As part of its summer enrichment series for Let's Read! Let's Move!, the U.S. Department of Education invites Cabinet members, administration officials, and other public figures to join in reading children's books, promoting healthy lifestyles, and participating in games and fitness activities with children in pre-kindergarten through third grade, from various DC-area schools and summer programs.

At the latest event on Wednesday July 20, U.S. Department of Education Deputy Chief of Staff Eric Waldo joined author and President Obama's sister Maya Soetoro-Ng, along with Corporation for National and Community Service Acting CEO Robert Velasco II, celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn, and veteran pro-football player Chris Draft to read The Peace Book by Todd Parr to kids from local schools and summer programs.

After reading the line "“Peace is helping your neighbor,” from the book, Velasco remarked, "At the Corporation for National and Community Service, we're all about neighbors helping neighbors. That's what we do."

The Department's summer enrichment series aims to increase awareness of the critical importance of summer learning and encourage all adults to read to children. The final summer enrichment event is scheduled for July 26.

Learn more about CNCS's summer United We Serve: Let's Read! Let's Move! initiative, and how you can get involved.