Scholars
The Scholars program at Columbia University and the University of Chicago empowers individuals with a proven commitment to service with the tools they need to make their efforts more effective, to identify innovative solutions to complex global problems, and promote change through values-based leadership.
Meet Columbia University Scholars Amanda Morrall and Huong Dang
Inspired by President Obama’s call to action at the 2023 Obama Foundation Democracy Forum, Columbia University Scholars Amanda Morrall and Huong Dang founded the IGNITE Social Impact Summit (Opens in a new tab) in New York City. Their collaboration led to a pioneering conference that convened 59 influential social impact leaders, who shared their models and best practices to inspire future social impact leaders. The two-day summit drew over 140 participants from around the globe, facilitating a dynamic exchange of ideas and strategies for driving social change.
Amanda shared, "We both remember the moment we wanted to collaborate, right after the Democracy Forum. We were texting back and forth, feeling extremely inspired by the Forum and our opportunity to partner with each other." Huong added, "I had an idea for an event focused on environmental, social, governance, and social entrepreneurship, and Amanda was thinking about a series on philanthropy. We thought, what if we collaborated and hosted our events together as a conference?"
Their initial steps involved developing a proposal, structuring the conference, and seeking feedback from program leads. The Scholars also received guidance from Stephen Friedman, former president of MTV, who ultimately agreed to speak at the conference. Amanda says the Obama Leadership Network played a crucial role in supporting the summit.
"We are grateful to the Obama Foundation and our program leaders for reviewing our proposal and providing feedback," Amanda said.
The broader Obama community, including USA Leaders, Voyagers, and former Obama administration leaders, also contributed by moderating panels, introducing speakers, and spreading the word.
The IGNITE Social Impact Summit offered a unique practical learning experience for NYC university students and Obama Leadership Network alumni. The summit's goals included building networks, identifying new collaborators, and advancing current initiatives.
Looking ahead, Amanda and Huong aim to continue building on their success by partnering with fellow Leaders and Scholars to build upon what they started. They also plan to expand the summit to Chicago before hosting in Australia, where Huong lives.
Amanda and Huong's vision and dedication have created a platform for aspiring social impact leaders to learn, connect, and drive change. Their journey underscores the importance of believing in oneself and the collective power of community in making a difference.