Michelle Obama Visits Newark, Inspires Middle School Girls

NEWARK, NJ — An eager group of middle school girls got a chance to attend Michelle Obama’s speaking event in Newark last week, courtesy of a local nonprofit and the Prudential Center.

In all, 17 students and eight volunteers from Girls; Live, Love, Laugh, Inc. got sponsored tickets to the Nov. 3 event, which featured a “moderated Q&A conversation” with Obama, the former first lady, attorney and author.

Girls; Live, Love, Laugh, Inc – which provides youth mentoring programs to girls ages 6 to 16 – said the trip was a “once in a lifetime opportunity.” The organization credited their partnership with the Prudential Center for the experience, and said it made an immediate impact on their educational plans.

“The girls were really excited about going to see First Lady Michelle Obama,” Allison James-Frison, founder if GIRLS; Live, Laugh, Love, Inc. told Patch. “During the ride home, they were discussing how important it is to tour as many colleges as possible so they will not fall under the checkbox category.”

• See related article: Newark Group Has Helped Girls 'Live, Love, Laugh' For 10 Years

Other attendees at the event – including U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. – also posted positive messages on social media.

One person wrote:

“Inspiring night hearing Michelle Obama talk about family, values, and career (and funny stories about moving into White House and campaigning) during speaking event in Newark. Most important takeaway from event: importance of empathy for others who may disagree with you.”

Obama's recent visit to Newark wasn’t her first trip to Essex County. In 2016, she visited Philip's Academy Charter School in Newark as part of her "American Garden Tour," joining students as they planted their school garden. The visit came four months after then-president Barack Obama came to the city to discuss criminal justice reform in America.

• See related article: Michelle Obama Coming To Newark For Garden Tour
• See related article: WATCH: President Obama Visits Newark To Discuss Criminal Justice Reform In America

The former first lady has other connections to Essex County, as well.

Last year, a group of four West Orange High School students got the chance to meet Obama – along with media mogul Oprah Winfrey – at the Hearst Tower in New York City, headquarters of "O," the Oprah Magazine.

• See related article: Oprah, Michelle Obama Surprise West Orange Students

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