Sixteen MDC students working on 10 different projects were invited to participate in the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U), to be held this year at Arizona State University in Tempe. The annual gathering brought together hard-working students from around the world who are devoted to civic engagement and dedicated to making a difference in the lives of everyone around them.
MDC is one of only 58 colleges chosen from across the globe to be part of the CGI U. MDC students who have been selected to participate in the CGI U have developed projects designed to improve the future:
- René Betancourt, Chris Cuesta and Giancarlo Aguilar’s Gardentops will bring green rooftop technology to urban buildings.
- Crystal Coronel’s Cristy’s Place will create a community center to advocate for children and young adults of mixed-status families while also offering legal aid, counseling and tutoring for area children in need.
- Jarvis Davis’ Enlightening the Male Mind will bring together young men to address current public health and well-being issues.
- Alexandra Castillo Escobar, Angely Requena and Susana Guzmán’s Seeds of Change Initiative will team up with other student groups in the movement to end female genital mutilation.
- Soleri Miranda and Gene Christian’s organization Voice of Tomorrow will seek to combat child abuse and sexual abuse in the home by raising awareness in elementary school students.
- Lunicel Polanco’s Helping Hands Food & Resale Pantry will help provide food security to those in need in the local community, including struggling students at Miami Dade College.
- Nicole Reyes-Palma and Francia Alexandre’s Care for Costa will partner with a local homeless center in Costa Rica to provide homeless families with vocational training, job placement and family counseling.
- Aisha Shanan’s I AM I – Uniting Children With Disabilities will assist children and raise awareness through the creation of unique storybooks.
- Kristen Solorzano and Randy Díaz’s First Year Educational Success Conference will assist college students whose parents are undocumented.