Politics. On Point.

The woman who made her mark as grandma-in-chief when President Barack Obama was elected 44th president of the United States, passed Friday. The woman who was considered the backbone of the Obama household will be remembered as a family-oriented, kind person, who remained poised as she assumed the responsibility of helping raise her two beautiful granddaughters in an environment, and in a world, far from what she ever imagined. Mrs. Marian Robinson, mother of First Lady Michelle Obama,  waves to reporters during Easter egg hunt at the White House. (photo CD Brown) I recall seeing her that day in March during Women's History Month at the Smithsonian when her daughter's Inaugural gown, like all the other first lady inaugural gowns,  was being cemented in Smithsonian history . She was smiling as she walked alone prompting me to ask, "is there no security, no secret service, for the first grandmother?" ADVERTISEMENT CMB BUSINESS SOLUTIONS   I am also reminded of the time w...

The White House put out a statement honoring International Women's Day, a day where women around the world are recognized for their contributions to advance a civil society.  ADVERTISEMENT CMB BUSINESS SOLUTIONS   THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 8, 2017 Statement from the Press Secretary in Honor of International Women’s Day International Women’s Day gives us the opportunity to celebrate and reflect upon the meaningful progress women have made throughout society, while also acknowledging that there is still much work that remains to be done to ensure the complete and consequential participation of women in all spheres of economic, political, and public life. Throughout our history, women have made enormous contributions in the service of our country, and we know that as a Nation, America will only become stronger, more prosperous, and better able to meet our shared goals, as women achieve greater access to a level ...

President Obama met Thursday with president-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office, the first time the two men have ever met. The pair spoke for nearly two hours in a meeting that Obama described as "excellent." The president said the pair discussed both foreign and domestic policy and explained  he was looking for a "smooth transition" of political power. Obama said he advised his "team" to ensure that president-elect Trump "has everything he needs to succeed." WATCH: President  Obama meets Trump Said President Obama, "I just had the opportunity to have an excellent conversation with President-elect Trump.  It was wide-ranging.  We talked about some of the organizational issues in setting up the White House.  We talked about foreign policy.  We talked about domestic policy.  And as I said last night, my number-one priority in the coming two months is to try to facilitate a transition that ensures our President-elect is successful....

You're a poet, and you know it. You know you’re a bonafied poet when you’re invited to the White House to recite your work in front of the First Lady of the United States and your peers. First Lady Michelle Obama recognizes the 2016 Class of National Student Poet with poetic snaps. (Photo/CD Brown). The 2016 class of the National Student Poets Program (NSPP) bought their imagery of the world, culture and poetic stylings to the White House Thursday were they were recognized by First Lady Michelle Obama. Mrs. Obama was noticeably brought to tears as she reflected on the brilliance of this year’s ‘Poetic Five’. “If you ever wonder if what we do makes a difference, it does", she said.  This year’s class consisted of a diverse group of tenth and eleven graders representing the mid, south, north, and western regions of the United States. WATCH Alumni: 2015 Class of National Student Poets Maya Eashwaran of Georgia reflected in her poem, Linquistics , ...

First Lady Michelle Obama plans to use the social media platform Snap Chat to give viewers access to her upcoming trip to Africa and the Kingdom of Spain. Follow FLOTUS on Snap Chat here . Mrs. Obama, who is adamant about supporting the right of girls - everywhere - to get an education will be taking her message to Liberia, Morocco and Spain June 27-July 1, along with First Grandma Marian Robinson. The first lady's Let Girls Learn initiative focuses on ensuring adolescent girls get the necessary education and training needed to cultivate their futures, as opposed to adolescent marriages and starting families at very young ages. "I've had the opportunity to travel all around the world and I meet these amazing young women and they impress me with how bright and how hungry they are no matter what their circumstances are; they risk their lives for an education", said the first lady in a recent MAKERS interview . It has been reported that worldwide more th...

Michelle Obama gave the commencement address at The City College in New York on Friday. It was her last as First Lady of the United States. "Let me just take it all in", she said. The first lady gave some very poignant remarks, and great advice, to the 2016 graduating class.   First Lady Obama has made 23 commencement addresses during her tenure, since 2009, per the White House: In 2009, Mrs. Obama addressed the first full graduating class at the University of California, Merced and spoke at the Washington Math and Science Tech Public Charter High School Graduation in Washington, DC. In 2010, Mrs. Obama addressed graduates of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, the George Washington University, and the Anacostia Senior High School. In 2011, Mrs. Obama addressed graduates of the University of Northern Iowa, Spelman College, and Quantico Middle High School. In 2012, Mrs. Obama addressed graduates of Virginia Tech, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical S...

If you are wondering what could come out of President Obama's visit to Cuba this week, the White House has put together a Fact Sheet explaining why the president's visit is historic, and worthy. President Obama and the First Family arrive in Cuba. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images. FACT SHEET: United States-Cuba Relationship President Obama’s trip to Cuba marks a historic milestone in the normalization process between the United States and Cuba.  Since President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced that the two countries would initiate a new era of relations  15 months ago , we have expanded cooperation across a range of areas for the benefit of the citizens of both the United States and Cuba.  We are advancing our shared interests and working together on complex issues that for too long defined – and divided – our relationship.  The President’s Cuba policy now allows us to more effectively improve the lives of the Cuban people, advance our i...

First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a dance workshop Monday at the White House for 51 local Washington, D.C. students to commemorate Black History Month. The 2016 theme is “Honoring the Past While Celebrating the Present; 7 Years of Living African American History.” Students shake hands with the first lady before Q&A with workshop dance panelists. Photo/CD Brown The first lady often invites youth to the White House as an opportunity for them to hear from successful Americans in a learning and encouraging environment.  The celebration recognized the accomplishment of iconic women leaders in dance.  Students listened to remarks by the first lady and engaged in a Q&A with dance pioneers and icons  Judith Jamison  from the reknown Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; actress and choreographer  Debbie Allen ; the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Virginia Johnson and Hip-Hop choreographer  Fatima Robinson  before practicing routines to perform ...

As part of her  Let’s Move!  initiative, the First Lady will welcome 63 local elected officials and representatives from across the country on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 to celebrate their commitment to building healthier communities. At the event, the First Lady will commemorate  Let’s Move!  Cities, Towns and Counties , reaching 500 communities, resulting in nearly 80 million Americans impacted by the program.  Let’s Move!  Cities, Towns and Counties, led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National League of Cities, calls upon local elected officials to adopt long-term, sustainable and holistic approaches to addressing childhood obesity.  Each local elected official has pledged to achieve the following five goals to promote healthy living throughout the community: 1)        Helping early care and education providers incorporate best practices for nutrition and physical activity ...

Students were treated to an additional dose of awesomeness Thursday with an unexpected visit by the President of the United States to the East Room of the White House during the late afternoon Reach Higher ,  Beat the Odds  late afternoon session. President Obama makes a surprise visit to speak to students at Thursday's Reach Higher college and education event. Photo/Politics. On Point. The visit helped culminate the first lady's day-long summit that included discussion on attending post-secondary education, preparing for job interviews, and serious talk about making dreams come true. "I understand you spent some time with the true star of the Obama household, the First Lady of the United States", the president said, "but I'm not going to let her have all the fun." The president took to the stage, amid cheers and applause, telling the assembled youth ,"America succeeds only when every young person in America is able to dream big and have ...