President Obama Visits Year Up
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On Friday, June 19, 2009, Year Up was honored and recognized by President Barack Obama with a visit to our National Capital Region site. Our students, staff, corporate and philanthropic partners hosted the president as he toured the program.

The President toured the Year Up National Capital Region, site and was hosted by students who demonstrated their skills in business communications and computer hardware assembly. Mr. Obama then sat and talked with students about the challenges and opportunities facing young adults and the country.

He took some questions from the students. One of the students asked if he would ever consider hosting an intern in the White House, and he replied, "We have a bunch of interns running around there now, I don't see why we can't have someone from Year Up participate, you can probably fix a few things."

The day's events serve to launch an ongoing White House effort on fatherhood and mentoring. Forums will be hosted around the country this summer and fall to gather ideas on good programs and to help promote them. The President expressed an interest in understanding what works about Year Up that could be useful in helping him improve the community college system so that it prepares all young people for successful careers.

After visiting the D.C. site, Mr. Obama went back to the White House to host an event to discuss fatherhood and mentoring followed by an event with young men from local schools on the South Lawn. Juan Carlos Artero, a Year Up alumnus and current staff member, traveled with the President to the White House event and is speaking at the event about the Year Up model and how the program has helped him succeed and provide for his family.

Watch the C-Span Video