First Lady Michelle Obama : 'Anything is possible' , announces Social Innovation Fund

[jefferson_dem]

Michelle Obama: 'Anything is possible' Posted May 5, 2009 8:30 PM
by Mark Silva

First Lady Michelle Obama, whose public approval ratings have been climbing since January, accepted another high rating this evening: Time magazine's nod as one of the "100 most influential people.''

"I stand here today because of people who loved me, and pushed me and believed in me,'' she said at a ceremony tonight in New York.

The first lady's debut in Washington, with her own public approval ratings standing just higher than the president's in recent polling, has enabled her to focus attention to volunteerism. And she used her time on stage tonight in New York to spotlight that as well as to launch a new initiative.

"The ability of one person to influence the outcome of someone else's life inspires me,'' she said. "When I made the decision to leave my job to found Public Allies Chicago, an AmeriCorps program that prepares youth for public service, I realized right away that I had made the right decision. There are few things more rewarding than watching young people recognize that they have the power to enrich not only their lives, but the lives of others as well.''

The problem, she said, is that public service is not always encouraged. "We push our young people to strive for things, an advanced degree, a job title, a big salary,'' she said. "Rarely do we urge them to stop and think about what their passion is, what kind of life they want to live, what kind of neighbors and colleagues and parents they want to be....

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She used the forum to announce a new Social Innovation Fund under the Serve America Act that the president recently signed into law to help innovative nonprofit organizations and "social entrepreneurs.'' The idea, she said, is to "find the most effective programs out there and then provide the capital needed to replicate their success in communities around the country.''

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http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/05/michelle_obama_anything_is_pos.html

[Cha]

1. Rec'd~ As well Michelle Obama

should be recognized for being so influencial in our country and the World.

What a great role model we have now in Michelle and President Obama, too.

[firedupdem]

2. Rec'd! She's great. n/t

[islandgirl808]

3. k&r

LUV HER!