Earlier this week, Michelle Obama launched “Let’s Move,” the new national childhood obesity prevention campaign. Though I rarely talk about work here, it was an exciting day for my organization, which has been working on this issue as part of a larger initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
As with all Washington, DC announcements, this one came with a major press conference that featured pro athletes, local politicians, and even gardening rock star Will Allen, CEO of Growing Power Community Food in Milwaukee.
But my favorite moment (besides the part where a Mississippi mayor actually talked about my organization by name) was when the first lady started talking about kids’ reactions to visiting the White House garden and learning about what was growing there.
In particular, I would like to invite one kid to be part of my Official Tomato Club. He wasn’t mentioned by name, but he’s the one who spoke the truth. He said, “The tomato is a fruit, and is now my best friend.”
on Feb 11th, 2010 at 9:46 am
This is just so cool in every way.
on Feb 15th, 2010 at 8:17 am
So cool. I work at a law school and we have a group here that also works with Robert Wood Johnson. It’s the Public Health Law Center at William Mitchell College of Law. They are also working on healthy initiatives and legislation. Small world and all that.
on Feb 16th, 2010 at 11:48 am
Kalyn, it is!
Sarah, we work very closely with the William Mitchell folks — they’re wonderful, wonderful people. Yes — small world, indeed!