U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will host the fourth Let's Read! Let's Move! event of 2013 on Thurs., Aug. 1, at noon at the U.S. Department of Education headquarters in Washington, D.C. Joining Duncan will be U.S. Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell; Hill Harper, star of USA Network's "Covert Affairs;" Jeremy Lin, Houston Rockets point guard; and Cathy Lanier, Chief of Police of the D.C. Metropolitan Police, who will read to the students and answer their questions.
Before the reading session, Brian Mitchell, former Washington Redskins running back and Fuel Up to Play 60 representative, will kick off the event by leading children in an activity focused on healthy eating and exercise. Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by the National Dairy Council (NDC) and NFL in collaboration with the USDA, to help encourage today's youth to lead healthier lives.
Following the reading, Hill Harper, Brian Mitchell and the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, will lead students in the Let's Move! session of fun, physical activities. Students will participate in the Petite Police Academy Physical Agility Test, during which they race through an obstacle course to identify suspects. The Let's Move! activity session is inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama's initiative to combat childhood obesity by emphasizing healthy eating and an active lifestyle.
The summer enrichment series is part of the Corporation for National and Community Service's United We Serve: Let's Read! Let's Move! initiative, which engages youth in summer reading and physical activity, as well as provides information about healthy, affordable food. The goal of these events is to keep children reading, moving and active over the summer months and to highlight the importance of access to high-quality early learning programs in providing all children a strong start on the path to readiness for school.
"The beginning years of a child's life are critical for building the foundation needed for success later in school, college and career," said Secretary Duncan. "To help all children begin kindergarten on a level playing field, the Administration is continuing to work to expand access to high-quality early learning programs. Let's Read! Let's Move! highlights the importance of investing in our nation's youngest students and getting them off to a strong, healthy start."
The Department's Let's Read! Let's Move! series is being carried out in partnership with the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington PHD (Physical, Healthy, Driven) program. Target Corporation will provide healthy snacks, and every child will be able to select a free new book to take home, courtesy of Target and its partnership with First Book. A vegetable and fruit tasting station will be featured, courtesy of Giant Food, a partner of the YMCA.
Various administration officials and other public figures will participate in the final Let's Read! Let's Move! event, scheduled for Aug. 6. Preschool- and elementary-aged youngsters from a number of schools and centers in the area (listed below) will attend the Aug. 1 event, as well as the children of Department employees.