The White House Blog: Civil Rights
An Historic Meeting at the White House with Memphis Sanitation Workers
Posted byon April 29, 2011 at 2:04 PM EDTCivil rights, economic and social justice, the rights of workers to bargain collectively...the air here at the White House was thick with these sentiments today.
They were brought to us by eight of the surviving members of the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike, who came to the White House today for the first time in their lives.
If that long-ago strike sticks out in your mind, it’s because Dr. Martin Luther King went to Memphis to support the almost entirely African-American sanitation workforce as they struck for union recognition, better pay, safer working conditions, and, fundamentally, respect.
It was there, on April 3, that Dr. King delivered his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech.
And it was there, on April 4, when that amazing man was taken from us.
Please, if you do nothing else today, read (or reread) that speech. Read it to yourself, to your partner, to your parents and to your kids. You would be hard-pressed to find another document that so perfectly weaves together the beautiful yet all too fragile fabric of the historical struggle for basic human rights.
West Wing Week: "Final Adjustments"
Posted byon April 29, 2011 at 12:00 AM EDTWelcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. This week, while the White House celebrated Easter, holding the traditional egg roll on the South Lawn, President Obama kept his focus on the nation's finances, working on short term and long term ways to get away from high gas prices. He also pledged support for Alabama and other states in the South hit by devastating storms and announced new key members of his National Security team.
Learn more about Civil Rights, Defense, Economy, Education, Energy & Environment, Family, Fiscal Responsibility, Foreign Policy, Immigration, Seniors & Social Security, Taxes, Additional IssuesImproving Latino Education to Win the Future
Posted byon April 27, 2011 at 3:53 PM EDTToday at a community conversation at Miami-Dade College, the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics and the U.S. Department of Education released the report Winning the Future: Improving Education for the Latino Community. The President will be delivering a commencement address at Miami-Dade College Friday evening. To view the report, click HERE.
The report shows that Hispanic success in education and in the labor market is of immediate and long‐term importance to America’s economy. It also shows that Hispanics have the lowest education attainment level overall of any group in the U.S. Hispanics are by far the largest minority group in today’s American public education system, numbering more than 12.4 million in the country’s elementary, middle and high schools. Nearly 22 percent, or slightly more than 1 in 5, of all pre‐K-12 students enrolled in America’s public schools is Hispanic, but they face persistent obstacles to educational attainment. Less than half are enrolled in any early learning program. Only about half earn their high school diploma on time; those who do complete high school are only half as likely as their peers to be prepared for college and only 4 percent have completed graduate or professional degree programs.
As part of the community conversation in Miami today, Senior Obama Administration officials met with dozens of educators and community leaders, to exchange ideas and outline strategies to meet President Obama’s goal for the nation to have the best-educated workforce in the world by 2020.
Alejandra Campoverdi is the Deputy Director of Hispanic Media.
Working Together to Create a 21st Century Immigration System
Posted byon April 20, 2011 at 9:37 AM EDTPresident Obama remains deeply committed to reforming our immigration laws to meet our 21st Century economic and security needs. In his State of the Union address, the President asked Republicans and Democrats to work with him to take on this issue. While we all know the debate will be tough, the American people expect their leaders in Washington to tackle difficult issues. The President cannot fix our broken system on his own.
Yesterday, I joined the President at an important meeting with a broad group of business, law enforcement, faith, and elected leaders from across the country. The President was joined by several members of his Cabinet, including Secretaries Janet Napolitano, Hilda Solis, Ken Salazar, and Attorney General Eric Holder, all of whom have been actively engaged in the Administration’s efforts to advance legislation to improve our system in the key areas that they oversee.
Meet Raul Perea-Henze
Posted byon April 19, 2011 at 11:09 AM EDTAs part of the launch of WhiteHouse.gov/Hispanic, we'll be featuring interviews with Obama Administration staff whose work impacts the Hispanic and Latino communities. This interview is with Raul Perea-Henze of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
What is your key responsibility?
The Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning at the Department of Veterans Affairs leads policy, strategy and interagency partnerships for the Department. VA is the second largest Cabinet Agency in the Federal Government with 312,000 employees responsible for delivery of health, education, disability and other benefits to 23 million Veterans and their families.
Where did you grow up? What is your educational background?
Born and raised in Mexico, I started my medical career as a clinician caring for underserved populations in developing countries. Research, academia and global health followed after receiving a Masters degree in Public Health from Yale University, School of Medicine. Most recently, I completed several leadership courses at JFK School at Harvard University, Princeton University and INSEAD, France.
Are you a member of a notable community organization, church, or volunteer/mentorship program?
Public service has been an intrinsic core value in my family for generations. For the past two decades, I have served as a Board Member of several prominent non-profit and philanthropic organizations in the areas of HIV/AIDS, mental health, leadership, Hispanic affairs and human rights.
Over the years, I have also maintained affiliations with other civic organizations that advance the medical profession and global health in a variety of ways, such as the New York Academy of Medicine, the Council of Foreign Relations, the Clinton Global Initiative and the World Medical Association.
Learn more about Civil RightsChicago Winning The Future Community Town Hall
Posted byon April 18, 2011 at 5:25 PM EDTToday, April 18th at 6 p.m, Chicago and Cook County Community leaders and residents are invited to a “Winning The Future” community town hall at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. Join Michael Blake – the Director of African American and minority business outreach for The White House Office of Public Engagement, Congressman Danny Davis, President Preckwinkle and WVON radio as they discuss President Obama’s agenda for “Winning the Future” and engage in a conversation about how his administration is working to best serve local communities across the country and Chicago.
If you are interested in learning how President Obama’s & his administration’s efforts are helping you and your community, this is an opportunity to find out directly from The White House staff.
There will be time for questions and answers. Family, friends, local residents, community leaders, elected officials, and local business leaders are welcome to attend.
Event Featuring:
The Honorable Danny Davis
Congressman, 7th District – U.S. House of RepresentativesThe Honorable Toni Preckwinkle
President, Cook County Board of CommissionersMatt McGill
WVON 1690 AM – HostMichael Blake
Director of African American and Minority Business Outreach, The White House Office of Public EngagementLocation & Details:
Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church
4543 South Princeton Avenue
Chicago, IllinoisDoors will open at 5:30 p.m.
Due to limited seating, you are encouraged to please RSVP directly to Michael Blake at mblake@who.eop.gov and ONLY put in the subject line: RSVP for Chicago Community Forum
If you have any questions, please call (202) 456-4805 for additional details.Learn more about Civil Rights, EconomyMeet Mayra Alvarez
Posted byon April 8, 2011 at 2:52 PM EDTTo mark the launch of WhiteHouse.gov/Hispanic, we'll be featuring interviews with Obama Administration staff whose work impacts the Hispanic and Latino communities. This first interview is with Mayra Alvarez, from the Department of Health and Human Services.
1) What is your key responsibility?
I am the Director of Public Health Policy in the Office of Health Reform at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In my position, I coordinate with various operating and staff divisions in HHS to make sure we’re implementing the public health, prevention, and healthcare workforce policy provisions in the Affordable Care Act in an effective and timely manner. In addition, I have the great opportunity to be out in the community and participate in many Affordable Care Act outreach related activities, and in particular our effort to ensure the Latino community is engaged.
2) Where did you grow up?
I grew up in El Cajon, a city in the East Valley of San Diego County, California. Though I was born in the border town of El Centro, California, my family moved to El Cajon when I was four years old, and it’s the city I still consider “home.”
Learn more about Civil RightsKeeping the Dream Alive: President Obama's Work with the African American Community
Posted byon April 8, 2011 at 10:30 AM EDTOn Wednesday, April 6th, the National Action Network kicked off its 20th anniversary convention, celebrating "20 years of struggle, 20 years of progress, 20 years of shaping history."
During the day, four Cabinet members--Education Secretary Duncan, Attorney General Holder, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan--spoke to convention attendees about how the Obama Administration has been working with the African American community. That night, President Obama spoke at the Keepers of the Dream Awards Gala.
Learn more about Civil Rights, Economy, Education, Family, Health Care, Poverty, Seniors & Social Security, Urban Policy, Women, Additional IssuesA Celebration of Cesar Chavez at the White House
Posted byon April 1, 2011 at 4:01 PM EDTAt the White House, historic days happen quite frequently, but Wednesday marked an especially profound day as individuals from across the nation came to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to honor the life and legacy of one of the greatest civil rights leaders of our time: Cesar Estrada Chavez, marking what would have been his 84th birthday.
Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack joined members of the Chavez family, including Cesar’s granddaughters Julie Rodriguez and Christine Chavez, who now serve in the Obama Administration.
Learn more about Civil Rights, EconomyUna celebración de César Chávez en la Casa Blanca
Posted byon April 1, 2011 at 3:57 PM EDTEn la Casa Blanca, se conmemoran días históricos con bastante frecuencia, pero el miércoles fue un día especialmente importante, pues personas de todo el país acudieron al Edificio Eisenhower de Oficinas Ejecutivas para rendir homenaje a la vida y el legado de uno de los más importantes líderes de derechos civiles de nuestros tiempos: César Estrada Chávez, quien habría cumplido 84 años.
La secretaria de Trabajo Hilda Solís, el secretario del Interior Ken Salazar y el secretario de Agricultura Tom Vilsack se sumaron a los miembros de la familia Chávez, entre ellos las nietas de César, Julie Rodríguez y Christine Chávez, quien es parte del gobierno del Presidente Obama.
Learn more about Civil Rights, Economy
White House Blogs
- The White House Blog
- Middle Class Task Force
- Council of Economic Advisers
- Council on Environmental Quality
- Council on Women and Girls
- Office of Management and Budget
- Office of Public Engagement
- Office of Science & Tech Policy
- Office of Urban Affairs
- Open Government
- Faith and Neighborhood Partnerships
- Social Innovation and Civic Participation
- US Trade Representative
- Office National Drug Control Policy