The College of Staten Island (CSI) hosts a Legislative Aides Breakfast at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 12 at the Willowbrook Campus’ Park Café at 2800 Victory Boulevard.

Presented by CSI’s Center for the Study of Staten Island: Staten Island Project (CSI-SIP), the breakfast is designed to informally introduce Legislative Aides to the multiple community projects and research initiatives of CSI-SIP.

According to Richard Flanagan, associate director of CSI-SIP, a major project for CSI-SIP this upcoming academic year includes a Social Capital Benchmark Study which will examine community participation and interaction. Beginning with a survey of 800 Islanders by which to compare Staten Island’s civic engagement with other communities across the country, the research will culminate in a Policy Conference on civic engagement built around the poll and its findings. Other project topics actively being investigated by CSI-SIP include transportation policy and the affordable housing market.

“A main purpose of the breakfast is to get quality feedback from legislative staff regarding what research they would like us to proceed with in order to help improve the Island’s quality of life,” said Flanagan.

The Center for the Study of Staten Island: Staten Island Project (CSI-SIP) integrates the work of the College with the public affairs concerns of the people of Staten Island. As the public policy arm of the College, the Center holds annual policy conferences, supports faculty research, and facilitates student engagement with the local community.