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Adding a Little Color

April 30, 2010 at 2:15 PM ET by Shama Hussain
Summary: 
The First Lady joins congressional spouses to add color to the walls of a community learning center.
First Lady Paints Butterfly on Mural

Two volunteers watch as First Lady Michelle Obama paints a butterfly on a wall mural at the Marie Reed Community Learning Center in Washington, DC, April 29, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

Yesterday the First Lady added some color to the walls of Marie Reed Community Learning Center during a Congressional Service Event, where the congressional spouses had painted murals on the walls of the school. The First Lady expressed her belief that the project would “add a little brightness to a community that is growing and developing every single day.” She said that it was an honor to contribute to the valuable initiative, joking that it was a risk since they were a group of “well intentioned but not necessarily artistic people.”

We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my folks - my fellow folks at the Congressional Club, all the spouses.  We had an opportunity to spend a wonderful lunch yesterday.  It was just a truly special afternoon and it’s so good that everyone has made a commitment to step out of our tea dresses and away from the crystal and to roll up our sleeves and be ready to paint and to get a little dirty.

It’s important, so important, not just to me but to the community to have us out here; for our kids to see that we not only care about them, which we do -- we are so proud of you all and we want the world to see you all and understand your potential, to see grade point averages go from 2.0 to 3-point-who-knows-what.  We are so proud and we want to keep lifting you up and showing other kids that these opportunities are available.

First Lady at Marie Reed Community Learning Center

First Lady Michelle Obama talks with other volunteers while planting a garden while visiting the Marie Reed Community Learning Center in Washington, DC, April 29, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)