend. Mark your calendars and return to this page at the event time to join the virtual sessions through YouTube.
If you are a student who was accepted to participate in the meeting in person, please visit the CGIU site for the full in-person schedule and participation details.
| Date & Time | Session Title | Description | Speakers | Link to Join |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, March 3 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm | CGI U Opening Plenary Session: Students Taking Action Together (Opening Plenary Session) | From climate injustice to the war in Ukraine to limitations on reproductive rights, it appears as if the world is literally and figuratively on fire. Yet for emerging leaders and entrepreneurs driven by the desire to build more inclusive and equitable communities, this moment teaches one of the greatest lessons in social innovation, advocacy and civic engagement – that times of crises spark the agency to act. Taking action in challenging times often requires a new mindset of seeing, thinking, and responding. In this session, panelists will share how challenges can serve as a catalyst for transformation, and how they have moved forward in the midst of setbacks and uncertainty. | Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Olivia Julianna, Director of Politics & Government Affairs, Gen-Z For Change Yusra Mardini, Olympian and Goodwill Ambassador, UNHCR Georgina Pazcoguin, The Rogue Ballerina, Author, Disruptor, Soloist Ballerina with the New York City Ballet, Co-Founder, Final Bow For Yellowface/Gold Standard Art Jordan Reeves, Co-Founder, Design With Us Sukhmeet Singh Sachal, CGI U ’21, Medical Student, Health Activist, Social Entrepreneur; Founder, Sikh Health Foundation | Join Livestream of Session: Opening Plenary in Langford Auditorium |
| Saturday, March 4 9:00AM – 9:45AM | CGI U Community Town Hall Q & A with President Clinton, Secretary Clinton and Chelsea (Plenary Session) | A popular format in CGI U’s virtual 2022 annual meeting, this in-person Town Hall forum with President Clinton, Secretary Clinton and Chelsea would be an opportunity for students to connect and ask questions related to their Commitments to Action and academic and professional careers. | Moderated by Ragina Arrington, CEO of CGI U | Join Livestream of Session: Morning Plenary in Langford |
| Saturday, March 4, 2023, 10:15AM - 11:30AM | Expanding Opportunities for Alternative Education (Working Session) | Afghanistan, Ukraine, Myanmar, Syria – the list continues to grow as examples of countries who have been marred by conflict, poverty, and humanitarian catastrophes. Children and youth have experienced the brunt of this; and as a result, miss either part or all of their primary education when life is disrupted. UNESCO’s recent Global Education Monitoring Report, Inclusion and Education: All Means All, notes that nearly 258 million children and youth in 40% of the world’s poorest nations have been entirely excluded from education, with conflict and poverty as the main obstacles to access. As a result of such conflicts, thousands of schools have been destroyed and re-purposed for non-educational purposes; teachers have disappeared, leaving these children and youth without classroom leaders. Alternative education options are becoming increasingly paramount in emergency and post-conflict situations. | Pashtana Dorani, Executive Director, LEARN Danielle De La Fuente, Founder and CEO, Amal Alliance Felipe Barrera-Osorio, Associate Professor, Vanderbilt University | Join Livestream of Session: Expanding Opportunities for Alternative Education |
| Saturday, March 4, 2023, 10:15AM - 11:30AM | The Race Towards Climate Justice (Working Session) | From extreme temperatures to devastating floods, the climate crisis has disproportionately impacted millions of people’s lives in low-income countries and low-income citizens of higher wealth countries. Those who make the least contribution to global warming are the most affected – a significant ‘climate injustice’ issue. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s recent report flags that the 10 most food-insecure countries in the world generate less than half a ton of CO2 per person, i.e., they generate only 0.08% of total global CO2. While the world’s richest countries tap into resources that can address such devastating effects, poorer nations struggle to receive financial assistance to cope. Young people have emerged as vocal advocates for global action on the climate crisis yet face climate anxiety and potential burnout while fighting for change long-term. | Abemelech Mesfin Belachew, Co-Founder and CEO, GardenMate Dr. Sweta Chakraborty, CEO of North America, We Don’t Have Time Jonathan Gilligan, Associate Professor, Vanderbilt University Cynthia Williams, Global Director, Sustainability, Homologation and Compliance, Ford Motor Company | Join Livestream of Session: The Race Towards Climate Justice |
| Saturday, March 4, 2023, 10:15AM - 11:30AM | Protecting the Rights of Girls and Women During Conflict and Uncertainty (Working Session) | Today, one could argue that it is likely more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier in an armed conflict. In dozens of countries around the world, millions of people face a never-ending cycle of human rights violations, perpetual violence, and political instability; in the developed world, citizens face discriminatory barriers that lack a cohesive approach. Not one single society is immune from the violation of human rights, yet its impact disproportionately impacts girls and women. | Moderated by Secretary Clinton, this session features: Shadrack Osei Frimpong, CGI U ‘12, Founder, Cocoa360 Amanda Nguyen, CEO, Rise Michelle Nunn, President and CEO, CARE USA | Join Livestream of Session: Protecting the Rights of Girls and Women During Conflict and Uncertainty |
| Saturday, March 4, 2023, 10:15AM - 11:30AM | Paving the Way for Economic Recovery During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Working Session) | Low-income regions have plunged into increased extreme poverty vulnerability as a result of the pandemic. The combined impact on economic growth and inequality has led to an increase in global poverty of more than 100 million people in 2020 alone. A recent International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook report indicated that the global economy is projected to recover in the next two years with an anticipated GDP growth of 4.4%, yet this projected growth is not expected to be shared equally across countries or industries. Reductions of GDP, coupled with high levels of unemployment and income inequality, impact economic recovery in developing countries. | Sasha Fisher, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Spark Microgrants Sevetri Wilson, CEO and Founder, Resilia Natalie Byrne, Chief Strategist & Thought Leadership Advisor, Jane Wurwand Foundation Jonathan Webb, Founder and CEO, AppHarvest | Join Livestream of Session: Paving the Way for Economic Recovery During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| Saturday, March 4, 2023, 10:15AM - 11:30AM | Expanding Reach Through Technology (Skills Session) | 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 a range of technologies and how they can be leveraged for marketing and media campaigns, digital storytelling and organizing strategies. | Joel Bervell, CGI U ‘18, Social Media Medical Educator, Johns Hopkins University Larissa May, Founder and Executive Director, #HalfTheStory Rachael Perrotta, Editor-in-Chief, The Vanderbilt Hustler Oscar Jorge Romero Jr., Chief Information Officer, NYC Civic Engagement Commission | Join Livestream of Session: Expanding Reach Through Technology |
| Saturday, March 4, 2023, 2:00PM – 3:15PM | Building A More Inclusive Community At Work (Plenary Session) | Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. How can student leaders and entrepreneurs not only prepare themselves to meet the needs of an evolving workforce but also increase pathways of opportunity for all? In this two-part session, panelists will explore how students, as upcoming prospective employees, can collectively build more inclusive workforces, and the role of technology in building a more inclusive community at work. | Melissa Bradley, Managing Partner, 1863 Ventures Diego Mariscal, Founder and CEO, 2Gether-International Ai-jen Poo, President, National Domestic Workers Alliance Elissa Russell, CGI U ‘20, Founder and CEO, READI Consulting Reshma Saujani, Founder and CEO, Moms First Kaakpema "KP" Yelpaala, MPH, Chief Impact Officer, Health Equity Moonshot, StartUp Health | Join Livestream of Session: Building A More Inclusive Community At Work |
| Saturday, March 4, 2023, 3:45PM - 5:00PM | Planning & Organizing For Your Big Idea (Skills Session) | 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. | Donnel Baird, CGI U ‘13, CEO, BlocPower Milka Derisma, Founder, Content Creator, BYG Shift Jacob Mchangama, Executive Director, The Future of Free Speech Dave Owens, Executive Director/Professor, The Wond’ry, Vanderbilt University | Join Livestream of Session: Planning & Organizing For Your Big Idea |
| Saturday, March 4, 2023, 3:45PM - 5:00PM | Fundraising For Your Big Idea (Skills Session) | How can CGI U students best 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. | Abby Feuer, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Growth, DonorsChoose Vinny Johl, CGI U ‘10, Commitment Mentor, CGI U Dr. Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, Dean, Clinton School of Public Service | Join Livestream of Session: Fundraising For Your Big Idea |
| Saturday, March 4, 2023, 3:45PM - 5:00PM | Creating and Fostering an Inclusive Team (Skills Session) | Limited team and organizational capacity can significantly reduce the ability of CGI U participants to carry out their commitments and bring them to scale. A diverse and inclusive team is more innovative and productive. This session will introduce strategies for recruiting, managing and building an inclusive team. In addition, the session will examine how students can leverage team member strengths and increase cultural competencies in developing a team and identifying and securing partnerships with a wide range of campus and community partners. | Grant Bennett, Diversity Strategist, Google Melissa Diamond, CGI U ‘13, Founder, A Global Voice for Autism Ryan Ubuntu Olson, CGI U ‘10, Global Manager-Diversity, Equity, Engagement & Inclusion, DAI Belinda 'Otukolo Saltiban, Associate Vice Chancellor of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Vanderbilt University | Join Livestream of Session: Creating and Fostering an Inclusive Team |
| Saturday, March 4, 2023, 3:45PM - 5:00PM | Juggling Commitments & Resilience Building (Skills Session) | Led and facilitated by a CGI U alumnus, this juggling workshop will give you the tools you need to develop a growth mindset for learning new skills. You can leverage these skills to support and sustain your passions and Commitments to Action. This workshop will also explore practical techniques for building resilience, finding the courage to act, and staying motivated to best serve your communities. | Ben Conard, Chief of Staff, Fair Trade USA | Join Livestream of Session: Juggling Commitments & Resilience Building |
| Saturday, March 4, 2023, 3:45PM - 5:00PM | Equitable, Accessible, and Flexible: Tomorrow’s Healthcare (Working Session) | The past few years alone have exposed the limitations and inequities of global public health systems. While these health inequities have existed for decades in vulnerable communities worldwide, this has been magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic and is ongoing. The rise of global pandemics and the spread of communicable diseases has necessitated the need for the global community to come together to re-energize depleted public health systems, but its speed and scale is inconsistent, specifically in vulnerable communities where change is needed the most. Young people are prioritizing social justice to be at the forefront of health care response and preparedness, and are creating an infrastructure that is not only accessible, but also resilient and flexible. They are leading innovative efforts to create new healthcare models, such as leveraging mobile technology to increase healthcare accessibility and providing telemedicine in hard-to-reach places. | Andrew Aboujaoude, CGI U ’16, Medical Doctor/Captain/President and Founder, Columbia University/United States Air Force/Hearts for the Homeless International Michelle Morse, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer & Deputy Commissioner, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Love Odetola, CGI U ’14, PhD Candidate, University of North Carolina Greensboro | Join Livestream of Session: Equitable, Accessible, and Flexible: Tomorrow’s Healthcare |
| Saturday, March 4 5:30PM - 6:45PM | When Early Inspiration Turns Into Lifelong Commitment & Action (Closing Plenary Session) | The closing plenary will explore the role that early inspiration can play in turning into a lifetime of commitment, action and advocacy, and will highlight how future generations can continue to address the most challenging issues of our time. | President Clinton, this session features: Allyson Felix, 5-Time Olympian and Co-Founder of Saysh Jaylen Smith, Mayor of Earle, Arkansas | Join Livestream of Session: Closing Plenary |