Blog Posts Related to the African American Community

Meeting with African American Leaders at the White House

President Obama speaks at the African American Policy Conference, held at the White House on November 9, 2011. (Photo by Riana Lynn) November 9, 2011. (by White House Office of Public Engagement)

Yesterday, the White House welcomed leaders from throughout the African American community for our first-ever African American Policy Conference. Participants heard from President Obama, senior administration officials and cabinet secretaries on a wide range of issues, such as the economy, the environment, and healthcare reform.

To coincide with the conference, the White House released a report entitled, “The President’s Agenda and the African-American Community.” In the report, we describe the ways we’ve worked together to address the challenges many African American families face. Many of these challenges have existed for decades. The economic crisis, followed by the worst recession since the Great Depression, only made things worse.

Under the leadership of President Obama, a broad coalition came together, including members of the Congressional Black Caucus and many of the groups who were represented at the White House yesterday, and we have been able to improve the lives of millions of Americans. We have made healthcare more accessible and more affordable. We have made our schools better equipped to prepare our children for the 21st-century, and made college more affordable. We have made it easier for small and minority-owned businesses to compete for federal contracts. We have invested in cities, and attacked the cycle of poverty that traps too many African American young people.

As President Obama said, when he dropped by for a surprise visit in the afternoon, we continue to be driven by “the fierce urgency of now.” He thanked the participants in yesterday’s conference for their support of the American Jobs Act, the only jobs plan which independent economists have said would create nearly two million jobs immediately. And he reiterated that if Congress is unable or unwilling to do its job, the Obama Administration will find ways to act without them, because when it comes to getting our economy back on track, we can’t wait.

Fort Monroe Becomes a National Monument

Fort Monroe (National Parks Service)

Today is truly an historic day for America as President Obama is announcing the establishment of Fort Monroe National Monument -- a historic fort in Virginia’s Tidewater region that was integral role to the history of slavery, the Civil War, and the U.S. military -- as the 396th unit of the National Park System.

With the strong support of the people of Virginia, from the congressional delegation to Governor McDonnell to Mayor Ward and the citizens of Hampton, President Obama has ensured that this historic fort, a symbol of the long struggle for freedom for African Americans, will be preserved as a national park for generations to come.

Fort Monroe is one of 101 projects that I have highlighted as part of the America’s Great Outdoors initiative, representing what states believe are among the best investments in the nation to support a healthy, active population, conserve wildlife and working lands, and create travel, tourism and outdoor-recreation jobs across the country.

This Thursday at 1:00 pm EDT, we will release the final 50-state report outlining some of the country’s most promising ways to reconnect Americans to the great outdoors. As part of that launch, I’ll be participating in a live web chat, where I will answer your questions about the America’s Great Outdoors initiative, Ft. Monroe National Monument,  and how conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives are strong economic engines for our nation’s economy.

Click here (newmedia@ios.doi.gov) to send me your questions in advance or tweet them to me at #askken.

I look forward to answering many of your questions on Thursday at 1:00 pm ET.