This Thursday morning, Governor Matt Blunt and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay convened on the Washington University campus with other prominent members of the St. Louis community to declare their solidarity with the ONE campaign in the fight against global poverty and disease.

“As Americans living in the twenty-first century, we enjoy an unprecedented level of freedom and prosperity that really is unequaled in the world,” said Governor Blunt. “But prosperity and freedom are not the only qualities that distinguish us. There is also a can-do attitude that leads more American to service than any other nation in the world.”

Blunt and Slay signed proclamations declaring Missouri and St. Louis a state and city of ONE, respectively.

The declarations represent a commitment to the values of the ONE Campaign, a coalition of prominent non-profit organizations and millions of Americans in the fight to improve the quality of life of people around the world.

Missouri is the ninth state to declare itself a “State of ONE,” joining Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine and Vermont.

St. Louis is the second city in the state to align itself with the movement, following New Madrid, which made its proclamation in early August.

The University Alliance of Students Against Poverty (ASAP) and the ONE campaign worked together to bring the event to campus.

“This event really echoes our mission to reach out and unite people working to fight the same cause no matter what their background is,” said sophomore Stephanie Koh, a member of ASAP and one of the speakers at the signing.

Koh worked with members of the ONE campaign over the summer to plan the event that invited politicians, educators and religious leaders. Multiple speakers highlighted the significance of holding the proclamation on a college campus.

“What’s so exciting about this is the student involvement,” said Jack Oliver, co-chairman of the ONE board. “At time when Americans have become so cynical about politics, this issue is creating an opportunity show that we can make a difference.”

Both Blunt and Slay underscored Oliver’s remark by ceremonially presenting their signed proclamations to Koh.

The signing also worked to bridge political divides, as Blunt and Slay respectively belong to the Republican and Democratic parties.

“Someone asked what the governor and I were doing in the same place at the same time, and I said, ‘We have a common enemy, and that’s poverty,’” said Slay.

Other speakers at the event included Reverend Clinton McCann, an Evangelical professor of biblical interpretation; Niyi Coker, a professor of African Theatre; and Chancellor Mark Wrighton.

Speaking in the Women’s Building, Chancellor Wrighton opened the event by highlight the University’s commitment to fighting poverty both actively and academically.

“I’m really impressed with the leadership that our students are bringing into the community and public service broadly,” said Wrighton. “We can make a difference [in poverty] having a large number of people energized on this issue.”

For more information about the ONE campaign, visit www.one.org.

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