White House.gov Blog Feed: Office of Public Engagement

#LatismAtTheWH – Latinos Active in Social Media Visit the White House

Ari Isaacman Astles — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:14:26 +0000

To engage with Latinos active in social media, the White House Office of Public Engagement held a briefing for LATISM bloggers with Senior White House and Administration officials. Over 75 people from across the country attended the event at the White House to discuss a diverse range of issues important to the Latino community. Take a look at the tweets shared by #LatismAtTheWH attendees below or on Storify. Stay connected to the White House en español at WhiteHouse.gov/Espanol, follow us on Twitter @lacasablanca, and sign up for email updates here.

Learn more about the topics discussed during today’s briefing:

College Affordability: http://wh.gov/double
Education Civil Rights: Know your Rights (English) | Recursos de la Oficina Para Derechos Civiles (en Español)
Health Care: Healthcare.gov (English) | Cuidadodesalud.gov (en Español)
Nutrition: www.myplate.gov (English) | Mi Plato (en Español)
Fixing Our Broken Immigration System: President’s Blueprint on Immigration Reform (English) | (en Español)
The Hamilton Project Speech by Cecilia Muñoz: watch video here | text of remarks (English) | text of remarks (en Español)

Small Business Hiring Credit, Women's Health Week, and Strengthening VAWA: Deputies' Download

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:08:34 +0000

President Obama’s “To-Do List” for Congress

Last week, President Obama called on Congress to take action on a small business hiring income tax credit, the third item on his “To-Do List” that will create jobs and help restore middle class security. The President is asking Congress to pass a tax credit that would benefit nearly two million companies that make new hires or increase wages. By providing targeted tax relief to the businesses that are expanding and making investments in their workforce, the Small Business Hiring Credit will grow the economy, create jobs, and strengthen the recovery. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office recently found that this type of targeted credit is the single most effective business tax option for boosting hiring and spurring economic growth.

The proposals on the President’s To-Do List are important steps that Congress can take right now to create jobs. It’s time for Congress to act. Check out the full To-Do List, then join the conversation and make your voice heard with the hashtag #CongressToDoList.

President Barack Obama and Small Business Administrator Karen Mills, left, participate in a roundtable with small business owners at Taylor Gourmet in Washington, D.C., May 16, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Celebrating National Women’s Health Week

President Obama signed a Presidential Proclamation last week marking National Women’s Health Week. Women often play a leading role in making medical decisions for their families, but their own health needs are often unmet, which is why President Obama worked to make health care more accessible and affordable for women across the country through his health reform law, the Affordable Care Act.

For example, women who purchase health insurance on the individual market pay an additional $1 billion each year because insurance companies charge them more than men, simply because of their gender. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, health insurers will be prohibited from discriminating against women by charging higher premiums.

Read more about the Administration’s work on women’s health:

Learn how the Affordable Care Act helps women and girls
See a list of preventive services covered by the Affordable care act
Learn about preventive care for women and girls

Strengthening the Violence Against Women Act

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994, but failed to include critical provisions that would ensure that all victims of domestic violence can access vital services and protections. The House bill adds burdensome, counter-productive requirements that compromise the ability of service providers to reach victims, fails to adequately protect Tribal victims, lacks important protection and services for LGBT victims, weakens resources for victims living in subsidized housing, and eliminates important improvements to address dating violence and sexual assault on college campuses. Speak up and have your voice heard if you believe that our nation’s laws should continue to strengthen protections for our most vulnerable populations – not roll back those safeguards.

G8 Summit at Camp David

Last weekend, the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Russia joined President Obama at Camp David for the annual G8 Summit. The leaders met to address major global economic, political, and security challenges, including energy and climate change, food security and nutrition, Afghanistan’s economic transition and transitions taking place across the Middle East and North Africa. View a slideshow from the weekend and read President Obama’s remarks at the close of the Summit.

President Barack Obama participates in a working lunch focused on food security, in the conference room of Laurel Cabin during the G8 Summit at Camp David, Md., May 19, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Summer Jobs+: First Summer Jobs

Earlier this month, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis joined Mayor Michael Nutter at Philadelphia’s City Hall to announce the launch of the Summer Jobs+ Bank and to highlight the progress of the Summer Jobs+ initiative. Summer Jobs+ is a call to action for businesses, non-profits, and government to work together to provide pathways to employment for young people in the summer of 2012. It’s about helping people find their first jobs. Dozens of companies and non-profit organizations, as well as cities, federal agencies, and the White House, have joined together to provide nearly 300,000 opportunities for young people.Learn about the innovative Summer Jobs+ apps that were created here, and encourage young people in your community to visit the Summer Jobs+ Bank here.

Watch White House officials talk about their first summer jobs:

Jon Carson, Director of the Office of Public Engagement
Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President
Gene Sperling, Director of the National Economic Council
Cecilia Munoz, Director of the Domestic Policy Council

Blog Highlights

White House Champions of Change Program

The Champions of Change series spotlights everyday heroes who are demonstrating a commitment to improving their own communities, their country, or the lives of their fellow citizens. We are looking for you to nominate someone who is doing extraordinary things to make a difference in your community as a “Champion of Change.”

Get Involved

On Wednesday, May 23rd at 4:00 p.m. EDT, please join us for a budget update call with Robert Gordon, Executive Associate Director at the Office of Management and Budget. Please RSVP here to join us, and please be sure to dial in 10 minutes early so that we are able to start the call on time.

WHAT: White House Update Call
WHEN: Wednesday, May 23rd
Start Time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
Dial In: (800) 230-1951
Passcode Title: White House Update Call

Small Business Week Video Contest and Google+ Hangout

Throughout the next few days, we will celebrate our nation’s entrepreneurs during National Small Business Week. The U.S. Small Business Administration asked small business owners to share their stories in a short video that demonstrates how their small business makes a difference in their local community. On Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. EDT during a Google+ Hangout hosted by SBA and the White House, we will announce the winning entries.

Here's how you can join:

WHEN: Join us at 3:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
WHERE: Watch on WhiteHouse.gov/live, the White House Google+ page, or at Entrepreneur.com
ENGAGE: Ask questions and join the discussion on Twitter with the hashtag #WHHangout

Keep Student Loan Interest Rates Low

Interest rates on new subsidized student loans are scheduled to double on July 1. If Congress doesn’t act to prevent this, more than 7 million students around the country will rack up an average of $1,000 of extra debt. President Obama knows that’s not acceptable. Raise your voice and reach out to your networks if you agree that student loan rates should not double on July 1. On Twitter and Google+, use the hashtag #DontDoubleMyRate; on Facebook, update your status and profile image. Learn more about the President’s proposal and read about the impact higher interest rates would have on the AAPI, Native American, Hispanic, and African American communities.

For more information about ways to get involved, check out the Office of Public Engagement’s blog, which is updated regularly with upcoming engagement opportunities. Be sure to participate in the online conversation by following @JonCarson44.

Get Updates

For more information, visit the White House Office of Public Engagement website and blog and sign up for additional opportunities.

We welcome your thoughts and feedback at public@who.eop.gov

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia are Deputy Directors in the Office of Public Engagement.

To-Do List for Congress, Marriage Equality, and Empowering American Consumers: Deputies' Download

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:31:59 +0000

Honoring Mothers

On behalf of the Office of Public Engagement, we hope that all the mothers across the country had a wonderful Mother’s Day! In honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day on May 11th and in support of military families celebrating Mother’s Day, last week First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden hosted a Joining Forces Mother’s Day event at the White House. Watch the video and learn how you can show your support for military moms by visiting our Joining Forces site.

President Obama’s “To-Do List” for Congress

President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the economy at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering’s Albany NanoTech Complex at the State University of New York, in Albany, N.Y., May 8, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

On Tuesday, President Obama called on Congress to move forward with a “To-Do List” that will create jobs and help restore middle class security. The President traveled to the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering’s NanoTech Complex in Albany, New York, where he described a list of initiatives that have bipartisan support and will help create an economy built to last.

In Albany, President Obama discussed the first item on the list: rewarding companies who bring jobs back to the U.S. with lower taxes, and paying for it by eliminating tax incentives for companies to ship jobs overseas.

The President traveled to Reno, Nevada on Friday to highlight another piece of the To-Do List: helping responsible homeowners refinance. Congress needs to pass legislation to cut red tape in the mortgage market so that responsible families who have been paying their mortgages on time can feel secure in their home by refinancing at today’s lower rates.

President Barack Obama delivers a statement to neighbors at the home of Valerie and Paul Keller in Reno, Nevada, May 11, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Obama Supports Marriage Equality

On Wednesday, in an interview with ABC News, President Obama said, “I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.” With that one statement, he made it clear that he believes that it’s wrong to prevent couples who are in loving, committed relationships from getting married. In the interview, he said that he had discussed the issue around the dinner table with his wife and daughters. He said he’d heard from service members who, even after the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, felt constrained because they aren’t allowed to get married. And in the end, the President said, he believes it’s important to “treat others the way you would want to be treated.”

Watch the interview and read reactions from newspapers and organizations around the country.

Educating and Empowering American Consumers

Last Thursday, the White House hosted a Summit on Financial Capability and Empowerment aimed at empowering Americans to make informed financial decisions. At the Summit, the Administration announced new private and public sector commitments to promote financial empowerment, as well as a new resource guide for schools, colleges and universities, employers, and communities to help leaders begin their own financial capability initiatives. Keep updated on future work in this area by visiting www.whitehouse.gov/financialcapability.

Blog Highlights

White House Champions of Change Program

On Wednesday, the White House honored fourteen individuals as Champions of Change for leading the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math for people with disabilities. These leaders are proving that when the playing field is level, people with disabilities can excel in STEM, develop new products, create scientific inventions, open successful businesses, and contribute equally to the economic and educational future of our country.

Get Involved

For more information about ways to get involved, check out the Office of Public Engagement’s blog, which is updated daily with upcoming engagement opportunities. Be sure to participate in the online conversation by following @JonCarson44.

Two weeks ago, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis joined Mayor Michael Nutter at Philadelphia’s City Hall to announce the launch of the Summer Jobs+ Bank and to highlight the progress of the Summer Jobs+ initiative. Summer Jobs+ is a call to action for businesses, non-profits, and government to work together to provide pathways to employment for young people in the summer of 2012. It’s about helping people find their first jobs. Dozens of companies and non-profit organizations, as well as cities, federal agencies, and the White House, have joined together to provide nearly 300,000 opportunities for young people. Learn about the innovative Summer Jobs+ apps that were created here, and encourage young people in your community to visit the Summer Jobs+ Bank here.

Get Updates

For more information, visit the White House Office of Public Engagement website and blog and sign up for additional opportunities.

We welcome your thoughts and feedback at public@who.eop.gov

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia are Deputy Directors in the Office of Public Engagement.

Keeping Interest Rates Low, President Obama in Afghanistan, and Summer Jobs+

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:07:53 +0000

President Obama Continues Effort to Stop Student Interest Rate Increase

On Friday, President Obama spoke to the junior and senior classes at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia about the need to prevent interest rates on federal subsidized student loans from doubling on July 1. Before his speech, the President and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan held a roundtable discussion with a group of high school seniors and their parents. Learn more about how to have your voice heard on this issue in the Get Involved section below, and follow the conversation by using the hashtag #DontDoubleMyRate.

President Barack Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan talk with students and parents during a roundtable discussion on affordable higher education at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Va.,, May 4, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Obama Travels to Afghanistan

Last Tuesday, President Obama made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan to sign the Strategic Partnership Agreement with President Hamid Karzai, which provides a framework for the relationship between our two nations moving forward as U.S. forces leave the country and Afghans continue the transition to take control of their own security. In his address to the American people after signing the agreement, President Obama announced that 23,000 U.S. troops will leave Afghanistan by the end of the summer, and by the end of 2014, Afghan forces will be fully responsible for the security of their country. After his meeting with President Karzai, President Obama met with U.S. troops at Bagram Air Base. He thanked them for the sacrifices that they have made -- and that their families have made -- over the past decade of war, and paid tribute to their successes.

President Barack Obama addresses the nation from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, May 1, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Summer Jobs+ Bank Launches

Last week, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis joined Mayor Michael Nutter at Philadelphia’s City Hall to announce the launch of the Summer Jobs+ Bank and to highlight the progress of the Summer Jobs+ initiative. Summer Jobs+ is a call to action for businesses, non-profits, and government to work together to provide pathways to employment for young people in the summer of 2012. It’s about helping people find their first jobs. Dozens of companies and non-profit organizations, as well as cities, federal agencies, and the White House, have joined together to provide nearly 300,000 opportunities for young people. Learn about the innovative Summer Jobs+ apps that were created here, and encourage young people in your community to visit the Summer Jobs+ Bank here.

Cinco de Mayo at the White House

On Thursday, President Obama hosted a reception at the White House to mark Cinco de Mayo. In his remarks the President said:

Right now, there are more than 50 million Americans of Latino descent -- one sixth of our population. You’re our neighbors, our coworkers, our family, our friends. You’re starting businesses. You’re teaching in classrooms. You’re defending this country. You’re driving America forward. And for our part, we know that securing our future depends on making sure that all Americans have the opportunity to reach their potential.

Blog Highlights

White House Champions of Change Program

Get Involved

Get Updates

For more information, visit the White House Office of Public Engagement website and sign up for additional opportunities.

We welcome your thoughts and feedback at public@who.eop.gov

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia are Deputy Directors in the Office of Public Engagement.

The Buffett/Reagan Rule: Patriotic Millionaires for Fiscal Strength

Brad Jenkins — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:00:21 +0000

I’m not the first President to call for this idea that everybody has got to do their fair share. Some years ago, one of my predecessors traveled across the country pushing for the same concept. He gave a speech where he talked about a letter he had received from a wealthy executive who paid lower tax rates than his secretary, and wanted to come to Washington and tell Congress why that was wrong. So this President gave another speech where he said it was “crazy” -- that's a quote -- that certain tax loopholes make it possible for multimillionaires to pay nothing, while a bus driver was paying 10 percent of his salary. That wild-eyed, socialist, tax-hiking class warrior was Ronald Reagan. He thought that, in America, the wealthiest should pay their fair share, and he said so… And if it will help convince folks in Congress to make the right choice, we could call it the Reagan Rule instead of the Buffett Rule.
- President Obama

President Obama is not the only President who called for a fair tax code. And, Warren Buffett is not the only millionaire or billionaire who pays a lower tax rate than his secretary. They are both in good company. Thousands of millionaires across the country benefit from an unfair tax code filled with loopholes and tax giveaways for the wealthy. And over a hundred of those millionaires have come together to form the Patriotic Millionaires for Fiscal Strength. These Patriotic Millionaires have united to urge Congress to let the Bush era tax cuts expire for people making more than $1 million a year. And just last month, the Patriotic Millionaires for Fiscal Strength joined President Obama in calling on Congress to pass the Buffett Rule. Or shall we call it the Reagan Rule.

As one Patriotic Millionaire explained, “this small monetary sacrifice is both an ethical and patriotic decision, made in the hopes of allowing the United States of America to continue to be a leader economically, politically, and morally.”

In 1963, millionaires had a top marginal tax rate of 91%. In 1976, millionaires had a top marginal tax rate of 70%. Today, millionaires have a top marginal tax rate of 35%. And, almost half of today’s members of Congress are millionaires themselves. The President and the Patriotic Millionaires believe we have an important choice to make. We can either make investments in things like education, transportation, and new sources of energy – investments that have always been essential to America’s businesses and to creating good middle class jobs. Or we can cut taxes even more for wealthy Americans who don’t need tax cuts and didn’t ask for them. As President Obama stated:

The middle class has seen enough of its security erode over the past few decades that we shouldn't let that happen. And we're not going to stop investing in the things that create real and lasting growth in this country just so folks like me can get an additional tax cut. We're not going to stop building first-class schools and making sure that they've got science labs in them. We're not going to fail to make investments in basic science and research that could cure diseases that harm people, or create the new technology that ends up creating entire jobs and industries that we haven't seen before. In America, prosperity has never just trickled down from a wealthy few. Prosperity has always been built from the bottom up and from the heart of the middle class outward.

Patriotic Millionaire Whitney Tilson agrees in an op-ed in the Washington Post:

It’s not class warfare to say that people like me — who aren’t suffering at all in these tough economic times, who are in many cases doing the best we’ve ever done and who can easily afford to pay more in taxes with no impact on our lifestyle — should be the first to step up and make a small sacrifice.

I don’t kid myself that I’m making any real sacrifices. The men and women who have been fighting for the past decade in Iraq and Afghanistan — thousands of them coming home in coffins or missing limbs — are making true sacrifices. And when they enter the domestic workforce, they shouldn’t have to pay taxes at a significantly higher rate than the vast majority of millionaires pay.

Some critics of the Buffett rule point out that it would raise only an estimated $47 billion over 10 years, which is a sliver of the 2011 deficit of $1.3 trillion, let alone the national debt of $15.6 trillion. They’re right that this, by itself, won’t be enough. But we have to start raising money somewhere, and if it isn’t from people like me, it will have to come from people less fortunate than I am. Think of it this way: Every billion dollars not raised from millionaires is equal to a million average U.S. families each paying an extra $1,000 in taxes. That would be real hardship for a lot of families that, unlike mine, are struggling to make ends meet.

Although the Buffett Rule did not pass Congress, the Patriotic Millionaires have continued their fight for fairness for all Americans.

Brad Jenkins is an Associate Director in the Office of Public Engagement.

Summer Jobs+ Bank Launches with Jobs and Professional Development Opportunities for Youth

Paul Monteiro — Thu, 03 May 2012 21:27:08 +0000

Yesterday was a major step forward for the President’s initiative to connect young people with meaningful summer employment opportunities. The Summer Jobs+ Bank went live and now allows young people across the country to search for employment and professional development opportunities in their local communities. Michael Strautmanis, Counselor to the Senior Advisor for Strategic Engagement, traveled to San Diego, CA for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America’s annual convention. He lauded them for their commitment to provide professional development opportunities to 30,000 youths this summer. At the same time, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis announced the jobs bank launch in Philadelphia, PA. Learn more about this announcement and the broader Summer Jobs+ initiative below.

Secretary Solis Announces Nearly 300,000 Summer Opportunities and Summer Jobs+ Bank for Youth

Yesterday, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis joined Mayor Michael Nutter at Philadelphia’s City Hall to announce the launch of the Summer Jobs+ Bank and to highlight the progress of the Summer Jobs+ initiative. Summer Jobs+ is a call-to-action from President Obama and the Department of Labor for businesses, non-profits, and government to provide pathways to employment for low-income and disconnected youth in the summer of 2012. Dozens of companies and non-profit organizations, as well as cities, federal agencies, and the White House, have joined together to provide nearly 300,000 opportunities for young people. Secretary Solis said, “The Summer Jobs+ Bank and the growing list of organizations stepping up to answer the President's challenge are important to maintaining our commitment to the next generation of the American workforce.”

Summer employment opportunities serve as pathways to careers and are critical to the success of young people, good for business, and important for our country. But today’s youth are struggling to get the work experience they need for the jobs of the future: last summer, the unemployment rate among youth ages 16-24 set a near record high, and only 21 out of 100 low-income teens had a job. According to a recent report, taxpayers shouldered more than $93 billion in direct costs and lost tax revenue to support young adults disconnected from school and work in 2011 alone.

President Obama proposed $1.5 billion for high-impact summer jobs and year-round employment for low-income youth ages 16-24 in the American Jobs Act as part of the Pathways Back to Work fund. When Congress failed to act, the federal government and private sector came together in January to commit to creating nearly 180,000 employment opportunities for low-income youth in the summer of 2012, with a goal of reaching 250,000 opportunities by the start of summer. Since the announcement of the initiative in January, nearly 100 more private sector partners nationwide have answered the President’s challenge to provide young people with summer jobs, mentorships, internships and other opportunities to build skills.

The Summer Jobs+ Bank is a single-stop resource for young job seekers to go online and search for jobs and other employment opportunities in their communities. In addition to the search tool, the Administration challenged the developer community to build apps that connect even more young people to job opportunities in their area. Learn more about the innovative apps that were created here, and encourage young people in your community to visit the Summer Jobs+ Bank here.

For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/summerjobs.

Paul Monteiro is an Associate Director in the Office of Public Engagement.

Student Loan Interest Rates, Champions of Change Anniversary, and the White House Correspondents' Dinner: Deputies' Download

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:41:31 +0000

President Obama Continues Fighting for Students

President Barack Obama listens to senior Marissa Boles during a roundtable discussion with students currently receiving Stafford federal student loans at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, April 25, 2012. Also participating in the discussion were students Blake Anderson, center, Myranda Burnett, Jordan Garrsion-Nickerson and Martin Lopez. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

President Obama continued to call on Congress to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling. Last week, the President visited colleges in Iowa, Colorado, and North Carolina, where he continued to call on Congress to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling. He also made an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, where he said that now is not the time to make school more expensive for our young people. If Congress does not act before July 1st, interest rates on student loans will double for 7.4 million students. The President knows that for each year Congress allows the rate to double, the average student with these loans will rack up an additional $1,000 in debt. That’s unacceptable. He’ll continue to fight to keep these rates low and he’ll continue to fight to create an economy that’s built to last. Keeping these rates low is not only good for students – it’s good for the economy.

Raise your voice and reach out to your networks if you agree that student loan rates should not double on July 1. On Twitter and Google+, use the hashtag #DontDoubleMyRate; on Facebook, update your status and profile image. Learn more about the President’s proposal and read about the impact higher interest rates would have on the AAPI, Native American, Hispanic, and African American communities.

President Obama Celebrates a Year of Champions of Change

President Barack Obama meets with Champions of Change alumni in the Map Room of the White House, April 26, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Obama met with a group of Champions of Change alumni last week to mark the one-year anniversary of the Champions program. During the meeting, the President learned about the work these Champions are doing in their communities and asked what being a Champion of Change means to them.

President Obama at the 2012 White House Correspondents’ Dinner

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On Saturday night, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama attended the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. The annual event honors the work of the journalists who report on the Administration and the dinner raises money that is used to grant scholarships to journalism students. The President's speech, which pokes fun at himself and the coverage he has received from the reporters in attendance, is the evening's highlight. Watch or read the President’s full remarks on WhiteHouse.gov.

President Obama Signs Executive Order Supporting Service Members, Veterans, Military Spouses, and Their Families

The President and First Lady traveled to Fort Stewart, Georgia last Friday to meet 10,000 soldiers, military families, and veterans and sign an Executive Order that will positively impact the educational benefits and opportunities for our nation’s heroes and their families for a long time to come. The Executive Order is designed to combat unscrupulous practices used by schools to gain access to military/veteran education benefits: it protects the full range of military/veteran education benefits programs, including Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, the Tuition Assistance program, and MyCAA, and its provisions focus on ensuring students have the proper information, support, and protections they need to make informed decisions about their educational options.

White House Marks Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day

Last Thursday marked the 20th anniversary of the National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, and the eighth year the White House has formally participated in this event. Over 180 children of employees of the Executive Office of the President (EOP) spent the morning at the White House discovering the many avenues and career paths their futures may hold. The kids got to put their thinking caps on and learn about exciting careers in science, the culinary arts, and national security. First Lady Michelle Obama concluded the event by answering questions from the children, including: What is her favorite part about being First Lady? How many types of fruits and vegetables are in the kitchen garden? And when did Bo join the First Family?

Blog Highlights

White House Champions of Change Program – Greening Our Cities and Towns

The White House honored nine individuals as Champions of Change last Wednesday who are using innovative approaches to promote energy efficiency, revitalize outdoor spaces and waterways, and adopt transportation solutions that conserve natural resources, improve walkability and improve other quality of life aspect of our towns and cities.

Get Involved

President Obama and Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis announced the Summer Jobs+ Initiative, a call-to-action for American business, nonprofits, and government to provide pathways to employment for low-income and disconnected youth in the summer of 2012. Youth and communities can sign-up HERE to be alerted when the jobs bank goes live.

The LGBT Pride Month Champions of Change Video Challenge explores the stories of unsung heroes and local leaders who are leading our march towards a more perfect union. Videos will be accepted in any form (including music video, PSA, short film, video blog, and interview) but must be no longer than 3 minutes. Essays no longer than 750 words will also be accepted if video production is not possible. Submissions should be creative, innovative, and inspiring and must be submitted by Friday, May 4, 2012.

Get Updates

For more information, visit the White House Office of Public Engagement website and blog and sign up for additional opportunities.

We welcome your thoughts and feedback at public@who.eop.gov

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia are Deputy Directors in the Office of Public Engagement.

Celebrating a Year of Champions of Change – President Obama Meets with 12 Champions Who Are Making a Difference in Their Communities

Jon Carson — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 21:45:55 +0000

President Barack Obama meets with Champions of Change alumni in the Map Room of the White House, April 26, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

A little over a year ago, the White House created the Champions of Change program to recognize ordinary Americans across the country who are doing extraordinary work in their communities. During the last year we have held more than 40 Champions of Change events, honoring over 500 Champions from all 50 states.

These are people who are working to end youth and domestic violence, to green our cities, and to renew and strengthen communities through service and innovation. They are working to promote immigrant integration, to provide housing counseling, and to establish broadband access in rural areas of the country. As President Obama said, “By making their communities better places to live, our Champions are helping to ensure that our country’s best days lie ahead.”

To celebrate the program’s one-year anniversary, yesterday President Obama met with a handful of Champions of Change. He learned about the work they are doing in their communities and asked what being a Champion of Change means to them.

Each one of them had a unique answer. Andrew Yang, who founded a non-profit fellowship program that sends top college graduates to start-up companies, met people through the Champions program that helped him grow his organization. Ted Lasser, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, said being recognized as a Champion showed him that he had chosen the right path in life. And Myrdin Thompson, a “Parents on Education” Champion, told the President how proud her kids were to learn that he thought their mother was “awesome.”

As the President has often said, change doesn’t happen from the top down and it doesn’t always come from Washington. It happens from the bottom up, and it is driven by people like the 12 remarkable individuals who came to the White House yesterday.

I’m already excited to meet the next group of Champions.

To learn more about the Champions of Change program, visit www.whitehouse.gov/champions.

Jon Carson is the Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.

334,000 AAPIs to be Impacted if Congress Fails to Act

Francesca L. Covey — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:17:36 +0000

Yesterday, the President delivered remarks at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and continued his call for Congress to stop interest rates on student loans from doubling in July.

If Congress doesn’t act, interest rates will double on July 1 for more than 7.4 million students with subsidized federal Stafford Loans. Approximately 334,000 AAPI borrowers would see their loans increase. To out-educate our global competitors and make college more affordable, Congress needs to stop the interest rate on these student loans from doubling.

This announcement is one of a series of steps that the Administration has taken to make college more affordable and to make it even easier for students to repay their federal student loans. The Obama Administration’s “Pay as You Earn” plan enables 1.6 million current students to take advantage of a new option to cap student loan repayments at 10% of monthly income when they start repayment, as soon as this year. Graduates currently in repayment can cap their payments at 15% of income right away. Borrowers looking to determine whether or not income-based repayment is the right option for them should visit http://studentaid.ed.gov/ibr.

Now, President Obama is calling on Congress to put forward legislation to stop interest rates from doubling. For the estimated 334,000 AAPI borrowers it would mean an estimated average savings per borrower of $1,089 for Asian Americans and $1,042 for Pacific Islander/Hawaiian Americans over the life of the loan and an estimated total savings of over $361 million. Keeping interest rates on student loans low would allow more Americans to get: a fair shot at an affordable college education, the skills they need to find a good job, and a clear path to the middle class.

And, the President is asking all borrowers to help make sure Congress acts, saying:

… I’m asking everyone else who’s watching or following online -- call your member of Congress. Email them. Write on their Facebook page. Tweet them -- we’ve got a hashtag. Here’s the hashtag for you to tweet them: #dontdoublemyrate. All right? I’m going to repeat that -- the hashtag is #dontdoublemyrate.

... Your voice matters. Stand up. Be heard. Be counted. Tell them now is not the time to double the interest rate on your student loans. Now is the time to double down on smart investments that build a strong and secure middle class. Now is the time to double down on an America that’s built to last.

Read more about President Obama's proposals to keep college affordable for students and their families.

63,000 Native Americans to be Impacted if Congress Fails to Act

Francesca L. Covey — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:10:36 +0000

Yesterday, the President delivered remarks at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and continued his call for Congress to stop interest rates on student loans from doubling in July.

If Congress doesn’t act, interest rates will double on July 1 for more than 7.4 million students with subsidized federal Stafford Loans. Approximately 63,000 Native American borrowers would see their loans increase. To out-educate our global competitors and make college more affordable, Congress needs to stop the interest rate on these student loans from doubling.

Now, President Obama is calling on Congress to put forward legislation to stop interest rates from doubling. For the estimated 63,000 Native American borrowers it would mean an estimated average savings per borrower of $873 over the life of the loan and an estimated total savings of over $55 million. Keeping interest rates on student loans low would allow more Americans to get: a fair shot at an affordable college education, the skills they need to find a good job, and a clear path to the middle class.

And, the President is asking all borrowers to help make sure Congress acts, saying:

Read more about President Obama's proposals to keep college affordable for students and their families.

986,494 Hispanic students would be affected if Congress Fails to Act

Francesca L. Covey — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:06:02 +0000

Yesterday, the President delivered remarks at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and continued his call for Congress to stop interest rates on student loans from doubling in July.

If Congress doesn’t act, interest rates will double on July 1 for more than 7.4 million students with subsidized federal Stafford Loans. Approximately 986,494 Hispanic borrowers would see their loans increase. To out-educate our global competitors and make college more affordable, Congress needs to stop the interest rate on these student loans from doubling.

Now, President Obama is calling on Congress to put forward legislation to stop interest rates from doubling. For the estimated 986,494 Hispanic borrowers it would mean an estimated average savings per borrower of $1,027 over the life of the loan and an estimated total savings of over $1 billion. Keeping interest rates on student loans low would allow more Americans to get: a fair shot at an affordable college education, the skills they need to find a good job, and a clear path to the middle class.

And, the President is asking all borrowers to help make sure Congress acts, saying:

Read more about President Obama's proposals to keep college affordable for students and their families.

1.5 Million African Americans to be Impacted if Congress Fails to Act

Francesca L. Covey — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:46:48 +0000

Yesterday, the President delivered remarks at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and continued his call for Congress to stop interest rates on student loans from doubling in July.

If Congress doesn’t act, interest rates will double on July 1 for more than 7.4 million students with subsidized federal Stafford Loans. Approximately 1.5 million African American borrowers would see their loans increase. To out-educate our global competitors and make college more affordable, Congress needs to stop the interest rate on these student loans from doubling.

Now, President Obama is calling on Congress to put forward legislation to stop interest rates from doubling. For the estimated 1.5 million African American borrowers it would mean an estimated average savings per borrower of $1,003 over the life of the loan and an estimated total savings of $1.5 billion. Keeping interest rates on student loans low would allow more Americans to get: a fair shot at an affordable college education, the skills they need to find a good job, and a clear path to the middle class.

And, the President is asking all borrowers to help make sure Congress acts, saying:

Read more about President Obama's proposals to keep college affordable for students and their families.

Tax and Budget: Your Questions Answered

Jon Carson — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:23:16 +0000

On April 10, President Obama travelled to Florida to talk about the economy and what he called the essence of America - the idea that everyone who works hard should be able to do well. The President said:

America has always been a place where anybody who's willing to work and play by the rules can make it. A place where prosperity doesn’t trickle down from the top, it grows from the bottom; it grows outward from the heart of a vibrant middle class.

The President believes we should build an economy where everyone does their fair share and everyone plays by the same set of rules. Instead of giving more than a trillion dollars in tax breaks to the very wealthiest Americans—those who make more than $250,000 a year—we need to invest in the things like education and research and health care. President Obama has proposed the Buffett Rule to make sure that everyone does their fair share and plays by the same rules.

The Ryan-Republican budget,passed by the House of Representatives last month, fails the test of balance, fairness, and shared responsibility. Rather than ensuring that millionaires pay their fair share in taxes, it would provide an average tax cut of $150,000 for those earning more than $1 million per year.

Here in the White House we have been getting lots of feedback on the President’s plans and questions about the Ryan Republican Budget from citizens across the country who have called, e-mailed, tweeted and posted to express their opinions and ask questions. Below are responses to some of the questions, criticisms and misconceptions that we have heard so far.

Q. At a time when the economy is weak, why is the Administration focusing on taxing millionaires and billionaires?

A. We know that the strength of our economy depends in large part on our willingness to make the sorts of key investments – in education, infrastructure, clean energy, scientific research, and the like – that provide security for middle class families and a strong foundation for economic growth. We’ve tried the trickle-down economics that would convert these investments into more tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans on the hope that prosperity would trickle down to the middle class – and it has failed on a massive scale. Our history shows that prosperity in America has always spread from the bottom up, from the middle class out. A strong middle class benefits everybody, and gutting key investments in America's infrastructure, innovation and education hinders our entire economy.

That basic truth is particularly relevant today, as we’ve seen the share of national income earned by the very wealthiest Americans in recent years climb to the highest it's been since the 1920s. The top one percent of households—the wealthiest one out of every 100—now takes home 17 percent of the national income. The top .1 percent—the wealthiest one out of every 1,000 households—makes more than 7 percent of the national income.

Meanwhile, the average tax rate, for that .1 percent has dropped a stunning 50 percent over the last 50 years, from 51 percent to 26 percentincluding federal income and payroll taxes. This is nearly the lowest rate in over 50 years and is, in fact, one-half the rate they would have paid in 1960. Tax rates for middle-class families, who are earning a smaller percentage of the national income, have actually increased slightly during the same period.

The President believes that the most well-off Americans should contribute to deficit reduction by paying more, but under the President’s plan, all measures to raise additional revenue — including fundamental tax reform — are not effective until 2013.

Q. Does the Buffett Rule punish small business owners?

A. The Buffett Rule only applies to those making over $1 million—or about 3 out of every 1,000 Americans, according to IRS data, and those within that group that pay at low rates. Most of the very few true small business owners making over $1 million already pay ordinary income tax rates (and not the preferential rates) and thus would not be impacted at all by the Buffett Rule.

In addition, the President’s American Jobs Act focuses on tax cuts for small businesses that support hiring and investing — by cutting their payroll taxes in half, providing a full payroll tax holiday for increased hiring and wages, and extending 100 percent expensing on new investments. And that comes on top of 17 small business tax cuts the President has already signed into law, like the elimination of capital gains taxes on key small business investments.

Q. What can we do to help?

A. We encourage you to find out more about the President’s vision of an economy where everyone does their fair share and everyone plays by the same set of rules on WhiteHouse.gov. You can find details on what the President has proposed, and analysis of what the Republicans are proposing. We also encourage you to share the info you find at whitehouse.gov through Twitter. We are using the hashtag #fairshare for this debate, particularly for the work on the Buffett Rule which we will keep pushing on. You can also follow the Director of our Office of Public Engagement, Jon Carson, at @JonCarson44. You can email questions, comments or ideas to public@who.eop.gov.

Learn more about the Buffett Rule and what it means to your family at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/economy/buffett-rule.

Jon Carson is the Director of the Office of Public Engagement.

Keeping College Affordable, Investing in Workforce Training, and Reflecting on "Never Again": Deputies' Download

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:43:55 +0000

Keeping College Affordable

If Congress doesn’t act before July 1, 2012, interest rates on loans for over 7.4 million students will double. And for each year that Congress doesn’t act, students rack up an additional $1,000 in debt over the life of their loans.

There's no reason this has to happen, but unfortunately some members of Congress are placing top priority on giving tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires instead of making smart investments in education that put the cost of higher education within reach for more Americans.

Getting a college degree shouldn't be a luxury only a few Americans can afford, and it's the sort of critical investment in our future we should be support, not cut. Every hard working student deserves a fair shot at getting the skills and training they need to get a good job and compete in the 21st century economy.

At a time when so many middle class students are struggling to afford a college education, doubling their interest rates will only make it more difficult for them to get ahead. That is why President Obama called on Congress in his most recent Weekly Address and why he is going to get out of Washington and travel to college campuses across the country to get the word out to students and families.

Join the President and add your voice to the debate with the Twitter hashtag #dontdoublemyrate or learn more about what this means to you at WhiteHouse.gov/dont-double-my-rates.

President Obama Speaks at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

President Obama spoke Monday at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and emphasized the importance of not only telling our children—and all future generations—about that dark and evil time in human history, but to teach them to reject hatred as well. As the President said in his remarks, “remembrance without resolve is a hollow gesture. Awareness without action changes nothing. In this sense, ‘never again’ is a challenge to us all -- to pause and to look within.”

President Barack Obama and Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel light candles in the Hall of Remembrance during a tour of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., April 23, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Investing in Training for American Workers

The President was in Elyria, Ohio last Wednesday where he met with students at Lorain County Community College. He talked about the Administration’s job training initiatives to help more Americans get back to work and connect unemployed Americans with the skills training they need to find jobs in high-demand, high-growth industries. If Republicans in Congress had their way, however, they would actually cut funding to programs like these that help middle class families get back on their feet in order to provide more tax cuts to the wealthy.

Championing Women’s Rights

Last Wednesday, President Obama and Vice President Biden held events focused on addressing violence against women, an issue they have focused on since day one. The President directed federal agencies to develop policies for addressing domestic violence in the federal workforce, and the Vice President held an event to highlight the importance of Congress reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.

Cracking Down on Oil Market Manipulation

One of the reasons that fuel prices can jump unpredictably has nothing at all to do with production or even consumption. There are those who work to manipulate the energy markets for their own financial gain. To help protect American families from this practice, President Obama announced last Tuesday a new series of steps to strengthen oversight over energy markets -- while asking lawmakers to pass legislation aimed at curbing illegal behavior and holding the people who manipulate energy markets accountable.

Wounded Warrior Project’s Soldier Ride

Last Friday, President Obama led cheers for 22 injured servicemembers as they took a spin around the South Lawn as part of the annual Wounded Warrior Project's Soldier Ride. The participants in the four-day event included representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard, including two brothers, Erik and Deven Schei, riding a specially-made tandem bike.

President Barack Obama cheers on participants in the Wounded Warrior Soldier Ride on the South Lawn of the White House, April 20, 2012. The President hosted the sixth annual Soldier Ride, a cycling event to help Wounded Warriors restore their physical and emotional well-being. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Ending Bullying in Our Schools and Communities

Last Friday, the White House screened the documentary BULLY before an audience of bullying prevention advocates from a wide range of communities as well as administration officials like Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. This event is only one of many steps that the White House has taken to raise bullying awareness and help end bullying. Visit StopBullying.gov to find out what the Obama Administration has done so far as well as to find resources for young people, parents, and educators.

A Big Week for Sports Fans at the White House

The President welcomed both the 2011 BCS National Champion University of Alabama football team and NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart to the White House this past week. The visit for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide came almost exactly a year after a devastating tornado hit the University’s home town of Tuscaloosa; President Obama praised the players, and paid tribute to what he called "a deeply meaningful season" for the team. The President congratulated Tony Stewart on winning his third Sprint Cup Championship, highlighted all the work NASCAR has done to support our troops, and thanked them for their partnership with Joining Forces.

Blog Highlights

White House Champions of Change Program

The White House honored 10 U.S. Rotary club members from across the country as Champions of Change for their volunteer work to improve the lives of others. Rotary club members are grassroots volunteers and successful business leaders who want to give back to make the world a better place, and embody what being a Champion of Change is all about.

Get Involved

Get Updates

For more information, visit the White House Office of Public Engagement website and blog and sign up for additional opportunities.

We welcome your thoughts and feedback at public@who.eop.gov

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia are Deputy Directors in the Office of Public Engagement.

Reaching Every Victim, Extending the Vision of Service

Mary Lou Leary — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:57:57 +0000

Ed Note: The following is a cross-post that appeared on the Department of Justice website.

This afternoon, as I stood with Attorney General Eric Holder and my colleague Joye Frost at the National Crime Victims’ Service awards ceremony, I felt both humbled and proud. Humbled by the stories of courage and perseverance told by the recipients of this year’s Service Awards, and proud of the persistent work done by OJP since 1983 to promote victims’ rights and honor crime victims.

Supporting victims of crime is a priority for this administration and for the Department of Justice. It is important to focus the nation’s attention on the courage and concrete results of individuals and organizations that provide services to crime victims. Their long term commitment to helping survivors, their families, and their communities is unparalleled.

This year’s theme, “Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim,” calls on us to celebrate the progress we’ve made. The theme captures the spirit and resolve needed to reach every victim to provide hope and help.

The work and stories of the individuals and organizations who have received this year’s awards are powerful.

Take Roi Holt, from Washington, who received a Federal Crime Victim Service Award. Through her work in government agencies, beginning with the Department of the Interior, she promoted awareness of federal victims’ rights laws among federal law enforcement personnel.

She has been a resource for law enforcement officers who need information, referrals and assistance for victims of crime. She has been especially active in responding to the critical needs of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and tribal communities. Her efforts empower communities and have a lasting impact on the lives of many people.

Then there is National Crime Victim Service Award winner Victoria Cruz, of Brooklyn, New York, who transformed herself from victim, to survivor, to advocate. As Senior Domestic Violence Counselor and Advocate at the New York City Anti-Violence Project, she empowers her clients to stand up and speak for themselves.

She speaks for those who can no longer speak — those lost to violence through murder. Victoria brings attention to violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and HIV-affected communities and speaks out about sexual violence, dating violence, and intimate partner violence. Ms. Cruz’s work saves lives and improves the quality of life for many in her community.

Mickey Rooney first entered America’s consciousness as a child movie star in the 1920s. No stranger to awards, Mr. Rooney has received the Lifetime Achievement Award, a Golden Globe, an Emmy Award, and a Peabody Award, five Oscar nominations, four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a Bronze Star for his service during World War II. But today he received the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Special Courage Award for bringing a new level of public awareness to the issue of elder abuse.

In 2011, he testified before the United States Senate in the hearing entitled: Justice For All: Ending Elder Abuse, Neglect & Financial Exploitation. Mr. Rooney spoke about his own emotional, verbal, and financial abuse at the hands of his stepchildren. He suffered silently for years but knew he needed to speak out about his ordeal. He said:

“To those seniors and especially elderly veterans like myself . . .You are not alone and you have nothing to be ashamed of. If elder abuse happened to me, it can happen to anyone. I want you to know that you deserve better.”

In addition, these outstanding advocates received awards during the ceremony:

Common Justice, for their work encouraging victims’ participation in the justice process.
Dr. Dora Shriro, for creating a state corrections-based victim assistance program.
Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS) founder Rachel Lloyd, for serving girls and young women who have experienced sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking.
Julia Dunkins and Justin Todd Fennell, for using their personal experiences as survivors of violence to support others.
Dr. Linda Ledray, for establishing the Sexual Assault Resource Service (SARS), one of the first Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs.
Maricopa County (AZ) Adult Probation Department Financial Compliance Unit, for holding probationers accountable for financial compliance with the collection of restitution for victims of crime.
Michelle D. Scott, for instituting a victim services program with an advisory board composed of survivors and advocates to ensure that victims’ voices are heard.
Wingate Grant, for implementing an innovative unit for recovering assets for crime victims that is a model for U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.

I invite you to visit the Office for Victims of Crime Gallery to read the full biographies of these extraordinary women and men, and the institutions they represent, who have been honored for their courage and service today.

For more information, read the Attorney General’s full remarks from the event that outline the work of the the Department of Justice to assist and support crime victims across the country.

Mary Lou Leary is Acting Assistant Attorney of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP).

Upcoming Engagement Opportunities

Francesca L. Covey — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 23:01:56 +0000

Keep Student Loan Interest Rates Low

Stay engaged with the White House

Tune in to WhiteHouse.gov/Live throughout the week and keep up to date with the President’s schedule.
Follow Jon Carson, the Director of the Office of Public Engagement: @JonCarson44.

Federal Taxpayer Receipt, STOCK Act, and JOBS Act: Deputies' Download

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:42:46 +0000

The White House sends its best wishes those who celebrated Passover and Easter this past weekend. The tradition of the White House Easter Egg Roll continues today with a celebration that is focused on the promotion of health and wellness with the theme, “Let’s Go, Let’s Play, Let’s Move!”

The Federal Taxpayer Receipt tool has just been updated to reflect current spending and lets Americans know how their tax dollars are spent on priorities like education, veterans’ benefits, or health care. For the first time, it also shows how many millionaires effectively paid $0 in taxes. That’s right. There are millionaires who didn’t pay a dime in taxes. That doesn’t make any sense and President Obama has proposed the Buffett Rule in response. It’s simple: if you make more than $1 million a year, you should pay at least the same percentage of your income in taxes as middle class families do. On the other hand, if you make under $250,000 a year – like 98 percent of American families do – your taxes shouldn’t go up.

Last Tuesday, the President spoke at the Associated Press Luncheon and discussed how his vision for the middle class differs with the radical vision laid out in the Ryan Republican Budget. The President’s approach to reducing our deficit is a balanced approach that asks the wealthiest to pay their fair share, achieves significant health savings and enacts sensible spending cuts while making the investments we need to have a strong middle class. The Ryan Republican budget gives every millionaire and billionaire a tax cut of at least $150,000, paid for by ending Medicare as we know it and gutting programs that help the middle class and our economy.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the Associated Press (AP) Luncheon at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., April 3, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Obama signed two important bills into law last week that will help move us toward an America Built to Last, where everybody has a fair shot, everybody pays their fair share, and everybody plays by the same set of rules. The STOCK Act makes it clear that if members of Congress use nonpublic information to gain an unfair advantage in the market, then they are breaking the law. The powerful shouldn’t get to create one set of rules for themselves and another set of rules for everybody else. The second law, the JOBS Act, will help encourage startups and support our nation’s small businesses.

President Barack Obama signs the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, which includes key initiatives the President proposed last fall to help small businesses and startups grow and create jobs, in the Rose Garden of the White House, April 5, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

On Friday, the White House Council on Women and Girls hosted a Forum on Women and the Economy in recognition that more than ever, women are a driving force behind the success of the American economy. Expanding economic opportunities for women and ending discriminatory practices is critical to building an economy that restores security for middle class families, one where hard work and responsibility are rewarded, and where everyone who wants to can find a good job. The President delivered remarks at the event, which are available here.

Blog Highlights

Champions of Change

The White House recognized twelve leaders last Wednesday as Champions of Change for their work to prevent youth violence within their communities as part of the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention. Launched at President Obama's direction in 2010, the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention is a network of communities and federal agencies working together to share information and build local capacity to prevent and reduce youth violence and keep our kids safe.

The White House also recognized nine members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community as Champions of Change who work to make a difference in their community, often without being formally recognized. The nine leaders and organizations have stood out as demonstrating exceptional leadership in civil rights, immigration, community empowerment, LGBT engagement, anti-bullying, health, and the arts. Their work has been an integral part of ensuring that the underserved among them are given a voice.

Get Involved

Three months ago, President Obama and Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis announced the Summer Jobs+ Initiative, a call-to-action for American business, nonprofits, and government to provide pathways to employment for low-income and disconnected youth in the summer of 2012. Our goal is to provide 250,000 summer job opportunities for America’s youth. We need your help to reach our goal. Employers can commit to offering employment opportunities for youth this summer by signing up HERE. Youth and communities can sign-up HERE to be alerted when the jobs bank goes live.

Finally, we invite you to join the White House’s Equal Pay App Challenge to develop an application that will educate and empower Americans by making information about the pay gap more accessible. This is another facet of the Administration’s bottom-up, open government initiative. To find out more about the initiative check out the Open Innovator’s Toolkit.

Get Updates

For more information, visit the White House Office of Public Engagement website and blog and sign up for additional opportunities.

We welcome your thoughts and feedback at public@who.eop.gov

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia are Deputy Directors in the Office of Public Engagement.

Putting Our Collective Heads Together

John P. Holdren — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:57:08 +0000

On Friday March 30th, I traveled to Orlando, FL, to participate in the latest White House Community Partnership Summit. These Administration "unconferences" have been put together out of the recognition that the best ideas don't come out of Washington, DC, but can be found in the people and communities around the United States.

The Orlando summit brought together nearly 500 community leaders from the region and was the 4th White House summit in the last few months geared toward eliciting new ideas from around the country.

My role as the President's science and technology advisor naturally led me to focus my remarks on that domain -- specifically, all that the President is doing to strengthen science, technology, and innovation in this country and, thus, our economy and our quality of life. But what's great about these gatherings is the blank-slate agenda. The goal is not to talk at attendees, but to have a day-long dialogue. Community leaders and senior Administration officials arrived in the morning having no clue what conversations or topics would emerge or bear the most fruit. Although I had to depart in mid-morning in order to visit with another group of forward thinkers in central Florida, I heard from my colleagues that by the end of the day they had engaged in fascinating discussions about a range of important issues, including diversifying and expanding Florida’s work force, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and the importance of basic research and space technology.

During both of my stops in Florida, I couldn’t help but be struck by the many accomplishments of the State’s far-sighted business, medical, and tech communities—and the smart melding of public and private resources. This was ably demonstrated by the Lake Nona Medical City—a unique innovation cluster that was my second stop of the day. At Medical City, one sees the respective strengths of universities and colleges, private research institutes, multiple hospitals, and the Federal government brought together in one place to create a sum much greater than those parts.

All told the trip was energizing and inspiring—for me and the other Administration leaders who attended, and, from all indications, for the hundreds of other participants—reminding us all that sustained engagement with people of all walks of life with their many ideas of how to best move our country forward is a critical part of creating and sustaining an America built to last.

John P. Holdren is Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Creating Opportunities for Two-Way Dialogue in Orlando

Jon Carson — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:48:06 +0000

I have always agreed with the President that the best ideas don’t just come from Washington. The Office of Public Engagement creates and coordinates opportunities for direct dialogue between the Obama Administration and the American public because we believe that individuals and communities across the United States offer innovative, dynamic ideas to help address the challenges of the 21st century.

At last Friday’s White House Community Partnership Summit in Orlando, Florida I witnessed first-hand the fantastic forum that these summits create for a two-way dialogue. Over 400 people convened to discuss multiple topics in 53 different discussion sessions, including Community Health Workforce & Jobs; Engaging Civilian Community in Ways to Support Military Families; Employment, Jobs, & Entrepreneurism; and LGBT Community - Engaging in Issues of equality, bullying and raising HIV awareness, particularly among minorities; to name a few.

I joined a conversation focused on civic engagement on college campuses that was led by Dr. Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of South Florida. Several Florida college students and representatives from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) participated in this break-out session. While the conversation started with the Administration officials answering questions, it quickly evolved into the group asking the college students about how federal programs and initiatives could be better tailored and marketed to college students. I found it fascinating to see how the open agenda allowed for participants in the conversation to own part of the session. Over the course of the conversation, nearly every participant had the chance to both teach and learn, to serve as an expert in one area and to get their questions answered in another.

One of the day’s participants recorded his impression of the Open Space process on Uservoice, our online forum, writing, “The open spaces model is one that helps the federal government have a helpful, but limited role in bringing people together… It is appropriate that the White House bring the people together to discuss national issues and I have great hope for the civic tradition that locally driven discussion and action like this can engender.”

I couldn’t agree more and look forward to further discussions with community leaders across the country.

Jon Carson is the Director of the Office of Public Engagement.

Buffett Rule, Nuclear Security Summit, and the "Community College to Career" Tour: Deputies' Download

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:55:00 +0000

In the most recent Weekly Address, President Obama asked us the following question: “When it comes to paying down the deficit and investing in our future, should we ask middle-class Americans to pay even more at a time when their budgets are already stretched to the breaking point? Or should we ask the wealthy to pay a share of taxes similar to what they paid in the 1990s – a time when everyone did better and the entire economy grew?”

President Obama is calling on Congress to pass commonsense legislation called the Buffett Rule: If you make more than $1 million a year, you should pay at least the same tax rate as the average middle class family. On the other hand, if you make under $250,000 a year – like 98 percent of American families do – your taxes shouldn’t go up.

We believe that anyone who does well for themselves should do their fair share in return, so that more people have the opportunity to get ahead – not just a few. That’s how we’ll make this country a little fairer, a little more just, and a whole lot stronger.

The House of Representatives voted last Thursday to continue subsidizing the oil industry. President Obama has repeatedly called for an end to these unwarranted tax breaks that not only cost American taxpayers billions of dollars every year, but also come at a time when oil companies are posting record profits while American families are feeling pain at the pump. The President knows that to end the cycle of high prices that happen year after year, we need to move to an all-of-the-above energy strategy that invests in our future, and doesn't subsidize our past with century-old tax breaks.

The President recently wrapped up a trip to Seoul where he attended a nuclear security summit and held a pair of bilateral meetings with President Lee Myung-Bak of South Korea and Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey. The summit highlighted the accomplishments that had been made since President Obama convened a nuclear security summit in Washington two years ago. The world has come together to improve security at nuclear facilities and remove, or in some cases get rid of entirely, nuclear materials. Just last Tuesday, the United States announced that more than 280 pounds of highly enriched uranium from the Ukraine had been transferred to Russia, where it will be downblended into low-enriched uranium that cannot be used to make a nuclear weapon.

President Barack Obama and President Lee Myung-bak participate in a press conference at the Blue House in Seoul, Republic of Korea, March 25, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Dr. Jill Biden was at the Mercer County Community College in New Jersey last Wednesday, the latest stop in her “Community College to Career” tour. The bus tour visits community colleges that have formed innovative partnerships with local business leaders to train students with the skills they need to join the area workforce.

The White House Community Partnership Summit series made a stop in Orlando, Florida last Friday. These “unconferences” have been put together out of recognition that some of the best ideas can be found in people and communities from all across the United States. The blank slate agenda allowed for a productive and energizing day-long dialogue with the more than 300 present participants. Sustained engagement with people of all walks of life with their many ideas of how to best move our country forward is a critical part of creating and sustaining an America built to last.

Blog Highlights

White House Champions of Change Program

The White House honored 10 local leaders last Thursday who exemplify Cesar Chavez’s core values, including service to others, knowledge, innovation, acceptance of all people, and respect for life and the environment, and have dedicated themselves to improving the lives of others throughout their community and across the Nation.

Get Involved

On Tuesday, April 3rd, Vice President Biden is traveling to Norfolk, Virginia to discuss how the Obama Administration is tackling rising college costs. Here's how you can participate:

Starting now, ask the Vice President about college affordability using the hashtag #AskVP
On Tuesday, April 3rd at 3:45 p.m. EDT the Vice President will answer some of your questions from the @VP account
Follow the whole chat live on Twitter live through the @VP handle
If you miss the live event, the full conversation will be posted on WhiteHouse.gov and on Storify

Three months ago, President Obama and Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis announced the Summer Jobs+ Initiative, a call-to-action for American business, nonprofits, and government to provide pathways to employment for low-income and disconnected youth in the summer of 2012. Our goal is to provide 250,000 summer job opportunities for America’s youth. We need your help to reach our goal. Employers can commit to offering employment opportunities for youth this summer by signing up HERE. Youthand communities can sign-up HERE to be alerted when the jobs bank goes live.

Get Updates

For more information, visit the White House Office of Public Engagement website and blog and sign up for additional opportunities.

We welcome your thoughts and feedback at public @who .eop .gov

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia are Deputy Directors in the Office of Public Engagement.

On the Road in Albuquerque: Promoting Healthy Aging

Kathy Greenlee — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:47:39 +0000

Our country is entering a new era; each day 9,000 people celebrate their 65^th birthday in the United States. As our population ages and becomes more diverse, health, community, and long-term care providers will be called upon to serve older adults in a way that is respectful and culturally appropriate.

Communities are confronting this challenge head-on, coming together, determined to provide our nation’s older adults the resources they need to age gracefully in their homes and communities.

I witnessed this collaboration last week in Albuquerque, New Mexico, when I was invited to participate in a community forum hosted by Equality New Mexico and the Senior Citizens Law Office. We discussed the unique barriers lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults encounter in gaining access to housing, health care, long-term care and other needed services.

The President's health care law gives hard working, middle-class families the security they deserve. The Affordable Care Act forces insurance companies to play by the rules, prohibiting them from dropping your coverage if you get sick, billing you into bankruptcy through annual or lifetime limits, and, soon, discriminating against anyone with a pre-existing condition.

The law is already helping millions of older Americans.Over five million people with Medicare saved over $3 billion on their prescriptions in 2010 and 2011. And everyone with Medicare can get an annual Wellness Visit with their doctor, as well as key preventive services like cancer screenings at no cost.

Additionally, under the direction of Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services established an interagency committee that coordinates and develops policies aimed to improve the health and well being of LGBT individuals.

I am honored to serve as Co-Chair of this Committee, alongside Assistant Secretary for Health Howard Koh, and Deputy General Counsel Ken Choe, and I was pleased to give the group in New Mexico an update on the Department’s progress, particularly in areas impacting older adults:

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released new rules for all hospitals that participate in Medicare and Medicaid (nearly every hospital in the country) requiring them to respect the rights of patients to designate their visitors, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
CMS issued guidance to States making clear that same-sex partners may be afforded treatment comparable to other spouses when it comes to receiving long-term care, such as care in a nursing home, under Medicaid. CMS also clarified that States have the flexibility to protect assets, such as a couple’s home, in the event that same-sex partners must receive nursing home care through Medicaid.
HHS plans to greatly enhance the collection of health data on LGBT populations, including older adults. This data will help researchers, policy makers, health care providers, and advocates identify and address health disparities.
Lastly, my agency, the Administration on Aging, established the first-ever LGBT Resource Center on Aging that provides technical assistance to public and private organizations on how to serve the unique needs of LGBT older adults.

I was encouraged by the commitment and opportunities for community collaboration in the cities and rural areas of New Mexico. Their efforts to provide free and low cost legal services, quality health care and housing, and a safe environment where LGBT older adults can come together in times of happiness and sorrow, is admirable and necessary.

This Administration will continue to work diligently so that their vision of equality becomes a reality everywhere.

Kathy Greenlee is the Assistant Secretary for Aging at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Standing Up for Safe Schools & Communities

Gautam Raghavan — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:04:27 +0000

Earlier today, Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, joined Attorney General Eric Holder in Arlington, Texas to deliver keynote remarks at the White House LGBT Conference on Safe Schools & Communities. In speaking before an audience of over 400 teachers, students, parents, community advocates, law enforcement officers and officials, and elected officials, Valerie described the many important steps the Obama Administration has taken to ensure safety and security for all our young people – including LGBT students – in our schools and neighborhoods.

Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama, delivers keynote remarks at the White House LGBT Conference on Safe Schools and Communities at The University of Texas at Arlington, Tuesday, March 20th, 2012. (Photo courtesy of The University of Texas at Arlington).

Below are her remarks as prepared for delivery:

Good morning.

I’m delighted to be joined here today by colleagues from across the Obama Administration, including my co-host, the Attorney General, Eric Holder. I’d like to thank President James Spaniolo, Dean Alejandro del Carmen, and the entire university, for opening your doors to us.

I also want to recognize all those who are working to make Dallas and Ft. Worth a leader in the fight against bullying. It is because of you that we are here today. I know that you still face tremendous challenges as you implement new policies, and create an environment where those policies are fully embraced. But you’ve already made great progress, and I know that working together, there are even better days ahead.

Can all the students here today stand up as well? On behalf of the President and First Lady, I want to thank you for your courage, and your willingness to stand up for what is right. I think they deserve a big round of applause.

And finally, I’d like to thank Joel, not just for that very kind introduction, but also for his inspiring leadership. I remember watching the video of Joel at a Fort Worth City Council Meeting; Joel poignantly put a face on the children who have committed suicide, and then sent a message to children that it gets better based on an open description of his own childhood. It took so much courage to stand up, in public, and tell that powerful, painful, but ultimately, hopeful story.

Today, more than two and a half million people have seen Joel’s video, and that’s just on YouTube. I am certain that many of them were young people looking for some reassurance that they are not alone. Thanks to Joel and all the courageous men and women like him, there are more young people who understand that … It truly does get better.

Joel is one of many extraordinary leaders in the fight for a safer and better country who are here with us today. Judy Shepard is here. I had the honor of meeting Judy and Dennis for the first time, nearly three years ago, when they met with President Obama. He promised them that he would push for the passage of a hate crimes bill named after their son Matthew. And he kept that promise. Today, we are a better country because of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act. As the President said when he signed that bill, “No one in America should be forced to look over their shoulder because of who they are.”

All across our country, I have met so many parents who inspire me with their determination to turn grief into positive change. Last year, I met a woman named Tammy Aaberg at the Human Rights Campaign’s Annual Gala. Fighting back tears, Tammy told me how her 15 year-old son Justin – a young man who Joel mentioned in his video – was bullied relentlessly in school for being gay. He seemed fine at home. In fact, Tammy said that Justin was always the one courageously standing up for others. She had no idea that he was being tormented in school. But his teachers knew he was being bullied, and they did not intervene, or even communicate to his parents about what was going on. Justin committed suicide in his room. His mother and younger sister discovered him; a devastating story that is all too familiar – we must do all we can to end this heartbreak.

Tammy has traveled across the country, re-living her tragic loss again and again to try to prevent other parents from enduring what she has had to endure. Although she lost her son, she’s fighting to keep all of our children safe. It’s people like Joel, Judy, and Tammy who inspire President Obama, who motivate him, and who make him determined that his Administration will do everything possible to fight for safe schools and safe communities for our children, students, friends, and neighbors.

President Obama is also committed to keeping the spotlight on this issue. That’s why Attorney General Holder and I both wanted to be here today.

In March of 2010, we held the first-ever White House Conference on Bullying Prevention, attended by both the President and First Lady. The conference brought together students, teachers, advocates, the private sector, and policymakers, to discuss ways to make our schools safer. President Obama explained it this way: “If there’s one goal of this conference, it’s to dispel the myth that bullying is just a harmless rite of passage or an inevitable part of growing up. It’s not.”

The President recorded a video for the It Gets Better Project, and so did the Vice President, cabinet secretaries, and members of the White House Staff. It was particularly moving to hear from many of the LGBT Americans who work in the Obama Administration as they shared their own stories. I’m proud of them for doing all they can to reach out to young people in desperate need of someone who has walked in their shoes and thrived. Because young people should never feel alone.

Now, President Obama has also made it clear that it only gets better because we make it better. So in addition to raising awareness, the Obama Administration has taken historic steps to help prevent bullying in our schools.

We have issued guidance to schools, colleges, and universities, making it clear that existing civil rights laws apply to bullying. Schools have not just a moral responsibility, but a legal responsibility, to protect our young people from harassment.

We have also worked with states to help them in their own anti-bullying efforts. We recently released a report that documents key components of anti-bullying laws across all 50 states. And we’ve issued guidance to Governors and state school officials, in order to help them incorporate the best practices for protecting students.

The Administration also supports the goals of the Student Non-Discrimination Act. This legislation reflects a simple fact – that LGBT students have the same right as every other student to go to school in an environment free of discrimination and harassment. And as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is being considered, we look forward to working with Congress to ensure that all students are safe and healthy and can learn in environments free from discrimination, bullying and harassment.

You can find detailed descriptions of the work we’re doing, along with resources for young people, parents, and educators, at StopBullying.gov, the website which we launched last year. We redesigned the website just this week, so if you haven’t been there recently, you should take a look. We’re very proud of it.

We’re also tremendously pleased that we have so many partners – businesses, foundations, non-profits, and universities – who are coming up with new, creative ways to make our schools safe. Last month, Facebook launched a $200,000 “Digital Citizenship Research Grant,” which will reward people who come up with the most innovative new ways to use technology to prevent bullying. MTV and MIT are collaborating on an app that invites young people to share their stories online: over 9,000 people have already made submissions, making this one of the largest bodies of knowledge on how young people think about social media. Lady Gaga launched a foundation called Born This Way, dedicated to creating a kinder and braver world by fighting bullying.

And I recently watched a new movie called “Bully” with my mom. As moms, we were both deeply touched by the avoidable pain, agony and tragic loss portrayed in the film. Seeing it moved me deeply, and reminded me why we must redouble our efforts to end bullying now.

Every day, we are striving to do our part to make progress. And I believe that day by day, step by step, we will change not just our laws and policies, but behavior, so that every young person is able to thrive in school, without worrying about being bullied.

So in closing, I would share one more story from a leader who is here today. Because change doesn’t begin in Washington. Change happens because ordinary people do extraordinary things … people like Tempest Cartwright.

Tempest is from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma – she’s 18 years old. When word first got around her high school that she was gay, she lost friends. Some people stopped talking to her at church. Other students called her hurtful words that no young person should ever hear.

For a while, Tempest was depressed. But she refused to let bullies ruin her life. As she put it, “Their attitudes and assumptions need to change, not me. If I don’t help that along, who will?

So today, Tempest is the president of her school’s gay-straight alliance – an alliance that has more than quadrupled its membership since she became involved. It’s not easy. In fact, it is hard. When her organization places posters around the school, they often get torn down. But she and other members keep putting them right back up. And every day, bit by bit, she changes the world around her.

As she put it, “When people put me down, it inspires me to stand up.”

Well, young people like Tempest should inspire us all to stand up, and keep standing up, for what is right. To stand up for the safety of our children and neighbors. To stand up for the belief that in America, no one should face bullying, harassment, or violence because of who they are, because that’s not who we are.

So together, let’s send a message of hope to our country’s young people. Let’s make sure they know that, to quote Joel’s moving video, “Attitudes will change. Life will get better. You will have a lifetime of happy memories, if you just allow yourself, and give yourself the time, to make them.”

That’s our goal. I know there are tough days, days when it’s easy to lose heart, days when change isn’t happening fast enough. But I urge you not to rest, not to tire, and certainly not to give up. Because our young people are counting on us. Know that the President of the United States is in your corner, and we will be with you every step of the way.

Thank you.

Gautam Raghavan is an Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Engagement.

Public Engagement Through Social Media

Martha Johnson — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:29:18 +0000

Ed note: This post has been cross-posted from GSA.gov.

On Friday, March 16th, the White House Office of Public Engagement and the General Services Administration brought together over 300 regional community leaders and 13 federal agencies in Columbus, Ohio at the third White House Community Partnership Summit. Joined by Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, attendees shared their thoughts and ideas with Administration officials. The conversations reached more than just the people in the room; participants made their voices heard far and wide by using social media.

The White House Community Partnership Summits are dynamic meetings that empower participants to set the agenda through a process called Open Space. Open Space builds on the principles found in social media interactions: you can start a conversation, participate at will, observe and listen or move on to a new discussion. Attendees pitched 45 Open Space discussions on various topics. Through these conversations, concerned citizens connected with government representatives and each other to discuss important issues and solutions for problems affecting their communities

Participants engaged on Twitter using #WHSummit. You can read some of the day’s tweets below or on Storify.

Social media platforms allow participants to keep their Open Space conversations going long after the summit has ended. The Community Partnership Summits are making their way to more regions across the nation, and I urge you to join these events by telling us exactly what matters to your community. You can join the conversation on Twitter by using the #WHSummit hashtag. We’ll be watching the conversation, engaging, and answering questions.

Martha Johnson is Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration, and you can follow her on Twitter @MarthaGSA.

Looking Through the Lens of History at Challenges in International Justice

Jim Leach — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:00:00 +0000

DC-area law students, legal experts, professors and historians will gather at the White House on Wednesday, March 21, for a screening of I Came to Testify, from PBS’s acclaimed Women, War and Peace series, and a panel discussion about how this story continues to shape international law. Tomorrow’s event is part of the National Endowment for the Humanities “Bridging Cultures through Law” film series, which encourages conversation between law students, legal experts, and the people who lived the history.

NEH is proud to have funded I Came to Testify, which looks back to the violent conflict that erupted among various ethnic groups including Bosnians and Serbs following the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. The film tells the story of 16 women who testified to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) about their imprisonment and sexual assault at the hands of Serbian forces. This film marks the first time since the trial that the women have agreed to speak publicly about their experience. The episode explores not only this harrowing story, but also the chasms between the legal changes and the justice experienced by surviving Bosnian women. The film premiered nationally on PBS on October 11th and continues to air on local PBS stations.

The film screening in the South Court Auditorium will be followed by a panel discussion with filmmaker Pamela Hogan; Bosnian human rights advocate Refik Hodzic; professor and co-director of Washington College of Law’s Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Diane Orentlicher; and Judge Patricia Wald, who served on the International Criminal Tribunal in the Hague. Moderating the discussion will be Kelly Askin, senior legal officer for International Justice in the Open Society Justice Initiative. The panelists will share their perspectives on the testimony the film showcases and engage the students in a discussion regarding international law, with emphasis on the roles of the ICTY and the International Criminal Court. The panel discussion will be streamed live on Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET at WhiteHouse.gov/Live.

Recently, the International Criminal Court convicted Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga for using child soldiers in a war that took ten thousand lives. Like the story of the women from the former Yugoslavia, this lengthy investigation of the atrocities in the Democratic Republic of Congo demonstrates the new reaches of international law on humanitarian subjects. The legal precedents highlighted in the NEH’s “Bridging Cultures through Law” film series are thus designed to make accessible to the American public and the next generation of lawyers programs that use history to inform the present.

Jim Leach is the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

A to Zydeco: Saving the Diversity of American English

Judy Havemann — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 23:53:34 +0000

After 50 years of research and editing, the Dictionary of American Regional English has reached the letter Z. Volume V, containing entries from slab through zydeco, was published today by Harvard University Press. This extraordinary record of the diversity of American English is the longest continuously-funded project of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Dictionary, known as DARE, records American speech as it varies from place to place and as it has changed over more than three centuries. Not only has DARE proved essential to teachers, writers, and historians, it has also been used to solve crimes, diagnose illnesses, bolster court cases, answer congressional inquiries, and train actors. DARE’s almost 60,000 entries provide an astonishingly varied record of American regionalisms. There are 174 different words for the “dust bunnies” that collect under the bed. The dictionary shows the geographical breakdown of “soda” vs. “pop.” It differentiates “pot luck” from “pitch-in” regions, draws a line between “frying pan” and “skillet” territory, and puts forth a remarkable array of monikers for the dragonfly.

DARE is the result of a long-term collaboration among federal and state agencies, private foundations, and individual donors to support the unprecedented field research and the exacting editorial work of this daunting lexicographical effort. Winning support from panels of experts in competition with hundreds of projects decade after decade, DARE illustrates the commitment of the National Endowment for the Humanities to support projects with broad and lasting significance throughout America.

The dictionary began with field research in the 1960s, as fieldworkers in “word wagons” fanned out to 1,002 communities across America. They found natives of those communities who were willing to answer more than 1,600 questions about nearly all aspects of our daily lives—from time, weather, food, clothing, and farming, to religion, health, money, courtship, and families. Reel-to-reel tape recorders captured the voices of 1,843 of these people, yielding an invaluable collection of contrastive speech patterns and an incomparable oral history of mid-twentieth-century America.

The field research was augmented with quotations from thousands of printed sources such as newspapers, letters, diaries, novels, and government documents. The result is that each entry is an individual history of the word, from its earliest known occurrence throughout its lifespan in American English. For the last two volumes, DARE editors benefited from the recent wealth of digital resources that enhanced the treatment of entries.

The Dictionary of American Regional English project is part of the College of Letters and Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where Joan Houston Hall is chief editor. It is a legacy of its fine staff and particularly of its indomitable founder, Frederic G. Cassidy, who died at age 92 in the year 2000. Engraved on his gravestone are the words “On to Z.”

Judy Havemann is the Director of Communications at the National Endowment for the Humanities.

UK State Visit, American-Made Energy, and the Affordable Care Act Anniversary: Deputies' Download

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 22:38:31 +0000

In a ceremony steeped in tradition, last Wednesday President Obama -- together with the First Lady, the Vice President and Dr. Biden -- welcomed Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife, Samantha, to the White House on behalf of the American people. After the event on the South Lawn that displayed the rock-solid alliance between our two countries, and a one-on-one meeting in the Oval Office, President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron took advantage of a beautiful spring day to hold a joint press conference in the White House Rose Garden. The two leaders answered questions about the global economy, Iran's nuclear program, the war in Afghanistan, and even touched on bracketology.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks during an Official Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House honoring Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom and Mrs. Samantha Cameron, March 14, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)

Last Thursday, the President spoke at Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Maryland about his all-of-the-above strategy to develop every available source of American-made energy. Otherwise, we won’t be fully in control of our energy future if our strategy only consists of drilling for the 2 percent of oil we have but still buying the 20 percent we use -- especially if we have to buy that oil on a world market where prices -- which are already subject to short-term spikes when political conflict or natural disaster affects supply -- will only keep rising as global demand for oil explodes.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks on energy at Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Maryland, March 15, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Two years ago, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act – legislation to improve our health care system – into law. As the President said in March, 2010: “The bill I’m signing will set in motion reforms that generations of Americans have fought for and marched for and hungered to see.”

As we look back on two years of progress, senior administration officials are turning to Twitter to answer your questions about the Affordable Care Act in a series of White House Office Hours.

On Friday, March 23rd at 2:00 p.m. EDT, Cecilia Muñoz, Director of the Domestic Policy Council, will answer your questions through a Twitter Office Hours session. Do you have a question about what the law means for you and your family? Here's how you can join:

Ask your question on Twitter with the hashtag #WHChat
White House officials answers your questions from the @WHLive account
Follow the Q&A through the @WHLive Twitter account and the hashtag #WHChat
If you miss the live event, the full session will be posted on WhiteHouse.gov and Storify.com/WhiteHouse

As the provisions in the law start to take effect, millions of Americans are seeing a noticeable difference in the cost and quality of their health care. How has healthcare made a difference for you and your family? We want to hear from you. Also, you can join the conversation and share your story through Twitter by using the hashtag #MyCare.

Blog Highlights

White House Champions of Change Program

The President personally congratulated five young leaders last Thursday as Champions of Change for their outstanding leadership on their college campuses. Last fall, the White House announced the launch of the Campus Champions of Change Challenge. After reviewing a record number of entries, fifteen Challenge finalists were announced and the public chose the top five projects they think best embody the President’s goal to win the future. These five Campus Champions of Change will also have the opportunity to work with mtvU and MTV Act to create short features about their projects that will air on mtvU and be featured on MTV.com.

The Champions of Change series spotlights everyday heroes who are demonstrating commitment to improving their own communities, their country, or the lives of their fellow citizens. We are looking for you to nominate someone who is doing extraordinary things to make a difference in your community as a “Champion of Change.”

Get Involved

Two months ago, President Obama and Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis announced the Summer Jobs+ Initiative, a call-to-action for American business, nonprofits, and government to provide pathways to employment for low-income and disconnected youth in the summer of 2012. Our goal is to provide 250,000 summer job opportunities for America’s youth. We need your help to reach our goal. Employers can commit to offering employment opportunities for youth this summer by signing up HERE. Youth and communities can sign-up HERE to be alerted when the jobs bank goes live.

Do you know of an American scientist, engineer, or inventor who has helped lay that foundation—who made a major mark on the Nation and perhaps the world? Consider nominating them for National Medal of Science or National Medal of Technology and Innovation before March 31. These awards are the highest honors the President bestows in science, technology, and innovation.

The White House Internship Program is accepting applications for Fall 2012. Please visit www.whitehouse.gov/internships for detailed information about the program, the application process, a timeline with deadlines, and the departments that participate in the program. The deadline to apply for Fall 2012 is April 1, 2012.

Get Updates

For more information, visit the White House Office of Public Engagement website and blog and sign up for additional opportunities.

We welcome your thoughts and feedback at public@who.eop.gov

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia are Deputy Directors in the Office of Public Engagement.

Implementing Section 508: Improving Access to Government Information and Data for Persons with Disabilities

Kareem Dale, Lesley A. Field, Steven VanRoekel — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:50:23 +0000

The President put it best when he said, “Americans with disabilities are Americans first and foremost, and like all Americans are entitled to not only full participation in our society, but also full opportunity in our society.” And, the truth is that Americans with disabilities can’t fully participate and will not have the full opportunity to do so unless they have access to the technology that is so critical to that participation and those opportunities. That’s why, at the President’s direction, his Administration has focused on enhancing our commitment to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, so that Americans outside the government can access information about their government and those working inside the government can be productive employees.

Over the past few years, we have taken several affirmative steps regarding Section 508. For the first time, the Chief Information Officer Council and the Chief Acquisition Officer Council now jointly chair the Chief Information Officers Accessibility Committee. Following that creation, in July 2010, OMB issued a memorandum, Improving the Accessibility of Government Information to set forth additional steps. This memo focused on (1) increasing awareness of responsibilities and requirements associated with Section 508, (2) improving agency accountability and accessibility performance, and (3) improving outreach and communication. It also included a requirement to host listening sessions with the community across the nation to gather input on Federal implementation of Section 508.

Recognizing that we still needed to do more, in July 2011, the President announced an effort to develop a strategic plan for Section 508 and the intent to share the strategy with the public. To support development of this plan, senior officials and staff from across the Executive Office of the President have met with advocacy groups, Section 508 coordinators, the CIOC Accessibility Committee, the Access Board, the General Services Administration, and other key stakeholders inside and outside the government. We have taken the information from the listening sessions as well as all the input received through various stakeholder meetings and pulled together a framework for the next phase in our efforts to improve Section 508 management.

That’s where you come in. Before proceeding further with development of the strategic plan, we are seeking your input and expertise. Taking into account ideas from all the stakeholders we’ve met with so far, we posted a strategy document at http://section508.ideascale.com. It includes high level objectives, initiatives, focus areas, and potential measures. We’re looking for you to comment on what has been proposed, but also for you to propose broad management strategies, tactics, and actions that can ultimately help Federal agencies better comply with Section 508.

Whether we are working to achieve the goals of the President’s disability Executive Order, ensuring that people with disabilities have access to services during disasters, improving transportation services or so many other efforts, technology plays a critical role in our success. People with disabilities should be able to access their government on an equal footing with all Americans. With this strategy and your input, we take one more step toward achieving that goal.

Kareem Dale is Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy, Lesley A. Field is the Acting Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, and Steven VanRoekel is the Federal Chief Information Officer and E-Gov Administrator in the Office of E-Government and Information Technology.

Creating a Secure Energy Future, Revamping Job Training, and Making Refinancing Easier: Deputies' Download

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:15:08 +0000

Happy Women’s History Month!

Last Monday, the President received a new progress report, showcasing the Administration’s achievements in reducing our reliance on foreign oil, saving families and businesses money at the pump, and positioning the United States as the global leader in clean energy.

Also on Monday the White House further outlined the President’s plan to reform our nation's re-employment system and help up to one million displaced workers each year with the creation of a Universal Displaced Worker Program and an American Jobs Center network. The American Jobs Center will provide a single point of access to a full slate of key information for companies and individuals.

On Thursday, First Lady Michelle Obama spoke at the International Women of Courage Awards at the Department of State on International Women’s Day. Her address highlighted the compelling stories of the ceremony’s ten female honorees.

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks at the International Women of Courage Awards ceremony at the State Department in Washington, D.C., March 8, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)

Last Tuesday, the President announced another step to make refinancing easier for millions of Americans who have government-sponsored mortgages, staying true to his principle that every homeowner who is current on his or her payments ought to have a chance to refinance their mortgage at today's historically low rates. He's cutting fees -- to help families save money and make refinancing more attractive. The President announced the effort at a press conference, where he also announced a series of steps to assist our nation's veterans who were victims of wrongful foreclosures or who were otherwise disadvantaged in the mortgage process.

President Barack Obama holds a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, March 6, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Last Friday’s employment report provides further evidence that the economy is continuing to heal. For the first time since the 1990s, and after losing millions of good manufacturing jobs before and during the recession, the manufacturing sector is adding jobs: 429,000 over the past two years. Overall, private sector payrolls increased by 233,000 jobs. There was also an increase in the size of the labor force last month of 476,000.

The President made a series of announcements this past week aimed at further bolstering the manufacturing sector. At the Rolls-Royce Crosspointe facility last Friday in Petersburg, Virginia the President laid out his plans for a new National Network of Manufacturing Innovation and his plans to invest $45 million in a pilot program aimed at promoting collaboration between government and industry in order to encourage innovation in manufacturing. And last Wednesday at a manufacturing plant for Daimler Trucks North America in Mount Holly, North Carolina he discussed more ways his administration is taking an all-of-the-above approach to American energy and announced a new $1 billion National Community Deployment Challenge to help boost the deployment of clean, advanced vehicles all over America.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the economy after touring the Rolls-Royce Crosspoint facility in Prince George County, Va., March 9, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Spring Break: Let the Summer Job Search Begin

This week, thousands of 16-24 year olds will begin a week that marks the beginning of the path to summer: Spring Break. Every year, Spring Break marks a time when many youth begin making their summer plans. For most youth, this will involve beginning the search for summer employment.

Youth employment is a critical element of success for young people. As a pathway to careers and education, meaningful summer employment not only helps young people develop workforce and leadership skills to get and keep good jobs, but also connects them to long term economic opportunity.

Unfortunately, the recession has had a particularly hard impact on youth employment. Only 45 percent of youth between the ages of 16-24 were employed the end of August, including only 33.8 percent of African American youth. This is significantly lower than the 54.5 percent of youth who were employed five years ago and 56.1 percent of youth who were employed 10 years ago. Only 21 out of every 100 teens in low-income families had a job this past summer.

President Obama and Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis recently announced the Summer Jobs+ Initiative, a call-to-action for American business, nonprofits, and government to provide pathways to employment for low-income and disconnected youth in the summer of 2012. We are writing you to seek your interest in answering this important call for youth in your community.

Our goal is to provide 250,000 young Americans employment opportunities this summer. Over 180,000 commitments have been made to date by our partners.

Please join us for a conference call with other leaders for more information:

What: Briefing Call on the Summer Jobs+ Initiative
When: Thursday, March 15th, 2012, 3:30 PM EDT
Number: (800) 230-1059
This call is off the record and not intended for press purposes

On the call, we will discuss how employers can participate in the Summer Jobs+ initiative and help connect young people to a summer employment opportunity and a better future.

Blog Highlights

White House Champions of Change Program

The White House honored eleven Champions of Change for their extraordinary service as mentors for startups and small businesses across the country. By sharing their expertise and hard-won experience with first-time entrepreneurs, these mentors are not only “paying it forward” – they are enabling countless American businesses to grow faster and create more jobs.

Get Involved

Get Updates

For more information, visit the White House Office of Public Engagement website and blog and sign up for additional opportunities.

We welcome your thoughts and feedback at public@who.eop.gov

Anne Filipic and Stephanie Valencia are Deputy Directors in the Office of Public Engagement.

Celebrating Two Years of the President’s National Export Initiative

Patricia M. Loui — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:46:27 +0000

March 11 marked the second anniversary of President Obama’s Executive Order 13534 which created the National Export Initiative (NEI). The President’s goal of doubling exports by the end of 2014 is on track, with exports increasing almost 16% last year to $2.1 trillion. Although the bar seemed high at the outset, the focused efforts of the Obama Administration through the National Export Council – which includes the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, Labor, Energy, Agriculture, Treasury, the Small Business Administration, the U.S. Trade Representative, the Export-Import Bank of the U.S., the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, as well as congressional and business leaders – is delivering. At the Export-Import Bank last year, for example, financing authorizations for exports grew 34% to $32 billion, with 85% of transactions to small and medium sized enterprises.

This is good news for all Americans because with exports come jobs and a more balanced economy based not only on domestic consumption but also on sales of products and services overseas since 95% of customers are outside our shores. And it is also good news specifically for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). Minority-owned firms are twice as likely to export, and we are seeing their success in communities across the country. In New York City, Los Angeles and Houston where there are high concentrations of AAPIs, exporting is up more than 20%.

When I spoke on February 28 to the Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong Association of Washington, I met many of their members who have led Washington to become the most export-driven State in the U.S. The audience was a slice of America – a labor leader from Boeing, exporting farmers, small businesspersons, international bankers, the President of the African Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest, state economic development officers, and attorneys, among many others. All were interested in the NEI success and eager to trade updates on Asian export markets. The sentiment was much the same at two other February meetings with the Indonesian-American Association and with the San Jose Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

As the Obama Administration observes the anniversary of the NEI, opportunities for AAPIs could not be better, whether we are working in exporting, education, diplomacy and government, or the professions that support the NEI. Since NEI’s launch in 2010, the Obama Administration has done an outstanding job leading policy as well as outreach initiatives to the AAPI community. Congratulations and thanks to all those who through NEI are building bridges not only of trade but also of friendship.

Patricia M. Loui was appointed by President Obama to serve on the Board of Directors of The Export-Import Bank of the U.S.

How Has Exporting Helped Your Business?

International Trade Administration — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:01:20 +0000

Ed Note: The following is a cross-post that originally appeared on the International Trade Administration blog.

President Obama announced the National Export Initiative (NEI) two years ago, with the goal of doubling exports by 2014. While it is an ambitious goal to double exports within five years, there are many individual successes of companies finding new markets, new buyers and new opportunities that will help realize this goal. Here is a timeline of those first two years.

For example, there’s the exporter of routers who sells in 80 countries, or the aircraft manufacturer who lands a large order in Japan. Together these successes will help increase our national exports.

Here at the International Trade Administration, we’ve helped to coordinate 77 trade missions to 38 countries with 1,123 companies participating. In case you didn’t know, that’s a lot. A whole lot. These companies have reported that they’ve secured more than $1.25 billion so far in export sales as a direct result of these trade missions.

The success of the NEI depends on your successes. We invite you to share your export success stories with us. How has exporting helped you and your business? Share your stories here.

International Trade Administration