Barack and Michelle Obama endorse VP Kamala Harris for President

Former President Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday for President of the United States.

Earlier this week, Michelle and I called our friend @KamalaHarris. We told her we think she’ll make a fantastic President of the United States, and that she has our full support. At this critical moment for our country, we’re going to do everything we can to make sure she wins in… pic.twitter.com/0UIS0doIbA

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 26, 2024

Michelle Obama's When We All Vote Will Bring Voting to the Culture and Engage Voters Across the Country This Summer

The Culture of Democracy Tour will register, educate and mobilize tens of thousands of voters in partnership with the Roots Picnic, Lyft, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Dream and more

When We All Vote has launched the Culture of Democracy Tour, a summer of action to register, educate and engage thousands of voters and volunteers. The Culture of Democracy Tour brings voting to popular culture through events, sweepstakes, campaigns, voter registration drives and more in partnership with the organization's thousands of volunteers and partners.

More than 200 partners have joined When We All Vote's Culture of Democracy Collective — a network of leading national and community organizations, including sports, corporate and entertainment partners, committed to registering, educating and mobilizing voters. Members include Essence, BET, Lyft, Girls Inc., NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Global Black Economic Forum, Lime, the Divine Nine National Pan-Hellenic Organizations, VoteRiders and the Executive Leadership Council, as well as major sport teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Dream, Dallas Wings, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Mystics, New England Revolution, Houston Dynamo and more.

"At a time when fewer young people are identifying with political parties, the work of nonpartisan organizations like When We All Vote has never been more critical," said Beth Lynk, Executive Director of When We All Vote. "Through the Culture of Democracy Tour this summer, we will bring voting to the culture and meet voters where they are — transforming how they view and participate in democracy and taking this momentum to the biggest stop of all: the ballot box."

Culture of Democracy Tour
When We All Vote's Founder and Co-Chair, Michelle Obama, continues to be a trusted voice in the political space. She will use her voice throughout the tour to engage eligible voters.

More than 40 million Gen Z'ers will be eligible to vote in November, and almost half are people of color,  including 8.8 million Latinos and 5.7 million Black youth. 71 percent of the people who registered with When We All Vote in 2020 were young people and people of color, with a turnout rate of 83 percent — surpassing the national average by nearly 20 percentage points. With reports of lower voter enthusiasm dominating the narrative, the Culture of Democracy Tour is critical to remind voters of their power and encourage voter participation. Highlights include:

• Events: When We All Vote will join some of the summer's biggest events and celebrations to register voters, including:
  • The Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, PA, on June 1 and 2
  • Blavity House Party Music Festival in Nashville, TN, on June 14 and 15
  • Essence Festival of Culture and the Global Black Economic Forum's Summit and Conference in New Orleans, LA, between July 4 and July 7
• National Days of Action and Volunteer Mobilization: Hundreds of volunteers will host voter registration drives and get their communities registered and ready to vote:
  • Pride Month voter registration drives throughout June
  • Juneteenth Weekend of Action June 19-23
  • The Voting Rights Act Anniversary on August 6
• Digital Campaigns: When We All Vote will engage voters around the issues motivating them most through campaigns with partners, such as:
  • Digital and in-person activations with sports leagues and athletes
  • Digital campaigns around key issues for voters, including reproductive rights, climate change and the state of the economy
  • A back-to-school campaign as a part of the My School Votes program for high school students throughout August
  • New partnerships with celebrity talent and brands

Culture of Democracy Collective
The more than 200 members of the Culture of Democracy Collective will register voters through their platforms. For example:

• Lyft will offer discounted rides to the polls during primaries, early voting and on Election Day across the country, as well as help riders, drivers and team members register, prepare to vote and understand voting ID requirements
• Lime will share voter registration deadlines and offer free e-bike and e-scooter rides to polling locations on Election Day
• Amalgamated Bank will promote voter registration in branches to help inform their customers and employees about the elections and encourage them to vote
• Essence and the Global Black Economic Forum will register and mobilize voters and protect democracy
• The Executive Leadership Council will convene Black business leaders to mobilize around voter education and registration in both the workplace and in their local communities
• Clare V. will release a VOTE t-shirt in support of When We All Vote
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and other organizations in the Divine Nine will mobilize their membership around Juneteenth to register people to vote
• Drag Out the Vote will encourage the community to register voters for Pride Month
• State Voices will help galvanize their large network to host Parties at the Polls
• Southern Poverty Law Center will register voters through statewide campaigns in Alabama and Mississippi

Earlier this year, When We All Vote laid out its three-pronged strategy for 2024: 1) register at least 500,000 Americans to vote; 2) reach and mobilize 5 million voters to cast their ballots; 3) change the culture around voting with partners and celebrity co-chairs and ambassadors.

ABOUT When We All Vote: 
When We All Vote is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting and to increase participation in each and every election by helping to close the race and age gap. Created by Michelle Obama, When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education for the entire family and voters of every age to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come. We empower our supporters and volunteers to take action through voting, advocating for their rights, and holding their elected officials accountable.

In 2020, When We All Vote ran a robust, multifaceted campaign and reached more than 100 million people to educate them about the voting process and get them registered and ready to vote. The initiative also led in voter education, registration, and volunteer engagement and as a result, 512,000 people started or completed the voter registration process, and nearly 500 media, corporate, and nonprofit partners joined its efforts.

Michelle Obama launched When We All Vote in 2018 and is joined by fellow Co-Chairs Stephen Curry, Becky G, Selena Gomez, Tom Hanks, H.E.R., Liza Koshy, Jennifer Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Chris Paul, Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, Bretman Rock, Kerry Washington, and Rita Wilson. When We All Vote is an initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and works with Civic Nation Action, a 501(c)(4). Learn more here.

Michelle Obama statement on Supreme Court ruling on Affirmative Action

Read former First Lady, Michelle Obama's response to the Supreme Court ruling on Affirmative Action:

I wanted to share some of my thoughts on today's Supreme Court decision on affirmative action: pic.twitter.com/Wa6TGafzHV

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) June 29, 2023

Barack and Michelle Obama statement on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II

Barack and Michelle Obama released the following statement on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II:

From the day of her coronation 70 years ago—the first one ever televised—to this very moment, as countless tributes are being posted online in her honor, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has captivated the world. Today, Michelle and I join so many others who are celebrating her life and mourning her passing.

Her Majesty was just 25 years old when she took on the enormous task of helming one of the world’s great democracies. In the decades that followed, she would go on to make the role of Queen her own—with a reign defined by grace, elegance, and a tireless work ethic, defying the odds and expectations placed on women of her generation.

During World War II, she became the first-ever female royal to serve on active military duty. And through periods of prosperity and stagnation—from the moon landing, to the fall of the Berlin Wall, to the dawn of the digital age—she served as a beacon of hope and stability for the people of the United Kingdom and the world.

Her Majesty worked with 15 Prime Ministers and countless foreign heads of state. She listened deeply, thought strategically, and was responsible for considerable diplomatic achievements. And yet, she wore her lofty titles with a light touch—as willing to act in a comic sketch for the London Olympics as she was to record steadying messages for the people of the UK during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Michelle and I were lucky enough to come to know Her Majesty, and she meant a great deal to us. Back when we were just beginning to navigate life as President and First Lady, she welcomed us to the world stage with open arms and extraordinary generosity. Time and again, we were struck by her warmth, the way she put people at ease, and how she brought her considerable humor and charm to moments of great pomp and circumstance.

Like so many, Michelle and I are grateful to have witnessed Her Majesty’s dedicated leadership, and we are awed by her legacy of tireless, dignified public service. Our thoughts are with her family and the people of the United Kingdom at this difficult time.

Official White House portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama unveiled.

The Obamas returned to the presidential residence Wednesday for a ceremony to unveil their official White House portraits, more than five years after moving out of the president's mansion.

Barack Obama's painting was done by Robert McCurdy and Michelle Obama's was done by Sharon Sprung.

Traditionally, the two most recent presidential portraits end up in the Entrance Hall. The first ladies' portraits generally hang on the floor below.

Get a better look at the portarits below:

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WATCH: Barack and Michelle Obama Make Surprise Appearance at Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival

The 2022 Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF) kicked off Friday with great pomp and circumstance — and a few bars of “Hail to the Chief” — as Barack and Michelle Obama made a special appearance for the opening night screening of Netflix documentary “Descendant.”

[SOURCE: VARIETY]

PRE-Order Michelle Obama Upcoming Book The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times

The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama release date November 15, 2022

In an inspiring follow-up to her critically acclaimed, #1 bestselling memoir Becoming, former First Lady Michelle Obama shares practical wisdom and powerful strategies for staying hopeful and balanced in today’s highly uncertain world.

There may be no tidy solutions or pithy answers to life’s big challenges, but Michelle Obama believes that we can all locate and lean on a set of tools to help us better navigate change and remain steady within flux. In The Light We Carry, she opens a frank and honest dialogue with readers, considering the questions many of us wrestle with: How do we build enduring and honest relationships? How can we discover strength and community inside our differences? What tools do we use to address feelings of self-doubt or helplessness? What do we do when it all starts to feel like too much?

Michelle Obama offers readers a series of fresh stories and insightful reflections on change, challenge, and power, including her belief that when we light up for others, we can illuminate the richness and potential of the world around us, discovering deeper truths and new pathways for progress. Drawing from her experiences as a mother, daughter, spouse, friend, and First Lady, she shares the habits and principles she has developed to successfully adapt to change and overcome various obstacles—the earned wisdom that helps her continue to “become.” She details her most valuable practices, like “starting kind,” “going high,” and assembling a “kitchen table” of trusted friends and mentors. With trademark humor, candor, and compassion, she also explores issues connected to race, gender, and visibility, encouraging readers to work through fear, find strength in community, and live with boldness.

“When we are able to recognize our own light, we become empowered to use it,” writes Michelle Obama. A rewarding blend of powerful stories and profound advice that will ignite conversation, The Light We Carry inspires readers to examine their own lives, identify their sources of gladness, and connect meaningfully in a turbulent world.

PRE-order he Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama statement on the confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court

Michelle Obama released the following statement after the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court:

I was so moved to see Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmed this afternoon. Like so many of you, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride—a sense of joy—to know that this deserving, accomplished Black woman will be a part of the highest court in the land.

Michelle Obama and Chris Paul Launch When We All Vote’s First HBCU Campaign, the VOTE LOUD HBCU Squad Challenge

Today, When We All Vote Co-Chairs Michelle Obama and Chris Paul launched the organization’s first campaign for Historically Black College and Universities called the VOTE LOUD HBCU Squad Challenge. The challenge wants HBCU students to lead efforts in voter registration, education, and mobilization on their campuses and in their communities.

HBCUs have long been critical in protecting the right to vote in Black communities, and this project builds upon that history. With an eye on the 2022 midterm elections, Squads on HBCU campuses across the country will receive grants of up to $3,000 to support their nonpartisan voter registration work.The funds can be used for hosting events and voter registration drives, training new volunteers, educating voters, and canvassing their campus and surrounding communities.

The Squads that implement the most creative and culturally relevant ideas will be eligible to win campus events and activations with celebrity appearances in partnership with BET.

Stephanie L. Young is the Executive Director of When We All Vote. She says she’s excited for this initiative. “As a proud HBCU graduate, I know that our Historically Black Colleges and Universities are the heartbeat of Black culture, and it’s critical that we make sure voting is a part of that culture.” She continued, “For decades, HBCUs have led the way in social change, and I’m excited to work with students, alumni, educators and our partners on HBCU campuses to reach our communities in real and engaging ways that allow our voices to be heard in the midterm elections and beyond. And I'm also thrilled to start this work early to end the cycle of engaging these campuses only in the fall before major elections.”

When We All Vote is an initiative of Civic Nation, which is a larger national initiative to increase participation in elections by helping to close the race and age gap. In 2020, When We All Vote reached more than 100 million people with the aim to educate them about the voting process and to get them registered to vote.

Michelle Obama launched When We All Vote in 2018, and partnered with Co-Chairs Stephen Curry, Becky G, Selena Gomez, Tom Hanks, H.E.R., Liza Koshy, Jennifer Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Chris Paul, Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, Bretman Rock, Kerry Washington, and Rita Wilson.

Learn more about the VOTE LOUD HBCU Squad Challenge by clicking here https://whenweallvote.org/voteloud/

Obamas announce groundbreaking for the Obama Presidential Center

Barack and Michelle Obama announced that the groundbreaking ceremony for his long-awaited presidential library will be held on Tuesday in Chicago.

We've got big news!

Our virtual groundbreaking festivities for the Obama Presidential Center will take place on Monday, Sept. 27 and Tuesday, Sept. 28.

Watch a special message from @BarackObama and @MichelleObama now. pic.twitter.com/yJ6M4DLL2A

— The Obama Foundation (@ObamaFoundation) September 24, 2021

Michelle Obama To Be Inducted Into The National Women’s Hall Of Fame

The former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama will be inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

The organization announced its nine-member Class of 2021 on Monday. Along with Michelle Obama, it includes soccer icon Mia Hamm, NASA’s first African American female engineer Katherine Johnson and PepsiCo’s first female CEO, Indra Nooyi.

This year’s edition of the biennial induction ceremony will take place on October 2 in-person, with Covid-19 protocols, at the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York. A free live stream of the ceremony will be available.

“As First Lady, she created: Let’s Move!, a program aimed at ending childhood obesity; the Reach Higher Initiative to help students navigate and better understand job opportunities and get the education necessary for these jobs; Joining Forces, an initiative she co-lead with Dr. Biden to support military veterans, service members, and military families; and Let Girls Learn, a program to support adolescent girls’ education around the world.

“During her eight years as First Lady, Michelle Obama she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, transforming the White House into the “People’s House.” Since leaving the White House, she has continued to have a profound public impact,” the National Women’s Hall of Fame said in a statement.

Michelle Obama Most Admired Woman in 2020

Former first lady Michelle Obama was named the most admired woman in the U.S. for the third consecutive year according to Gallup polling released Tuesday.

Ten percent of Americans named Obama as their most-admired woman, followed by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, the first woman elected to the office, with 6 percent. First lady Melania Trump received 4 percent of the vote, followed by Oprah Winfrey with 3 percent. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Queen Elizabeth I all received 2 percent.

Michelle Obama congratulates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on presidential election victory

Former First Lady Michelle Obama offered her congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris via Twitter after their historic presidential election victory.

I’m beyond thrilled that my friend @JoeBiden and our first Black and Indian-American woman Vice President, @KamalaHarris, are headed to restore some dignity, competence, and heart at the White House. Our country sorely needs it.

Michelle Obama's Closing Argument: why you should vote for Joe Biden

With the election right around the corner, and votes are already being cast, Michelle Obama makes a final argument for Americans to support Joe Biden. We have to take action and vote like our lives depend on it. Go to iwillvote.com and make a plan to vote right now.

Watch her comments below:

Michelle Obama 2020 DNC convention speech

Former First Lady Michelle Obama addresses the 2020 Democratic National Convention: "Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is."

Watch her full speech below:

Michelle Obama part of diverse group of speakers to be featured on first night of Democratic convention

Former first lady Michelle Obama, former Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will reportedly be featured speakers on the first night of the Democratic National Convention.

The lineup, which represents a broad ideological cross-section, is part of a broader theme of unity against President Trump and in support of presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, a source who has seen convention plans told CNN. Sanders, a one-time presidential candidate himself, is a standard-bearer within the party’s progressive wing. Kasich is a vocal GOP critic of Trump, a demographic the party hopes to attract in November. And Michelle Obama is widely popular across the party.

The plans come as the coronavirus pandemic has forced an all-virtual convention. Biden was originally set to personally travel to Milwaukee to accept the party's nomination but will now accept it remotely from Delaware. The convention, already delayed a month, will take place Aug. 17-20, with two hours of events per night.

Normally the political conventions fill four days full of programming from a jam-packed arena. This year Democrats will move the event online and programming will be condensed, running for only two hours each night.

Michelle Obama 'Becoming' documentary coming to Netflix on May 6, 2020

Becoming is an intimate look into the life of former First Lady Michelle Obama during a moment of profound change, not only for her personally but for the country she and her husband served over eight impactful years in the White House. The film offers a rare and up-close look at her life, taking viewers behind the scenes as she embarks on a 34-city tour that highlights the power of community to bridge our divides and the spirit of connection that comes when we openly and honestly share our stories.

“Those months I spent traveling — meeting and connecting with people in cities across the globe — drove home the idea that what we share in common is deep and real and can’t be messed with,” Obama wrote on Instagram. “I treasure the memories and that sense of connection now more than ever, as we struggle together to weather this pandemic, as we care for our loved ones, tend to our communities, and try to keep up with work and school while coping with huge amounts of loss, confusion, and uncertainty.”

The film is directed by Nadia Hallgren, and is the third joint project between Netflix and Higher Ground Productions, the Obamas’ production company.

Becoming begins streaming on Netflix on May 6.

WATCH THE TRAILER

Michelle Obama to lead weekly online story time series for kids during Covid-19 pandemic

Former first lady Michele Obama will be hosting a live-streamed story time session every week for children over the next month as schools across the country remain closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Penguin Young Readers, Random House Children’s Books and PBS KIDS announced on Friday that the former first lady will be reading some of her favorite children's books for the next four weeks, starting this coming Monday, as part of a collaborative effort with the organizations.

The four-week series, dubbed “Mondays with Michelle Obama” will feature Obama reading one book during a story session that will be streamed live at noon (ET) from the PBS KIDS’ Facebook page and YouTube channel as well as Penguin Random House’s Facebook page.

“As a little kid, I loved to read aloud,” she said in a statement on Friday. “And when I became a parent, I found such joy in sharing the magic of storytelling with my own children—and then later, as First Lady, with kids everywhere.”

“At this time when so many families are under so much stress, I’m excited to give kids a chance to practice their reading and hear some wonderful stories (and to give parents and caretakers a much-need,” she added.

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Michelle Obama criticizes Wisconsin for hold primary during Covid-19 pandemic

Former First Lady Michelle Obama took to Twitter to criticize the state of Wisconsin for going ahead with its primary during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Obama tweeted:

Today, Wisconsin voters had to choose between making their voice heard and keeping themselves and their family safe. No American should ever have to make that choice.

We must do better to ensure voting is safe for all voters.

California school renamed Michelle Obama Elementary

The Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Northern California will close for extensive renovations and open next year as Michelle Obama Elementary.

“We have the opportunity to have a beautiful new school named after a person who really represents our diversity and values," Claudia Velez, the school's principal, told CNN on Thursday.

The proposal was approved in a unanimous vote by the West Contra Costa Unified School District Board.

Officials at the California elementary school to be named after Obama said the first African American first lady has been a role model for students.

"Our school is diverse, modern and innovative, and the things that the kids will be doing will prepare them for a very strong and successful future in whatever career they choose," Velez said.

This isn’t the first school to be named after the former first lady. There’s already a Michelle Obama Elementary School in Panorama City, Calif., as well as a Michelle Obama School of Technology and the Arts in Park Forest, Ill.

[SOURCE: CHANGING AMERICA]