Blog Posts Related to the African American Community

  • Manufacturing and Innovation go Hand in Hand

    Posted by John Fernandez on June 23, 2011 at 10:17 AM EDT

    Fernandez at Black Mayors Summit

    U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fernandez (far right) addresses the National Conference of Black Mayors 2011 Legislative Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. June 22, 2011.

    Yesterday, I had the pleasure of addressing the National Conference of Black Mayors 2011 Legislative Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. 

    The summit of almost 40 Mayors from across the nation was a great opportunity for intergovernmental collaboration and provided an excellent platform to share best practices and discuss the challenges of creating jobs and increasing competitiveness. 

    As a former mayor myself, I understood the pressing issues facing these leaders. They are the same issues the Obama Administration is aggressively tackling at the federal level. And they all boil down to creating more jobs, particularly in manufacturing.

    The manufacturing sector currently employs over 11 million Americans, providing good-paying jobs for millions of families. Preparing Americans to enter into the manufacturing sector will not only strengthen the economy and put folks back to work, it’s critical to our nation’s success as we compete in a 21st century global economy.

    I stressed that manufacturing goes hand in hand with innovation. We can no longer focus on the ‘build it and they will come’ mentality of our predecessors.  We cannot continue to focus on competition only between our cities and states. These strategies won’t work in the global economy of the 21st century.  We must now focus on innovation and entrepreneurship as drivers of regionally-focused strategies to make our communities competitive. 

    That is why President Obama is investing in the research and technology that will lead to the new ideas and new industries of the future and supporting initiatives to build new roads and bridges and manufacture new products right here in America. 

    The administration has demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to domestic manufacturing. The President has sought to revitalize domestic manufacturing by making investments in the Recovery Act and STEM education, providing businesses full expensing of capital investments, offering support to small businesses through the Small Business Lending Fund, and spearheading an initiative to double American exports over the next five years.

    These kinds of investments support the work of our Mayors and will help to stimulate real economic and job growth. To build our global competitiveness and to be the leader in creating the industries and jobs of the future, we’ve got to ensure a strong manufacturing sector.

    Click here to read the full remarks.

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  • Secretary Sebelius Keynotes the Minority Business Roundtable

    Posted by Nicole Young on June 22, 2011 at 12:42 PM EDT

    Yesterday, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius delivered the keynote address at the 2011 Minority Business Roundtable Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. This year's meeting, held in support of the White House Initiative on Small Business Contracting, brings together small and minority business leaders from across the country. Secretary Sebelius addressed the benefits awarded to small businesses under the Affordable Care Act, enabling them to better ensure their employees and contribute to the overall health and prosperity of America’s workforce.

    Learn more by reading a full transcript of Secretary Sebelius’s remarks.

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  • All Because of My Son

    Posted by George Gordon II on June 21, 2011 at 11:09 AM EDT

    Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

    I’m 24 years old and I live with my three-year-old son, George, in the southern suburbs of Chicago. I became a single father at 21 when George was 2 weeks old, and his mother left us. I was so overwhelmed I turned to my own mother for support, and then to organizations like Catholic Charities’ St. Francis de Paula Shelter in Chicago. I followed the program, and last year I applied to and was accepted by Catholic Charities New Hope Apartments Program. Catholic Charities got me an apartment, helped me with counseling, rent expenses and taught me to take care of my home and my son.

    They helped me find work in a paper factory. George and I would travel to his babysitter, then I’d go to work second shift. Each day involved long journeys on buses and trains late into the night. I was terrified I might not get another chance at a job, and it kept me going.

    My own father wasn’t involved in my life so I know I have to break that cycle and be a rock for George. I feel good about being a positive role model to other young fathers whom I mentor at my church. I also try to be a leader in the Catholic Charities New Hope Apartments program. We have a monthly support group to help each other through this transformation. I hope to show the moms in the group that some fathers really care, and to learn from them how to be both a mother and father to my son.

    I want to write my own long-term success story and being recognized as a Champion of Change is part of that story. I have never flown in a plane, let alone been to Washington D.C. I was at the White House, and it’s all because of my son.

    George Gordon II is a young father who mentors other young fathers at his church.

     

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  • Join a Dialogue with Young African Women Leaders

    Posted by Karen Richardson on June 17, 2011 at 6:14 PM EDT

    Next week, the First Lady will travel to Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa and Gaborone, Botswana during an official visit to Africa. During the trip, which will go from June 21 – 26, Mrs. Obama will deliver the keynote address to a U.S.-sponsored Young African Women Leaders Forum in South Africa.  Forum participants include young women from across sub-Saharan Africa, like Toyosi and Annah, who are leading or involved in social and economic initiatives in their own countries.  The Forum will build on the Obama Administration’s ongoing engagement with the next generation of African leaders and the momentum of the August 2010 President’s Forum with Young African Leaders held at the White House.

    On Monday, June 20 at 8:30 AM EDT, join us for a pre-Forum overview and discussion with Edward Kemp, Deputy Director for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs in the Bureau of African Affairs;  and Larry Garber, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Africa at USAID and me.

    Here's how you can join us to discuss the First Lady’s Forum and talk about the issues that matter to you and your community:

    Keep up with the First Lady at http://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/youngafrica, where you can find updates on this trip as well as engage in the conversation on Facebook and Twitter (#YoungAfrica).

    Karen Richardson is a Deputy Associate Director in the Office of Public Engagement.

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  • Follow the First Lady's Trip to Africa

    Posted by Kori Schulman on June 16, 2011 at 7:23 PM EDT

    In the coming days, First Lady Michelle Obama will be traveling to South Africa and Botswana to meet with young people from across Africa, including the Young African Women Leaders Forum. In a video message, Mrs. Obama invites young people at home, in Africa, and around the world to follow the trip and join the conversation:

    Download Video: mp4 (22MB) | mp3 (2MB)
     
    You can join the conversation on facebook and by using the hashtag #YoungAfrica on Twitter. Check WhiteHouse.gov/YoungAfrica for updates from the trip, videos of young leaders, and much more in the days and weeks to come.

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  • Strong Fathers, Strong Families

    Posted by Michael Strautmanis on June 15, 2011 at 4:47 PM EDT

    So this is fun.

    Like millions of dads across our country, President Obama has said that being a father is the “most important job he has.”  From coaching basketball to helping with homework, the President cherishes the time he gets to spend with his two girls, even when life gets busy.

    Today at a screening of the movie Cars 2 for military fathers and families, President Obama is kicking off something called the year of Strong Fathers, Strong Families as part of his Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative. It’s an effort with partners from around the nation to create simple opportunities for dads and kids to connect. Whether it’s a free game of bowling, a Major League Baseball or WNBA game, a visit to the zoo or aquarium, or discounts for dads and kids through partners like Groupon and LivingSocial, we’re excited to help create small moments that can have a big impact.  You can sign up for updates and find more in the coming days on www.fatherhood.gov.

    Military Fathers and Families at a Screening of the Movie "Cars 2"

    Military fathers and families listen as President Barack Obama stops by a screening of the movie "Cars 2" in the South Court Auditorium of the White House, June 15, 2011. The President talked about the year of "Strong Fathers, Strong Families" as part of his Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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