Chicago remembers President Obama

White,Moses, Evans,McCoy,Walley and Osinaike
White,Moses, Evans,McCoy,Walley and Osinaike

Chicago remembers President Obama

By Safiyyah P. Muhammad

President Obama’s term as the 44th President of the United States comes to an end on January 20, 2017. He is the first African-American President from Chicago who coined the phrase, ‘Yes we can.” During Obama’s administration, he launched a desperately needed health care plan called the Affordable Care Act which helped millions of Americans obtain affordable health care insurance. The President also bailed out the U.S. government during one of the worst economic crises in decades. The Chicago Citizen Newspaper Group Inc. asked residents what they will remember most about the First Family as they spend their last holiday in the White House.

Gary Walley, Program Director for Thresholds, South Side Community Integration

“For me, the biggest memory I will have of the President will be the Affordable Care Act and all that it meant to our population that we work with at Thresholds. The Affordable Care Act was able to provide treatment to those previously marginalized. I just want to say Thank you, President Obama.”

Gina White, Helping Homes System

“I went to the White House Easter Egg hunt two years ago with my grandchildren. While we were there, we saw Bo (White House dog). He was coming towards me and Security called him back. The Easter Egg Hunt was just a beautiful event with almost a 1,000 people in line. When I got to the gate, security checked our bags, and we got to walk around the entire grounds of the White House. We stayed for a couple of hours. We will always treasure the Easter Egg Hunt at the White House.”

Earnestine Moses of Midlothian

“The thing I mostly remembered about the Obamas is their independence. They didn’t let anybody set their agendas. President Obama was for the people, and you can tell with the Obama Care Initiative. I have gone without insurance for years, so when the Affordable Act Care came around, it helped me get diabetes medicine and blood pressure medicine; things that I needed. I appreciate First Lady Michelle Obama because she did not let anyone set her standards where fashion was concerned. I also remembered how they raised their family. Their family unit was an example for everybody. I also appreciated Mrs. Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative that she launched to get the children to lose weight. I don’t think that we could have had a better President and First Lady than the Obamas.”

Toledo Osinaike of Chicago

“One thing that I mostly remember about the Obamas was the way Michelle Obama interacted with the children and people in the community. I loved how she came up with the little quirky dances and posted them on YouTube. Before he became President, I also remembered that my father and I went to Valois Restaurant (in Hyde Park) to meet with the now President. Valois Restaurant was one of my father’s favorite restaurants. We went in there one morning to have lunch, and we had an opportunity to sit down and chat with him. President Obama is a real down to earth kind of a fellow.”

Patricia McCoy-Clark of Calumet City

“I don’t believe no one can replace the Obamas with the great job that they did while running this country. President Barack Obama stood his ground in working with the Republicans and everyone else. The First Lady did a great job with the healthy eating program because she put healthy lunches back into schools. The Obamas looked out for people (Veterans and their families) in every community across America.”

Dr. Mitchel Evans of Chicago

“I met the President twice. Once, when I was in the army, I laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery. I took the wreath from the President’s hand and placed the wreath at the tomb of an unknown soldier. The second time I met the President was here in Chicago on Michigan Avenue. He and Joe Biden were walking somewhere, and he stuck his hand out and looked at me and said, “You remember me?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “You are in the service?” I said, “Yes.” He remembered that I was in the military and that day I had on civilian clothes. He does not forget people. He is a people person. President Obama is also the first President with an administration with no scandals. Under his administration, no accusations came against his staff. The only thing that upsets me is that he is the first president that had to deal with total racism; not only from the Republican Party but his Party. Michelle Obama is a very beautiful First Lady, even though she had to endure envy and jealousy of her beauty, style, and education. She had more education than any First Lady ever had. The Obama Library is going to change the landscape of Chicago for the better; even though it is going to be on the south side. The library is also going to help gentrify the west side.”

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