AAUW and Clinton Global Initiative Provide Opportunities for Women and Girls around the World

We know global issues matter, especially to women and girls. As a strategic partner of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), AAUW has been called upon to provide a gender perspective for the work that CGI does around the world. That means we participate in CGI’s meetings and advise students working on CGI University grassroots projects.

Photo Credit: Barbara Kinney / Clinton Global Initiative

Photo Credit: Barbara Kinney / Clinton Global Initiative

 

CGI U 2014: Engaging the Next Generation of Leaders

In March 2014, for the second year in a row, AAUW sponsored CGI U, hosted by former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton. Held at Arizona State University March 21–23, CGI U brought together more than 1,000 students from 300 colleges, 50 states, and 80 countries to figure out how to start solving the world’s challenges. Eight of those students were AAUW members who launched grassroots projects ranging from increasing women in science and technology careers to ending sex trafficking.

Applying a Gender Perspective and Making a Difference at CGI U

Girls and Women Lunch Gloria 5
At CGI U 2014, students learned about how AAUW is a resource to help them consider women’s issues and perspectives in their CGI U projects. In a skills session, AAUW International Fellowship alumna and former CGI U participant and mentor Esther Ngumbi offered insight and inspiration about how she launched her project in Kenya by building a network of engaged volunteers. AAUW Vice President of Fellowships, Grants, and Global Programs Gloria Blackwell co-facilitated the session, called Building Your Team: Strengthening Organizational Leadership and Capacity. Then at the CGI U Exchange networking event, AAUW’s team shared resources for students and campuses and encouraged participants to join AAUW as e-student affiliates and to attend the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders.

To culminate CGI U 2014, the Day of Action service projects helped transform a previously vacant 15-acre lot in downtown Phoenix into a vibrant and sustainable public space. Participants worked on various projects— from urban farming to mural painting. The AAUW team helped build an amazing sign for the space. The sign was made entirely of recycled materials.

Read More About Our Past Work with CGI

“AAUW has been helping women blaze new trails for more than a century, and we are honored to be a strategic partner with the Clinton Global Initiative and CGI U, which expands AAUW’s campus leadership and provides opportunities for global outreach and collaboration.”
— Linda Hallman, AAUW CEO

CGIU students vertical

8 AAUW Leaders Launch Projects for Women at CGI U 2014

The group includes a current AAUW International Fellow, a Career Development Grant recipient, and six AAUW e-student affiliates representing universities from across the country. The students planned grassroots projects ranging from increasing women in science and technology careers to ending sex trafficking. We are excited to follow these eight amazing women on their journeys to make change in their communities.

Dyna Kuthyola holds up a chalkboard sign reading, "Economic empowerment for women in Malawi."

1 Year Later, These Students’ Projects Are Reaching Women around the World

In 2013, we funded 12 students at the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) who made commitments to empower women and girls. Each young woman came out of the conference fired up to tackle the issues that they’re passionate about. So, where are they now?

CGI America participants each contribute to a topic-specific Working Group of their choosing. These groups convened multiple times over the two days of the CGI America meeting and provided opportunities to share knowledge, build partnerships, and generate commitments around the group's area of focus. Credit: Max Orenstein / Clinton Global Initiative

Building the Future of STEM

AAUW played a key role at CGI America during the Girls and Women in America session, where we spoke about the challenges facing women and girls in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. AAUW was also called upon to participate in the STEM working group, since increasing the number of girls and women in STEM fields is a priority for AAUW and CGI.

Table Tag with CGI logo and label that reads Computer Science

AAUW, CGI, and Building the Future of STEM

AAUW played a key role at CGI America during the Girls and Women in America session, where we spoke about the challenges facing women and girls in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. AAUW was also called upon to participate in the STEM working group, since increasing the number of girls and women in STEM fields is a priority for AAUW and CGI.

Gloria Blackwell standing at a podium at CGI U.

CGI U 2013: Global Change through a Gender Lens

AAUW was called upon to provide resources to CGI U students on how to apply a gender lens to their individual commitments. We stressed the key point that any plan for a better world needs to include women and girls in order to be truly sustainable.

Nicole Elinoff with Commitment sign

AAUW Students Make a Big Impact at CGI U

We sponsored 12 students to attend CGI U in St. Louis, where they made a commitment to turn their ideas into action on their campuses, in their local communities, and around the world. These 12 remarkable women have been involved with AAUW through our fellowships and grants, our campus leadership programs, and some of our local branches. We are excited to help the students turn their ideas into action!

Getting off the Ground: Stories of Starting Up - CGI U 2013

AAUW, Clinton Global Initiative Form Strategic Partnership

We announced our strategic partnership with CGI and CGI U in March, a move that brings together two leading organizations dedicated to making a tangible impact on the world.

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