Michelle Obama: Speech At When We All Vote Rally In Las Vegas

Watch former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama speak at the When We All Vote rally at Chaparral High School in Las Vegas about the importance of getting out to vote.

For more information, visit: https://www.whenweallvote.org

Michelle Obama officiates wedding

Former first lady, Michelle Obama married Chicago couple Stephanie Rivkin and Joel Sircus Saturday evening at the Theater on the Lake.

Michelle Obama's connection to the newly married couple is Rivkin's mother who is the president of the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, a Chicago charity launched by Penny Pritzker, who served as a commerce secretary in the Obama administration.

One attendee, Tina Newman and shared a video of Obama with the soon-to-be newlyweds at the altar on Instagram. TMZ first published the Instagram story, which has since been deleted. Check out the former first lady officiating the wedding below:

The Obama's statement on the passing of John McCain

Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have released the following statement on the passing of an American hero, Sen. John McCain:

Barack & Michelle Obama statements on passing of Aretha Franklin

Both Barack and Michelle Obama released statements via Twitter on the passing of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Read those statements below:

Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace. pic.twitter.com/bfASqKlLc5

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 16, 2018

Watching Aretha Franklin perform at the White House, and on so many other occasions, made time stand still. @BarackObama and I are holding Aretha’s family in our hearts right now. She will forever be our Queen of Soul. pic.twitter.com/NhHsbKijpl

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) August 16, 2018

Smithsonian moves Michelle Obama portrait due to 'high volume of visitors'

Michelle Obama was so popular she needed more space.

The distinctive Amy Sherald painting of the former first lady, unveiled at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery last month, has relocated to a different part of the museum due to demand.

"We're always changing things up here. Due to the high volume of visitors, we've relocated Michelle Obama's portrait to the 3rd floor in our 20th-Century Americans galleries for a more spacious viewing experience," the National Portrait Gallery tweeted.

The museum has been inundated with visitors since the portraits of the Obamas were unveiled; 176,700 people visited the gallery in February 2018, its biggest month in three years, per Smithsonian Institution data. Last weekend, nearly 45,000 visitors stopped by from Thursday to Sunday.

[SOURCE: CNN]

Michelle Obama meets 2-year-old who was mesmerized by her new portrait

Parker Curry, 2, went from standing in awe before a painting of Michelle Obama at the National Portrait Gallery to having a Taylor Swift dance party with the former first lady in her living room.

Parker, I'm so glad I had the chance to meet you today (and for the dance party)! Keep on dreaming big for yourself...and maybe one day I'll proudly look up at a portrait of you! pic.twitter.com/faUVTsYWun

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) March 6, 2018

At the portrait's unveiling last month, Obama said she was thinking of girls who "will come to this place and they will look up and they will see an image of someone who looks like them hanging on the wall of this great American institution." When Curry went to the gallery last week, another visitor took a photo of her staring intently at the modernist painting of Obama, and it went viral. Her mother, Jessica, took Parker and her infant sister, Ava, specifically to see the portraits of the Obamas, and told BuzzFeed News she "was trying to get her to turn around so I could take a picture, but she wouldn't cooperate. She just wanted to stare at it. She was fascinated."

On Tuesday, Obama tweeted that she just had just met Curry at her house for one incredible play date, and shared a video of the pair dancing. "Parker, I'm so glad I had the chance to meet you today (and for the dance party)!" Obama said. "Keep on dreaming big for yourself...and maybe one day I'll proudly look up at a portrait of you!"

[SOURCE]

Michelle Obama shows support for students fighting for sensible gun laws

As survivors of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting capture the nation’s attention with their persistent and powerful calls for sensible gun laws, former first lady Michelle Obama has expressed “total awe” and support for the young activists.

I’m in total awe of the extraordinary students in Florida. Like every movement for progress in our history, gun reform will take unyielding courage and endurance. But @barackobama and I believe in you, we’re proud of you, and we’re behind you every step of the way.

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) February 22, 2018

National Portrait Gallery Announces Artists Commissioned to Paint Portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery announced today that it has commissioned the museum’s official portraits of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Artist Kehinde Wiley—best known for his vibrant, large-scale paintings of African Americans—will create the portrait of President Obama. Amy Sherald, first-prize winner of the Portrait Gallery’s 2016 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, has been chosen to paint Mrs. Obama. The two portraits will be unveiled at the museum in early 2018 and will be added to the Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection.

Over the course of his career, Wiley (b. Los Angeles, 1977), whom President Obama selected, has frequently portrayed young African American men wearing the latest in hip-hop street fashion. His rich, highly saturated color palette and his use of decorative patterns complement his realistic, yet expressive, likenesses. The theatrical poses and props Wiley assigns to his subjects make references to iconic portraits of powerful figures by Western artists.

Sherald (b. Columbus, Ga., 1973), who is based in Baltimore, was selected by Mrs. Obama to paint her portrait. Sherald challenges stereotypes and probes notions of identity through her life-size paintings of African Americans. Out of more than 2,500 entries, Sherald’s oil painting “Miss Everything (Unsuppressed Deliverance)” won first place in the Portrait Gallery’s 2016 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. Along with the exhibition that showcases all of the winning portraits, the first-place prize includes the opportunity to create a portrait of a living individual for the museum’s permanent collection.

“The Portrait Gallery is absolutely delighted that Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald have agreed to create the official portraits of our former President and First Lady,” said Kim Sajet, director of the National Portrait Gallery. “Both have achieved enormous success as artists, but even more, they make art that reflects the power and potential of portraiture in the 21st century.”

At the end of each presidency, the museum partners with the White House to commission one official portrait of the President and one of his spouse. There are two sets of official portraits: one for the White House and one for the National Portrait Gallery. The museum began to commission Presidents’ portraits with George H.W. Bush.

The Portrait Gallery is continuing to raise private funds for the two commissioned portraits, the unveiling event, educational programs and an enhanced website. The museum is the only place outside the White House where visitors can view a complete collection of presidential portraits.

This past March, the Portrait Gallery installed a portrait diptych of President Obama by Chuck Close (2013) as part of the temporary “America’s Presidents” installation, which was on view until the updated version of the exhibition opened in September. The photographs by Close will remain on view until Obama’s official painted portrait is installed.

National Portrait Gallery

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery tells the multifaceted story of America through the individuals who have shaped its culture. Through the visual arts, performing arts and new media, the Portrait Gallery portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists whose lives tell the American story.

The National Portrait Gallery is part of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture at Eighth and F streets N.W., Washington, D.C. Connect with the museum at its website (npg.si.edu), Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTubeand the museum’s blog.

Michelle Obama discusses racism she face while First Lady

Former First Lady Michelle Obama discussed racism she faced as First Lady during The Women's Foundation of Colorado 30th anniversary celebration at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

WFCO President and CEO Lauren Y. Casteel commented that Obama had broken and a glass ceiling by becoming the first African American First Lady, and then asked her what shards of the falling glass cut the deepest.

Michelle Obama responded:

“The shards that cut me the deepest were the ones that intended to cut,” she said, referencing being called an ape and people talking about her bottom. “Knowing that after eight years of working really hard for this country, there are still people who won’t see me for what I am because of my skin color.”

She said she can’t pretend like it doesn’t hurt because that lets those who do the hurting off the hook.

“Women, we endure those cuts in so many ways that we don’t even notice we’re cut,” she said. “We are living with small tiny cuts, and we are bleeding every single day. And we’re still getting up.”

Michelle Obama to appear at Pennsylvania Conference for Women

The Pennsylvania Conference for Women announced 
today that Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the 
United States, will participate in a conversation at the 
14th annual Conference on Thursday, October 3rd, 2017.  More than 10,000 are expected to attend the event at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Michelle Robinson Obama served as First Lady of the United States, from 2009-2017. During that time, Mrs. Obama launched and led four key initiatives: Let's Move!, to address the challenge of childhood obesity; Joining Forces, to support veterans, service members and their families; Reach Higher, to inspire young people to seek higher education; and Let Girls Learn, to help adolescent girls around the world go to school.

Before becoming First Lady, Michelle Obama attended Princeton University and Harvard Law School. She started her career as an attorney at the Chicago law firm, Sidley & Austin, where she met her future husband, Barack Obama. She later worked in the Chicago mayor's office, the University of Chicago, and the University of Chicago Medical Center. Mrs. Obama also founded the Chicago chapter of Public Allies, an organization that prepares young people for careers in public service.

"We are honored and thrilled to have Michelle Obama, one of the most respected women in the world, join us at this year's conference," said Leslie Stiles, Board President of the Pennsylvania Conference for Women. "With her career-long devotion to improving the lives of children, increasing nutrition awareness, and advocating for equal access to education, Michelle Obama's impact clearly extends beyond her White House years."

The nonpartisan, nonprofit Pennsylvania Conference for Women offers a full day of networking, inspiration, professional development and personal growth. In addition to a standout lineup of keynote speakers, the Conference will feature breakout sessions led by experts in the fields of business, philanthropy, leadership, finance, media and professional development.

Previously announced keynote speakers include Dr. Brené Brown, courage and vulnerability researcher, #1 New York Times best-selling author and one of the top five most viewed TED speakers in the world; Shawn Achor, New York Timesbestselling author of The Happiness Advantage; and Carla Harris, Wall Street executive and author.

The Pennsylvania Conference for Women is presented by Beneficial Bank and Beneficial Foundation and generously sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb; Cisco; Drexel University LeBow College of Business; GlaxoSmithKline; Johnson & Johnson; PECO; Prudential; QVC Inc.; State Farm; Chase; DuPont; Macquarie Investment Management; Mastercard; Penn Mutual; Poo-Pourri; State Street Corporation; Villanova School of Business; ACME Markets; Amtrak; Dow Chemical Company; Erin Condren; Fine Wine & Good Spirits; Merck; PNC; Shriners Hospitals for Children; The Philadelphia Foundation; United Airlines and media sponsors WPVI-TV 6abc; Philadelphia Magazine; Philadelphia Media Network; and iHeartMedia.

"We are proud to welcome one of the most inspirational women of our time," said Joanne Ryder, Chief Administration Officer for Beneficial Bank. "Michelle Obama continues to be a force for good and for progress in advancing the interests of women and girls around the world."

To apply for media credentials, please click here. Please note this session will be a covered by press pool only. Due to high demand, not all requests can be approved.

Registration is now open for the Conference. To register or learn more about the event, visit www.paconferenceforwomen.org.

Media Contact:
Karen Breslau
media@conferenceforwomen.org
650-906-3132

SOURCE Pennsylvania Conference for Women

Related Links

http://www.paconferenceforwomen.org

Michelle Obama Slams Trump School Lunch Changes

During the annual summit of the Partnership for a Healthier America , former first lady Michelle Obama criticized a Trump administration decision to delay federal rules aimed at making school lunches healthier. Hear her remarks below:

New Book, Michelle Obama: A Photographic Journey by Antonia Felix

A stunning pictorial celebration of one of the most beloved First Ladies of our time: Michelle Obama.

With 140 photographs, inspiring quotes, and excerpts from five historic speeches, this gorgeous volume pays tribute to Michelle Obama. Although it primarily focuses on 2007 to 2016, the book covers the pre-White House years, as well: her childhood, her time in college and law school, her work as a young professional, her marriage to Barack, and her experiences during his first campaign. It also explores her family life; celebrates her “First Lady Firsts”; looks at her TV appearances and official trips; details her main health, social, and education projects; and presents her as the glamorous, fashionable First Hostess at State Dinners and other events. Fans of Michelle will treasure this keepsake of a trendsetting, socially conscious, and powerful First Lady.

CHECK OUT THE BOOK

The Obama's sign $65 million book deal

Former U.S. President Barack Obama and wife Michelle Obama have reportedly agreed to write two more books with publishers Penguin Random House for $65 million, after a bidding war that blew away similar deals set by predecessors.

Michelle Obama's last speech as First Lady

Our intelligent, beautiful, compassionate, and graceful First Lady, Michelle Obama gave her final White House remarks as First lady in an emotional speech to school guidance counselors from across the country — each state's counselor of the year. she became emotional as she thanked her supporters and saying, "being your first lady has been the greatest honor of my life and I hope I've made you proud." Watch her speech below.

Three political stories for Democrats to watch in 2017

By George L. Cook III African American Reports.

In 2017 the biggest political story will, of course, be the first year of Donald Trump's presidency. While that is important, there are other political stories that could impact Democrats going forward. Stories about the Obamas, California Senator-Elect Kamala Harris, and Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison. Read my thought on the three stories I feel will be important below.

Story #1: What will the Barack and Michelle Obama do?

One big question we should all have is what will the Obamas do once President Obama steps down. Will they take some time to just relax or will they get back involved in politics immediaetly? If they do get involved will they use their immense popularity to help Democrats on the national level or more on the local level in an attempt to win back state legislatures. Will they spend more time trying to build up a relatively weak Democratic bench or primarily fund raise. Maybe they will do all of those things or maybe none. It will be very interesting to see how involved these two remain.

Story #2: Will Kamala Harris live up to the hype?

There is no doubting that California Senator-Elect Kamala Harris is a great politician...on the state level. The question has to be will she live up to the hype and praise that several Democratic leaders such as President Obama have heaped upon her? She obviously has all the tools but does she know how to use them on a bigger stage. Another question would be is she ready as a first year US Senatorto accept the role of party savior that some have cast her in. We shall see, although I feel she will do just fine in her first year.

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Story #3: Will Keith Ellison become DNC chair?

This story could have big implications for Democrats for years to come. Will the ultra progressive Keith Ellison win in his bid to become Democratic National Committee Chairmen? If he does win will he and be able to build up the party to include those progressives who feel that their voices are not being heard by the more traditional Democrats and keep traditional Dems on board? Will he be able to map out a plan help win back seats at all levels from school board, municipal, county, state, and national.

we can't ignore the elephant in the room which is his past ties to the Nation of Islam. While Democrats may accept Ellison's statements on that time in his life over 20 years ago, and the fact that he stepped away from the NOI Republicans are not going to let it go that easy. They will make sure Ellison wears that albatross around his neck.

I believe that Ellison will do a good job if elected but the question is will he be elected?

Those are three stories that will in many ways shape the year that Democrats will have in 2017 and hopefully shape things for the best.

Happy New Year!

By George L. Cook III African American Reports.

President and First Lady Obama's last Christmas address

In this week’s address, the President and the First Lady wished all Americans a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. They reflected on the honor of serving the American people as President and First Lady over the past eight years and the progress that has been made. Watch their statement below.

Michelle Obama makes it quite clear that she will not run for office

During a CBS interview with Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama made it quite clear to those of us holding out hope that she would ever run for office that that's not going to happen. Watch her statement below.

New Book, ESSENCE The Obamas: The White House Years

ESSENCE has followed the journey of this first family since long before they entered the national spotlight. President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, became America’s first African-American president and First Lady. This uplifting, beautifully illustrated 96-page salute to the Obamas commemorates their time in the White House and celebrates their significant moments.

Among the highlights:

The growth of Sasha and Malia from children into elegant young ladies

Be Fearless: an essay from the First Lady herself on her keys to success

Lavish and intimate photography showcasing the special moments of the Obama presidency

The full text of President Obama’s powerful and important eulogy in South Carolina of the Honorable Reverend Clementa C. Pinckney.

BUY THE BOOK

Michelle Obama new campaign ad for Hillary Clinton

In this new campaign ad Michelle Obama explains why she believes in Hillary Clinton in a new 30 second campaign ad. Watch the ad below:

Full Speech: Michelle Obama campaigns for Hillary Clinton at George Mason University

The beautiful, intelligent, funny, and energetic First Lady Michelle Obama took to the campaign trail at George Mason University in support of Hillary Clinton. Watch her amazing speech below.