Talloires Network Conference
Dear Colleagues
The Talloires Network would like to invite participation from students at your institution in an international conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, March 14 – 26, 2008 in order to:
- Support civic engagement and student leadership at your college or university
- Build student leadership within the Talloires Network
- Strengthen activity around the Talloires Network Global Project on Literacy
Because we feel this is an excellent opportunity, the Talloires Network will support travel and accommodation costs for pairs of students from up to 8 member institutions from outside the U.S. We also encourage participation by U.S. members, but expenses will have to be supported by those institutions.
The meeting in New Orleans is the first Clinton Global Initiative University conference (http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=1853&srcid=1872). This initiative by former U.S. President Clinton, who will host the inaugural meeting at Tulane University, extends to college and university students the work of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). CGI mobilizes resources to address major problem areas: energy and climate change, global health, human rights and peace, and poverty alleviation. The conference promises to be an inspiring gathering of 500 – primarily university students, with some administrators and global leaders.
I encourage you to consider sending a pair of students from your institution who are leaders of your civic engagement and social responsibility activities, with an emphasis on efforts to elevate literacy.
To apply:
If you wish to send students from your institution to this conference, they have to apply directly to the Clinton Global Initiative and specify their affiliation with the Talloires Network as is indicated below. Students must apply online here: http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=1872&srcid=1870 Students should provide us with a copy of the application by emailing Elizabeth Babcock at babcock@icicp.org. Students can complete the application in the Word document and then copy and paste their answers into the online form. This document is for our records only. In order to be considered, students must submit the application online.
The deadline for applying to participate is coming up very quickly. Students must apply individually by February 18, 2008.
In their application, students must mention their affiliation with the Talloires Network. In the financial aid section, they should mention the potential support from the Talloires Network. In addition, their commitment to action should focus on literacy. Elizabeth Babcock (babcock@icicip.org) and Paula Fortner (fortner@icicp.org) will be available to help students with the application process.
A team from Tufts University will also participate in the event to help coordinate the Talloires Network students. Though the conference organizers have indicated an interest in our group and the participation of international students, acceptance to participate in the conference is not guaranteed and is determined only by the Clinton Global Initiative University. In order to receive support from the Talloires Network, students are expected to:
- Focus their commitment on literacy (defined broadly to include financial, technological, health, numeracy etc.)
- Participate fully in the conference
- Participate in a Talloires Network gathering at the conference
- Use the experience to strengthen the civic engagement work of their home institutions
- Collaborate with other Talloires Network student leaders after the conference
If the number of students accepted to participate in the event exceeds the financial aid available, the Talloires Network will make a determination of who to fund based on the following criteria:
- Geographic diversity of representation
- Financial need
- Previous demonstrated commitment to civic engagement (based on answer to section on the application about campus activities and organizational affiliations)
We are enthusiastic about this opportunity and would welcome your participation. Please be in touch with Elizabeth Babcock (babcock@icicp.org ) or Paula Fortner (fortner@icicp.org ) with any questions.
Best regards
Rob Hollister
Dean
Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service
Tufts University