The White House Blog: The First Lady

First Lady Michelle Obama marks 9/11 anniversary with a visit to Ft. Belvoir

In honor of 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance, First Lady Michelle Obama visited the USO Warrior and Family Center and the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Intrepid Spirit One, at Fort Belvoir, VA.

First Lady Michelle Obama joins children in an art project at the USO Warrior and Family Center in Ft. Belvoir, Va., Sept. 11, 2013. The center supports wounded, ill and injured troops, their families and caregivers as well as local active duty troops. September 11, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

The National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) is dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment and research of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder, and other service related illnesses and injuries among service members, veterans and their families.

Mrs. Obama began her visit by completing a service project with military children at the USO Warrior Care Center. Together they created crafts for delivery to the NICoE and decorated a USO banner that will be displayed at a barbeque and concert for military families.

“Do you realize you guys are heroes?” explained Mrs. Obama to the military children. “We’re so proud of what you do because your parents, your moms and dads and grandparents and cousins and uncles and aunts, whoever is in your family who is serving – you guys help them help our country.”

She thanked them for their sacrifices in supporting our nation’s service members and left them all some White House cookies to enjoy. 

Following her visit with military children, Mrs. Obama toured the NICoE and their rehab facilities. She met with military personnel recovering from PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and other service related injuries.

First Lady Michelle Obama visits with wounded warriors and their families at the Intrepid Spirit One, a satellite center of the Bethesda-based National Intrepid Center of Excellence, in Ft. Belvoir, Va., Sept. 11, 2013. The center cares for service members and veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress and related conditions. Wounded warrior Shenae Mitchell demonstrates a device that targets balance issues. September 11, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Mrs. Obama concluded her visit to the NICoE by sitting down for a roundtable discussion with the family caregivers of wounded warriors. 

First Lady Michelle Obama: We're Counting on You to be the Next Agents of Change

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks at a screening of "The Powerbroker: Whitney Young's Fight for Civil Rights," in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building South Court Auditorium, Aug. 27, 2013. Mrs. Obama was introduced by Whitney Young's niece Bonnie Boswell, left, who wrote and produced the documentary. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

A day before celebrating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, the First Lady invited local students to the White House to watch “The Powerbroker: Whitney Young’s Fight for Civil Rights,” a film that chronicles the life and legacy of the civil rights leader.

"What this documentary shows us is that there are so many unsung heroes in our history whose impact we still feel today," said Mrs. Obama. During her remarks, the First Lady shared one of her favorite quotes by Young:

It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one, than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.

"How are you going to be the agents of change for the next generation?" the First Lady asked. "We’re counting on you all to be ready to take the helm and be the next agents of change, because there is still a lot of work to do."

The First Lady has a personal connection to the civil rights leader. In 1981, Michelle Robinson graduated from the Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago. Take a look some archival photos from the First Lady's time at Whitney Young High School:

Photos courtesy of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School.

The President and First Lady Speak at the Disabled American Veterans National Convention

On Saturday, the President and First Lady spoke at the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) National Convention in Orlando, FL. Founded in September of 1920, the DAV celebrates 92 years of service to disabled veterans and their families with this three-day event.

The forerunner to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the DAV has empowered disabled veterans and their families serving in every conflict from World War I to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Watch the video.

Michelle Obama Empowers Latino Community at National Council of La Raza Conference

Ed Note: This is a cross post from the blog of letsmove.gov. You can find the original post here.

Speaking to over 1,800 attendees at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Annual Conference yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama exclaimed, “Food is love… it’s how we pass on our culture and heritage as meals become family traditions and recipes are passed on from generation to generation.”

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks at the National Council of La Raza annual conference at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, July 23, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

But, said Obama, pointing to health issues like the rise of diabetes, “while food might be love, the truth is that we are loving ourselves and our kids to death.”

Significant racial and ethnic disparities in obesity prevalence among U.S. children and adolescents are a reality. Currently, nearly 40 percent of Hispanic children in this country are overweight or obese. Hispanic kids ages nine to 13 are only half as likely to participate in organized physical activity outside school. And, unhealthy products are being disproportionately targeted towards our nation’s Latino communities.

As the largest national Hispanic and civil rights advocacy organization in the United States, NCLR recognizes that Latino families face higher rates of hunger, food insecurity, and obesity and has taken a leadership role in trying to address these issues. NCLR’s Comer Bien (Eat Well) Initiative encourages the work of the First Lady’s Let’s Move!Initiative, and provides access to nutritious food through federal food assistance programs, resources, and nutrition education to Latino parents and their families. Additionally, NCLR has been a tremendous advocate and partner on key initiatives like MiPlato (MyPlate) and La Mesa Completa (USDA’s SNAP program).