President Obama is in Office, Now What?

By Guest Contributor Diana Vega

I work for a non-profit organization and spend much of my time going into DC Public Schools. When I enter schools I am greeted with murals of Barack Obama, posters of Obama, large cut outs of Obama. Teachers and school officials have buttons, pictures, and other Obama paraphernalia at their desks or on bookshelves. One day I asked a student, “What did you learn in school today?” “We learned about President Obama,” he said. While Obama has served as an inspiration to people of all ages, races, and walks of life, it is perhaps in these hallways where he means more than one could imagine. With his physical presence just miles away from where DC school children learn, his proximity to some of the most under-resourced schools in the region serves as an example of how much work there is to do to improve the quality of public education for low-income and minority children in DC and throughout the country.

I am glad that thousands of black children from the District have a role model who inspires excellence and possibilities. That’s a great starting place. Unfortunately, so many of these same children are coming from a disadvantaged place. Many of them are reading far below grade level. Their math skills are subpar and low-income students in DC, on average, perform two grade levels behind their low-income peers in New York City. As a DC native, these statistics breaks my heart.

I am not a public policy person. I am not an expert on education reform. I am just someone who toils in the vineyard and wonders how things would be different if…If I saw more professional black young adults giving an hour-a-day-a year to these children. As a coordinator for my church’s young adult ministry, I frequently hear group members express the desire to perform more service. Projects are planned, but very few people show up. While it’s frequently challenging to get people to show up for service activities, young professionals frequently show up to network, attend happy hours, galas, conferences and other social events. Although it’s important for us to continue to climb the corporate ladder we must give back to our communities, to the next generation of leaders.

Obama has inspired generations…to hope, to participate in the political process and to push for change. I can only hope that as the Administration continues calling for change throughout America, young professionals of color find ways to give back—to mentor, volunteer, read, and donate books to schools. We each have the ability to change our own lives, our community, our nation. I love that little black children can look to Obama for inspiration, but they need tangible examples as well. People who look like them, who will take the time to read to them, hug them, and encourage them to be the best—people who will say, “yes you can” and mean it. I will take on this challenge. What will you do?

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