Politics. On Point.

The White House convened a summit today highlighting the work of the Obama administration's My Brother's Keeper (MBK) initiative, announcing even more support from community partners, businesses and governmental entities across the nation. In just three short years since its start in 2014 MBK has amassed more programs directed toward providing young boys of color a direct path to success than any other of its kind. During today's summit, the final under the Obama administration, several key successes were recognized including new federal commitments that cover the National Student Attendance, Engagement, and Success Center,  Increasing Data Transparency to Understand and Develop Strategies to Improve Youth Outcomes; and New Federal Investments to Meet the Needs of Current and Former Foster Youth. "It's almost three years ago, we launched the My Brother’s Keeper initiative to give more of our young people the tools and the support that they need to stay on track...

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...

President Obama, in an effort to extend his initiative to assist young men of color with opportunities, announces his My Brother's Keeper Alliance.  The Alliance  is a new nonprofit organization of private sector organizations and companies that have committed themselves to  opening doors for young people. Using his familiar 'no matter who, where, what, how' mantra, the president reiterated to a group of your men of color that, " if you work hard, if you take responsibility, America is the place where you can make something of your lives", said the president. Adding, "We do strive to guarantee an equal shot for everybody who's willing to work for it." The Alliance announcement comes on the heels of recent riots in Baltimore after a young, unarmed Freddie Gray, 25, died at the hands of cops who shackled him like an animal and put him in a police van, unrestrained. Gray sustained a spinal injury, paralyzing him from the neck down.  He later die...

Creating structure and support for high-risk, young males. With the support of educators, faith-based groups, government, foundations, and various businesses, the president hopes to have their support to help guide, direct, and support young Black youth, by giving them the tools needed to succeed. Heavy hitters join the initiative. Leaders from Silicon Valley and the Emerson Collective plan to launch a $50 million competition to redesign high schools so that young people can learn in classrooms built for the 21st century. Also on board are US mayors, the National Congress of American Indians (who are going to do the same for young Native American boys and men), The College Board, AT&T, UBS, JPMorgan, City Foundation, and Discovery Communications, who the president says, "are making big commitments of their own to help young people like you get ahead."    With the National Basketball Association's Chris Paul (who introduced the president at the start of the...

President Obama was busy at the podium in the James Brady briefing room Friday. Earlier in the day he announced the resignation of VA Secretary Eric Shisenki amid allegations of nationwide misconduct within the Veteran Administration's (VA) hospitals. Before that, he announced that Shinseki would be firing a few officials within the VA hierarchy.  Said the president to reporters in the briefing room, "Secretary Shinseki has now begun the process of firing many of the people responsible, including senior leaders at the Phoenix VA.  He’s canceled any possible performance bonuses this year for VHA senior executives.  And he has ordered the VA to personally contact every veteran in Phoenix waiting for appointments to get them the care that they need and that they deserve.  The president said he would hold accountable those responsible, and it looks like Shinseki  also made that list. "Last week, I said that if we found misconduct, it would be punishe...

If not me, who?  If not now, when? President Obama unveiled his 'Brother's Keeper' initiative this week to direct more attention to the needs and plight of young African American males. It would be second time, on a national scale, that the president has addressed the plight of young, urban, African American men. You may recall the president speaking in the James Brady briefing room after the death of Trayvon Martin where he said, "we need to spend some time in thinking about how do we bolster and reinforce our African American boys. And this is something that Michelle and I talk a lot about. There are a lot of kids out there who need help who are getting a lot of negative reinforcement. And is there more that we can do to give them the sense that their country cares about them and values them and is willing to invest in them?" The president's My Brother's Keeper initiative is designed to give young people more choices, to help them overcome obs...