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Helping America's Youth
Mrs. Laura Bush and Mike Gottfried, CEO of Team Focus, watch Team Focus participants run a relay race Thursday, June 21, 2007, in Mobile, Ala., during a visit to Team Focus's National Leadership Camp, as part of Helping America’s Youth initiative. Team Focus is a faith-based, nonprofit organization devoted to improving the lives of young men, ages 10-18, without fathers in their lives.
Mrs. Laura Bush and Mike Gottfried, CEO of Team Focus, watch Team Focus participants run a relay race Thursday, June 21, 2007, in Mobile, Ala., during a visit to Team Focus's National Leadership Camp, as part of Helping America’s Youth initiative. Team Focus is a faith-based, nonprofit organization devoted to improving the lives of young men, ages 10-18, without fathers in their lives.
Laura Bush listens as boys participating in the Passport to Manhood program share ideas about respect and love during a visit to the Germantown Boys and Girls Club Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2005 in Philadelphia. Passport to Manhood promotes and teaches responsibility through a series of male club members ages 11-14. Laura Bush joins pre-school teacher Georgianna Ragland's class in a song during her visit to the Germantown Boys and Girls Club Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2005 in Philadelphia. Mrs Bush highlighted the importance of programs that support youth, especially at-risk boys.
Laura Bush sits in on a Skills Mastery and Resistance Training (SMART Moves) discussion group for teens at the Germantown Boys and Girls Club Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2005 in Philadelphia, The program helps teens learn to develop decision-making skills to deal with drug and alcohol abuse and premature sexual activity. Laura Bush talks with Providence Family Support Center after-school program participants Isaiah Baynes, right, and Carlaija Whitehead during her visit and President Bush's to Pittsburgh to highlight the program's efforts to help area youth Monday, March 7, 2005.
Laura Bush talks with young fathers who have turned their lives around with the help of the Today's Dad program at Rosalie Manor Community and Family Services center in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, March 8, 2005. Laura Bush speaks with Kenyatta "Ken" Thigpen, his girlfriend Jewell Reed and their three-year-old son, Kevion, during a visit to the Rosalie Manor Community and Family Services center in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, March 8, 2005. Mrs. Bush credits a New York Times article by Jason DeParle about Mr. Thigpen's determination to be a responsible father with bringing her attention to the needs of boys and young men.
Kevion Thigpen, 3, held by his parents Kanyatta "Ken" Thigpen and his girlfriend Jewell Reed plays with a kaleidescope given to him by Laura Bush during a visit to the Rosalie Manor Community and Family Services center in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday, March 8, 2005. Citing a New York Times article by Jason DeParle Mrs. Bush credits Mr. Thigpen's determination to be a responsible father with bringing her attention to the needs of boys and young men. Laura Bush looks at costumes designed by members of the Will Power to Youth program before watching a performance of "Romeo and Juliet" at the Shakespeare Festival/LA's theater in Los Angeles April 26, 2005. Students in the program write their own versions of Shakespeare's plays, create the music, costumes and construct the sets for each production.
Laura Bush meets members of the Will Power to Youth program after watching their rendition of "Romeo and Juliet" at the Shakespeare Festival/LA in Los Angeles April 26, 2005. The program recruits children living below the poverty level to create their own versions of Shakespeare's plays, while paying them for their work and offering tutoring opportunities. Laura Bush talks with members of the Shakespeare Festival/LA's Will Power to Youth program before watching their rendition of "Romeo and Juliet" in Los Angeles April 26, 2005.
Laura Bush talks with middle school students on stage prior to delivering remarks at Sun Valley Middle School in Sun Valley, Calif., April 27, 2005. Laura Bush talks with, from left, Gabriel Flores, Archie Dominguez and Shirley Torres during a discussion at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles April 27, 2005. Homeboys Industries is an job-training program that educates, trains and finds jobs for at-risk and gang-involved youth.
Laura Bush watches a silkscreen demonstration during a tour of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles April 27, 2005. Laura Bush meets members of the Homeboy Industries program in Los Angeles during her tour of the facility April 27, 2005.
Laura Bush talks with Freddy Martinez, 17, during a roundtable discussion on stopping violent crime in Chicago on June 2, 2005. CeaseFire Chicago is a public health initiative that works with community partners to reduce violence. Laura Bush discusses strategies to reduce violence with Chicago's law enforcement personnel, residents, clergy, medical professionals and youth during her visit to the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention.s CeaseFire Chicago program in Chicago June 2, 2005.
Laura Bush discusses strategies to reduce violence with Chicago's law enforcement personnel, residents, clergy, medical professionals and youth during her visit to the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention.s CeaseFire Chicago program in Chicago June 2, 2005. Laura Bush watches fathers play a game with their children in the R.E.A.D. to Kids Training Program at J.S. Chick Elementary School in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, October 11, 2005.
Laura Bush works with a child and father, while participating in the R.E.A.D. to Kids Training Program at J.S. Chick Elementary School in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, October 11, 2005. Mrs. Laura Bush speaks to the media during her visit Friday, May 25, 2007, to the Childhelp Children's Advocacy Center in Phoenix. Mrs. Bush commended the work of organizations that serve abused or neglected children, and highlighted the role that caring adults can play in preventing and reporting child abuse.
Mrs. Laura Bush pauses to talk with Phoenix Police officers Friday, May 25, 2007, after stopping at the Childhelp Children's Advocacy Center during her Southwest visit. Mrs. Laura Bush and actress Emma Roberts meet with students at Washington Middle School for Girls Tuesday, May 29, 2007, in Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Laura Bush talks with students at Washington Middle School for Girls Tuesday, May 29, 2007, in Washington, D.C. Mrs. Laura Bush listens to Paul Alt, left, a Team Focus mentor to Tony Javens, center, during a visit Thursday, June 21, 2007, to Team Focus’s National Leadership Camp, in Mobile, Ala.
Mrs. Laura Bush and Mike Gottfried, CEO of Team Focus, watch Team Focus participants run a relay race Thursday, June 21, 2007, in Mobile, Ala., during a visit to Team Focus’ National Leadership Camp, as part of Helping America’s Youth initiative. Team Focus is a faith-based, nonprofit organization devoted to improving the lives of young men, ages 10-18, without fathers in their lives. Laura Bush visits Washington Middle School in Washington, D.C. with actress Emma Roberts, Tuesday, May 29, 2007.
Laura Bush speaks at the Regional Conference On Helping America's Youth (HAY) at Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, April 12, 2007. As part of Helping Americas Youth initiative, Mrs. Laura Bush participates in a roundtable discussion during a visit to Team Focus's National Leadership Camp Thursday, June 21, 2007, in Mobile, Ala. Team Focus recently initiated a mom's support group, where mothers can discuss the challenges of parenting fatherless boys.
Mrs. Laura Bush listens to Team Focus class participants Thursday, June 21, 2007, in Mobile, Ala., share their personal stories in the "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow" class during a visit to Team Focus's National Leadership Camp, as part of Helping America's Youth initiative. To fatherless young men, Team Focus offers mentoring services such as summer academic programs, leadership camps, year-round mentoring and scholarships and college counseling. Mrs. Laura Bush talks with recipients of the 2007 Corps Member of the Year Award at the White House on Monday, Feb. 12, 2007. As part of the Helping America's Youth Initiative, The Corp Network engages disadvantaged youth in education, career preparation and life skill development and honors youth who become involved in their communities, overcome adversity, and become role models for America's young people.
Laura Bush speaks at the Regional Conference On Helping America's Youth (HAY) at Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, April 12, 2007. Mrs. Laura Bush and actress Emma Roberts meet with students at Washington Middle School for Girls Tuesday, May 29, 2007, in Washington, D.C.
As part of the Helping America's Youth initiative, Mrs. Laura Bush welcomed Girl Scouts and their mentors serving as positive role models offering young women guidance, encouragement and leadership development. The Scouts from local Troops 44100 and 42100 watched a screening of the movie "Charlotte's Web" at the White House Wednesday, January 31, 2007. Mrs. Laura Bush and Mike Gottfried, CEO of Team Focus, watch Team Focus participants run a relay race Thursday, June 21, 2007, in Mobile, Ala., during a visit to Team Focus's National Leadership Camp, as part of Helping America’s Youth initiative. Team Focus is a faith-based, nonprofit organization devoted to improving the lives of young men, ages 10-18, without fathers in their lives.
Mrs. Laura Bush listens to Paul Alt, left, a Team Focus mentor to Tony Javens, center, during a visit Thursday, June 21, 2007, to Team Focus's National Leadership Camp, in Mobile, Ala. Mrs. Laura Bush delivers remarks at the Helping America's Youth Fourth Regional Conference in St. Paul, Minn., Friday, August 3, 2007.
Members of the Three Affiliated Tribes Youth Dance Troupe perform at the Helping America's Youth Fourth Regional Conference in St. Paul, Minn., Friday, August 3, 2007. The dancers, ranging in age from 10 to eighteen, showcased six styles of Plains Powwow Dancing. Each style of dance represents a specific history and tells a story of American Indian culture. A segment of the conference addressed the unique challenges facing tribal youth. Mrs. Laura Bush meets members of the Three Affiliated Tribes Youth Dance Troupe following their performance at the Helping America's Youth Fourth Regional Conference in St. Paul, Minn., Friday, August 3, 2007. The dancers, ranging in age from 10 to eighteen, showcased six styles of Plains Powwow Dancing. Each style of dance represents a specific history and tells a story of American Indian culture.
Mrs. Laura Bush meets with participants Friday, Aug. 3, 2007, at the various information and educational booths of the Saint Paul Community Partnerships Serving American Indian Youth at the Helping AmericaÕs Youth Fourth Regional Conference in St. Paul, Minn. White House photo by Chris Greenberg Mrs. Laura Bush looks over reading materials on display Friday, Aug. 3, 2007, at the various information and educational booths of the Saint Paul Community Partnerships Serving American Indian Youth at the Helping AmericaÕs Youth Fourth Regional Conference in St. Paul, Minn. White House photo by Chris Greenberg

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Helping America's Youth Photo Essay: Part 2