Three Department of Global and Community Health students were part of a group of 14 Mason students who participated in the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) at UC Berkeley, April 1-3. Global health majors Catriona Gates, Hana Hanfi, and Janna Van der Hoven, represented CHHS.
CGIU is a three-day conference that draws students from around the world to engage in conversations about important world issues. More than 1,200 students participated this year after their application outlining a Commitment to Action they were making in their communities were selected.
Over the course of the event, participants attended networking dinners, plenary panels, skill and working sessions, and a day of service in Oakland, California. Attendees heard from many prominent figures, including former President Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton. They also discussed a variety of topics from discrimination to climate change, and considered tough questions such as how does one develop the “courage to create” or “design for unintended consequences?”
“Attending CGIU and working on my Commitment to Action have been extremely rewarding and educational experiences,” Gates said. “Collaborating with other students who are not afraid to have grand ideas and hearing from professionals who have accomplished amazing things in their careers has motivated me to think bigger about the things I hope to achieve after graduating in May. CGIU is an environment filled with support and positivity and fosters a mindset that anything is possible. I walked away from the experience with an appreciation for the importance of partnership and an optimism for what the future holds.”