Clinton Global Initiative

Introduction

A diverse group of bloggers will provide unique views of the Clinton Global Initiative in Austin, TX. Through this site, they will share their thoughts and feelings via text and images. Check back often!

Our bloggers for this events are:

Blog Entries

Before we knew it, it was time for our group from WVU to leave the beautiful city of Austin, Texas and travel home to Morgantown, West Virginia. . I got my morning started by eating a wonderful breakfast in the company of my friend and colleague Joey Garcia at the Liberty Tavern in the Hilton hotel where we stayed. . After an enjoyable breakfast, Joey and I... Read More

I hope everyone had a great Valentine’s day (saudades Alessandra!).After a night out on the town (Austin is a blast), we got the morning started with a very nice breakfast in the Austin Convention Center. After breakfast, we heard some opening remarks from President Clinton and then heard a plenary session headed by Paul Begala of CNN, Scott Cowen (President of Tulane University), Carlo D... Read More

I’m extraordinarily grateful to WVU for funding my trip and to CGI U for selecting me to attend. The speeches were excellent, the speakers thoughtful, and the students incredibly motivated. To give a small sample of the commitments: Developing a test for HIV levels in the blood; improving relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic through student exchanges; and fostering internati... Read More

Saturday focused on working sessions in the five areas emphasized by the Clinton Global Initiative. I had originally signed up for two sessions in peace & human rights, but I arrived late (trouble trying to post my first blog) and was put into the poverty session instead. The discussion in the poverty session focused on how to use technology to alleviate poverty. The speakers had worked wit... Read More

I have twenty minutes of downtime, so I’m going to try to explain what the Clinton Global Initiative University is, why it’s important, and what it’s involved thus far. After leaving office, Pres. Clinton decided that he wanted to focus on humanitarian initiatives, and one of the spin-offs of this goal was the Clinton Global Initiative. Governments, companies, etc. would co... Read More

Our flight to Austin went from Pittsburgh to Houston, but the great Texas BBQ more than made up for the cramped seating. .The picture above is of the entire group, the only time so far when we’ve all been in the same place at the same time. Clinton opened up CGI U with a speech on the importance of young people & introduced his co-panelists. The first woman was a Smith grad ... Read More

Early this morning we boarded our plane in Pittsburgh and flew to Houston, Texas. The flight took a few hours and many of us took a nap on the way there. After landing in Houston, we had a brief layover and then boarded our next plane for our ultimate destination: Austin, Texas. After an hour-long flight, we landed in Austin around 1:00 pm CST (2:00 pm EST), waited a short b... Read More

So many ways to create change… Why not design drought-resistant and vitamin-enriched foods for people in precarious climates? Why not provide prosthetics to mine amputees? “Fundamentally, the world is too unequal, too unsustainable to live in. To be a citizen of the 21st Century is more than to pay taxes and abide by the law.” -President Clinton. Today, we were truly inspired. Read More

Sometimes trying to change the world is lonely. Next to me sat a high school teacher from a migrant Californian town. She has only been at her job one year, but that’s long enough for her to know that she needs to do something to stem the dropout rate. She’s designing a resource book to help students know how to apply for college and for scholarships. She’s also staying che... Read More

The man next to me on my flight into Austin, TX has brought high school students together for leadership training and “alternative” community service spring break trips. He’s from the University of Miami and also headed to CGIU! How can changes in copyright law improve the world? Two other students from the University of Michigan and I spoke as we waited for the shuttles to... Read More

Tweets

While our bloggers are in Austin, TX they'll also be sharing real-time impressions of the events via short messages called "tweets." More tweets...

Joseph said, "Finally got home! What a trip!" on February 16th, 2009 at 12:55 am

Matthew said, "We have landed in Pittsburgh. We all had a really great time at the conference!" on February 15th, 2009 at 9:19 pm

Matthew said, "We're about to take off from Houston." on February 15th, 2009 at 5:50 pm

Joseph said, "Plane has finally arrived in Houston. Some of the group might take a later flight in exchange for credit." on February 15th, 2009 at 5:25 pm

Joseph said, "Waiting for plane go Houston. Very tired" on February 15th, 2009 at 5:12 pm

Matthew said, "We have left Austin & now have a layover in Houston." on February 15th, 2009 at 3:42 pm

Joseph said, "About to leave for airport" on February 15th, 2009 at 1:01 pm

Joseph said, "I'm still unsure of when we're leaving. I hope that we all end up making the plane." on February 15th, 2009 at 9:39 am

Joseph said, "Matt texted me this morning and woke me up. I think I'll blog from the lobby." on February 15th, 2009 at 9:26 am

Joseph said, "Luke Russert is our moderator" on February 14th, 2009 at 11:25 pm

Joseph said, "They have huge glasses" on February 14th, 2009 at 9:13 pm

Joseph said, "About to go to closing ceremony" on February 14th, 2009 at 6:56 pm

Joseph said, "In seminar on the rights of children" on February 14th, 2009 at 4:02 pm

Matthew said, "Attending a panel discussion about the relationship between technology & poverty alleviation" on February 14th, 2009 at 3:39 pm

Joseph said, "My battery is about to die. Will probably not get this blog post off." on February 14th, 2009 at 11:37 am

Joseph said, "Actually....we're late." on February 14th, 2009 at 11:34 am

Joseph said, "Sitting w/ Matthew in the bottom of Hilton (no free in-room Wi-Fi!!), about to go to a working session on peace & human rights" on February 14th, 2009 at 11:34 am

Joseph said, "I'll upload a blog w/ photos of Clinton, Portman, speakers, & Austin as soon as I can. Very busy & having difficulty logging into blog" on February 14th, 2009 at 11:33 am

Joseph said, "Really impressed so far with the conference. Great speakers, interesting topics, good commitments" on February 14th, 2009 at 11:32 am

Joseph said, "I uploaded a photo to TwitPic. I got to meet Pres. Clinton & Natalie Portman just by chance!" on February 14th, 2009 at 11:32 am

Did you know? If you have a Twitter account you can get WVU news by following @WestVirginiaU.

Introduction

Blog Entries

Day 3 - February 15, 2009 (Final Thoughts)

Day 2 - February 14, 2009

Final Thoughts

Feb. 14th

CGI U Overview & Update

Feb. 13th in pictures

Day 1 - February 13, 2009

So many ways to create change... Plenary Session II

Sometimes trying to change the world is lonely-Plenary Session I

All of this and the session has yet to begin!!

Tweets