On September 19-20, Keystone Human Services is participating in the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) , a gathering of global leaders committed to taking action to address some of the world’s most pressing issues. Charles Hooker, President and CEO, KHS; Charles Sweeder, President-Elect, KHS; Genevieve Fitzgibbon, Deputy Director, Keystone Human Services International; and Nicolae Ciocan, Director of Administration, Keystone Moldova will attend.
Keystone Human Services has been a member of CGI since its inception. Through our participation, we have worked to make sure that disability rights and inclusive practices become a natural part of conversations as leaders and organizations develop plans and projects to address global challenges.
The hallmark of the Clinton Global Initiative is action. Members make a Commitment to Action—new, specific, measurable projects—and have opportunities to build partnerships. Keystone Human Services is pleased to make a new Commitment to Action this year.
This is not the first time we have taken action through the CGI. In 2013, we shared our first Commitment to Action, “Social and Financial Inclusion for Women and Girls.” Tamara Andries and Ludmila Jalba from Moldova presented on the main stage at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York in 2016.
“Whether it is the obvious physical barriers or not so subtle psychological barriers, it is hard to be a young woman with disability in Moldova. But we are working to change that,” said Andries. “I want people to understand that we have abilities, we are part of society, and we have the same rights as others.”
“Life in the community is not only socially responsible,” said Ludmila Jalba, “but it’s financially viable, practical, and personally liberating.”
In 2016, we began our second Commitment to Action, “Advancing the Rights of People with Disability in India,” which centered on social change for India around disability issues. We partnered with Rural India Supporting Trust (RIST) launched Keystone Institute India, and began our transformative collaboration to strengthen and support families and people with disability, change agents, and national leadership to develop an inclusive Indian society where all people have access to home, education, work, freely-given relationships, and a sense of belonging.
In fact, our partnership with RIST blossomed from an initial meeting at a previous Clinton Global Initiative event.
More information about this year’s Commitment to Action will be available later. To follow or join the conversation around our participation in CGI on September 19-20, please follow Keystone Human Services on Twitter , Facebook , and LinkedIn .