anidous for care of priest who is have been pulled from their ministries. 3,000 lawsuits have been filed welcome back to al jazeera america. we await the president and first lady to come out and address the nation getting all americans into college. take a look at this video. >> we're trying our best to become the future of america, or even the future of the world. >> it will replace the stigma that our generation is lazy and don't want to work. >> i want to better myself and be the best i can be. >> i want people to understand the trials and tribulations they face are not weaknesses, but

things that can make them stronger and get an education going forward. no one becomes smart, you become smart through education. >> you call me dr. harvey, and you know how much harder i have worked. >> you want a career or a job -- >> so mike viqueira as you hear this video, that is the message that president obama wants to portray to america. if you are not of means it is almost message to lower-income children and their families that college is in fact in reach for you, and part of it isn't just a question of the daunting sticker price.

it's also a question of getting people used to the idea of going to college, get them thinking about college and getting them on the college track at an earlier this, we should present some context that is happening, leading into this election year, everything has to be seen through this prism, the president is going to be talking about the middle class. we have seen him over the course of the last two weeks initiate his year of action, of course, trying to do as much as he can through executive action, the promise zones in economically

down troden areas of the country. we'll talk about the goals, and it's all incremental in terms of the larger economy, but this is what the president now has before him, as he said the other way, i have a pen and i have a phone, and the implication is he is not afraid to use them. he is going to make calls to jawbone congress to do all of the things at a participate's disposal to try to get things done. obviously front and center are the extended unemployment benefits. some 1.3 million people losing those benefits at the end of last. now the senate wants to go forward, will is ancation there are some republicans that want him to go forward. but they are in the senate sand

box throwing mud at each other. frozen up now. as the number of people kicked off those unemployment benefit roles continues to increase from 1.5 million from the 1.3 at the beginning of the year. raising the minimum wage, and we understand the president has entered the auditorium. >> mike, before we take that i want to ask you one question. they are very concerned not only about the state of education, but also the education double, the housing repeatedly. however, the cost continues to rise. i believe the rise is about 3% in tuition prices.

still rising about 3%. but families and folks have to take out loans and spend years paying them back. when you are talking about a $30,000 a year tuition and everything else that goes with it to put child through school or to that child to put themselves through school as is often the case, initiate some reforms. >> mike, briefly, i want to talk about that video for a second. the white house pulling out michelle obama, no secret that they pulled her out, because sh

their place in society, no question about it. >> there is a young man introducing the president right now, it's no secret the white house has been pulling out some very effective speakers. there was the woman who introduced him when he was talking about the unemployment benefits who talked very eloquently about how she had to lower her thermostat because her

unemployment payments ran out. >> they find folks that are most sympathetic to the audience and address what the president will be addressing on any given day. i remember that woman, a very compelling story, had two sons who were serving in the military. and taking steps that are all too familiar for millions of americans out of work right now, and again the promise zone event and that young lady from harlem who was the beneficiary of the program he was announcing that day. this is classic communication here in washington. the white house certainly no stranger to that. >> i'm sure his mother is watching so let's listen in. >> okay. >> in times of challenge and

controversy. between these programs and my former teachers, there is no doubt that i will succeed. today's event is not about me, but it's about every kid in the united states of america, ensuring that they will succeed and get a chance to reach their intellectual potential. so it is my pleasure to introduce someone who has shown great support and confidence in our nation's young people, someone who is working to help other students have a future as bright as mine, ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming our first lady, michelle obama. [ applause ] >> good morning, thank you everyone. thank you so much. [ applause ] >> thank you.

you guys rest yourselves. thank you so much. it is really great to be here today with all of you. we have with us today college and university presidents. we have experts and advocates and civic and business leaders, and i want to thank all of you for taking the time to be here today, and for working every day to help young people pursue their education and build brighting futures for themselves and our country. and i would also like to give a really big hand to troy for sharing that story. [ applause ] >> that's pretty powerful stuff, and presented so eloquently. i know yesterday i met troy. he was nervous. i don't really know why you are nervous. you are pretty awesome. >> thank you.

[ laughter ] >> troy's story reminds us all of the limit less capacity that lies within all of our young people no matter where they come from or how much money they have, troy is an example of why we all should care deeply about this issue, and troy and millions of others like him are why i care so much about this issue, and why i'm going to spend more and more of my time focusing on education. because as everyone here knows education is the key to success for so many kids, and my goal specifically is to reach out directly to young people, and encourage them to take charge of their futures and complete an education beyond high school. and i'm doing this because often we talk about education. we talk about our young people and what we need to do for them.

we talk about the program we create for them, about the resources we need to devote to them, but we must remember that ed situation a two-way bargain, and while there is so much more we must do for our kids at the end of the day as troy described, the person who has the most say over whether or not a student succeeds, is the student him or her self. ultimately they are the ones sitting in that classroom, setting goals for themselves and working hard to achieve those goals every single day. so my home with this new effort instead of talking about our kids, we talk with her kids. i want to hear what is going on in their lives, inspire them to step up and commit to their education so they can have opportunities they never even dreamed of. i'm doing this because that story of opportunity through

education is the story of my life, and i want them to know it can be their story too, but only -- only if they devote themselves to continuing their education past high school. and for many students that might mean attending a college or university like the ones many of you represent for others it might mean choosing a community college. it might mean pursuing short-term professional training, but no matter what they do, i want to make sure that students believe they have what it takes to succeed beyond high school. that's going to be my message to young people. but here is the thing. i know that that message alone isn't enough. like i said, this is a 2-way street and that means we all to step up, because make no mistake about it, these kids are smart. they will notice if we're not holding up our end of the bargain. they will notice if we tell them

about applying for college or financial aid, but then no one is there to help them choose the right school or fill out the right forms. they will notice if we tell them that they are good enough to graduate from college, but then no college asks them to apply, no college invites them to visit their campus. and so we have got to recommit ourselves to helping these kids pursue their education. and as you discussed in your first panel today, one of the first steps is getting more underserved young people on to college campuses. the fact is that right now, we are missing out on so much potential because so many promising young people like troy who have the talent it takes to succeed simply don't believe that college can be a reality for them. too many of them are falling through the cracks, and all of you know that all too well, and

that's why so many of you are already finding ways to reach out to the underserved students in your communities. you are helping them navigate the financial aid and college admissions process, and helping them find schools that match their abilities and interests, and i know from my own experience just how important all of that work is that you are doing. the truth is that if princeton hadn't found by brother as a basketball recruit and if i hadn't seen that he could succeed on a campus like that, it never would have occurred for me to apply at that school, never. and i know there are so many kids out there just like me. kids who have a world of potential but maybe their parents never went to college, or never they have ever been

encouraged to succeed there. so that means it's our job to help find those kids, understand their potential and then get them el rolled in a college that help them meet their needs. but once students are there, they have got to graduate, and that's not always easy, especially given what many of these kid dealing with when they get to campus. just think about it, you just heard a snippet from troy. these kids have already overcome so much, moms and dads who weren't around, too many nights when they had to go to bed hungry, but as i tell these kids when i talk to them, we can't think about those experiences that they have had as week witnesses, they are actually

strengths. these kids have developed skills like grit and resilience that many of these kids will never be able to compete with, never. and when they get out in the world those are the exact skills they will need to succeed, and they will succeed, but imagine how hard it is to realize that when you first get to college. you are in a whole new world. you might have trouble making friends because you don't see any peers who come from a background like yours. you might be worried about paying for classes and room and board because you have never had to set your own budget before. you might be feeling guilty when you call home, because mom and dad are wondering why you didn't get a job so you could help suppo support your family. but let's be clear all of that is not just a challenge for

them. it's a challenge for folks like us who are helping them succeed. and that is our mission, not simply giving speeches or raising money or host conferences, but take real meaningful action that will help young people get into college and actually get their degree. and here is the good news. time and again you all have shown that you have the experience, passion, and resources to help these young people thrive. for example, you have realized that students from across the socioeconomic spectrum have been coming to campus with more and more issues like eating disorders and learning disabilities, emotional challenges like depression and anxiety, and much more, and luckily you all have not s shaed -- shied away from these issues. you have stepped up, and while

there's still work left to do on these issues, you are working every day to support these kids through treatment programs and outreach initiatives and support groups because you know that these issues have a huge impact on whether students can learn and succeed at your school. so now as you begin to see more and more underserved students on your campuses, we need you to -- to direct that same energy and determination toward helping these kids face their unique challenges. now fortunately, you have already got the expertise you need to address these issues, and simply by building on what you are already doing best, you can make real differences for these kids, and that's what so many of you are doing with commitments you have made here at this summit. for example, every school offers financial aid services, but listen to what the university of minnesota is doing. they are committing to expand

those services to include financial literacy programs to help students and their families manage the cost of college. and every school has advisors who desperately want their students to succeed. oregon tech is committing to set up a text message program so these advisors can connect more easily with students who need extra encouragement or academic support. and every college has orientation programs or learning communities to help students transition to college, and many of the schools here today are supplementing those programs by partnering with organizations like the posse foundation so underserved students can connect and build a social network before they even step foot on campus, and those were the types of resources that helped a kid like me, not just survive but thrive at a school like

printston, when i first arrived at school as a first generation college student, i didn't know anyone on campus except for my brother. i didn't know how to pick the right buildings, i didn't even bring the right-sized sheets for my dorm-room bed. [ laughter ] >> so i was a little overwhelmed and a little isolated, but then i had an opportunity to participate in a three-week on campus orientation program. and i discovered the culture center, the third-world center, where i found students and staff that came from communities that were similar to my own. and they understand what i was going through. they were there to answer the questions i was too embarrassed to ask anyone else. and if it won't for those resources and the friends and

mentors i honestly don't know how i would have made it through college. but instead i graduated at the top of my class, i went to law school, and you know the rest. [ laughter ] >> so whether it's a lining with an organization like posse, or creating a location where these kids can get together, you can determine whether these kids drop out or step up and succeed. if you make sure they have good campus experiences then they are going to stay engaged with your school for decades after they graduate. they will be dressed up in school colors at homecoming games. they will be asking to serve on your committees and advisory boards, and they will be doing their part when fund-raising seasons rolls around.

so believe me, these will be some of the best alumni you could ask for, because after everything these kids have done to get through college, they will run our businesses, labs, teach in our classrooms and lead our communities. just look at me. and look at troy, and the countless succeed stories from the organizations and schools represented here in this room. that's how we will win this country. we will win by tapping the full potential of all of our young people so we can grow our economy and move this country forward. and let me tell you that is something that my husband understands deeply. because his life story, just like mine is rooted in education as well. and as president, that is what drives him every single day. his goal of expanding opportunity to millions of

americans who are striving to build better futures for themselves, for their families and for our country as well. so now it is my pleasure to introduce my husband, the president of the united states, barack obama. [ applause ] >> thank you. thank you, everybody, thank you. thank you so much. everybody please have a seat, have a seat. welcome to the white house, everybody. and let me begin by thanking troy and sharing his remarkable story. you know, i could not be more inspired by, you know, what he has accomplished and can't wait to see what he has accomplished in the future. my wife, it's hard to speak

after her. [ laughter ] [ applause ] >> we're in the back, and gene who did extraordinary work putting this whole summit together said everybody is so excited that michelle is here. [ laughter ] >> i said, well . . . [ applause ] >> what about me? but you should be excited about her being here, because she brings a passion and a body of experience and a passion to this issue that is extraordinary, and -- and i couldn't be prouder of the work she has already done and the work that i know she is going to keep on doing ash these issues. she did leave one thing out of her speech and that is it's her birthday tomorrow. [ applause ] >> i want everybody to just keep that in mind.

we are here for -- for one purpose. we want to make sure more young people have the chance to earn a higher education. and in the 21st century economy, we always understand it has never been more important. the good news is -- is that, our economy is steadily growing, and strengthening after the worst recession in a generation. so we created more than 8 million new jobs, manufacturing is growing, lead by a booming auto industry thanks to some key public investments in advances like affordable energy and, you know, research and development. what we have seen is not only an energy revolution in this country that bodes well for our future, but in areas like health care for example, we have slowed

the growth of health care costs in -- in ways that a lot of people wouldn't have anticipated as recently as five or ten years ago, so there are a lot of good things going on in the economy. and businesses are starting to invest. in fact what we're seeing are businesses overseas starting to say let's insource back into the us. all of that bodes well for our future. here is the thing, though. we don't grow just for the sake of growth. we grow so it translates into a growing middle class, people getting jobs. people being able to support their families, and people being able to pass something on to the next generation. we want to restore the essential promise of opportunity and upward mobility that's at the heart of america. the notion that if you work hard, you can get ahead. you can improve your situation in life.

you can make something of yourself. the -- the same essential story that troy so eloquently told about himself. and the fact is, it has been getting harder to do that for a lot of people. it is harder for folks to start in one place and -- and move up that ladder, and that was true long before the recession hit. and that's why i have said that in 2014, we have to consider this a year of action, not just to grow the economy, not just to increase gdp, not just to make sure that corporations are profitable, and the stock market is doing well, and the financial system is stable. we have also got to make sure that that growth is brood based and that everybody has a chance to access that growth and take advantage of it. we have got to make sure that we're creating new jobs, and that the wages and benefits that go along with those jobs can support a family.

we have to make sure that there are new ladders of opportunity in the middle class, and that the ladders -- the wrungs on those ladders are solid and more accessible to more people. i'm going to be working with congress where i can to accomplish this, but i am also going to work on my own when congress is dead locked. i have a pen to take executive action where i can, and i have a telephone to rally folks around this country on this mission. and today is a great example of how without a bunch of new legislation, we can advance this idea. we have leaders from historically black colleges to ivey league colleges and community colleges.

and today 100 colleges, and 40 community colleges are committing to help young people not only go to college, but to graduate from college. and that is an extraordinary accomplishment, and we didn't need a bill to do it. everybody here is participating because you know, i believe that college participation has never been more important than it is today. incomes twice as high as those without a high school diploma. college is not the only path to success. we have to make sure that more americans of all age are getting the skills that they need to access the jobs out there right now, but more than ever a college degree is the surest path to a stable middle class life. and hire education speaks to something more than that.

the premise that we're all created equal is the opening line in our american story, and we don't promise equal outcomes, we strive to deliver equal opportunity. the idea that success does not depend on being born in the wealth or privileged. it depends on effort, you can be born into nothing and work your way into something extraordinary. and a kid that goes to college, maybe like michelle the first in this his or her family, that means everything. the fact is, we had made a commitment as a country to second more of our people to college. michelle, me, maybe a few of you would not be here today. my grandfather wasn't rich, but when he came home from the war he got the chance to study on the gi bill. i grew up with a single mom. she h