This week’s #WCW goes out to the first African-American First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama. She’s a role model for women and children, staunch advocate for veterans, education, and health and wellness. Mrs. Obama grew up in Chicago, in a home where education was a high priority – she and her brother Craig both came to reading very early and both skipped the second grade. She graduated second in her high school class and went on to Princeton, where she graduated cum laude. Then on to law school at Harvard, where her activism blossomed – she began to push for more minority students and professors.
After graduation, she went to work at a Chicago law firm and she met her future husband, former president Barack Obama, while working at that firm – she was his advisor! She was reluctant to date him at first, since they worked together. We all know how that turned out! They started dating, got married and had two beautiful children, Sasha and Malia.
After a few years working at the law firm, Mrs. Obama recognized her true calling – helping people serve their neighbors and communities. She left and eventually became the founding executive director of an AmeriCorps program that prepares young people for public service.
As First Lady, she was dedicated to education, health and wellness, and childhood obesity – in 2009, she worked side-by-side with a group of fifth graders to plant an 1,100 square-foot vegetable garden and install beehives on the White House South Lawn. She continued the wellness agenda in 2010, when she announced a new initiative called “Let’s Move,” encouraging young people to try out a new sport or activity. The initiative also encouraged parents to make healthier choices for their kids. This busy first lady launched three more initiatives during her time in the White House – “Joining Forces”, in support of veterans, “Reach Higher” – encouraging students to further their educations beyond high school graduation, and “Let Girls Learn” – helping girls around the world attend and stay in school.
Michelle Obama has published two books – she’s currently on tour for the latest – her memoir Becoming, a “deeply personal” story about “how a girl from the South Side found her voice.” It’s the best-selling book of 2018!
For the next four weeks, in honor of Black History Month, we’ll feature amazing African-American women changing the world. You may not have heard of all of them!
#WCW #BeTheChange #MakeADifference #DoGoodBeGood
