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Amy Poehler: It's a real honor to be here this
afternoon, and it's especially exciting for me
to learn that if you play a character with a certain
career long enough, people will treat you as if you
actually have that job.
(laughter).
So this might be a shocker, but I'm actually
not a Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation, but
raise your hand if you are one here, if you work in
the Parks and Recreation Department Here.
Yeah.
(applause)
Congratulations to you.
You guys are easy to spot.
But I'm very happy to be play to play a parks and
rec employee, because parks play a vital
role in our lives.
It's where families gather, and our
communities come together, just ask yourself this
questions; without parks, where would
we put all the swings?
It would be in the middle of the road.
It would be very dangerous.
This is so fun!
Mrs. Obama is standing next to me like she's
my audience, like I'm just telling her jokes.
This is like a dream (laughter).
Except for the --
The First Lady: Yeah, it's funny.
Amy Poehler: Except for the box, which is a little
embarrassing, isn't it, but I have to stand on it.
The First Lady: It's pretty high.
Amy Poehler: I'm a grown woman standing on a box.
Okay.
But the Lets Move Initiative
is so wonderful.
Getting kids outside, and challenging them to be
physical active is a great cause,
and lets move is such an amazing initiative, it's taking
off a little bit faster than my initiative,
lets help me move
(laughter)
Which isn't going as well.
But I'm so pleased to be here among
you fine people.
It's an honor, truly, to represent the Parks and
Recreation Department, even fictionally, and I
apologize if we did anything to smear your
name, but you do all - you do such good work,
I'm so happy to be joining everyone here.
And so, without further ado, ladies and gentlemen,
the First Lady of the United States,
and my best friend.
(laughter and applause)
I just said that on the record,
and it makes it true, Mrs. Michelle Obama.
(laughter and applause)
(applause)
The First Lady: That's good, it makes a good seat.
Well, hello, everyone.
And I want to thank Amy for being such a good
sport and for her very kind introduction and for
her "let's help me move" initiative.
(laughter)
It's good to bring a little bit of that
Pawnee spice down here to Miami.
So let's give Amy a round of applause.
(applause)
And, yes, we are best friends.
I'm coming over to your house.
(laughter)
I want you to cook me something to eat.
You do cook?
Amy Poehler: Sure.
The First Lady: Lean meats, whole grains,
vegetables -- you may have heard.
Amy Poehler: Yes.
The First Lady: Okay.
(laughter)
I also want to start by thanking
a few other people.
I want to thank Representative Frederica Wilson
who is here.
I love her, love her.
(applause)
Thank you for joining us.
And thank you for your leadership for this state
and for our country.
I also want to thank Barbara, Damon and Larry
for their remarks, as well as everyone from the Boys
and Girls Clubs of America.
I want to thank the National Recreation and
Park Association, the Partnership for a
Healthier America and the Alliance
for a Healthier Generation.
Thanks to all of you for the outstanding work you
do on behalf of millions of families
across this country.
But really, most of all, I want to thank all
of you -- the community leaders, the program
administrators, the coaches, the educators,
the parents who are working so hard to build
healthier families and communities
every single day.
And this week, as we mark the fourth anniversary
of Let's Move, we're recognizing and
celebrating folks like you who are doing their part
to help our kids grow up healthy.
In fact, just this morning, I was at the
White House talking about the amazing strides that
we've made in our schools -- from serving more
nutritious breakfasts and lunches to finding
new ways to get kids moving through our
Let's Move Active Schools initiative.
And, by the way, I want to give a big,
big congratulations to Miami-Dade County for
signing up every single one of your schools for
Let's Move Active Schools.
Yes, a round of applause.
(applause)
Well done.
I'm so proud of you all.
(applause)
And today, with this new announcement from
the Boys and Girls Clubs and from NRPA,
millions more kids will be in healthy environments not just
during the school day, but during those critical
hours after school as well.
And this is a big deal, because for so many kids,
there's still that two- or three-hour gap after the
school bell rings -- a gap when their lives aren't
as structured and parents don't always know who
they're hanging out with, how they're spending that
time, or, for that matter, what kind
of food they're putting into their bodies.
And for so many years, after-school programs like
the Boys and Girls Clubs and the NRPA have done the
vital work of filling that gap by giving these kids
a place to go -- a place where they can learn new
skills and explore new interests,
a place where they can get help with homework and guidance
on the challenges they're facing in their lives.
And today, these programs are realizing
that healthy eating and physical activity are critically
important parts of these efforts.
That's why, with these new commitments, kids will
be getting a fruit or a vegetable
at every meal and every snack.
They'll be drinking healthy beverages like
water and low-fat milk, and they'll
be getting active.
They're going to be moving around
at least 30 minutes a day.
And over the next five years, with the support
of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation,
these new changes will be implemented
in thousands of after-school programs across the country.
And when you add that to the YMCA's previous
commitment to make their after-school programs
healthier, the result is that this effort could
reach more than 5.5 million
young people nationwide.
So this is going to make a -- yes, it's going to make
a huge impact, it really is.
(applause)
And not just on our kids' health,
but on their success in school and in life, because
everybody here knows that kids who eat well and stay
active tend to have better grades;
they have better attendance; they
have fewer disciplinary problems at school.
And between today's announcement and our work
to serve better food and get more activity into the
school day, we're now ensuring that more
and more of our kids will be staying healthy
throughout the entire arc of their day.
And if we just think about this for a minute --
we have revamped our school meal program,
so soon millions more kids will be starting their day
with a healthy meal.
And then they'll get another good meal at lunch
-- a meal that includes more fruits and vegetables
and whole grains.
Then they'll be getting active through the school
day, whether that's during recess, PE class,
or during an exercise break between lessons.
Then, when school is out, they'll head
to an after-school program like this one and they'll get
even more nutritious food and even more
opportunities to get moving.
And that's not just good for kids, that's also good
for parents, because while parents still have
to do their part at home to cook healthy at home,
and turn off the TV, and make sure their kids are moving,
they'll know that all their hard work isn't
being undermined every time
their kids head off to school.
(applause)
Yes, we've got some moms in there,
and some dads.
(applause)
And that's what Let's Move has always been about.
It's always been about doing everything we can
to make it easier for parents to raise healthy kids.
And what you all are doing here in Miami
is a perfect example of this kind of work.
You're showing kids that you don't have to be the
world's greatest athlete; you don't have
to be on a varsity sports team just to get physical activity.
That's why you've got kids doing some great stuff.
They are kayaking and canoeing.
They're taking hikes out in nature.
You've got them playing tennis and running track.
And you're stocking your vending machines
with healthy snacks.
You're starting community gardens to teach
the kids about healthy habits.
And after just one school year with these changes
in place, you've seen physical
fitness scores go up.
You've seen kids improve their understanding
of good nutrition habits.
And kids themselves are giving
your programs great reviews.
So everybody wins -- kids are happier and healthier,
and parents can breathe just a little easier.
And that's why today, I want to challenge everyone
who works with young people after school
to follow your example.
And I know it won't be easy.
All of you here in Miami can attest that
big changes don't happen overnight.
And I know that many after-school programs
are operating on tight budgets.
But time and again, we have seen that with enough
creativity and commitment and teamwork, we can truly
transform our communities on behalf of our kids.
And really that's been the story
of Let's Move from the beginning.
We've seen that change is contagious,
and it adds up quickly.
And today, after just four years, healthy habits are
now becoming the new norm in so many parts
of our lives.
Just think of all the changes we've seen.
Restaurants are investing millions of marketing
dollars to promote low-calorie menus.
Food companies are cutting sugar, salt,
and fat from their products.
Child care centers are offering healthy snacks
and meals, and instead of plopping little ones
in front of the TV, they're making sure they're
playing and running around.
And soon, millions more kids will be attending
healthy after-school programs every single day.
And make no mistake about it, all of this
is starting to have a positive effect.
Listen to this -- today, the CDC announced
that obesity rates among young children have
dropped to 8.4 percent.
That's the lowest rate we have seen
in a very long time.
(applause)
So we're beginning to make some real progress.
And none of this happened by accident.
It happened because of people like you, because
people like you were willing to take
a stand for America's families and communities.
And I know that this kind of work is happening
all across the country.
And I wish I could personally visit every
school and after-school program, or go to every
community in America to see all the changes that
are happening, but that's not humanly possible.
(laughter)
So instead, here's the thing: to the
millions of you who are out there every day
working to create healthier communities
for our kids, I am asking you to show me how you move.
It's a little bit of a challenge.
I want to hear from everyone.
I want to hear from schools and daycare
centers, and households.
I want to see what after-school programs are
doing all across the country.
I want to see those new snacks you're serving, the
fun games you're playing, and
the gardens you're growing.
And I want you to tweet it, Facebook it,
Instagram it, with the hashtag #letsmove, so that
everyone can see how you and your communities are
moving towards a healthier future.
We are getting thousands of entries in already,
and as I said earlier, if we get enough entries in,
we might get a little surprise from the
President, maybe the Vice President.
(laughter)
Could be interesting.
(laughter)
This is a fun and exciting way to share best
practices and learn about all the good work going
on to create a new norm for the way our kids
eat and stay active.
And I can't wait to see all the great things
that you're doing.
And remember, if we all keep moving and we keep
doing our part just like all of you here in Miami,
then I know that we'll be able to give
our children the bright, healthy futures they deserve.
So, congratulations.
And thank you so much.
I'm going to come down and shake hands.
And then we're going to get moving.
You guys, thank you so much.
(applause)