Clinton Global Initiative University brings college students together to discuss the problems plaguing the modern world. This year’s conference was April 16-18 at the University of Miami.
John Podesta, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, moderated a panel on change in the American community.
The Center for American Progress’ Campus Progress has a web magazine covering the issues important to college students and allowing their voices to be heard. And these were the types of initiatives discussed during this panel.
A variety of panelists spoke about their causes and the importance of community change, starting where you live.
From left to right: John Podesta, Dolores Huerta, Tim King, Marisol Becerra, and Bob Dixson
Marisol Becerra — a Chicago college student — worked with an environmental justice organization called Little Village while still in high school. As a college student, she raises awareness in her community about pollution and toxins emitted by local factories.
Tim King started an all-boys public school in 2002 called Urban Prep in downtown Chicago. His goal was to address the college education rates for African-American young men.
One in 40 African American men will complete college, he said, but Urban Prep has a 100 percent acceptance rate into college for its students.
“We don’t want college to be a way to get out of the hood,” King said. “We want it to be a way to come back and work to fix the hood.”
Bob Dixson, the Mayor of Greensburg, Kan., spoke of what has happened in the rebuilding efforts since his city was flattened by a tornado in May 2007. In rebuilding, the city is using all green technology and sustainable methods.
“Green to me meant 1968, tie-dye shirts, and bell-bottoms, hugging trees while maybe be on mind-altering drugs,” Dixson said.
The idea to make Greensburg a model of sustainable living came from the people rather than Flower Power, of course.
“It’s about being good stewards with the land the Lord’s blessed you with,” he said. “It’s hard work to be part of something good.”
The concepts are nothing new; they are just using advanced technology to make it happen. Educating the people has been the best way to get past peoples’ preconceptions.
Dixson takes the front porch approach to the green issue.
“Green transcends politics,” he said. “We’re going to have to be civil with each other, have a conversation about it.”
Delores Huerta, who worked with United Farmers Association, started the Delores Huerta Foundation to inspire people to organize sustainable communities that achieve social justice.
“The national media is saying that we are disengaged,” Huerta said.
She focused on responsibility as motivation to start a movement. Taking direct action and working together is the only way to get things done, and the community will give you the answers.
“The power is in your person,” Huerta said.
Human rights quickly became a bond between the topics of each panelist. They all focused on the fact that while there are different nationalities, cultures and ethnic networks, there is one human race which should share the same rights.