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The Joy of Sustainability
Posted by on April 12, 2012 at 11:35 AM EDT
David Bolt is being recognized as a Champion of Change for his work demonstrating that corporate environmental leadership makes sense, both for business and for American communities.
I have dedicated my life to eliminating waste. Whether it was trying to reduce the number of steps to cut the lawn as a child, reduce the time it took a computer program to run as a software developer, or today, trying to get more done with less energy.
If you knew me in late 2003 you would say I was the epitome of the American Dream. I was born into a wonderful middle class family, worked hard in school and in my career, made enough money by my mid 40’s to potentially retire and take life easy. While I was blessed to have the gift of time and money, the future was still quite uncertain for my 14 year old son and my 8 year old daughter.
On the positive side there has been tremendous technological progress. Just look at things like cell phones, cable and satellite television, the internet and computers. Despite this tremendous technological progress, I was and still am very concerned about the future that my children are inheriting. The technological and material success does not seem to have brought joy and happiness to many people.
A New Beginning for the U.S.-Tribal Trust Relationship
Posted by on April 11, 2012 at 6:26 PM EDT
Attorney General Eric Holder announces the settlement of breach-of-trust lawsuits filed by more than 40 federally recognized American Indian tribes against the United States, April 11, 2012. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Justice).
Today, we were honored to join Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to announce the settlement of breach-of-trust lawsuits filed by more than 40 federally recognized American Indian tribes against the United States. The announcement was an extraordinary conclusion to nearly two years of negotiations between the tribes and the United States that have culminated in settlements between the government and 41 tribes, totaling more than $1 billion.
Learn more about Additional IssuesLGBT Families at the 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll
Posted by on April 11, 2012 at 3:43 PM EDTEarlier this week, thousands of families gathered for the 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll – including LGBT families from as far away as Utah and as nearby as Maryland. Here’s what some of them had to say:
“This event was truly a monumental moment for my partner and myself. This was an event for my boy that he will never forget. The excitement that he expressed throughout the day was priceless!”
“Just spending the day with my partner and seeing that smile on my boy's face was my highlight. This was truly a family oriented event that focused on keeping active, exercising, and eating healthy.”
“To play with our twins on the White House lawn -- the quintessential American family experience. Thank you to the Obamas for opening their home to us.”
Bilingual Performances
Posted by on April 11, 2012 at 2:33 PM EDT
Jordan Schwartz. (Photo Courtesy of Points of Light)
For the Win is a guest blog series featuring the remarkable initiatives that young Americans are advancing to win the future for their communities. Each week we highlight a new young person and learn about their inspiring work through their own words. Submit your story to appear in the For the Win guest blog series.
Jordan Schwartz, 18, attends Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. In 2004 she founded The Children's Bilingual Theater, a student-run theatrical outreach organization bringing bilingual programming to venues in the metro-Atlanta area whose cast and crew have reached more than 6,000 audience members and countless school audiences. Jordan is a member of the 2011 PARADE All-America High School Service Team, an award recognizing outstanding young service leaders presented by Parade Magazine in partnership with generationOn, the global youth enterprise of Points of Light.
In second grade I began a "career" in community theater that eventually gave me opportunities in professional theater and TV. I enjoyed the challenge, the friends, the total experience and I knew that I was more outgoing and confident because of theatre. Then in 2003, I read that Cobb County, where I lived, had an increase of 300 percent in our Latino community. Because I have a Spanish-speaking mom and learned the language at home and at summer camps, I wanted to do theater in Spanish or in a mix of both English and Spanish. I thought it would be a great way to get the growing Spanish speaking populations more involved in the community. I was just 10-years-old when I began The Children's Bilingual Theater; an outreach program that I believe is making a “community of difference.”
Learn more about ServiceWhat the Health Law Means for the Latino Community
Posted by on April 10, 2012 at 7:54 PM EDTEd note: this was originally posted on the Healthcare.gov blog
Across the country, more than 50 million Latinos are part of our communities, classrooms and workplaces. And thanks to the health care law, the Affordable Care Act, an estimated 5.4 million Latinos will gain insurance coverage by 2016 under the new law, according to an issue brief released by HHS today (go here to read it in Spanish). Just two years after it was passed, the health care law has already improved health outcomes and increased access to care for Latinos by:
- Extending coverage to an estimated 736,000 Latino young adults under a provision that allows them to stay on their parents’ health insurance until they turn 26,
- Expanding access to preventive services with no-cost sharing to an estimated 6.1 million Latino Americans with private insurance, and
- Requiring most health insurance plans to cover prevention and wellness services like cancer screenings, flu shots , and pap smears and mammograms for women, with no cost-sharing.
Learn more about Health CareWhite House Event on Tribal Trust Case Settlements
Posted by on April 10, 2012 at 5:23 PM EDTTomorrow, Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 1:30pm EST, Attorney General Eric Holder, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Senior Advisor to the President Valerie Jarrett and other senior members of the Obama Administration will join tribal leaders to announce a significant step forward in the resolution of tribal trust cases pending against the United States. Many of the cases include claims by the tribes that go back over 100 years. Tomorrow’s event will recognize the good-faith cooperation and hard work of the Administration and 41 American Indian tribes in working out fair and honorable resolutions of the tribes’ claims.
Learn more about Arizona Tragedy, Additional IssuesAnnouncing the LGBT Pride Month Champions of Change Video Challenge
Posted by on April 9, 2012 at 1:03 PM EDTAcross the country, ordinary people are doing extraordinary things to improve the lives of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. They are parents and students, neighborhood and business leaders, artists and advocates, all united in the fight for equality.
We know that the American people are the source of some of the best ideas and most innovative solutions. That’s why the White House 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. And in that spirit, we are launching the LGBT Pride Month Champions of Change Video Challenge to explore the stories of unsung heroes and local leaders who are leading our march towards a more perfect union.
If that sounds like you or someone you know, then we want to hear from you – and we want to see you in action!
Celebrating Passover at the White House
Posted by on April 9, 2012 at 11:09 AM EDT
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host a Passover Seder Dinner for family, staff and friends, in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House, April 6, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Friday night, the President and Mrs. Obama hosted the annual White House Seder in the Old Family Dining Room. Led by current and past members of the Obama Administration, this tradition dates from the 2008 campaign. The menu brought together recipes submitted to the White House Chefs from attendees and consisted of the traditional Passover delights; matzoh ball soup, gefilte fish, kugel, brisket, and plenty of passover sweets.
In April of 2008, the President and his staff were on the trail in Pennsylvania in the midst of a long primary campaign. Weary from a long day of work and away from their families, a small group of staffers came together to hold an impromptu Seder. When then-Senator Obama got wind of the Seder, he gathered some other staff and friends and decided to join. At the end of the Seder, the President followed the traditional “Next year in Jerusalem” declaration with a pledge of his own - “Next year in the White House.” Each year since, he has followed through on that promise.
The Seder was like millions of others around the globe, complete with four cups of wine, bitter herbs, and the story of the exodus from bondage into freedom. In a tradition begun last year, the assembled took turns reading from the emancipation proclamation at the conclusion of the seder. This reading reminded all those assembled of the universal message and timeless nature of the holiday.
Jarrod Bernstein is the Director of Jewish Outreach in the Office of Public Engagement.
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