News Archive

Nazareth Students Headed to Clinton Global Initiative University at UC Berkeley

Published February 09, 2016

In its third year of involvement as a CGI University Network member with the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U), Nazareth College sent seven students to CGI U 2016 at the University of California, Berkeley in early April.  CGI U accepted five Nazareth student Commitments to Action (project applications), ranging from a mental health education program to a peace and human rights curriculum designed to bring Rochester youth from refugee backgrounds together. The CGI University Network is made up of a growing consortium of colleges and universities that support, mentor, and provide seed funding to student leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs who are developing solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

CGI U officials say that 2016 was one of the most competitive pools of projects from students around the world.

The students were notified of their acceptance early January 2016 and attended the annual CGI U meeting from April 1-3, 2016 at the University of California in Berkeley, California. The meeting assembled more than 1,000 innovative student leaders who made Commitments to Action in CGI U’s five focus areas: Education, Environment and Climate Change, Peace and Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation, and Public Health.

"For the third year in a row, our Nazareth students have taken a leadership role at the Clinton Global Initiative University as they continue to showcase their skills on how to solve our world’s most pressing issues," said Nazareth College President Daan Braveman. "I am very proud of our CGI U student applicants, the work they do, and the recognition they bring to themselves and the College.”

Nazareth College CGI U Commitments to Action that were accepted:

Student Name: Alexis Blydenburgh (Spanish major with Inclusive Early Childhood Education, 2017)

Name of CGI U Commitment to Action: Global Minds of Rochester

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Timothy Glander, Professor and Chair in Social & Psychological Foundations of Education

Focus Area: Peace and Human Rights

Summary of CGI U Commitment to Action: Within the Rochester community, there is an ongoing conflict between the citizens of the urban communities and the refugees residing there. Misunderstandings about where support and resources are going in an area where many people need them leads to conflict between these two groups. Global Minds of Rochester is a curriculum that teaches respectful multicultural dialogue to the youth of Rochester, New York, within the parameters of existing youth programs. By the end of the curriculum youth will create bonds and global competencies that empower them to mediate conflicts.

 

Student Name: Paul Lippert (English major, 2016)

Name of CGI U Commitment to Action: ReadBox Libraries

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Adrielle Mitchell, Professor inEnglish and Communication and  Dr. Jerome Denno, Associate Professor inEnglish and Communication

Focus Area: Education

Summary of CGI U Commitment to Action: Rochester City School District has only a 48.6% graduation rate. Only 24% of third graders are performing at or above grade level in English Language arts compared to 56% statewide (New York Times and the Community Foundation). ReadBox’s focus is expanding access to education to economically disadvantaged youth who are primarily Latino English Language Learners by providing them with free books of their choosing throughout the year, and a special mentor "pen-pal". This commitment empowers our youth by providing them with positive, constructive role-models, encouraging them to read and write, and helps them gain personal and professional development skills needed for future success.

 

Student Name: Kole Tondryk (Social Work major, 2017)

Name of CGI U Commitment to Action: Mental Health Education and Stigma Reduction Program

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Leanne Charlesworth, Associate Professor in Social Work

Focus Area: Public Health

Summary of CGI U Commitment to Action: According to The Suicide Prevention Resource Center, up to 7.7% of undergraduate and graduate level college students have seriously considered suicide(SPRC 2012). And those numbers don't speak for the students who remained silent. College campuses frequently report students seek mental health counseling for anxiety and stress followed by depression, relationship issues and unhealthy coping mechanisms. The Mental Health Education and Stigma Reduction commitment to action will aim to create a training program for interested students to help them detect signs of jeopardized mental health and wellness, both within themselves and within their peers. It will also ultimately provide a new group and student organization on campus for students to learn different coping skills and stress management techniques.

 

Student Name: Bethany Shaw (Environmental Science and Sustainability major, 2019)

Name of CGI U Commitment to Action: Mammalian Median Mowers (M3)

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Padmini Das, Assistant Professor inBiology

Focus Area: Environment and Climate Change

Summary of CGI U Commitment to Action: The land available for farmers to grow their businesses is diminishing due to urbanization. Thus, some farmers have resorted to deforestation and degrading wetlands to increase their cultivable land. Thousands of acres around the nation are available for farming in the form of highway medians. Through Mammalian Median Mowers (M3), the underutilized medians will become pastures for small grazing animals. Known for their wide herbaceous diet, low maintenance, and rapid growth, goats would be the perfect animal for M3. The use of temporary solar fencing, ear-tag GPS trackers, and solar rain barrels will make M3 both sustainable and safe.

 

Student Name: Alyssa Henry (Occupational Therapy major, 2018); Erin Maloney (Art Education major, 2018); Rebecca Silliman (Sociology major, 2016)

Name of CGI U Commitment to Action: Yoga Embracing the Present

Staff Advisor: Lynne Boucher, Director for theCenter for Spirituality

Focus Area: Public Health

Summary of CGI U Commitment to Action: According to a National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) survey, 30.7% of college students experience severe depression and more than 50% of students have felt overwhelming anxiety. Mental health services on campuses are insufficient to deal with this high volume of need, the breadth and depth of issues students face. Yoga has shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression by an average of 39%3. Students participating in yoga at Nazareth report that yoga helped them manage stress, feel calmer, and experience improved health. Yoga Embracing the Present will provide dynamic programming to college students addressing the specific areas of stress, anxiety, depression, and disordered eating. YEP will expand upon an original Nazareth CGI U commitment , Yoga Empowerment Partnership, whose object was community- based engagement with girls in city schools. The new vision of YEP is to introduce yoga as a mental health and wellness tool for both prevention and support on college campuses by partnering with Rochester Yoga Service Network and trained student leaders.

About CGI U

The Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U), a program of the Clinton Global Initiative, brings together college students to address global challenges with practical, innovative solutions. CGI U participants do more than simply discuss problems – they take concrete steps to solve them by creating action plans, building relationships, participating in hands-on workshops, and following up with CGI U as they complete their projects. Since 2008, students have made more than 4,800 Commitments to Action. Previous CGI U meetings have taken place at Tulane University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Miami, the University of California at San Diego, the George Washington University, Washington University in St. Louis, and Arizona State University, and have convened more than 6,500 students from over 875 schools, 145 countries, and all 50 states. To learn more, visit cgiu.org.

Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.

Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.