Posted by BEN BEAUMONT - The spring semester Clinton School speaker series officially ended following Tuesday’s lecture from Singapore Ambassador Chan Heng Chee. For the 2008-09 academic year, we hosted more than 100 speakers, including names such as Bob Woodward, Jerry Springer, Dr. Phil McGraw and Gwen Ifill, among many others.
We thank all of you who came and participated in the series, and we’re looking forward to another great line-up this fall. The speaker series will be back on July 29 with a presentation from Pakistani Ambassador Husain Haqquani. Until then, watch videos of speakers you missed at www.clintonschoolspeakers.com.
July 2nd, 2009
Posted by BEN BEAUMONT - In more alumni news, Governor Mike Beebe has appointed recent Clinton School graduate Sarah Argue to the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The 12-member board regualtes higher education policies in the state, such as reviewing degree programs and finances of Arkansas’s public 2- and 4-year colleges and universities.
Argue was recently hired as director of program development at The Colon Club, a national non-profit seeking to promote colorectal cancer awareness and education. Congrats to Sarah on her board appointment.
July 1st, 2009
Posted by BEN BEAUMONT - Clinton School and UALR Bowen Law School graduate Idonia Trotter has been named the new executive director of the Arkansas Minority Health Commission, which works to combat disparities in the health status of minorities throughout the state.
In her post, Trotter will lead efforts to work with the 12-member commission, state government and health care leaders to improve minority health by improving education, awareness and accessibility within the state’s health care system.
Trotter is a native of Pine Bluff and is the first graduate of the Clinton School’s concurrent MPS/JD program with the Bowen Law School. Congrats Idonia!
July 1st, 2009
Posted by BEN BEAUMONT – Singapore’s ambassador to the United States Chan Heng Chee spoke today about the economic crisis, its affect on Asia and a possible changing of the global economic order once the crisis ends.
Ambassador Chan said the U.S. economy will have to lead the way in a global recovery and cautioned against trade protectionism, which she says would slow that recovery. CLICK HERE for coverage of the speech from the Associated Press.
She applauded President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for putting a strong emphasis on Asian relations and said she hopes that attention continues. Video of her speech will be posted soon at www.clintonschoolspeakers.com.
Singapore, like other parts of Asia, has suffered during the economic crisis. Economic growth there has contract by 10 percent this year, she said.
Named Singapore’s ambassador to the United States in 1996, Chan helped orchestrate the 2003 U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, the first such agreement between America and an East Asian Country. Free trade “is a win-win situation that benefits both countries,” she said.
Prior to becoming ambassador, she served as Singapore’s permanent representative to the United Nations and was the high commissioner to Canada and ambassador to Mexico.
Ambassador Chan Heng Chee speaks at the Clinton School.
June 30th, 2009
On December 9, 2000, then Clinton Foundation President Skip Rutherford joined President Bill Clinton, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and architect James Polshek in unveiling the design for the Clinton Presidential Library. The ceremony took place in the Roosevelt Room at the White House. In his remarks President Clinton said, “I really wanted the relationship that this library would have to the University of Arkansas to be focused on public service. I want more and more people to go want to go into public service.” After heading up the planning, construction and the 2004 opening of the Clinton Library, Rutherford became dean of the Clinton School, the nation’s first graduate program to offer a master’s degree in public service.
Clinton Foundation President (now Clinton School Dean) Skip Rutherford greets former President Jimmy Carter at the opening of the Clinton Presidential Library on November 18, 2004. President and Mrs. Clinton hosted a pre-ceremony brunch for the other presidents and distinguished guests in the Library’s Great Hall. Vice President Al Gore is in the background of the photo.
A sea of umbrellas covered the Clinton Presidential Park during the November 18, 2004 Clinton Library dedication ceremonies. More than 27,000 attended in spite of a cold steady rain. The Clinton School (Sturgis Hall) was a holding area for special guests. Barbra Streisand used what is now director of administration Dianne Kelly’s office.
June 29th, 2009
Posted by BEN BEAUMONT - It’s now easier to find the Clinton School on Facebook. Check out our page at http://facebook.com/clintonschool.
June 29th, 2009
Posted by BEN BEAUMONT - Mayor Mark Stodola and the City of Little Rock’s tourism committee recently released a new brochure listing the “Top Twelve” attractions in Little Rock. Clinton School Dean Skip Rutherford is a member of that committee.
Because of the interest generated by the “Top Twelve” ranking, Rutherford asked current students from the Clinton School to rank their “Top Twelve” Little Rock attractions. About half of the Clinton School students have previous Arkansas connections and many hail from across the country and the world, so the student rankings give an out-of-state/out-of-country perspective.
Six of the Tourism Committee’s “Top Twelve” also made the Clinton School student list. Here are the two lists for comparison:
Little Rock’s Top 12 (ranked geographically by city tourism committee)
William J. Clinton Presidential Center & Park
River Market District
Heifer International
Downtown Museums
MacArthur Park
Historic Quapaw Quarter
Mosaic Templars Cultural Center
Little Rock Central High School, National Historic Site and Visitor Center
Arkansas State Capitol
War Memorial Park
Arkansas River Trail
Pinnacle Mountain State Park & Nature Center
Little Rock’s Top 12 (ranked geographically by Clinton School students)
William J. Clinton Presidential Center & Park
University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service Speakers Series
River Market District
2nd Friday Art Night
Peabody Ducks
Arkansas Repertory Theater
MacArthur Park
Kickball at Interstate Park
Little Rock Central High School, National Historic Site and Visitor Center
Hillcrest (restaurants/shops)
Arkansas River Trail
Pinnacle Mountain State Park & Nature Center
June 29th, 2009
Posted by BEN BEAUMONT - Longtime Washington Post reporter and past Clinton School speaker Walter Pincus writes about the problems facing the newspaper industry in the latest edition of the Columbia Journalism Review. Pincus chastises his colleagues in the media for being too objective and calls for more voices and more activism in newspapers.
Pincus also says newspapers have spent too much time and money on long expose pieces rather than focusing on strong and thorough beat reporting. CLICK HERE to read the article. Pincus struck similar tones in his October 2006 Clinton School speech titled, “The Power of the Pen.” CLICK HERE to watch.
June 29th, 2009
Posted by BEN BEAUMONT - Nonproft Quarterly editor Ruth McCambridge said Friday at the Clinton School that nonprofits across the country must tighten their belts to ride out the economic recession. McCambridge spoke to a capacity crowd as part of the Clinton School Speaker Series.
“You should have a plan of what it’s going to take to get through a period when your using your reserves,” McCambridge told the crowd consisting mostly of area nonprofit workers and supporters.
The Clinton School hosted the program in partnership with the Arkansas Coalition for Excellence (ACE). CLICK HERE to read the AP coverage of McCambridge’s speech. Video of the speech will be posted soon at www.clintonschoolspeakers.com.
June 27th, 2009
Posted by student ALI TURRO - I am completing my international project at Nyaka AIDS Orphans School which located in Nyakagyezi village in southwestern Uganda. Nyaka serves more than 300 children who have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS and with more than 2 million AIDS orphans in the country, the needs are very great. For my project, I am working with the school to produce its organizational development plan. I also spend several hours each day teaching students English and Science.
“Every now and then, we are shedding tears. AIDS is killing our people.” These are the words to one of the songs that Nyaka’s Anti-AIDS Choir sang last Tuesday. I was more than excited when Teacher Agaba invited me to join him and the choir. Twenty students from all levels make up the choir. Together they sing songs and act out plays to educate others about how HIV/AIDS affects everyone.
It was my first opportunity to see Nyaka’s students represent themselves outside of the school. They confidently walked into the school room that was packed with students and adults and demonstrated such grace and poise during each performance. In other environments, being labeled an “AIDS orphan” brings with it many negative consequences. However, the welcoming and nurturing environment that Nyaka provides its students with helps them overcome the negative connotations. They sing and share their stories to educate others about their experiences, which is certainly no easy task for an average 5- to 13-year-old child.
One of my students, Sensio, gave an incredible solo performance. He acted and sang about being a young man wanting to travel to Kampala, the “big city.” There, he met many different women and soon found himself HIV-positive. Though the song was performed in Rukiga, I watched Sensio as he sang his heart out. He acted out the symptoms of HIV/AIDS and put chalk markings on his face to represent the spots of Kaposi’s sarcoma. Daniel, another student, joined Sensio and played his father who was devastated upon learning about his son’s illness.
The entire performance was touching. I sat there thinking about all of the things that these children have been through at such young ages. So many of them watched as their parents, relatives or siblings succumb to AIDS. And yet, they sang with such incredible composure. They are the ones who need to be telling their stories. During one of the final songs, the students sang the words, “We are the instruments of change in Uganda.” If this doesn’t serve as a wake-up call for others, than I’m not sure what will.
I am incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to be here at Nyaka. The students, teachers and staff are incredible. They give me great hope for Uganda’s future.
For more information about Nyaka, please visit its website at www.nyakaschool.org.
More updates about my adventures in Uganda can be found at http://ugandaloveit.wordpress.com.
June 26th, 2009
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