Obama Energizes Students

William Patrick Butler

Obama spent the last stop on her "Let's Move" campaign in Jackson today to promote health and exercise to combat national obesity.

by Lacey McLaughlin
March 3, 2010

For several hours the students at Brinkley Middle School waited anxiously inside their school's auditorium for First Lady Michelle Obama to enter the building this afternoon. When Obama arrived, along with Gov. Haley Barbour and his wife Marsha, the students--many waving handmade signs--cheered widely.

"I tell ya, no one has ever yelled that loud for my husband," Marsha Barbour told the crowd as she introduced the first lady.

Obama spent the last stop on her "Let's Move" campaign in Jackson to promote health and exercise to combat national obesity.

Earlier in the day Obama visited Pecan Park Elementary School where she accompanied students on the school's walking trail. She also held a roundtable discussion with members of local health organizations and public officials about efforts to promote exercise and healthy eating.

Mississippi ranks no. 1 in the nation for numbers of obese adults and children according to the Centers for Disease Control.

But during her speech she commended the state and Jackson Public Schools for its "creative" solutions to tackle the issue.

"I am not here to highlight what's wrong; I am here to highlight what's right," she said.

Among the steps the the district has taken to combat childhood obesity, Obama commended the work of Mary Hill, JPS executive director of food services who has worked to educate food service staff and implement healthier food preparation for school lunches.

Other progressive strategies Obama highlighted in Jackson and the state to combat obesity include:

• Removal of vending machines in JPS elementary and middle schools.

• Replacing deep fryers with ovens in several JPS cafeterias

• The Jackson Roadmap to Health Equity Project's implementation of a local farmers markets and exercise programs.

• Building walking trails outside elementary schools including Pecan Park, Lester, Boyd and Van Winkle.

• "Let's Go Walking Mississippi," a statewide campaign sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi and the Governor and his wife.

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