Champions of Change

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President Obama is committed to making this the most open and participatory administration in history. That begins with taking your questions and comments, inviting you to join online events with White House officials, and giving you a way to engage with your government on the issues that matter the most.

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  • A Conversation on Rebuilding the Economy at the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Convention

    Posted by Cecilia Muñoz on September 18, 2012 at 6:18 PM EDT

    This morning, I had the pleasure of addressing business leaders from across the country at the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Annual Convention in Los Angeles, California, and to meet with USHCC officials and other business leaders.  In those conversations and in my remarks I discussed the Administration’s steadfast commitment to our nation’s small businesses and the President’s strong commitment to promoting access and removing barriers for Hispanic-owned small businesses to start, grow, and create jobs, because they’re vital to rebuilding our economy. With more than 1.1 million Hispanic veterans across our country, I also highlighted how proud I am that the Chamber has answered the President’s call by announcing an important commitment to those serving in our Armed Forces, promising to improve support for employees who serve and encouraging members to hire our service members and veterans. 

    My remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below.

    Hello, everybody.  Buenos días.  It is such a pleasure to be back with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce this morning.  There are so many familiar faces in the crowd.  It’s great to see you!

    Thank you, Javier, for your vision and your leadership of the Chamber and for inviting me to speak.  And thank you to everyone for making it to an early speech and, more importantly, for the incredible work you do to promote the Hispanic business community, and the community overall.

    You have so much to be proud of and so much to celebrate at this year’s convention.  Latino-owned businesses are the fastest growing in the nation.  Hispanic entrepreneurs are creating jobs and renewing local economies across the country.  And I am especially proud that the Chamber has answered the President’s call by announcing an important commitment to those serving in our Armed Forces, promising to improve support for employees who serve and encouraging members to hire our service members and veterans.  So, felicidades on a year of remarkable achievements.

    What I so admire is that while you’re busy with all this, starting businesses and running companies of all sizes, you play another, equally important role.  You are also community leaders.  You are respected voices in your neighborhoods and coalitions.  Every day, you are witnessing the great struggles that Americans, especially Latinos, continue to face as we recover from the greatest economic crisis of our lifetimes.  And now, you have the opportunity to chart a course that will take this country forward to a brighter future, and I know you take that responsibility very seriously.

    I’m here this morning because this is a critical time for our families, our communities, and our businesses. You know that as well as anyone else.

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  • Recipe in Spotlight – Sweet Potato Tzimmes

    Posted by Jack Lew on September 14, 2012 at 1:43 PM EDT

    Editor’s note: This post is part of a series highlighting recipes used by the White House Staff for the Jewish High Holidays.

    Tzimmes was a regular part of holiday meals at my grandmother's table and at my mother's, and I make it every year now.   It has a sweet taste to usher in a sweet new year, and it fills the house with memories of loved ones past as well as present.  I look forward to introducing a new generation to this family tradition when we gather in a few days.  L'shana tova u’metukah -- to a good and sweet new year.

    • 5 medium sweet potatoes (about 3 pounds)
    • Half pound to one pound each of dried apricots and pitted prunes (depending on how sweet you want it)
    • 3 sliced lemons

    1. Peel sweet potatoes and cut in eighths to fill a half warming-tray size pan (10"X12").

    2. Add dried fruit.

    3. Squeeze lemons.

    4. Add juice and rinds with the other ingredients and toss together.

    5. Add about a quarter inch of water.

    6. Cover tightly with tin foil and cook at 350 degrees for about 1-1/2 hours, or until soft.

    7. DO NOT STIR -- when you turn the tzimmes out into a bowl, liquid will glaze the tops.

    Jack Lew is currently serving as President Obama’s Chief of Staff

  • Recipe in Spotlight – Henny’s Dairy Noodle Kugel

    Posted by David Cohen on September 14, 2012 at 1:20 PM EDT

    Editor’s note: This post is part of a series highlighting recipes used by the White House Staff for the Jewish High Holidays.

    The original recipe came from a family friend, Henny, and my mom first had it in her home in Brooklyn in the 1960's. It quickly became our family's favorite as well and we have it every Rosh Hashanah!

    • 10 ounces broad egg noodles
    • 4 large eggs
    • 1 pound cottage cheese
    • 1 pint sour cream
    • 1/2 cup sugar
    • Juice of 1/2 lemon
    • 6 tablespoons butter or margarine
    • 1/2 cup corn flake crumbs

    1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

    2. Cook noodles and drain.

    3. Cream together: eggs, cottage cheese, sugar, sour cream, lemon juice.

    4. Fold mixture into noodles.

    5. Take half of the butter/margarine, put into 9x13 Pyrex baking dish, place in oven until it melts and coats the bottom of the dish.

    6. Add noodle mixture.

    7. Take the rest of the butter/margarine and blend it with the corn flake crumbs; spread this mixture on top of the noodles, patting down gently.

    8. Bake for one hour or until you see that the bottom is golden.

    [Variations for the 21st century: you can substitute low-fat or non-fat sour cream and cottage cheese, and use yolkless noodles.  You can also cut the amount of butter/margarine to 4 tablespoons.]

    David Cohen is an Executive Assistant in the Office of Cabinet Affairs

  • Recipe in Spotlight – Bebe’s Honey Cake

    Posted by Eli Levine on September 14, 2012 at 1:10 PM EDT

    Editor’s note: This post is part of a series highlighting recipes used by the White House Staff for the Jewish High Holidays.

    Honey cake typically eaten on Rosh Hashanah symbolizes the sweet year ahead. Some believe that the raisins and almonds added to the batter signify all the good things that will happen over the coming year. My grandma, Bebe, passed away last summer. Her baking and cooking were a source of pleasure for her whole family.

    • 3 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 Tbsp cinnamon
    • 1 Tbsp baking soda
    • 1 tsp baking powder
    • 1/2 c. shortening
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 3 large eggs
    • 3/4 cup honey
    • 1 cup triple-strength coffee
    • 1/4 cup raisins
    • 1/2 cup slivered almonds
    • Grated rind of one orange

    1. Sift together first 4 ingredients.

    2. Beat the shortening and sugar together until light and fluffy.

    3. Add the eggs, one at a time, alternately with the honey.

    4. Add the sifted dry ingredients, alternately with the coffee, beginning and ending with the flour. Do not overbeat.

    5. Fold the raisins, almonds and grated orange rind into the batter.

    6. Turn the batter into a greased 10" tube pan.

    7. Bake in a 325* oven for 1 hour until the cake tests done with a toothpick.

    8. Cool about 30 minutes on a rack. Remove the cake from the pan to complete cooling.

    9. Honey cake is an excellent dunker when stale.

    Eli Levine is a Presidential Management Fellow for Public Engagement at the White House Council on Environmental Quality

  • Recipe in Spotlight – Aliza’s Famous Honey Cake

    Posted by Michael Masserman on September 14, 2012 at 1:05 PM EDT

    Editor’s note: This post is part of a series highlighting recipes used by the White House Staff for the Jewish High Holidays.

    This is a recipe that my Mom, Aliza Masserman, has been using for many years.  My Mom is Israeli and this is a recipe that, for our family, really symbolizes the melding between our Israeli and American Jewish roots.  It's always brought us a sweet year, so hopefully it'll do the same for other families across the country.  Shana Tova.

    • 2 eggs (jumbo)
    • ¾ cup honey
    • 7/8 cup sugar (between ¾ and 1 cup)
    • ½ cup oil plus 1 tbs.
    • 1 tsp. baking soda
    • 2 cups flour (all purpose) plus 2 tbsp.
    • 2 tsp. cocoa
    • 1 tsp baking powder
    • 2 tsp. instant coffee
    • 1 cup hot water
    • ½ cup chopped walnuts (break into smaller pieces)
    • ½ cup raisins

    1. Pour raisins in bowl of hot water for 10 minutes then drain well and set aside.

    2. Mix instant coffee with 1-cup hot water.

    3. Add all other ingredients in a large missing bowl, including raisins and coffee. No need to whip egg whites separately. Mix all ingredients about 5 minutes in the mixer.

    4. Pour into a well-greased bundt pan. (Grease very well, can use pam spray).

    5. Bake at 350 degrees in the oven for about 40-45 minutes. Don’t over bake it! 

    6. Take out of the oven as soon as it’s done.   Note - the cake slides out easier when it’s still warm. 

    Michael Masserman is the Executive Director for Export Policy, Promotion & Strategy at the U.S. Department of Commerce

  • Finding Teaching Moments after a Disaster

    Posted by Suzanne Horsley on September 14, 2012 at 12:07 PM EDT

    Suzanne HorsleySuzanne Horsley is being honored as a Champion of Change for her service to the American Red Cross. 

    I am both humbled and honored to be chosen as one of the Champions of Change for helping to build more resilient communities. My experience in disaster responses has shown me that while the most horrible circumstances may bring out the best in people, individual and organizational preparedness is still the key to surviving a disaster. I am fortunate that my work as a public relations professor at the University of Alabama allows me to incorporate work for the public good in my teaching, research and service responsibilities.

    My involvement in community service started early through 4-H Club projects and led me to organize an adult literacy tutoring program in college. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, I had a desire to find a job that mattered. I decided to go back to school to become a public relations professor and do research in crisis and disaster communication. During my academic journey, I have found a natural fit as a disaster public affairs volunteer with the American Red Cross. The training I have received and the experience I have gained by deploying to disasters has had a tremendous impact on my teaching, my research, and my approach to service learning in the classroom.

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  • Bringing Nursing and Volunteerism Together to Help My Community

    Posted by Stephanie Phillips on September 14, 2012 at 11:58 AM EDT

    Stephanie PhillipsStephanie Phillips is being honored as a Champion of Change for her service to the American Red Cross. 

    I am very honored to be recognized as a White House Champion of Change on behalf of the American Red Cross. I have my mom to thank for my connection with the Red Cross. She has influenced me in so many ways—in my nursing career, in my volunteer work, and in my involvement in my community as a whole.

    I was 13 years old when my mom needed heart surgery. Because of an infection, she had two additional heart operations immediately after the first. At the time, no one told me that my mother was in such critical condition. I was allowed to visit her once in the hospital around Mother's Day. I only remember because I had made her a cake, and one of the nurses said that it was the one thing my mom had eaten in days. Later, my brother and I were told just how serious my mom's condition had been, and that she actually had died on the operating table. The medical care and the 12 units of blood she received during those operations are the reasons she is alive now.

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  • Be Prepared: Helping Communities Bounce Back After Disasters

    Posted by Nan Buzard on September 14, 2012 at 11:37 AM EDT

    Nan BuzardNan Buzard is being honored as a Champion of Change for her service to the American Red Cross. 

    What a wonderful surprise – and great honor - to be recognized as a White House Champion of  Change on behalf of the American Red Cross. I lead the American Red Cross’ response to disasters around the world. Over the past seven years, it has been deeply satisfying to see our increased investment in preparedness, risk reduction and resiliency throughout our global programs. Disasters will always happen but families and communities can better withstand and recover if provided with preparedness opportunities ahead of time. 

    When you see the enormous toll disasters take – especially on highly vulnerable populations – you know we need to make larger investments in preparedness. Of course we can’t protect everyone from everything – but I have seen what better preparedness can accomplish and it is definitely worth serious focus and increased resources. 

    Directly following the March 2011 tsunami, the Japanese Red Cross asked me to join them in assessing their response and recovery operations and options. It was a profoundly sobering experience to see the destruction of hundreds of miles of coastline, with shattered villages and lives.

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