Clinton Global Initiative Hosts 7th Annual Meeting And Addresses Global Issues
By Ibrahim Dabo (@IbDabo)
The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) between September 20-22, 2011, held its seventh Annual Meeting in New York City.
The star-studded gathering brought together people from various walks of life, including current and former heads of state, chief executives of corporations, philanthropists, directors of nonprofit organizations to address global issues.
Structured around three topics: Girls and Women: Scaling What Works; Sustainable Consumption: Ensuring Long-term Prosperity on a Finite Planet; and Jobs, Jobs, Jobs: Generating Employment for the 21st Century, each topic took a strategic approach with a goal of addressing the many challenges faced today.
CGI members had a chance to create a Commitment to Action, a comprehensive plan that looks into addressing some of the major global challenges ranging from global health, economic empowerment, education, and environment and energy.
CGI members have so far made more than 2,000 commitments, which when fully funded and implemented, is reported to be valued in excess of $63 billion.
Participants at this year’s Annual Meeting included U.S. President Barack Obama, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Founder of Grameen Bank Muhammad Yunus and Chelsea Clinton.
The fifth annual Clinton Global Citizen Awards, which honors individuals who have made an outstanding impact in philanthropy, government, civil society, and the corporate sector, marked the end of the Annual Meeting. The ceremony was hosted by Tony Award® Winner Sarah Jones.
