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ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2020

United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. In the three months the application was open in 2020, 15,159 young leaders applied to join the Class of 2020 on 1,458 campuses across 135 nations.  80 campuses worldwide (just 6%) were selected to host the 1,000+ Millennium Fellows.  The Class of 2020 is bold, innovative, and inclusive. 

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UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT ISOBEL LAUREN MILES, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2020.

Columbia University | New York, United States | Advancing SDG 6 & UNAI 6

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" I am thrilled to be a Millennium Fellow. I strongly believe that individual action and accountability are crucial to creating a more sustainable future. By giving a platform to impactful campus projects around the world, the Millennium Fellowship program increases the potential for us all to enact tangible sustainable change. The opportunity to work with such a talented global cohort of like-minded individuals with one common focus really excites me. "

Millennium Fellowship Project: NYC Restrooms for All

As a student-led organization that believes in the human right to sanitation outlined in the UN Human Rights Resolution 15.9, they advocate for an increase in the number of public restrooms throughout New York City. The project presses for the City to instate a community toilet scheme. Local businesses would receive city funding in return for allowing free public access to their restrooms. The plan consists of two components: publicizing the issue of sanitation in New York City and collaborating directly with the city government, including the legislature and Mayor's Office, with the goal of convincing them to include the plan in the annual city budget. To forward their cause, they intend to enact letter-writing and social media campaigns, petition the city government, and contact local community leaders. Overall, they aspire to transform the system of public restrooms to broaden accessibility and ultimately make their city cleaner and more equitable.

An increase in the number of petition signatures would represent their progress. If their cause gained traction among the local NYC news, that would represent even greater success, as the initiative would reach even more people. Establishing strong and enduring relationships with at least four City Council members to aid them in promoting their project in the legislature would also signify achievement. They intend to attain these goals through organizing two letter-writing campaigns, sending at least 200 lettes to the City Council and Mayor's Office, and raising awareness for World Toilet Day on November 19 in collaboration with other organizations such as PHLUSH, FLUSH, and The Poop Project. Additionally, social media and news outreach as well as a new video would aid these efforts.

About the Millennium Fellow

Isobel is a senior majoring in Sustainable Development at Columbia University in New York City. She was born in Sydney, Australia and grew up in London, UK before pursuing her undergraduate degree in the US. She is passionate about influencing sustainable behavioral change in people, businesses and governments. On campus, Isobel is a committed member of the sustainability community as the Managing Director of Consilience, a global student-run sustainable development academic journal. Off campus, she has undertaken internships at purpose-led startups, nonprofits and NGOs where responsible business is an integral part of the mission statement.

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