NEW YORK, NY July 17, 2009 —President Obama gave a lot of nods to New York City during last night's speech before the NAACP convention, including praise for an education partnership that crosses political boundaries.

OBAMA: If Al Sharpton, Mike Bloomberg and Newt Gingrich can agree that we need to solve the education problem, then that's something all of America can agree we can solve.

REPORTER: The President met with Sharpton, Bloomberg and Gingrich at the White House in May to discuss efforts to overcome inequalities in education.

Brendolyn Jenkins is from North Carolina. She was thrilled that the president acknowledged pioneers of the civil rights movement, while stressing the limitations of government action, on issues like education.

JENKINS: I think stealthily he laid out the balance of policy and responsibility, of his having in his hand the ability to shape and mold policy, but at the same time what's in our hand of our responsibility to live up to that expectation.

REPORTER: The President also mentioned a report that city Comptroller Bill Thompson issued this week which says the economic crisis is disproportionately hitting African Americans.