Subject: CGI America Update
From: Clinton Foundation Press Office <[email-masked]>
To: Clinton Foundation Press Office <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2015 21:10:34 +0000

Friends - wanted to update you on the latest from the Clinton Foundation and CGI America in Denver this week.

The 2015 CGI America meeting kicked off yesterday in Denver. We've already seen several new commitments and progress reports<http://livestream.com/CGI/events/4096617/videos/89763405>, including new commitments that will address issues including economic empowerment for local and small business owners, and access to loans and credit for Americans in low income communities. Additionally, commitments and progress reports were featured addressing education and jobs for America youth, including some with a focus on STEM - science, technology, education, and math - subjects and careers.

Members attended breakout sessions where they heard from a variety of experts:

*         Economists discussed different approaches to opening up pathways for economic mobility in America;

*         Business and financial leaders talked about how to empower young Americans to have more financial independence and promote entrepreneurship;

*         In multiple panels, thought leaders discussed opening more opportunities for women and girls, and young Americans of color.

Members later in the day broke up into working groups that more deeply examined specific issues, including community investing; economic mobility; STEM education; infrastructure investment; renewable energy; among many other topics.

CGI America Highlights

*         The Opening Plenary Session, titled "The Map of Making it in America," featured opening remarks from President Clinton and Governor John Hickenlooper. You can watch a video of the opening remarks here<http://livestream.com/CGI/events/4096617/videos/89763081>.

*         Later, in a panel moderated by Chelsea Clinton, industry, nonprofit, government, and civil society leaders engaged in a dynamic discussion on economic recovery and the people impacted.  The panel featured Lucas Benitez, Co-founder of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Julián Castro, Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Kip Tindell, Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of The Container Store, and Kyle Zimmer, Chief Executive Officer of First Book. The panel discussion can be viewed here<http://livestream.com/CGI/events/4096617/videos/89763232>.

*         Too Small to Fail, an initiative of the Clinton Foundation, announced<https://www.clintonfoundation.org/press-releases/too-small-fail-partners-announce-three-new-commitments-action-cgi-america-help-make> three new Commitments to Action with the Coin Laundry Association, Shane's Inspiration and Landscape Structures and the Bedtime Math Foundation. The commitments will use local community settings - including laundromats and playgrounds - to help raise awareness of the importance of talking, reading, and singing which improves early language and brain development.

CGI America in the News

CGI America was trending on Twitter yesterday under the hashtag #CGIAmerica<https://twitter.com/hashtag/cgiamerica>. Both CGI and the Clinton Foundation have been covered in the press:

*         On Monday, the Clinton Foundation held a Day of Action in Denver<http://extras.denverpost.com/frontpages/2015/06/2015-06-09.pdf>, during which volunteers filled a semitrailer with $400,000 worth of medical items such as incubators, syringes and gauze to be sent to Malawi. The Denver Post ran a front page story on the event.

*         The Denver Post also ran a story about CGI America panelists' discussion<http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_28282190/clinton-global-initiative-2015:-strong-families-correlate-to-stronger-communities> on the economic and social barriers facing minority communities in America, especially the role of men and boys in creating strong families.

*         One of Too Small to Fail's Commitments to Action<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/09/too-small-to-fail-laundromats_n_7544770.html> was covered in the Huffington Post yesterday. The article discusses the importance of parents reading to children. Working with the Coin Laundry Association, in addition to other partners, Too Small to Fail is encouraging parents to read to their children in informal, everyday places, like the laundromat, in an effort to help close the "word gap."

*         In a piece comparing Mad Men's Madison Avenue to the advertising industry of today<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lincoln-stephens/a-half-century-or-decades_b_7547390.html>, CGI commitment-maker Lincoln Stephens, Co-founder and CEO of the Marcus Graham Project, wrote an op-ed for the Huffington Post about minority presence in the advertising and his organization's efforts to broaden access.

*         Yesterday, in an op-ed on Next Avenue<http://www.nextavenue.org/disrupting-the-way-we-think-about-older-workers/>, Lisa Marsh Ryerson, President of the AARP Foundation, discusses their commitment to equip older workers with the skills and education needed to remain competitive.

*         As previously noted, over the weekend, Take Part published an op-ed developed during CGI Middle East and Africa (CGI MEA) about the Future of African Cities<http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/06/07/future-of-african-cities>.  It's authored by Bosun Tijani, founder of the Co-Creation Hub in Nigeria, and features predictions about African urbanization from African CGI MEA participants and two CGI commitment-makers - the Chife Foundation and Rotary International.

Clinton Foundation Highlights

*         Today, a Wall Street Journal letter to the editor<http://www.wsj.com/articles/clinton-foundation-helps-the-poor-1433879913> from Clinton Foundation CEO & President Donna Shalala gave a personal account of her career in public service and her decision to join the Clinton Foundation.

*         On Monday, the Chronicle of Philanthropy posted an op-ed<https://philanthropy.com/article/How-to-Understand-the-Clinton/230745> by a professor of accounting at Ohio State University explaining the work of the Clinton Foundation, and how its unique philanthropic model works.

*         Yesterday in the Wall Street Journal, Coca-Cola announced<http://www.wsj.com/articles/coca-cola-enterprises-to-cut-calories-10-by-2020-1433855497> that it plans to cut its calories per liter by 10 percent by 2020. This follows a CGI Commitment to Action last year<http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/24/business/big-soda-companies-agree-on-effort-to-cut-americans-drink-calories.html?_r=0>, where Coca-Cola, along with PepsiCo and Dr. Pepper Snapple announced a commitment to reduce beverage calories by 25 percent by 2025. This also follows their work with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation - a joint initiative of the Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association - to cut beverage calories in American schools to reduce childhood obesity.