Newsmotion - The First Lady

First Lady Michelle Obama Delivers the Commencement Address at Eastern Kentucky University

feed — Sun, 12 May 2013 20:06:32 +0000

First Lady Michelle Obama Delivers the Commencement Address at Eastern Kentucky University

Sun, 05/12/2013

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks during the Eastern Kentucky University commencement at the EKU Alumni Coliseum in Richmond, Ky., May 11, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

First Lady Michelle Obama yesterday celebrated a new class of graduates from Eastern Kentucky University.

"You all went through so much to make it to this day -- the highs and the lows, the triumphs, the challenges, the celebrations, the devastations -- and I'm not just talking about your love lives, either," the First Lady told the graduates. "I'm talking about all those papers you poured your heart into; all those caffeine-fueled all-nighters; those moments of anxiety as you set out on your own, looking to find new friends you clicked with and a new community to call your own."

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/12/first-lady-michelle-obama-delivers-com...

"Thank you for all that you do": Military Mother's Day Tea with the First Lady and Dr. Biden

feed — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:00:28 +0000

"Thank you for all that you do": Military Mother's Day Tea with the First Lady and Dr. Biden

Fri, 05/10/2013

Watch this video on YouTube

Yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden hosted a special Mother's Day tea to honor military mothers and show their appreciation and thanks for all the important work they do as well as the sacrifices their families have made in service of our country.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/09/thank-you-all-you-do-military-mothers-...

West Wing Week: 05/10/13 or “I Dare You to Do Better”

feed — Fri, 10 May 2013 04:00:23 +0000

West Wing Week: 05/10/13 or “I Dare You to Do Better”

Fri, 05/10/2013

This week, the President made his fourth trip to Mexico, continued on to Costa Rica, spoke to the graduating class of 2013 at The Ohio State University, hosted the new President of South Korea, discussed hurricane preparedness, and kicked off a series of Middle Class Jobs & Opportunity Tour in the Lone Star State.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/09/west-wing-week-051013-or-i-dare-you-do...

West Wing Week: 05/03/13 or “Nobody Does It Better”

feed — Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

West Wing Week: 05/03/13 or “Nobody Does It Better”

Fri, 05/03/2013

This week, President Obama spoke at the Planned Parenthood conference and the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, met with the King of Jordan, made five personnel announcements, celebrated the sciences and the Joining Forces Initiative, and embarked on a trip to Mexico and Costa Rica.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/02/west-wing-week-050313-or-nobody-does-i...

First Lady Michelle Obama Announces New Hiring Commitments for Veterans and Military Spouses

feed — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:09:07 +0000

First Lady Michelle Obama Announces New Hiring Commitments for Veterans and Military Spouses

Tue, 04/30/2013

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks during a Joining Forces initiative employment announcement for veterans and military spouses, in the East Room of the White House, April 30, 2013. Stage participants included, from left, Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Two years ago, President Obama announced a challenge to the private sector to hire or train 100,000 unemployed veterans or their spouses by the end of 2013.

Today, President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Biden, and Dr. Jill Biden all participated in a Joining Forces Employment event at the White House.

The First Lady announced that America’s businesses nearly tripled the goal set by President Obama and did so eight months early. The private sector has already hired or trained 290,000 veterans and military spouses.

The First Lady also announced that American companies have committed to hire or train another 435,000 veterans and military spouses over the next five years.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/30/first-lady-michelle-obama-announces-ne...

Businesses Must Hire More Vets

feed — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:09:36 +0000

Businesses Must Hire More Vets

Tue, 04/30/2013

Ed note: This op-ed by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden was first published on Fortune.com. You can see the original article here.

Two years ago, we launched Joining Forces, a nationwide campaign to rally all Americans to support our veterans and military families. We did this for two simple reasons: because we were both awed by the courage and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform who risk their lives every day to protect our values and keep us safe. We were also awed by their families, the spouses and children who serve right along with them, enduring deployment after deployment with grace and resolve.

As we traveled the country visiting bases and military communities, everywhere we went, we heard from veterans who had years of training and experience in the military -- leading dozens, even hundreds of their peers; operating some of the most advanced technology; and solving complex problems under the most extreme conditions imaginable. But when they returned home, they struggled to find decent jobs. We met military spouses who'd spent decades moving from base to base every couple of years and struggled to maintain their careers. As the months passed, we saw that the unemployment rate for our most recent veterans remained far too high above the national average.

These men and women are some of the highest-skilled, best-trained, hardest-working people in this country. They are medics and engineers, drivers and welders, computer technicians and machinists. They are eager to work and determined to keep on serving this country. All they need is a chance.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/30/businesses-must-hire-more-vets

First Lady Michelle Obama Announces a New Program to Help Transitioning Servicemembers Get IT Jobs

feed — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:06:25 +0000

First Lady Michelle Obama Announces a New Program to Help Transitioning Servicemembers Get IT Jobs

Mon, 04/29/2013

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks at the White House Forum on Military Credentialing and Licensing, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building South Court Auditorium, April 29, 2013. The First Lady announces the IT Training and Certification Partnership, a new public-private partnership that will enable thousands of service members to earn industry-recognized information technology (IT) certifications before they transition from military service. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

In the ongoing effort to help our servicemembers and veterans transition from active duty service to the civilian job market, the White House today invited leaders from the private sector, the military services, industry trade associations, unions, educational institutions, state legislatures, veteran service organizations, and state licensing boards for a forum on military credentialing and licensing.

At the event, First Lady Michelle Obama announced the launch of the IT Training and Certification Partnership, a new public-private program that addresses an issue that can prevent our troops from gaining employment in the private sector: Active military personnel typically do not have the industry-recognized certifications that reflect the IT skills and expertise they gained through their military service.

Today’s announcement is the second major partnership developed through the Military Credentialing and Licensing Task Force, which was established last June by the Department of Defense at President Obama’s direction. The new Partnership will provide opportunities for up to 161,000 service members to gain industry-recognized, nationally portable certifications necessary for 12 high-demand technology professions, including computer programmers, quality assurance engineers, and IT security analysts. The targeted professions are expected to generate more than 1.8 million job opportunities by 2020, and have an average annual salary of more than $81,000. Their high-quality military training assures that our veterans have the skill sets that employers demand to fill these positions

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/29/first-lady-michelle-obama-announces-ne...

West Wing Week: 04/26/13 or “This Stuff’s Really Cool”

feed — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:44:48 +0000

West Wing Week: 04/26/13 or “This Stuff’s Really Cool”

Thu, 04/25/2013

This week, the Vice President traveled to Boston for a memorial for Officer Collier, and the President memorialized the victims of the West Texas explosion. The President also hosted the Amir of Qatar, the Teacher of the Year, the 3rd White House Science Fair, and visited Dallas with the First Lady for the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/25/west-wing-week-042613-or-stuff-s-reall...

President Obama Participates in the Dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Library

feed — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:45:29 +0000

President Obama Participates in the Dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Library

Thu, 04/25/2013

President Barack Obama stands with former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter, at the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas, Tex., April 25, 2013. Former First Ladies Laura Bush, left, and Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, are also pictured. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

President and Mrs. Obama were in Dallas today for the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Library. It was an historic occasion that brought all the living former Presidents -- Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush -- together for the first time since right before President Obama took office in 2009. They were joined by former First Ladies Roslyn Carter, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton (also a former Secretary of State, as President Obama noted) and Laura Bush.

In his remarks, President Obama highlighted the special bond that connects our past presidents, and said that despite disagreement on matters of foreign policy, all of the men on the stage with him shared "a profound respect and reverence for the men and women of our military and their families. And we are united in our determination to comfort the families of the fallen and to care for those who wear the uniform of the United States."

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/25/president-obama-participates-dedicatio...

West Wing Week: 04/19/13 or “Selflessly. Compassionately. Unafraid.”

feed — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 04:00:18 +0000

West Wing Week: 04/19/13 or “Selflessly. Compassionately. Unafraid.”

Fri, 04/19/2013

This week, the President responded to the terror attack in Boston, met with AmeriCorps volunteers, invited the Wounded Warrior riders to the White House, and for the first time, asked a citizen to deliver the weekly address.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/18/west-wing-week-041913-or-selflessly-co...