Pool Reports by Emily Goodin, Daily Mail
| Sent: | Reports: |
| May 23, 2024 12:19 |
FLOTUS pool report #1 - Learning center and crowd stop Dr. Biden is attending two events today with First Lady Rachel Ruto - a visit to a career leaning center and a Biden Cancer Moonshot listening session. The two First Ladies left the White House at 11:14 am and arrived at the first stop - the Advanced Technical Center (ATC) - at 11:24 am. Starting with the end of the event because FLOTUS and Mrs. Ruto, upon exiting the center, stopped to talk to some people in the neighborhood who were Biden supporters. It was about six people. The center is across the street from a row of houses. One woman was wearing a Biden-Harris T-shirt and holding a small baby. FLOTUS took a picture with them as did Mrs. Ruto. Mrs. Ruto actually held the baby. FLOTUS also took a few selfies with other supporters who told her "we love you." They two First Ladies only spent a few minutes with the group. "Thank you, thank you," FLOTUS told the crowd, waving at them as she got back in her car. Now back to the beginning, where the First Ladies met with high school students and instructors in the nursing and cybersecurity career pathways programs, which received funding from the American Rescue Plan. FLOTUS tried to convert one student to an Eagles fan (see exchange below): "You're all in my family," Dr. Biden told the instructors who greeted her and Mrs. Ruto. The first stop was a classroom where high school students were in a nursing class, learning how to take blood pressure and other vital signs. The program gives them college credit. The classroom had tables and chairs for the students. There were also hospital beds with dummy patients in them. The two First Ladies observed the students taking each other's blood pressure. "I don't even know what your blood pressure should be," Dr. Biden said. 120/80 should be the average, she was told. "Let's see who has the average," FLOTUS replied. She talked about being a teacher, noting "this is my 40th year teaching." She then asked the students "Is anyone planning on going to NoVa? Have you looked into it?" Diane Crawford, nursing instructor, told her many of the students go to George Mason. Dr. Biden said a lot of NoVa students transfer there. Pool was then moved to the second stop, which was a cybersecurity classroom. FLOTUS greeted the students with "Hi I'm Jill Biden" and told them to sit (they had stood when she came in the room). John Irungu, the cybersecurity instructor, said he was originally from Kenya, which got him applause from that delegation. Irungu described the learning program to the First Ladies. "It's the newest thing students seem to be drawn to," FLOTUS said of cybersecurity. Two of the students showed them the motherboard they were studying to learn its parts and how it worked. "Seems like a foreign language to me," FLOTUS said. "Me too," Mrs. Ruto said. "Because they're younger they probably understand it better," FLOTUS said. Other students showed how they were learning how to build cyber walls for protection. "What kind of job do you want have?" FLOTUS said. "I'm tried to look for anything doing with computers or engineering in general," one student said. Another said he wanted to study cybersecurity. FLOTUS asked them what schools they were thinking of. A student named Larry told her the University of Pittsburgh because "I also play football as well and I want to play football there." "You don't want to come to Philadelphia? The Philadelphia Eagles," FLOTUS teased him. "Yeah I was thinking about that too," Larry said. "Mainly why I want to go to the University of Pittsburgh - they have shown me support and love." "The Eagles will show you a little love," FLOTUS told him. Pool was then pulled and taken to the vans. Pool exited the vans when it saw the two First Ladies talking to the crowd outside the motorcade (as noted above). REPORTABLE BACKGROUND FROM THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY Today, May 23rd, as part of the State Visit with the Republic of Kenya and in recognition of the continuing friendship between the two countries, First Lady Jill Biden will host two Spousal Program events in Washington, D.C. with First Lady Rachel Ruto of the Republic of Kenya. Dr. Biden and First Lady Ruto will first visit the Advanced Technical Center, where they will highlight the importance of Biden-Harris administration investments in career-connected learning programs for students. They will later join a Biden Cancer Moonshot listening session at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center. These Spousal Program events will highlight their shared interest in advancing educational opportunities for young people and advocacy for cancer patients and their families. These events follow Dr. Biden's February 2023 visit to Kenya as First Lady as well as her visits in 2010 and 2011 as Second Lady. Visit to Advanced Technical Center At 11:15 AM, Dr. Biden and First Lady Ruto will arrive at the Advanced Technical Center (ATC), where they will highlight the model career-connected learning program, which received funding from President Biden's American Rescue Plan and the Department of Education's new Career-Connected High Schools grant. Dr. Biden and First Lady Ruto will tour the center, where they will meet high school students and instructors and discuss the ATC's nursing and cybersecurity career pathways programs. The briefing tour participants include:
|
| May 23, 2024 13:25 |
FLOTUS pool report #2 - Biden Cancer Moonshot The motorcade left the learning center at 12:08 pm and arrived at the second stop - the John Hopkins University Bloomberg Center - at 12:13 pm. FLOTUS and Mrs. Ruto are getting a briefing on cancer research. Dr. Liz Jaffee, Deputy Director, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, said she was alarmed by the rising cancer rate in young adults, calling it a "Global problem." "I agree," FLOTUS said. The doctors talked about the research they were doing to help them detect different cancers. Dr. Sara Sukumar, Professor of Oncology and Pathology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, described a study in South Africa to use different ways to detect breast cancer. She noted breast cancer rates are rising in low and middle income countries. "The fact that we are able to finish our study faster means so many women are coming through with beast cancer," Sukumar said. Dr. Biden asked if the study was just in Africa and was told yes because places like Europe have mammograms. After the briefing the two First Ladies joined a Biden Cancer Moonshot listening session. FLOTUS noted she and Mrs. Ruto met over a year ago at the African Leaders Summit and bonded over their dedication to cancer research. "We spoke about cancer and what we can do to fight it and really about how it's so close to our hearts. Then, Rachel, you invited me to your home and you showed me the amazing work that you're doing to empower women and young people in Kenya," FLOTUS said. "Cancer touches us all, unfortunately," FLOTUS said. FLOTUS added everyone has to come together as a global community "to stop it, because none of us can do it alone." Mrs. Ruta called Dr. Biden "my sister and friend." She thanked her for the warm welcome. "The goal for this state visit is partnership and prosperity," she said and talked about her work trying to lower the cancer rate in Kenya. The First Ladies were briefed on the work of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer center: 60,000 unique patients a year, about 8,000 cancer surgeries, and 60,000 radiation treatments. There were also briefings on prevention efforts, early detection, patient services and the lifestyle factors that raise cancer rates (smoking and poor diet). The center works to educate people on these factors. Dr. Biden closed with: "I think with cancer the one thing we have to focus on is hope." The motorcade left the center at 1:16 pm and arrived at the White House at 1:20 pm. The motorcade dropped Mrs. Ruto off at Blair House before pulling in by the East Wing. Let me know if you have any questions or need any additional info. That's all from the FLOTUS pool until guest arrivals at booksellers tonight for the state dinner. From the East Wing: Visit to Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center At 12:00 PM, Dr. Biden and First Lady Ruto will arrive at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C. and receive a briefing on the research at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. Following the briefing, Dr. Biden and First Lady Ruto will join a Biden Cancer Moonshot listening session on the Center's cancer screening and patient navigation efforts. The discussion will highlight the Biden Cancer Moonshot's actions to increase access to patient navigation services for Americans who are facing cancer– paving pathways for more support for patients and their families. Arrival Briefing Group:
Biden Cancer Moonshot Listening Session Participants:
Background on Dr. Biden's Workforce Efforts: As First Lady, Dr. Biden has traveled to over 40 states and more than 100 cities, serving as a leading messenger for the Biden-Harris Administration's most urgent priorities, including the President's Investing in America Agenda. As a life-long educator, the First Lady has been an advocate for investing in workforce training, career-connected learning programs, and pathways to good-paying jobs across the country. Background on Dr. Biden's Cancer Advocacy Efforts: In February 2022, the President and the First Lady reignited the Biden Cancer Moonshot and set a new national goal: to reduce the death rate from cancer by at least 50 percent over the next 25 years, and improve the experience of people and families living with and surviving cancer, ultimately ending cancer as we know it today. Dr. Biden has been a tireless champion of the Biden Cancer Moonshot, traveling the country and the world to hear from cancer patients and their families, as well as those who support them. As First Lady, Dr. Biden has focused on supporting cancer patients and their loved ones, especially by championing the importance of navigation services, early detection, and improving the experience of patients, families, and caregivers. Since the start of the Biden Administration, the First Lady has participated in more than 40 Cancer Moonshot engagements and has visited 16 cities in almost a dozen states. |
Jill Biden, First Lady Pool Reports of May 23, 2024 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/372450