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Tag: Michelle Obama

  • First Lady Launches White House Mentoring Program

    First lady Michelle Obama launched a mentoring program Monday to give local high school girls access to women at the White House.

  • DC Budget Cuts Can’t Overcome a Mother’s Love

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    My mother gave birth to me when she was 17-years old. As a teen mother who didn’t have a lot of money, she didn’t know the first thing about raising a child, taking care of her health, or preparing for her economic future. Fortunately, there were adults in community-based programs who cared enough to teach her the things that she didn’t yet understand.

    It is for that reason I support programs like The Health Babies Project in Washington, DC. There is no more important job than that of a mother, and The Healthy Babies Project understands that. The great challenge for the organization is that politicians seem to remember that babies don’t vote. So, when the funds are low, programs like this one are among the first to be killed.

    Due to recent budget cuts, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty has allowed for the program’s budget to lose a whopping $500,000 per year, well over half of the funding that the program needs in order to operate. Dr. Pierre Vigilance, Director of the Department of Public Health, has played his role in the process by allowing funding to be cut that had been previously promised to the organization. What’s worse is that the program has been doing a better job than the Department of Health itself when it comes to reaching benchmarks on the elimination of infant mortality.

    The unborn babies can’t quite speak for themselves, but their mothers aren’t taking this lying down. The organization is planning a rally Tuesday, October 6 in Freedom’s Plaza, located on Pennsylvania Avenue. The women being supported by the program are also working the phones to hold local officials accountable and are even pushing to get the attention of First Lady Michelle Obama.

    Programs like The Healthy Babies Project are important, since infant mortality in the black community is 2.3 times greater than that for white Americans. Additionally, persistent problems in the DC area, such as HIV infection and malnutrition require continuous dedication from public officials. One can understand the idea of cutting a program that isn’t working. But if a program is doing well, and goals are being reached, why would this be the program that gets one of the most significant funding cuts in the city?

    Perhaps we are getting a chance to see DC politics at its finest. Politicians are going to be political, but our children need our support.

    Dr. Boyce Watkins is a professor at Syracuse University and author of the forthcoming book, “Black American Money.” To have Dr Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

     

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  • Michelle Obama Inspires Women To Achieve Higher Education

    Michelle Obama Inspires Women To Achieve Higher Education

    On January 20th this nation witnessed history with the inauguration of the 44th President Barrack Obama. A Black Man had been voted into office to represent our nation. Also of note, was the fact that the country was in a bad way from one of the worst economic eras in U.S. History. While these events have had an impact on the world at large to variable degrees, one portion of U.S. residents have been deeply affected by the implications. Woman, and African American women in specific, have been profoundly struck by the impression of the First Family and Michelle Obama. On the day of victory, when she strode out on the stage to be by her husband, President-Elect Barack Obama’s side, women could not help but acknowledge her poise, confidence and grace. She was an inspiration to all women; black, white or brown.  Michelle Obama exemplifies all that embodies a woman and achieved soul. She is a exquisite mother, a nurturing provider, as well as a lawyer, executive, and public servant. A professional and domestic winner by any measure.

    During her many speeches, Michelle Obama encourages women to validate themselves, their intelligence, and home values. She advises them to seek additional education in an effort to insure better job opportunities. She is a superior model of how a woman can juggle parenthood along with other social responsibilities. (Her appointments by far surpassing that of most women on a daily basis). She is visible proof that woman can achieve anything they put their minds to. She has been cited as stating “…being a good mother isn’t all about sacrificing. It’s really investing and putting yourself higher on your priority list.”

    A alumnus of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Michelle Obama recognizes the importance of educational activity.  She avidly endorses President Barack Obama’s educational scholarship programs, (himself a recipient of several scholarships and student loans) and has cited papers from census bureau data that shows improved education frequently results in stronger earning power. In fact, prior to becoming the First Lady, Michelle Obama was vice-president of Community and External Affairs at the University of Chicago. Under her direction, enrollment and participation of women in the residential area sky rocketed. Without surprise, many women adopted her mindset and studied careers in the field of law.

    In these terrible economical trials, there are few industries poised for increase. Any legal field, and specifically, employment in the criminal justice field, will remain stable or grow at times of domestic fiscal downturns.  With less occupations and opportunities available, more people embrace to crime. Its an calamitous turn of events, but it presents an opportunity to take action on plans being proposed and supported by the Michelle Obama. Click the link to get started with your criminal justice career .