President Bill Clinton, Former Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton will convene CGI America 2014 from June 23 to June 25. From a new city to new opportunities to strengthen the nation’s economic future, here are four things to watch as the CGI America community comes together for the fourth time.

4. LAUNCHING IN DENVER, COLORADO

Last year, President Clinton announced that CGI America would convening for the first time in a new city – Denver.

“When we began CGI America, I imagined it as an initiative that could travel across the country to highlight the importance of working collectively to meet our common challenges on domestic issues that affect us all,” said President Clinton. “I’m grateful to Chicago for getting us started and know that Denver is the right place to continue our work. Last year alone, Denver added 12,250 new jobs, 15,000 new residents, and 1,000 new businesses and is home to one of the most vibrant communities of NGOs.”

Known as the Mile High City, Denver is the business, legislative, and cultural center of Colorado. Denver itself is known as one of America’s most sustainable cities, and the region is working not only to reduce its carbon footprint, but also to attract entrepreneurs: This year, Forbes named Denver the second best city to launch a start up.

3. ADVANCING THE CONVERSATION—AND THE ECONOMY

At CGI America, leaders will address some of the most pressing challenges facing the U.S. economy today, taking concrete action in areas ranging from STEM education to sustainable buildings.

Over the course of the three-day meeting, participants will explore solutions in large CGI America sessions that include:

• The Case for Economic Justice: Mobility, Opportunity, and America’s Growth, which will promote  strategies for overcoming poverty and persistent inequality;
• Charting a New Course: Education and Employing America’s Future Leaders, which will highlight ways to enhance education, skills development, and career pathways for young people; and
• Local Laboratories: Equitable Transformation in America’s Communities, which will explore innovative approaches that promote both economic growth and social progress in cities, towns, and rural areas across the nation.

In addition, participants will gather in smaller Breakout Sessions to delve deeper into some of the latest ideas brought forth by thought leaders in a wide variety of fields. Contemporary topics will include what’s working for girls and women in America; how to achieve impact through behavioral economics; and ways to address the persistent challenges facing men and boys of color.

Watch the live webcasts of the CGI America Plenary Sessions at live.cgiamerica.org.

2.  CONVENING MORE THAN 1,000 AMERICAN LEADERS

CGI America is where leaders from the business, government, philanthropy, and nonprofit sectors come together to build partnerships and turn their ideas into action. Here is just a snapshot of the leaders slated to participate in CGI America 2014:

• Governors, mayors, and Obama Administration officials such as Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker
• Private-sector leaders such as Zappos.com, Inc. CEO Tony Hsieh; Siemens Corporations President & CEO Eric Spiegel; Chipotle Co-CEO Monty Moran; CH2M HILL President and CEO Jacqueline Hinman; and Carly Fiorina Enterprises Chairman & CEO and Good360 Chairman Carly Fiorina
• Civil society leaders such as Freelancers Union Founder and Executive Director Sara Horowitz; Ford Foundation President Darren Walker; and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten

Click here to see the full list of leaders attending this year’s meeting.

1. FORGING REAL SOLUTIONS TO AMERICA’S ECONOMIC CHALLENGES

The backbone of CGI America is composed of participants’ Commitments to Action: new, specific, and measurable plans to address some of the most urgent problems facing the U.S. economy. At last year’s meeting in Chicago, members of the CGI America community announced a record 74 new Commitments to Action. Since CGI America’s launch in 2011, participants have made over 300 commitments valued at more than $15 billion when fully funded and implemented.

– See more at: http://www.clintonfoundation.org/blog/2014/06/22/four-reasons-feel-excited-about-fourth-annual-meeting-cgi-america#sthash.GqygKVkl.dpuf

By: Clinton Global Iniative – Editorial Team

Source publication: The Clinton Foundation