| Think. The Big Picture. |
November 1, 2007 |
| |
By Eva Panagiotopoulos
“You have to think anyway, so why not think big.” A famous American business executive, entrepreneur, and CEO said this once. And I think Donald Trump knew what he was talking about when he said it.
The fresh organization Illini Global Initiative is taking “thinking big” to a new level, globally.
If you’re thinking Illini Global Initiative sounds like any other typical environmental organization, meet the President and Co-Founder Jim Heffron. As he made clear, “IGI is different from an Environmental organization. We want to be a resource. We want to focus on projects and build relationships, focus on core areas such as global health poverty, environmental and climate change, social justice, and multiculturalism.”
And when Heffron was asked how IGI would captivate a different edge he responded, “I’m all about big, crazy ideas.”
Initiative, in Heffron’s view must go beyond discussions and readings. It is about brainstorming, contributing, and not wanting to stay limited, in other words, “We have to let people know crazy ideas are ok and we will make them happen.”
Illini Global Initiative was created in the spring semester of 2007 with a mission to unite existing student organizations, faculty, and administration in to bring global issues into the perspective of students. In doing so, IGI will give the student body the tools and know-how to empower them to make a difference in their own ways. The organization will articulate a purpose with “core areas,” but not stay limited to them. IGI acknowledges being a brand new organization with still some kinks in their structure, however, thinking big is exactly how IGI desires to bring in new ideas and growth to the big picture.
The ideas and hard work of IGI are already prepared to make a big first impression. The organization has successfully reached out to other organizations and built a coalition. Without any fear and only optimistic anticipation about everyone’s hard work coming together, IGI will present its first event November 5th-9th, Live Green.
Live Green week is composed of several activities (including lectures, demonstrations and hands-on displays) with the expressed intent to show Illinois students how to live greener – less-destructive, more globally-conscious – lives. Each day of the week has a specific theme that incorporates these activities.
Demonstrations and hands-on displays will be taking place on the quad throughout the week as will the sale of raffle tickets. In addition, a weeklong CFL Drive of selling less energy consuming and longer rated life CFL lights bulbs for $3 each.
This event was also made possible with special help from SECS Vice President Ari Sahagun, the sponsorship of the Technology Entrepreneur Center and the Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership, and the assembly of organizations: Students for Environmental Concerns, Engineers Without Borders, Planeteers, AEISIC National Organization for Business and Engineering, Re-Use, Just Foods, Amnesty International, Volunteer Illini Projects, La Casa, Student Hurricane Relief Network, Student Farmworker Alliance at UIUC, Red Bison, Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences.
Live Green demonstrates how IGI has developed its values and purpose statements, and the commitment to “go big, or go home.” When asked what the next project for IGI would be, Heffron answered, “We were talking about global health and poverty with the collaboration of AIDS campaigns but better ideas might come along. We are staying open-minded, the bigger- the better.”
If students are interested in an organization that is constantly working on projects and a place for ideas to develop, Illini Global Initiative is the epitome of it all. Students must be warned however, IGI is only setting the standards high, and is on its way from campus to nationwide, to worldwide in no time. After all, only thinking big will take you there.
|
|
