Bill Clinton's CGIU 2010 Urges Public Service by Private Citizens

Friday, April 16, 2010

Breakthrough faculty, program interns, and scholars attended the 2010 Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI – U) at the University of Miami’s Bank United Center. The third installation of the CGI – U galvanized over 200 college scholars from all over the world to take their innovative ideas and fervency to change the world for the better and implement them by summoning their imagination. The most critical question of the evening was “the question of what if?” The 42nd President of the United States stressed the importance of collaboration of government with the private sector to tackle today’s most complex problems. He argued that with today’s technology and the sharing of information, individuals with modest means and a desire to change the world could set an idea in motion creating a positive rippling effect on the lives of many.

“Public good as private citizens” resonated with the Breakthrough Miami scholars and interns sitting attentively in the audience. Hearing several initiatives by four dynamic panelists, our scholars were inspired to take their ideas and run with them. Robyn Allen, a student at MIT, described her initiative to create an energy efficient vehicle that travels an estimated 200 mpgs. Pharell Williams (rapper, songwriter, and producer) has found a great way to recycle plastic through urban fashion. His clothing line produces denim jeans containing wearable fibers derived from recycled plastics. Sam Adelsborg, founder of Lend for Peace, spoke passionately about his micro-lending organization in the Middle East. The audience was seemingly intrigued by this young Jewish scholar’s efforts to provide small loans to Palestinian business men. Adelsborg believes his organization is part of a solution in the growing feud between Muslims and Jews. Dr. Regina Benjamin, 18th Surgeon General of the United States, shared her experience in public service as a physician. Benjamin said she has always viewed medicine and access to healthcare as a public service. She urged minority students to take a serious look at medical schools as the number of black physicians in the United States has remained stagnate over the last sixty years.

The party of 24 left inspired by the words of the panelists and President Clinton. One BT scholar admittedly expressed her surprise celebrities could care about something outside of themselves. The scholar, referring to Pharrell, said she had never heard an artist speak so passionately about making the world a better place. She said she left with a greater understanding of why it is so important for private citizens to commit to public service.

The CGI – U has five focus areas and they are as follows; Education, Environment & Climate Change, Peace & Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation, and Public Health. To find out more information about CGI – U please visit www.cgiu.org.

Breakthrough Miami would like to thank Sergio Gonzalez, Senior Vice President for University Advancement and External Affairs at the University of Miami, for affording us this wonderful opportunity to attend the Clinton Global Initiative University 2010.

Webber J. Charles
Associate Site Director