The Obama’s are making a tremendous effort to fix the problem with childhood obesity. President Barack Obama signed a presidential memorandum to create the first-ever federal task force to provide “optimal coordination” between private sector companies, not-for-profits, agencies within the government and other organizations to address the problem of childhood obesity. Mrs. Obama is very passionate about eliminating childhood obesity .She said “We want our kids to face a different and more optimistic future in terms of their lifespan.” Mrs. Obama knows with this new federal task program that the government is going to have to step up to the plate and support this effort.

President Obama put First Lady Michelle Obama in charge of the Task force. In an interview on Good Morning America First Lady Obamas says “We want to eliminate this problem of childhood obesity in a generation. We want to get that done.” Childhood obesity is not healthy for the children and is not god like. Many children are suffering from because of the lack of physical activity and the amount of fast food consumption. You are what you eat.

Mrs. Obama has created a nationwide movement called “Let’s Move”. This movement has four pillars which: are getting parents more informed about nutrition and exercise, improving the quality of food in schools, making healthy foods more affordable and accessible for families, and focusing more on physical education. The Obama’s know that the government can’t do it by themselves but everyone has to play a role in the survival of the future generations. Things must change in how the future generation is eating and how to stay healthy. With this effort it just one step into solving this epidemic. Mrs. Obama said “”I mean, one in three kids are overweight or obese, and we’re spending $150 billion a year treating obesity-related illnesses. So we know this is a problem, and there’s a lot at stake.”

(Dr.Suzan Johnson Cook at the 2003 Hampton University Minister’s Conference)

**Christianity Today** President Barack Obama announced today that he plans to nominate Suzan Johnson Cook for ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom.

Religious freedom advocates had criticized Obama for not filling the position until now.

Update: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a statement welcoming Johnson Cook as someone who serve as a principal advisor on religious freedom to Obama and Clinton.

(Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Dr. Suzan D. Johnson Cook, Rev. James Forbes at a recent celebration for Dr.Cooks B-day)

Dr. Johnson Cook is an experienced religious leader with a passion for human rights and an impressive record of public service. President Obama could not have found a more fitting choice for this important position. I look forward to working with Dr. Johnson Cook, if she is confirmed, to bring greater focus to international efforts to ensure that people everywhere enjoy the global standards of religious freedom enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Washington Post‘s Michelle Boorstein floated Johnson Cook’s name in January.

Meanwhile, no one is confirming the main name buzzing out there – Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook, a very prominent New York City pastor with a powerful resume, including: being past president of the conference representing all historically black denominations, developing some faith-related policy for President Clinton, former chaplain of the New York City police department, faculty member at Harvard.

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Last week President Obama met with 20 black religious leaders with the focus of discussing major issues affecting African Americans across the nation. Since before being elected, Obama has faced much criticism. Not only from White America, but he has had to face criticism from those of his own race as well. Congressional Black Caucus leader and noted public figure Tavis Smiley, has been one of those individuals known to openly criticize Obama for what he calls a “lack of addressing job crisis and financial discrimination against Blacks”.

The purpose of meeting with the religious leaders was to receive their intake on the issues at hand. Shortly following the meeting they released a letter to the press saying, “President Obama has pursued policies that are crucial for our communities and the nation as a whole; and we cannot afford to lose courage and fortitude at this juncture,” the letter read. “President Obama has fought for us – and we must fight for him.”

In the face of all the criticism, ministers prayed for the strength, wisdom, and courage of our President. They also challenged him to fill the next Supreme Court vacancy with the face of an African American, and to create more summer jobs for youth. With the courage and wisdom our President seeks there is no doubt that he will follow through with the many request as well continue to focus on the advancement of the Black Community.

Moved by their singing and dancing as well as their difficult lives, Michelle Obama hugged student after student at a Mexico City elementary school on April 14. Our first lady arrived in Mexico waiting to be serenaded by a group of boys and girls. She was wearing the same white pants and ivory jacket she had on during her morning roundtable with a group of a dozen Mexican youth leaders.

She listened with cupped hands and clapped when the kids were done with two songs, in English and Spanish. The songsters waving U.S. and Mexican flags were members of the Christel House choir, called the Polyphonic Chorus. The adorable children wore uniforms, blue jumpers and tan shirts for girls, blue sleeveless sweaters, blue pants and tan shirts for boys. Christel House was founded to help impoverished children.

(Lady Michelle passionately addresses students at the Christel House in Mexico)

“My message to the young people is that success and possibility doesn’t know a race, a background, a gender, a socioeconomic class. We are going to need the energy and the passion of every single young person. We are going to have to develop those schools and have those young people believing in their own potential.”The first lady stated in an interview. Another Job well done for the first lady!

Historically black Methodist Allen Chapel AME Church, including a crowd of more than 1,000 welcomed President Obama and his family (Michelle, Sasha, and Malia) this past Sunday where they attended a traditional Easter service, celebrating the resurrection of Christ. The Pastor and members were surprised that The First Family decided to attend services so soon after a shooting close by left four people dead and five wounded the Tuesday prior reports eurweb.com. None the less they were elated for them to be there. “Mr. President, you have no idea how much your presence has meant to us today,” Allen Chapel’s senior pastor, the Rev. Michael Bell, said after his sermon. “It was heartening to know than southeast Washington has not been forgotten,” he said, adding that Obama’s presence at the church was “bringing healing and hope into this community right now.”

The Pastor also paid recognition to and praised the first lady for her efforts at community outreach. He received cheers and laughter as he described President Obama as “the most debonair, the most suave president of this United States of America.”

(The very stylish Malia And Sasha Obama leaving the church service)

After the nearly two-hour service,The Obama’s took communion. The President’s mother in law, Marian Robison, as well as mayor of Washington, Adrian Fenty, and his wife were also present to join him and his family during the services.

The OC can imagine the blessings felt to have such great figures of inspiration among the Allen Chapel AME Church congregation.