The Social Good Summit focused on how technology has emerged as important assets to global development and was held on Sept. 22-24 at 92Y, a community center in Manhattan.
The Summit, held during the United Nations General Assembly week, united a community of global leaders to discuss the power of innovative thinking and technology to solve the world's greatest challenges. The event streamed live to millions of people all over the world.
The event's agenda featured great and exciting conversations with global leaders such as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, Grameen Bank founder, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammed Yunus and former Polish Prime Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz.
The Summit is one of the many events New York City has to offer to students who are willing to take the train ride.
"It is really exciting to be here around people who are so excited about changing the world using technology and who are very interesting in all these ideas for international development," Alexandra Duszak, a University of Delaware graduate and first-time attendee said, Duszak is a blogger for the UN Dispatch and came all the way from Washington, D.C. to attend this event.
She encouraged all students to get out and be active.
"Social media is a great way to get your foot in the door," Duszak said. "If you follow the news and social media closely, you will start hearing about events like this or ones that interest you."
Duszak said she loves New York City. As a Washington, D.C resident, she said she appreciates what the city has to offer.
"I think New York City is great," she said. "I am so impressed with it: It is fun, it is vibrant, it is diverse and it is colorful. It is great to be here."
Freshman student and lead organizer for Leaders for Liberty Forum Anthony Diflorio, said he feels the need to take advantage of all the opportunities the city has to offer.
"What better way to grow both personally and academically than to catch a glimpse of the human spirit?" he said. "New York City is the center of humanity. It is a social and cultural mecca that is filled with endless opportunity for those that wish to explore a deeper part of themselves."
One of the goals of the Leaders for Liberty forum is to create opportunities for students to engage in dialogue and conversation as students. Members of Leaders for Liberty also attend international and regional events on a weekly basis. The new club, run by eight freshman organizers and one sophomore, encourages students to become active members of their community.
As Muhammed Yunus said at the Social Good Summit, "Young people are capable of doing much today more than ever in the history of the world today."
For more information about Leaders for Liberty and events going on in the city please contact Belal Bahader at belal.bahader@student.shu.edu or Anthony Diflorio at anthony.diflorio@student.shu.edu.
