Chelsea Clinton became the 1,000th speaker of the Clinton School of Public Service Speaker Series tonight, Sept. 18.
Little Rock was Clinton’s third stop on the tour for her book It’s Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going, written for young people and focusing on how adults can help kids make a difference.
Skip Rutherford opens 1,000th @ProgramsUACS with @ChelseaClinton #ItsYourWorld @JLRIII
— AR Money & Politics (@amppob) September 18, 2015
She referenced her favorite book as a child, 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth, and her parents’ lessons in helping her develop a consciousness about the world around her.
“My parents were always talking about the world, and they expected me to have an opinion,” she said. “The sense of activism was a gift from my parents.” About 1,500 people attended the event.
@ChelseaClinton: Pleased that more people came to see me than my parents @ProgramsUACS #ItsYourWorld pic.twitter.com/qdrlh4qwKq — AR Money & Politics (@amppob) September 18, 2015
After her remarks, Clinton sat down with for a question-and-answer session with Clinton Foundation Executive Director Stephanie Streett, and also took questions from the audience.
Kids are more receptive to the world around them than adults think, Clinton said.
“There are so many kids already engaging with trying to make a difference. Small things matter,” she said. “It’s our responsibility to help kids find ways to make a difference.”
@ChelseaClinton: There are so many kids already engaging in trying to make a difference. Small things matter. #ItsYourWorld @ProgramsUACS
— AR Money & Politics (@amppob) September 18, 2015
Clinton discussed being a new mom, and shared memories from her childhood in Little Rock and in the White House. She cited her first grade teacher who helped her learn to read her first chapter books and her fourth grade teacher who challenged her to think critically.
“I’ve been blessed to have tremendous teachers,” she said.
Clinton attended Forest Park Elementary School, Booker Arts and Science Magnet Elementary School and Horace Mann Arts and Science Magnet Middle School in Little Rock before her dad, Bill Clinton, was elected president.
Earlier in the day, Clinton spoke at Mann Middle School and stopped by the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library and Learning Center, named for her mother.
Earlier this week, the book tour made stops in Atlanta and Chicago.
Since the speaker series began, more than 170,000 people have attended lectures, which have featured world leaders, activists and business leaders.
