Let's Read! Let's Move! Promoting summer reading and tackling childhood obesity

Let’s Read! Let’s Move!

July 6th, 2011 Posted by Tracy Russo

Attorney General Eric Holder reads from Oh! The Places You'll Go. He is joined by Arne Duncan, the Secretary of Education and basketball legend, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

In an effort to combat childhood obesity and summer learning loss, the Department of Justice joined the U.S. Department of Education to address young audiences throughout the nation as part of the Let’s Read. Let’s Move. campaign.
Earlier today, Attorney General Eric Holder participated in the first Let’s Read. Let’s Move. summer enrichment event at the Department of Education’s Lyndon Baines Johnson building in Washington, D.C.
The Attorney General was joined by Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan; Miss America 2011, Teresa Scanlan; NBA Hall of Famer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; and a classroom full of local students as he read a selection from Dr. Seuss’ Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

Students get active after story time.

This series of events, in conjunction with First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative, motivates young people to get and stay active, encourages summer learning outside of the classroom, and emphasizes the impact adults make when they take time to read to children.
Attorney General Holder’s book choice echoed the initiative’s call to reading, learning and active living:

Kid, you’ll move mountains! So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!”

At the event Miss America 2011, Teresa Scanlan, led students through a number of activities, emphasizing the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle. Meanwhile the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington Physical, Healthy, Driven staff conducted games and the Target Corporation provided books and healthy snacks for those who were able to attend.

Miss America 2011, Teresa Scanlan, sits with students during story time.

Let’s Read. Let’s Move. is one part of the Obama Administration’s United We Serve summer service initiative, which encourages all Americans to make service and learning a daily priority.
Find opportunities to serve in your community at Serve.gov.

POSTED IN: Office of the Attorney General