First Lady Michelle Obama will visit New Orleans, Louisiana, for two Let's Move! events, the East Wing announced today. On Wednesday, September 8, Mrs. Obama will travel to the Crescent City to put the spotlight on the observance of September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and she'll also be announcing new initiatives and partnerships for the next phase of the campaign.>Read President Obama's proclamation on National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month here.
In the morning of the 8th, Mrs. Obama will visit Glynn H. Brock Elementary School in Slidell, located about a half hour from downtown New Orleans. The school suffered extensive damage during Hurricane Katrina, and students attended classes in modular trailers until December of 2008, when the school was finally re-opened. During the First Lady's event, she will highlight steps schools and communities can take to combat childhood obesity, and she'll also salute participants in the HealthierUS School Challenge program, an initiative run by USDA, which encourages schools to provide physical fitness opportunities for students, healthier foods, and nutrition education. (Above: Mrs. Obama waves to a crowd of well-wishers in New Orleans last weekend, as the President ducks into the limo)
In the afternoon, Mrs. Obama will be joined by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and former NFL coach Tony Dungy for an event at Woldenberg Park in New Orleans. The NFL has already partnered with the Let's Move! campaign with the NFL Play 60 campaign, which encourages kids to get sixty minutes of exercise a day. A new project will be announced.
Robin F. Schepper just joined the East Wing as Executive Director for the Let's Move! campaign, and Mrs. Obama's New Orleans events are the first since Schepper became part of the team. Mrs. Obama's other out-of-Washington events for the Let's Move! campaign have had her criss-crossing the country since February; she's visited Pennsylvania, Mississippi, California, Maryland, Nevada, and Missouri. The First Lady was last in New Orleans with President Obama on Sunday, August 29, to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who is a co-chair of the Presidential Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, has worked with Let’s Move! to promote the NFL and healthy living. The Saints were honored at the White House on August 9th for their Superbowl 2009 win, and players have also made a major effort to help restore America's confidence in Gulf seafood. Last year, Brees starred in a video with President Obama, which featured NFL Play 60 (above).
*White House video; Reuters photo.
