Former U.S. President Bill Clinton recognized Wagner College and President Richard Guarasci at the second annual Clinton Global Initiative University, held Feb. 12-15, 2009. Clinton cited Wagner for its Port Richmond Partnership, an innovative program that will focus the school's community resources in an effort to improve quality of life in a specific Staten Island neighborhood: Port Richmond.
According to Clinton, the Port Richmond Partnership builds upon Wagner's extensive expertise and leadership in education and citizenship. (Wagner has been also named three times to the President's Community Service Honor Roll).
Clinton added that the Partnership will help to provide services to a community that is bearing the brunt of today's economic crisis.
"It is an honor that the work we are doing here on Staten Island, in order to be good neighbors within this community, has been recognized with so many other meaningful commitments to service," said Guarasci. "This is a humbling recognition."
The Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) Meeting, was held February 13-15, 2009 at The University of Texas at Austin. CGI U builds on the successful model of the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, which celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, to engage college students and administrators to make commitments to address global issues with practical, innovative solutions.
CGI U, under sponsorship of Student Government at The University of Texas at Austin, convened nearly 1,000 college students, approximately 100 university presidents, as well as leading non-profit organizations, social entrepreneurs, and youth leaders. Other attendees will include NFL All-Pro Nnamdi Asomugha, FSU Student-Athlete Myron Rolle, the Daily Show’s John Oliver, Matthew McConaughey, Natalie Portman, Luke Russert, and Morgan Spurlock.
Participants discussed how student activists can make a difference around the world and each student and university in attendance is asked to make their own Commitment to Action. Over the three day meeting, attendees will participate in forums and working sessions to brainstorm ways to make a difference.
Like President Guarasci, all CGI U Meeting attendees make a Commitment to Action – a comprehensive, formal plan of action to address a specific problem on their campus, in their community, or in another state or abroad. While a commitment is a requirement for participation at the meeting, any college student or university can make a commitment throughout the year at www.cgiu.org. Since the inaugural meeting in March 2008 at Tulane University, nearly 1,600 commitments have been made by students and universities worldwide.