President Obama believes that change starts with you

The President has always believed that the best ideas don’t just come from Washington. They come from individuals and communities all across the country. They come from people like you. To bring about real, lasting change the President needs you to stay engaged, share your stories, and add your voice to help address the challenges of the 21st century so we can win the future.

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  • Young Men from The Institute for Responsible Citizenship Visit the White House

    Posted by Paul Monteiro on July 31, 2012 at 12:52 PM EDT

    I4RC1

    Twenty accomplished young men from the Institute for Responsible Citizenship (I4RC) speak at the White House about responsibility, respect, personal faith, their anxities about their future. (Photo by the White House Office of Public Engagement)

    Last week I had the privilege of spending an hour with twenty accomplished young men from the Institute for Responsible Citizenship (I4RC). I4RC is a competitive two-year program that prepares high-achieving African-American men from across the country to reach their career and character potential. These young men took a break from their summer internships in Washington, DC to meet with myself and other African-American White House staffers.

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  • Jeter's Leaders at the White House

    Posted by Paul Monteiro on July 31, 2012 at 12:34 PM EDT

    Jeter's Leaders

    Jeter's Leaders at the White House on Friday, July 27th. (Photo Courtesy of White House Office of Public Engagement).

    Last Friday, the Office of Public Engagement was delighted to welcome 100 high school students from Jeter’s Leaders to the White House. Founded by New York Yankees Captain Derek Jeter, Jeter’s Leaders is a youth development program that instills the value of leadership and mentoring in high school students to encourage healthy lifestyles for them and their broader communities. Their visit is part of our office’s effort to engage and acknowledge the next generation of America’s leaders. Although it was Jeter’s Leaders’ first visit here, we hope it’s not the last.

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  • Colombian-American Leaders Visit White House on Colombian Independence Day

    Posted by Luis Miranda on July 30, 2012 at 8:12 PM EDT

    Colombian American Leaders Briefing

    Dan Restrepo, Dario Gomez, Kevin Whitaker, Alejandra Castillo, and Gustavo Arnavat speak on a panel titled "Promoting Exports and Trade Opportunities for Small Business," July 20, 2012. (Photo by the White House Office of Public Engagement)

    In recognition of Colombian Independence Day, the White House hosted nearly 100 Colombian-American leaders on Friday July 20, 2012 for a policy briefing on both international and domestic issues, highlighting the strong relationship between the United States and Colombia as well as the important role Colombian-Americans are playing as a growing sector of the Hispanic community in the United States.  As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had stated about the 202nd anniversary of Colombia’s independence, “this year also marked a historic year in U.S.-Colombia relations as we reinforced our already strong relationship with the May 15 entry into force of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.”

    Key White House and other Administration officials joined the Colombian-American participants for this important exchange. Ricardo Zuniga, the recently appointed Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs in the National Security Staff, delivered welcoming remarks highlighting the importance of the relationship between the United States and Colombia, from our shared common values, to our long history dating back to Simon Bolivar and George Washington’s exchange on their common struggle for independence.  In addition to the important social and economic partnership, Zuniga also discussed President Obama and Colombian President Santos’ announcement of a high-level strategic security dialogue, and the extension of U.S. non-immigrant visas from 5- to 10 years, making it easier for more Colombians to visit the United States for business and pleasure.

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  • Introducing Carson's Corner

    Posted by Jon Carson on July 30, 2012 at 12:56 PM EDT

    Here at the Office of Public Engagement, we meet individuals every day who are doing some pretty extraordinary work within their communities.

    While we would like to share some of our work with these folks, we also value the opportunity to learn from their experiences. In turn, we try to highlight these lessons with you through Twitter and our blog so that you might chime in and participate in the conversation. That is why I'm proud to introduce Carson's Corner, a new column where we can take a moment to reflect together on some of the issues we brought into focus throughout the week. I can't think of a better way to kick off this new feature than by checking in with young Americans.

    Ronnie Cho is an Associate Director in OPE, as well as the White House Liaison to Young Americans. Ronnie works to make sure the issues important to young people are brought to the forefront of the White House. This summer has been particularly exciting for this community. Earlier this month they used their voices to prevent Congress from doubling interest rates on student loans. Across the country young people made their voices heard through tweets, Facebook posts and through emails and conversations with friends and neighbors. America’s youth are among the most dynamic and impactful leaders in the country.  Their leadership was illustrated yet again this week with the XIX International Aids Conference and the Campus Progress National Conference.

    President Barack Obama delivers a statement on college affordability (June 21, 2012)

    President Barack Obama, with Education Secretary Arne Duncan, delivers a statement on college affordability and interest rates on student loans, in the East Room of the White House, June 21, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

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  • Join the Conversation: Discussion on the Obama Administration’s Strategy towards sub-Saharan Africa

    Posted by Karen Richardson on July 27, 2012 at 5:56 PM EDT

    Note: Planning to watch live and engage in the discussion on Monday, July 30th at 11:30 a.m. EDT? Watch at WhiteHouse.gov/Live and ask questions now through a webform, or on Twitter live using the hashtag #WHChat.

    On Monday, the White House Office of Public Engagement is hosting an event to discuss President Obama’s Presidential Policy Directive on Sub-Saharan Africa, which he signed on June 14th 2012. This new U.S. strategy toward sub-Saharan Africa is another step in deepening our partnerships with the nations and peoples of the region. Administration officials will be discussing the core components and strategic priorities outlined in the Presidential Policy Directive: (1) strengthen democratic institutions; (2) spur economic growth, trade, and investment; (3) advance peace and security; and (4) promote opportunity and development.

    Here's how you can particpate:

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  • White House Hosts AAPI Business Leaders Forum

    Posted by Ari Matusiak & Gautam Raghavan on July 27, 2012 at 12:20 PM EDT

    On Wednesday, July 25, the White House Business Council and White House Office of Public Engagement hosted an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Business Leaders Forum at the White House.  This event was organized as part of the White House’s ongoing effort to engage business leaders and job creators, solicit feedback on the Administration’s efforts to support and assist the business sector, and identify opportunities for partnership to drive economic growth.

    AAPI Business leaders, representing major corporations and small businesses from a range of industries and sectors, participated in the event, which was organized with the support of the International Leadership Foundation, the Coalition of Asian American Business Organizations, the Asian Business Association, the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, and the Minority Business Development Agency at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

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  • Marking the 22nd Anniversary of the ADA

    Posted by Valerie Jarrett on July 26, 2012 at 1:49 PM EDT

    Today, I had the pleasure of delivering remarks at the White House observance of the 22nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In 1990, America took a bold step forward when President George H.W. Bush signed the ADA into law. This law was based on the fundamental principle that Americans with disabilities should have the same basic rights and opportunities as everyone else, and it established America as a world leader on disability rights.

    From the day he took office, President Obama has sought to extend this legacy and fight for Americans with disabilities. He championed the Affordable Care Act, so insurance companies can no longer impose lifetime or restrictive annual dollar limits on coverage. And, beginning in 2014, no one will be denied insurance based on a preexisting condition or charged more based on health status or gender. More than 5 million Americans with disabilities and senior citizens on Medicare have already received an average of over $600 to help pay for prescription drugs, and in 2014 30 million people who do not have insurance will be able to obtain it.

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  • African American Women's Forum

    Posted by Heather Foster on July 24, 2012 at 4:35 PM EDT

    Today, the White House hosted an African American Women’s Forum, bringing women from across the nation together for an opportunity to discuss issues that are important to women in the African American community.  First Lady Michelle Obama surprised guests to provide some of her thoughts on the theme, “Mother, Sister, Daughter, Leader,” an idea she fully embodies.

    Many topics were discussed including education and college affordability.  One of the panels at the forum focused on the Affordable Care Act and how it will affect African American women. The Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin, discussed the importance of prevention for women and emphasized this point by leading the group in an exercise activity! Jocelyn Frye, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady, provided insight on current and future projects Mrs. Obama is working on, and Deputy Adminstrator Marie Johns led a panel on the economy and education. Gene Sperling, Assistant to the President and Director of the National Economic Council, analyzed the current economic status of African American Women in the United States and shared his plan to enact more meaningful fiscal change in the community as a whole.

    Heather Foster is an Associate Director for the Office of Public Engagement.

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