education Archives - Amy Lynn Smith

Meeting Michelle Obama

Posted on: October 25th, 2011 by Amy Lynn Smith 3 Comments

I didn’t actually meet Michelle Obama. But it sure felt like I did. Because her warmth and passion fill any room she’s in. And I was lucky enough to be in the same room with the First Lady.

Meeting Michelle Obama

It was a fundraising event in Detroit for President Obama’s 2012 campaign. It was a full house of enthusiastic supporters, and meeting fellow volunteers and citizens who believe in the work President and Mrs. Obama are doing for our country was electrifying.

When the First Lady was introduced, the applause and cheers must have made the ballroom’s chandeliers swing. I don’t know, because I couldn’t take my eyes off Michelle Obama. I felt so proud and grateful to be in her presence.

And then she began to talk about why she was there — why she and President Obama are so committed to the ideal of a country that includes everyone. That offers hope for everyone. That represents the chance for everyone to have an equal opportunity and for everyone to contribute to the common good.

Mrs. Obama emphasized what’s at stake in the 2012 election: A choice between two very different visions of what America is and can be. Contrasting visions of who we are and who we want to be as a country.

Like President and Mrs. Obama, I want our country to be a place where everyone can get a good education, a fulfilling job and affordable healthcare. I want our country to be a place where people are free to love who they love. A place where we’re all in this together.

Michelle Obama even shared a glimpse into her husband’s private side. How he tells her the stories he hears every day, about everyday Americans. Those stories, she said, are what keep him going.

She may be the First Lady, but Michelle Obama told us she’s in this as a citizen who knows we can work together to make this country better. That’s the kind of citizen I want to be, too.

I still hope someday I can shake Michelle Obama’s hand — and perhaps even the President’s — and say how much admiration and gratitude I have for them. Until then, I’m inspired by knowing I have something in common with our President and First Lady: I am a citizen whose efforts can make a difference to our country’s future.

Yes, Mrs. Obama, I’m in.

Tags: 2012, America, Barack Obama, citizens, country, Detroit, education, future, healthcare, job, jobs, Michelle Obama, Michigan, Obama 2012, Obama for America, OFA, President Obama, vision, volunteers
Posted in Civics | 3 Comments »

What you can do for your country

Posted on: October 15th, 2011 by Amy Lynn Smith 3 Comments

This is not about politics. It’s about making a commitment to the future of our country.

That’s what I tried to explain when a fellow Democrat expressed surprise that I’d decided to volunteer for OFA. He asked me, “Why would you want to volunteer for Obama? Congress won’t let him get anything done.”

My answer was, “That’s exactly why I’m doing it. President Obama has our back. We need to have his.”

I’ve always believed in President Obama and still do. I believe he’s more focused on people than politics, just one of the reasons he has my support. You may have a different viewpoint and I respect that. In fact, I welcome the opportunity to talk about it. That’s what the democratic process is all about: speaking up, exchanging ideas and solving problems together in a civilized debate.

What you can do for your country

Something else I believe in is the power of one person to make a difference. I’m more sure of that than ever after training to volunteer for OFA and meeting a group of incredibly smart, involved citizens.

I’m excited about what our team will be doing to help educate and engage voters. Especially at a time when our country is paralyzed by political polarization, every step we take toward a better future matters. We owe it to ourselves to be informed on the issues — especially those that matter most to us as individuals — and support the people and policies we believe in.

Can one vote make a difference? Yes, it can. Can one person’s voice make a difference? Yes, it can.

As a country, can we put politics aside and focus on a united effort to improve our future? Yes, we can.

Tags: activism, Barack Obama, citizens, community, debate, democracy, education, engagement, future, inform, Obama, OFA, politics, President, volunteer, volunteering
Posted in Civics | 3 Comments »

Say nice things about Detroit

Posted on: October 11th, 2011 by Amy Lynn Smith 4 Comments

Detroit is due for some good times.

Seriously, we’re overdue. Detroit has recently faced some of the toughest times in its history. But Detroiters are tougher than anything you can put in front of us.

High unemployment in every sector, from automotive to what was, for a while, a burgeoning film industry. Urban blight. High crime rates. A struggling education system. One of the worst housing markets in the country. The list goes on.

But through all this, we never stopped fighting. As I said on the day Campbell-Ewald lost the Chevy account after one of the longest professional partnerships in history: “Detroiters are scrappy. We’ll get through this.”

Say nice things about Detroit

And we are getting through this. Yes, we had some help, but there’s nothing wrong with that. The auto industry is turning around – even reporting profits. Ad agencies are hiring again (and some of the Chevy business has returned). New tech endeavors are taking off. Creatives are fighting to keep the film/TV industry alive while continuing to grow a lively visual and performing arts community. Even the Lions are doing well (I don’t follow sports, but I know this is a big deal).

We still have work to do. But Detroit is proof that smart solutions can work. We were helped by government stimulus, but now we’re moving forward on our own power. Detroit power. Never count us out. Because Detroiters are never down for the count.